Archive for October, 2010
While growing up in the idyllic hamlet of Tucker’s Crossing, MS, brothers David and Mike Landrum would spend hours imagining their futures as entrepreneurs – putting together business ventures that would make them wealthy men. But, like so many youthful dreams, they faced little chance of coming true. “Even if we had ever come up with a good idea,” remembers David, “which we didn’t – we didn’t have any money. With most business start-ups, the old adage is true, ‘You’ve got to have money to make money.’”
After high school, David filled his life with managing a health club, attending the University of Southern Mississippi full time and starting a life together with his new wife, Jill.
Mike followed David to university some years later with a promising career in football ahead of him. “Football was a huge dream of mine,” smiles Mike, “I love the strategy, the camaraderie. I really love winning.” Mike continued on into professional football after college.
Meanwhile, the year was 1980 and David had heard about a new company called A. L. Williams – now Primerica. “I liked several things about how Primerica worked,” says David. “You didn’t need serious money to get started. You could start part-time if you wanted to. The business was about helping people and about building a team of other entrepreneurs.”
Only four months after starting with Primerica, David decided to go full-time and opened his own office in the town of Laurel, MS – with Jill as the office administrator. Five months after that he opened his second office on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Next was Jackson, MS, and then on and on.
While David was building his Primerica business, Mike was knocking heads as an Atlanta Falcon when he sustained a career-ending injury. “My dream died on the field the day I was injured,” says Mike. “I didn’t think I would ever find anything to replace football.”
Searching for something to do, Mike returned to Mississippi. “I was at a low point in my life,” say Mike. “I lost $40,000 that I didn’t have to lose on a bad business investment. Nothing was going right.” But then things started to look up. For starters, he met his future wife, Amy.
The next thing to go right was that David convinced Mike to give Primerica a 60-day try. “I could see things were going great for David,” says Mike. “In the beginning I felt awkward meeting with people to discuss their finances. It was just a matter of growing a bit by getting out of my comfort zone.”
After 60 days with David, Mike and Amy were really excited about what they could do at Primerica. “We have both ‘grown up’ with this company,” says Mike. “Things were slow for us at first, but soon picked up. And as, our capabilities and business grew, so did our dreams.”
Today, Primerica really is a family business for the Landrums. David and Jill and Mike and Amy have more than 100 offices in their organizations. Both families are financially independent. “And it’s all from following our dreams and helping Main Street families,” says David. “We remember Tuckers Crossing is where we came from.”
Tags: Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship, Primerica, primerica opportunity
Posted in Primerica, Representatives |
Primerica Home Office volunteers gathered recently to construct their third Habitat for Humanity townhome in as many years. Primericans have given thousands of hours over the past two decades to the Habitat organization.
Founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976 and given long-time support by Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, Habitat for Humanity is active in nearly 90 countries and in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
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Tags: building, charity, Community, community service, construction, corporate office, Gwinnett County, Habitat for Humanity, home office, homes, organization, Primerica, Primerica corporate office, townhomes, volunteerism
Posted in Community, Primerica |
Stacy Murdoch
Birmingham, AL
Former Occupation: Advertising Sales
Before Primerica, Stacy Murdoch, of Birmingham, AL, was struggling financially and looking for a way out. “I was a single mom, raising three kids,” recalls Stacy. “I was working two jobs and relying on my dad as my emergency fund.”
Her father, Primerica legend Ed Randle, did what any parent would do – he kept talking about Primerica until Stacy agreed to build her part of the Randles’ family business! “I was highly motivated to make this business work for me,” says Stacy. “I needed the money, for one, but more than that, my father is one of the greatest success stories I know of and I was proud to be in business with him!”
She continues, “The feeling of building a family business side by side with a loved one is something I wish everyone could experience. It’s such a positive thing to know that you are a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Stacy’s Primerica journey started in 1987 and has led to a full-time career helping families and creating a better financial future for herself and her children. In fact, her kids have grown up under the leadership example of both Stacy and their grandfather. “Dad has such great vision,” explains Stacy. “He sets the bar high and that’s something I’m passing along to the next generation.”
Stacy’s 26 year-old daughter, Carly Huchinson, recently started building her own Primerica business and Stacy couldn’t be more excited. “One of the great things about this business is being able to build something for yourself but also to share your success with the people you care about,” says Stacy. “So often, a family business is tied down to one store, restaurant or small company. The only real growth opportunity is to continue opening new stores. But with Primerica, your growth potential is limited only by how much energy you put into it.”
