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In this episode of The Alchemy Podcast, host Doug Cartwright sits down with Max “Ponyboy” Jones to unpack authentic growth in door-to-door sales, identity work, and leading with vision.
Ponyboy shares the origin of his nickname, his early years navigating tough markets, and the pivotal choice to stay committed when friends quit. He opens up about a “dark night of the soul,” the tools that helped him out of it (including Byron Katie’s “The Work”), and how solidifying identity and daily disciplines transformed his results. They also dive into recruiting with integrity, building culture without toxicity, and designing an adventurous, freedom-driven life—hello, Bali.
Timestamps of Key Moments:
00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Max “Ponyboy” Jones & the nickname origin story
01:12 – Rookie Year Starts: Joining Sunrun/Meraki under Zach Anderson & first impressions
03:05 – Little Rock, AR: Culture shock, Pine Bluff “Crime Bluff,” and selling through chaos
05:02 – Choosing to Stay: Friends leave, but Ponyboy commits—why quitting wasn’t an option
06:30 – First Wins: $26K out of high school and the early mindset around money and vision
08:14 – Year Two Leap: From 42 to 120 accounts—being “two feet in” and better leadership
10:22 – Georgia Year: Negative culture, “protecting bandwidth,” and separating to produce
12:47 – Rituals That Worked: Gym for emotional regulation, journaling, and boundary setting
15:10 – Dark Night of the Soul: Months of anxiety, shadow work, and support from mentors
18:06 – The Work by Byron Katie: Deconstructing “I’m not a top rep” and flipping the story
21:18 – Identity Stack: “I am” statements, spoken affirmations, and energy that closes
24:03 – Freedom & Adventure: Designing life around impact, recruiting authentically, Bali plans
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By Doug CartwrightIn this episode of The Alchemy Podcast, host Doug Cartwright sits down with Max “Ponyboy” Jones to unpack authentic growth in door-to-door sales, identity work, and leading with vision.
Ponyboy shares the origin of his nickname, his early years navigating tough markets, and the pivotal choice to stay committed when friends quit. He opens up about a “dark night of the soul,” the tools that helped him out of it (including Byron Katie’s “The Work”), and how solidifying identity and daily disciplines transformed his results. They also dive into recruiting with integrity, building culture without toxicity, and designing an adventurous, freedom-driven life—hello, Bali.
Timestamps of Key Moments:
00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Max “Ponyboy” Jones & the nickname origin story
01:12 – Rookie Year Starts: Joining Sunrun/Meraki under Zach Anderson & first impressions
03:05 – Little Rock, AR: Culture shock, Pine Bluff “Crime Bluff,” and selling through chaos
05:02 – Choosing to Stay: Friends leave, but Ponyboy commits—why quitting wasn’t an option
06:30 – First Wins: $26K out of high school and the early mindset around money and vision
08:14 – Year Two Leap: From 42 to 120 accounts—being “two feet in” and better leadership
10:22 – Georgia Year: Negative culture, “protecting bandwidth,” and separating to produce
12:47 – Rituals That Worked: Gym for emotional regulation, journaling, and boundary setting
15:10 – Dark Night of the Soul: Months of anxiety, shadow work, and support from mentors
18:06 – The Work by Byron Katie: Deconstructing “I’m not a top rep” and flipping the story
21:18 – Identity Stack: “I am” statements, spoken affirmations, and energy that closes
24:03 – Freedom & Adventure: Designing life around impact, recruiting authentically, Bali plans
Follow Doug:
Follow Jimmy: