Can a YEAA internship dramatically alter your career trajectory?

On today’s show, we interview former YEAA intern and Sales Engineer, Keyence Corporation, Sean Burtless-Creps who shares with us his distilled wisdom on work ethic, handling rejection, and entrepreneurship.

Sean chanced upon the YEAA opportunity when he was pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan. Encouraged by the success of his peers, he decided to take a leap of faith – a move which completely changed this career trajectory. 

As a student painter, Sean ran a $62,000 painting business and earned a handsome profit of $12,000. In this segment of the show, Sean shares the advantage of working in an organization with a formulaic and proven approach.

Additionally, you will learn how the internship taught Sean the importance of great work ethic while honing his people management skills.

The YEAA internship also proved to be the differentiating factor which helped Sean secure some dream internships.

In the last segment of the show, Sean gives us a peek into his work life as a Sales Engineer at Keyence Corporation. You will learn the importance of developing soft skills alongside technical skills in this segment of the show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why the YEAA is the safest and best environment for those looking to get a taste of entrepreneurship
• How to land your dream internship
• The importance of developing soft skills
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Is it even possible for a sophomore to manage a $2 million business?

On today’s show, we interview Kevin Hiselman who shares with us his distilled wisdom on perseverance, and overcoming your fears. You will learn how Kevin managed a $2 million painting business while he was a sophomore at UMass, Amherst.

Kevin was first introduced to YEAA when he was taking classes at UMass. And while he has eager to sign up immediately, he had to fight off the initial scepticism from his friends and family.

One of the biggest things that attracted Kevin to the internship was the opportunity to get mentored by folks who were just slightly older than him.

In his first year with YEAA, Kevin ran a $110,000 business and earned $20,000 in profits. As a district manager in his second year, he dramatically scaled up his business to $2 million in revenues and $110,000 in profits.

Topics discussed on today’s show include overcoming your fear of running a business, cultivating leadership skills, and learning responsibility and accountability.

You do not want to miss this one.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• What does it take to successfully complete a YEAA internship?
• Why YEAA is the most fun experience that you can ever have
• How the YEAA internship taught me responsibility and maturity
• How I ran a $2 million painting business at YEAA
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Can the YEAA internship have a truly transformational impact on your life?

On today’s show, we interview the incredible Blake Johanson who shares with us his distilled wisdom on building your confidence, and being adaptable. You will also learn how the YEAA internship helped Blake land his dream internship.

Blake interned with YEAA in his freshman and sophomore year in 2020, the year of the pandemic. He talks about tackling naysayers who tried to demotivate him from trying something new.

His conviction paid off big time as Blake ended up running a $100,000 business and earning $16,000 in profits.

Currently in his senior year at MSU, Blake is interning with Upper Deck, a sports entertainment company that deals in sports cards.

He walks us through the interview process, and how he beat hundreds of applicants to land the coveted internship.

This is a show you do not want to miss!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How the comprehensive YEAA training helped me get started off on the right note
• How did I know that running a business was the right thing for me?
• How treading the less beaten path can pay off in a big way for you
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

On today’s show, we interview Logan and Chris who share with us their YEAA experience, and how the internship has changed their life. They share the highs and lows which they encountered as they ran $90,000 painting businesses while earning a $15,000-$20,000 profit.

Last year, Logan, a Northern University student and Chris, a Penn State student were both searching for an internship that would truly add value and allow them to grow as individuals.

This is when they stumbled across Young Entrepreneurs across America.

Once they signed up for the YEAA internship, they were first put through an elaborate training where they learnt how to do estimates and make cold calls among other things. This training also allowed them to interact with their seniors who would eventually mentor them through their first real entrepreneurship adventure.

In the next segment of the show, Chris and Logan share the biggest highs and lows that they encountered over the course of the summer.

They talk about tackling unhappy customers, dealing with employee issues, and battling the challenges of the pandemic here.

You will learn how grit and a stellar mindset can help you ride out your toughest challenges. 

Both Chris and Logan also share the benefit of working in a franchise operation that relies on proven systems and processes.

