The day we’ve been waiting for - the day when our host Andres Gamboa is on the other side of the mic to share HIS time on the bookfield and the origin of this show that has made it to 250 EPISODES!!! Jacob Levine picks up the host mic and chats with Andres for an episode all about his origin story, his first sales school, and his greatest Pony Tale. Andres shares some behind the scenes on what it’s like to receive stories from guests, often for the first time. He shares his philosophy on curiosity and how that’s attributed to being able to connect with so many different types of people. This is one for the record books! 

If you’re interested in learning more about Andres’ immigration journey, he shares more in depth in his book, The Cost of Citizenship - https://www.amazon.com/Cost-Citizenship-Familys-Persecution-Sacrifices/dp/1736804715 

If you’re a fan of the show, please support us with a follow and a review on your favorite listening platform. Also check us out on Patreon and join our growing community of supporters! https://www.patreon.com/user/posts?u=53847771 

Key Moments and Chapters:

00:00:00 - Start

00:02:00 - Podcast production and Southwestern

00:05:30 - Enjoying the Growth

00:09:20 - Secret to Happiness

00:16:00 - Knowing You’re Doing Something Right

00:18:00 - Origin of the Pony Tales Podcast

00:31:20 - It’s honoring when people share deep things with you

00:34:40 - How it feels to be HERE with the Podcast - where’s your North Star?

00:37:20 - Alumni Communities

00:46:12 - Andres’ Origin Story - moving to the USA

00:57:15 - Recruited by Steve Thyden

01:02:10 - Feeling like I wasn’t special - Sales School

01:04:55 - FIRST DOOR

01:10:50 - Reason for 30 Demos

01:22:20 - Day I’ll Never Forget

01:31:47 - Doing Well

01:36:20 - Choosing to Do a Hard Thing

01:38:00 - Other Summers? SO Off Schedule!

01:48:33 - My Curiosity is People

01:58:40 - RAPID FIRE

02:15:50 - The PONY TALE of all Pony Tales!

Joshua is a 7-summer bookman who just wrapped up his final summer last year. Now going all in with The Knowledge Gap, Joshua and Andres reminisce over his seven summers selling and some of the wildest times he had. From Bank fraud, and horse riding, to nearly going to jail and getting bit by a grown man, this episode will take you on a ride.

Peter Marshall is a 4-summer bookman who went on to work as an attorney in Corporate Law. Peter knew law school was in his future after selling books, and he shares with Andres the many ways that the training on the book field prepared him for finding success in his law firm. Working closely with people gives you perspective, and Peter has lots of experience working with people. Peter and Andres chat about the value of fiction vs. non-fiction books, the art of negotiation, what it’s like to parent with subtle Southwestern principles, their favorite stand-up comedians - and of course, the fabulous stories of slinging books. 

Book Recommendation: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss - - https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805

Key moment and Chapters:

00:00:00 Start

00:03:20 - Corporate Law?

00:09:35 - What makes a good Lawyer?

00:19:00 - Why Corporate Law

00:26:00 - Law Firm - Selling Books Crossovers

00:30:30 - How Lawyers get Paid

00:37:40 - Crazy Lawyer Stories

00:45:00 - BOOKS: Fiction v. Nonfiction

00:49:45 - Negotiation Tactics

00:56:00 - Getting into Southwestern

01:15:40 - Parenting with SW principles

01:19:40 - When it “clicked”?

01:21:15 - Rapid Fire

01:33:05 - Favorite Comedians

01:39:00 - Best Follow Day

01:50:00 - One View vs. Big View

01:54:50 - What Southwestern DIDN’T Prepare Me For

02:11:30 - PONY TALES

If you enjoy our episodes that center around book stories for most of the episode, you will LOVE Will Arthur. Will is an insurance broker in Colorado and became a DSM with the legendary group from Wheaton College that included Pat Roach, Todd McWhirter, Jason Kolb, and Craig Soder, among others. Enjoy this trip down memory lane with Will!

00:00:00 Start

00:02:06 Intro 

00:03:48 Life since leaving SW

00:23:26 SW vs other D2D

00:29:45 Being an Insurance Broker

00:45:16 Getting into SW

00:52:45 What made Wheaton a top Org.

00:56:37 First Summer

01:16:46 Becoming a DSM

01:35:59 SW Talent Show

01:41:22 What makes a great salesperson?

