Speaker: Chris Reid, Partner, Apex Agency Partners
Who are you, what is your occupation, how many years have you been doing it, and why did you get into your career?
Chris Reid: All right. My name is Chris Reed. I'm one of the founding partners and members of Team Apex. I've been in this business for 25 years, and I got into this industry at 17, not really knowing why other than that I wanted to be successful. I liked working with people. Um, and this seemed like a very fun and amazing industry, but fast forward to where I'm at now. Um, I love the fact that I can teach people skills, um, mindsets. Uh, and habits. On how to become a freedom preneur. And uh anytime I, I, I, I can be a little part of somebody's journey into freedomreneurship and watch them build a business that can take care of their family and buy homes and have kids and do all these cool things. Um, it's, it's, it's no greater feeling, uh, on the planet for me.
Who helped you, how did they help you, and what did you like most about your experience?
Chris Reid: The guy who originally brought me into the business was an owner of an insurance agency and, you know, I was working at a gym just selling memberships, trying to play football really poorly at a community college. Um, and, you know, I was interested in business and stuff like that. Like I was reading books and all that kind of fun stuff and One day, he's just like, hey, um, I got this insurance organization and I need some help around the office. And I mean, before he could probably finish his sentence, I'm like, dude, I'm in. Like I knew he was super successful. He was driving great cars, felt like he was golfing a couple times a week, traveling the world probably every couple of months, and I'm like, I know this dude's successful, and I want to be successful, so maybe he could help me get there. And that was honestly how I got into this industry. And somehow, some way I've stuck with it for 25 years and Wouldn't it change it for the world?
How are we different from others or past experiences?
Chris Reid: I think we're different from other companies because, you know, this industry wants to make you think that, you know, you got to hit up your friends and family and network and stuff like that or it's like, buy my next latest and greatest lead program or here's this new shiny carrier and product and stuff like that as if that's the solution to their problems and I just think they couldn't be further from the truth. I mean, one of the biggest gripes that I have in this industry is everybody wants to sell you the dream. But very few people have an actual plan to get there, and that's really where I think we're different. We have a very structured plan planning system, almost like a franchise-like model just without all the crap that comes with franchises and stuff like that, but we have a very systematic, duplicatable process and as long as I got somebody who's coachable, they're accountable, they're hardworking, they got integrity, you know, they'll do right by the client. They're the type of people that keep promises to themselves. And they got the fire in the belly like they want it. Um, good things happen when we, when we partner up. So, and, and, and we're not into this whole sell your friends and family multi-level stuff, buy our lead programs like the only way we make money is when our team makes money. And I think that's where you have aligned interest and, and again, where, where good things happen.
If someone is on the fence about working with us, what would you want them to know?
Chris Reid: You know, if somebody's on the fence about working with us, um, well, there's a variety of reasons for that. Sometimes people are afraid of like a commission-based position, which I totally understand, right? Like in sales, it could very, very well be a feast or famine thing, right? Like I think about industries like real estate and stuff like that where when times are good, they're good, but when they're not, They're not. And here's the deal. We, we have a very specific niche market, and in areas where we're active in this niche market, it ultimately solves the biggest challenge in this industry, which is prospecting because we have a warm market of people to go see. We're allowed to go see them. We know where they are. We know when they show up. We know when they leave. This is the educational K-12 public school space. And we have the products and, and, and, and services that they want and need, right? So it's, it's the perfect formula in my opinion because if somebody like, like, put your business hat on for a second, and if you're running a business and you've got a product and service that you very much believe in, a, that's awesome, but B, you have to have a marketing plan, a marketing department, and a marketing system. That can consistently put you in front of the people that want and need your help, right? And when you have those two things, you can write your own ticket to how much money you want to make, right? And again, I'm going to rely back on our system that we have that produces consistent and duplicatable results. Um, but the reality is You know, if somebody's on the fence, I, I would want to know why. Do they, do they maybe not believe in themselves? Are they scared to take a risk? Are there other factors like, you know, they, they've got a family, they've got bills they need to pay. I mean, there's a lot of things and variables that could be going on that play into this. Um, but again, I would just say if you're on the fence, it doesn't hurt to have a conversation. Sometimes the sometimes those conversations lead nowhere, and we learn from it. Sometimes they lead everywhere and it and it changes everything. So that would be my advice.