This is a show you do not want to miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How to de-escalate situations and tackle unhappy customers
• The benefits of working in a franchise operation that relies on proven systems and processes
• Staying calm and riding out the storm
• Why YEAA is nothing like your typical internship experience
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

How can you make the most of your formative years? And, what are some things that you can do right now to gain massive forward momentum in the long run?

On today’s show, we interview Tom Pivoso, Founder Campus Well who shares with us his distilled wisdom on resilience, confidence, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Back in 1989, Tom was a sophomore at the University of Delaware when he chanced upon a YEAA flyer. Tom signed up on the dotted line and this decision dramatically changed the course of his life and career.

In his first year, Tom earned a handsome $20,000 profit on revenues of $63,000 – which was admittedly, more money than he had ever imagined.

Subsequently, lured by the idea of coaching, Tom signed up as a district manager with YEAA in his second year. In his last year as a district manager, Tom supervised 10 student painters while running a large $7 million painting business.

This experience stoked his entrepreneurial spirit, and upon graduation, Tom started a new venture wherein he helped student organizations connect with national marketers to raise the necessary funds.  

Currently, Tom manages a subscription-based content platform, Campus Well that helps improve the health and wellness of students.

Among other things, on today’s show, you will learn the importance of accountability, clear communication, and developing confidence.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why accountability is key to the success of a relationship
• Why a YEAA internship is the surest way to fast track your career
• Why taking head-on challenges and developing resilience
• Why you need to work on developing skill sets that you can leverage for your whole life
• And so much more…

Resources

Campus Well

Leaders Across America

On today’s show, we interview Scott Snyder who shares with us his thoughts on entrepreneurship, faith, and mindset.

Scott interned with Young Entrepreneurs back in 1998 when he was a student at the University of Miami. In his first year as a student painter, Scott ended up earning a respectable $11,000 in profits on sales of $43,000.

However, bogged down by the stress of managing a business, Scott decided to “take it easy” in his sophomore year by taking up an internship with General Motors.

But he was quick to realize that he had walked away from the better alternative that would do greater good for him in the long run.

So in his third year, Scott was back to re-commence what ended up being a long, fruitful 10-year relationship with Student Works.

Upon graduation, Scott decided to pursue his passion by teaching physics to seventh-graders. Nevertheless, he continued working as a student manager until he had to take a step back to fulfil his fatherly responsibilities.

Currently, Scott serves as a church pastor in Butler Town  

Other topics discussed on today’s show include the importance of a stellar mindset.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why did I continue as a student painter for 10 years after graduation?
• How to shed negativity and develop a stellar mindset
• What does it take to be a successful student painter?
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Ever wondered about the interconnectedness of the global economy? And how COVID has disrupted industrial operations across the world?

On today’s show, we interview Marty Kelcher, Purchasing Manager, Mainline Supply Company. He will share us his thoughts on entrepreneurship, delegation at the workplace, and the macro-economy.

13 years ago, in 2008, Marty ran a $50,000 painting business in Dayton and Cincinnati while interning with Young Entrepreneurs. This internship proved to be massively impactful for Marty as he learned some lifelong lessons that set the tone for a successful career.

In this segment of the show, you will learn how YEAA gives 18–20-year-olds opportunities that they would typically get when they are in their mid-thirties or forties. Here, you will also learn the many advantages of working in a proven, franchise business model.

In the latter half of the show, Marty gives us a peek into his role at the Mainline Supply Company.

As the purchase manager of a large industrial distribution house, Marty manages operations that are strongly affected by macro-economics. Specifically, you will learn how covid has led to huge raw material increases which have disrupted supplies and projects across the world.

This is a show that you do want to miss.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• How covid has disrupted worldwide industrial operations
• The interconnectedness of the global economy
• How a YEAA internship teaches you valuable lessons in 
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

How do you know that you are cut out to run a business? And what are some of the biggest challenges that you are likely to encounter as you make your foray into entrepreneurship?

On today’s show, we interview former YEAA painter and manager, Michael Page, Ken Hansell who shares with us his distilled wisdom on stepping out of the comfort zone, fostering the right team culture and the meaning of resilience.