01:55:28 Rapid fire questions.

02:16:03 Pony Tales

An awesome way to start the year! Lee and the gang dive into reflecting and the perspectives on its effectiveness, approaches, and best practices. We hope you enjoy.

#246: Emmie Brown, EDUCATION

What an absolute POWERHOUSE. If this episode had a theme, it would be “Ownership”. Emmie has been with the SWFC since 2000. Currently, Emmie is a Senior Partner with Southwestern Consulting. She is an executive coach and consultant, working with executives across all different industries, helping them build sales, leadership and recruiting systems. With her husband, Dave Brown, she co-leads a large organization in Southwestern Consulting. Along with Dave and Andrus Albi she heads up the European division.   She is President of Southwestern Speakers and Southwestern Training.

Enjoy!

Key Moments and Chapters:

00:00:00 Start

00:06:22 Life Since SW

00:07:28 Beginnings of SWC

00:38:17 SW Speakers

00:43:29 First Sales School

01:16:00 RAPID FIRE

01:27:33 Pony Tales

#245: Julio Hernandez

Julio Hernandez, a Colombian alum, has accomplished impressive feats, including the sale of 10k units, 20-person teams, and reaching DSM status. We appreciated Julio sharing the wisdom that propelled him to these achievements before becoming the CEO and Founder of EnLight.Energy. In 2023, EnLight.Energy earned a spot on The Inc. 5000, highlighting Julio's enduring leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Enjoy!

Check out EnLight.Energy's website here:

https://www.enlight.energy/

Key Moments and Chapters:

00:00:00 Start

00:01:34 Introduction 

00:06:55 Getting into Solar

00:16:00 Founding and Growing EnLight.Energy

00:43:20 EnLight.Homes

00:46:30 Improving Delegation

00:58:55 How Solar Works

01:14:01 Getting into SW

01:56:02 Rapid Fire

02:04:05 Pony Tales

#244: Alexander Kerezov, Highlanders

Alex and Andres met for an IN PERSON episode in the beautiful Historical Park in Bulgaria. Alex sold for 6 summers and is currently a Sales Director for two manufacturing companies. We love European guests on the podcast for their different perspectives during their time selling books door to door. Enjoy!

Key Moments and Chapters

00:00:00 Start

00:00:20 Historical Park Ad

00:01:40 Podcasting

00:03:12 Life After SW

00:18:00 Becoming a Sales Director

00:35:00 Salary vs Commission

00:43:00 Getting into SW

01:26:30 Rapid Fire

01:33:45 Pony Tale

Record breaker, CEO, legend. Dustin Hillis is one of the most recognized name in the world of Southwestern Alumni, and in this episode we catch up with the former head of the family of companies. Dustin shares what he has been doing since his exit from the company along with some advanced sales fit for anyone. Whether you are looking to increase your sales or break any sort of record, tune in to get into the mentality of a person who has excelled at both. Leading themes illustrate the power of coachability, belief, perseverance. Enjoy. 

Be sure to visit allthingsnewventures.com and dustinhillis.com for more information or to contact Dustin. 

Key moment and Chapters:

00:00:00 Start

00:06:32 All Things New Ventures

00:16:00 Common Mistakes for Entrepreneurs

00:20:14 Red Flags in Business

00:25:20 The Five Core Pillars of Success in Business

00:42:01 Where Dustin Learned From

00:51:39 Getting into Southwestern Advantage

01:18:02 The Moment It Clicked

01:32:32 BREAKING RECORDS

02:09:05 RAPID FIRE

02:21:05 PONY TALE

Anthony Conroy is back on the show for a round two episode. Since first coming on the show on Episode #10, a lot has changed in Anthony’s life. He and Andres talk more in depth about what took him off the bookfield, his experience in a leadership development group that might be a cult, how he landed his current position at Boeing, and now his journey in Graduate school. This episode will leave you with so much to ponder - we’re grateful for Anthony’s perspective and advocacy! 

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Chapters and Key moments

00:00:00 Start

00:01:45 Intro

00:05:14 Rapid Fire Questions

00:15:02 Is SW a cult?

00:16:01 Mini Strokes on the Bookfield 

00:18:40 Landmark

00:29:02 Health Journey

00:34:36 Working at Boeing

00:58:30 Air Force 1

01:06:53 Advocating for People with Disabilities

01:23:22 Grad School