Inspired by Lee's original "Dirt Pile" story, we decided to ask the crew about their toughest personal moments since leaving Southwestern. This will be a Part 1. Enjoy the stories from Pat, Andres, and Alecia. Lee's original story - https://youtu.be/sTQNQ7x5gIU?si=S4HjfdWmEjpoo6Zy About our panel: Alecia Huck is the founder of MAVERICK & Company, a management consultant, sought-after speaker, and author. She specializes in helping leadership teams of fast-growing companies build the critical skills, tools, systems and processes they need. She is known for working closely with leaders to customize solutions, protect existing culture, and fix what is broken without “going corporate.” Experienced in industries from construction to criminal justice, Alecia is proud to work with entrepreneurs so they can spend less time fighting fires and more time building what matters. Though he studied astronomy & meteorology as an undergrad, Lee received a Master’s degree in English from the University of Kansas. While he was there, Lee was a mild-mannered lecturer in the English department by day, and a member of a touring glam rock band by night. Complete with pyrotechnics and makeup. His band just finished their Final Reunion after playing 45 years together—see Facebook. As an undergrad, he traveled a thousand miles away from home and ran his own business selling books with Southwestern Advantage—which is a direct sales program. Lee was a top salesperson that summer, and over the next seven years, was a top experienced salesperson, recruiter, and manager every year. Southwestern promoted Lee to Director of Marketing & Sales Development, in charge of Southwestern’s training, and finally became the Director of Leadership Development worldwide. He helped train more than 100,000 college students there over the course of 36 years. In addition, Lee has taught at Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management and is currently a professor at two universities in Nashville, teaching business, literature, & communication courses. He also is a certified John Maxwell trainer and life coach.In his non-work life, Lee trains and competes with the U.S. Masters swim team. He is a deacon at his church, is a certified storm spotter, and also a face reader…. His wife is a physician at Vanderbilt, and they have three grown children who enjoy rock music and correcting people’s grammar. Patrick Roach started Southwestern Real Estate in 2007 at the request of the CEO of Southwestern/Great American Inc., Henry Bedford. When I started SWRE, I was brand new to the industry. I decided to learn the business by interviewing other Managing Brokers in my market to learn what it takes to be successful as a Realtor. Office to office, I found myself hearing some of the same principles, but as I looked around those offices I saw A LOT of unsuccessful Realtors hanging around the office. I knew then that if I was going to succeed, I would need to insulate myself from that type of mediocrity. I created a set of principles that would chart my course so that I would become excellent at the work of a Realtor, keep my clients’ interests first and foremost, and earn my future business by the referrals of happy clients. Today I am one of the top producing agents in the Chicagoland market and I’ve surrounded myself with others that are focused on becoming truly great at this career – I find that inspiring. Patrick has a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in History/Social Science. He paid his way through college by selling educational products door-to-door in the Southwestern Company’s summer internship, which led to a 10-year career as a District Sales Manager helping to lead that program. He lives in Glen Ellyn with his wife Jenny and their three children. He is an avid music enthusiast and is happy to pass along his newest find. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pony-tales/support