She adds, “Being in business with my family empowers me to think bigger and not feel so comfortable with where my life is.”
For more information on how you can create your own Primerica family business, contact your local Primerica representative.
Read Part 1, All In the Family – Building a Business Together
Tags: business, business opportunity, career, Community, Ed Randle, family, finance, personal finance, Primerica, primerica opportunity, Primerica Representatives, randle, Stacy Murdoch, three generations
Posted in Opportunity, Primerica, Representatives |
Ed & Barbara Randle
Hoover, AL
Former Occupation: Financial Services
One of the most exciting and unique things about the Primerica business opportunity is the chance to build something special with the people you most care about. Ed & Barbara Randle, of Hoover, AL, have done just that. They’re building a three generational business – and loving it!
“We’ve been a family business with Primerica for more than 32 years,” explains Ed. “Barbara and I joined right about the same time we got married. We each had children we brought into our relationship and we’re proud to have her son, Bill Vandiver and my daughter, Stacy Murdoch, in the business with us. Our granddaughter, Carly Hutchinson has also just started building a Primerica business.”
The Randles started with Primerica in 1980, just three years after the company was founded in 1977. “We were impressed from the beginning with the willingness of Primerica leadership to share their dreams, business and lives with us,” reflects Ed. “We’ve made so many friends over the years, it’s been an incredible experience.”
He adds, “One of the most significant aspects of the Primerica business model is that not only can you involve your whole family in the business, but you can also grow it together to a point where you know that when you pass the business on to your children, that they can experience the same level of success that you’ve had.”
Building a business that will live on for generations to come is a rewarding and fulfilling experience to have. But, more than that, the strong foundation Ed and Barbara are laying for the future is what keeps their business growing and dynamic in the present. “This company started out with a positive, strong environment and that has continued through the years,” says Ed. “Primerica people prove every day that you can be tough, humble, honest and successful at the same time. What a great way to raise your kids and grandkids!”
He continues, “I have worked with a lot of people and other businesses in my lifetime, but I have never seen another company or another business opportunity like Primerica!”
For more information on how you can create your own Primerica family business, contact your local Primerica representative.
Tags: Barbara Randle, business, business opportunity, career, Community, Ed Randle, family, finances, personal, Primerica, primerica opportunity, Primerica Representatives, three generations
Posted in Opportunity, Primerica, Representatives |
As he started to wind down his closing address to the MIT Class of October 2010, John Addison looked the crowd in the eye Monday afternoon and said with strong conviction, “YOU are Primerica.”
The Primerica Co-CEO also wanted the new group of RVPs to understand that with this great new opportunity, comes tremendous responsibility. “We have a legacy of toughness, of being a winner,” he explained. “No matter how tough things get, we go win anyway.”
After three incredible, life-changing days at MIT, the new RVPs are ready to accept the challenge.
“We’re coachable,” said Jeff Naval, the #1 RVP in the class who came all the way from Pearl City, Hawaii with his wife Suzanne. “We have a bigger vision now, after attending MIT. We’ll be able to build a bigger team and develop more strong leaders. We made a decision to go to work. Why not you?”
For RVP Derrick and Tawanda Parker, the Maryland couple who were also in the Top 3 of this MIT Class, it’s all about the unique insight into the business.
“MIT has been an incredible experience,” Derrick said. “It has given us the chance to be coached by the top leadership in the company. We have learned a lot of things we can go back home and implement to do it big.”
Tawanda said, “MIT gave us a chance to learn who we are, to give ourselves a self-examination. We are RVPs, but we have not arrived. We have a ways to go. RVP is a nice place to be, but it’s not the place.”
RVP Marcel and Rosa Bazin, from Calgary, Alberta and also in the Top 3, had high expectations for MIT, only to be blown away by an even bigger experience.
“I knew it would be great, but it was 10 times better – 100 times better – than I even expected,” Marcel said. “MIT has expanded our vision, and the company has given us the tools to go and do it. We have had the opportunity to learn from people who have done it. It’s not text book theory.”
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As Primerica President Glenn Williams said Monday, “MIT is the best kept secret in Primerica,” but with this new group of RVPs spreading the word, it might not be for long.
“Everybody needs to fight to become an RVP, just for the experience of attending MIT,” Rosa said. “You will be a better person. You can be a better you. The experience is priceless.”
Especially if YOU want to be the future of Primerica.
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Tags: Bobby Buisson, Bobby Buisson house, Chateau Elan, Glenn Williams, John Addison, MIT, MIT Class, Primerica, RVP, speakers
Posted in Opportunity, Primerica, Representatives |