As a sophomore at the College of Charleston, when Michael first came across the YEAA opportunity, admittedly, he thought that it was too good to be true. But when he visited the sales conference, he was blown away by the energy and excitement.

In his first year as a student painter, Michael ended up running a $82,000 painting business in Charleston. In this segment of the show, he particularly talks about the challenge of building and managing a dream team.

Upon graduation, he first worked for Elbeco Inc., a uniform manufacturer in Kansas City. However, in 2017, he transitioned to the international recruiting firm, Michael Page.

The last segment of the show is particularly interesting as you will get an inside peek into Ken’s life at Michael Page. You will learn how the jobbing market went into a sharp slump when the pandemic first struck. And how the current market situation is in sharp contrast as companies are desperately looking for great talent.

You will also learn about Michael Page’s Five Core Values in today’s show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• Why did I decide to run a business in my sophomore year?
• How to build a dream team, foster the right culture, and find buy-in
• How a YEAA internship can teach you some important lifelong lessons in resilience
• How keeping an open mind is a must for growth and success
• And so much more…

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

In today's episode of the Leader Across America podcast, Steve sits down with Aaron Acorn and Josh Drushel, both Vice Presidents of the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program for the final episode of their special four-part series. The topic for today's show involves the benefits students can gain by being part of the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program.

As the summer winds down and we approach the end of this year's internship, Steve, Aaron and Josh take some time to reflect on why this year's executive team may be the strongest yet, and highlight some of the benefits of the program.

Beyond the growth potential that the program provides to participants - offering opportunities to build new skills and helping to make themselves more marketable - it also answers a question many have asked: "Is there anything left to learn?" What they quickly realize however, is that learning never really ends. As you gain experience in business and get better at your job, your learning opportunities actually increase.

Networking is another powerful benefit of the program. Working with like-minded people on an executive team provides powerful opportunities for connection and learning, whether it be from your own class, the executives above you or the people that come after you. Once you reach the executive level, you're able to create that connection with the top 10% of the entire country.

Steve, Aaron and Josh also take time to discuss the deep level of interaction and hands-on learning present in the program. Many internships are based on "shadowing," offering small glimpses of what that office actually looks like. However, what's missing is real world experience, a hands-on approach that provides more opportunity for learning.

Enjoy!

What You’ll Learn in this Show:

• Why this year's executive team may be the strongest they've ever had going into 2022.
• The answer to the perennial question: "Is there anything more for me to learn?"
• How the networking opportunities offered by the program allow you to build connections with the top 10% in the country.
• Why internships that only allow participants to "shadow" office environments are missing out on a powerful learning opportunity.
• And so much more...

Resources:

YEAA Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

What is the ONE thing that can springboard you miles ahead of the competition?

On today’s show, we interview Matt Buhl, Employee Benefits Services, USI Insurance Services who shares with us his wisdom on grit and relationship building. You will learn how his YEAA internship helped him land 9 job offers while he was still in his second to last semester of college. 

Matt interned with YEAA from 2014-2016. As a freshman, he was immediately stoked at the opportunity of running his own business. Matt talks about how he almost quit after 20 consecutive no’s. But his tenacity kicked in and he ended up running a $72,000 business in his first year.

In his last year as a student painter, he ran a $285,000 painting business – thus setting the tone for an extremely successful career. 

Also, as a student painter, while Matt discovered his love for sales, he also discovered that he was really cut out for entrepreneurship.

When Matt graduated from Central Michigan University, he already had 9 job offers to choose from. Matt talked about his YEAA experience in every interview, and this proved to be the “differentiating factor” that set him apart from the crowd.

So, in 2018, Matt was one of the ten people hired to work for Mutual of Omaha from a pool of 300 candidates. Since the beginning of the year, Matt has been working with USI Insurance Services as an Employee Benefits Consultant. 

Matt gives us a peek into his role and his workplace and emphasizes the importance of strategic marketing and relationship building in this episode of the show. 

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

• What kind of person can be successful as a student painter?
• How YEAA can help you land your dream job
• A peek into the insurance industry
• How the YEAA internship can springboard your career
• And so much more…

Resources

Young Entrepreneurs Across America

Leaders Across America