Read first-hand how traveling sales crews have positively
impacted many young men and women. Stories are completely
unedited, except for minor spelling and grammar corrections.
Many of the crew members here have even agreed to have
their email address publicly displayed so you can ask
them questions directly.
| Name: |
Mark Huebinger (email: huebinger1@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Sales Management |
| Best thing about your job: |
"The travel and the experiences." |
| Mark's Story: |
|
"Hired off the side of the road hitchikng across the United States homeless. I never knew it at the time but the mag biz prepared me for my sales future and career. While I traveled when I was 18-28, the foundation for success was laid. The overwhelming benifit was the priceless experience of learning to deal with people in a cold call situation. I did and saw things before the age of 28 that others will never experience, 1 World Series, 1 Superbowl, The Empire State Building, Golden Gate bridge and on and on. The time of my life and yes, i made money and no, i was never beaten or forced into unwilling debautchery. The Mag Biz saved my life. I met my wife of 15 years on the road and we are tax paying , home owning non felon contributors to society. The business has a poor rep and I'm glad to see this site. The magazine business saved my life and laid the groundwork for my future success."
|
| |
| Name: |
Ciara Love (email: lovecharise@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
"The best thing about being on crew was meeting new people getting to go all over the USA also I got to make Mrs. Jones laugh." |
| Ciara's Story: |
|
"Well I was about 19 or 20 I met this girl she said "Hey I really like your personality you're awsome you wanna take a trip and make some cash?" So I was thinking like it was some other stuff but it was the mag crew. Wow how cool it was the best thing ever in the whole world. I loved the whole thing, how it is run, and I really love learning new things from different people. Before I joined the crew I was doing nothing but training and I was playing sports a lot and hanging out at my apartment. But once I got on crew life has be more motivating than ever. It took me a long time to realize that the crew is me and that is where I should be. It has pretty much rasied me and I would tell anyone who wants to do sales or be on the crew DO IT. It is the best ever."
|
| |
| Name: |
James Clair (email: private) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Current Agent |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Learning, teaching and becoming successful." |
| James' Story: |
|
"1986 fresh out of a foster home, with no plan for my life, I got on a crew (selling magazines). I worked hard to become an agent; it did not come easy to me. My trainer and manager worked with me until I had the confidence to become an agent. The rest was up to me and I wanted to become successful. So I learned to control my attitude, train and manage others, then I met a trainee in February of 1991. She wanted to travel and see the country. We became one, then in June 1993 we started our own crew. This business is the best thing that ever happened to me. Because of it and my hard work I have the American dream. A family, 3 kids, wife (that has been with me from the beginning) and a successful business. "
|
| |
| Name: |
Steve Doggit (email: birdshotsmagic@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Street Entertainment |
| Best thing about your job: |
"My experience were both good and bad..." |
| Steve's Story: |
|
"I have both experiences. Yes good and bad... but the one I remember the most and talk about most often is the success I achieved right out of high school as a door to door magazine agent with my company (TICOA), my Crew (Champions), and my Manager Belo Kellam."
|
| |
| Name: |
Jessie Kone (email: faqmadafaka@hotmail.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Current Agent |
| Best thing about your job: |
"The best thing about my job is waking up every morning and thinking about how many cool people I am going to meet today. Most average people don't meet as many new people each day as magazine kids." |
| Jessie's Story: |
|
"When I first started on crew I didn't know what to expect. And now for being on crew for 4 months I can read people and what they are going to say before they even say it and it has made me a better people person. So if you ever wanna try something new mag crew is for you."
|
| |
| Name: |
Brian Defoy (email: bdef83@aol.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Current Agent |
| Best thing about your job: |
"I like the fact that we get to meet a lot of really nice people and travel all around the country and see what most people don't get to." |
| Brian's Story: |
|
"I joined crew about 5 months ago. I was working at a car lot and it seemed like my day would just drag on forever and i could never get any time to myself and then my cousin got me to join FRS and I have realized that there is much more to life than a normal routine day and I can have fun while working and I have also opened up a lot and made some new frineds and found out that it is alright to trust new people."
|
| |
| Name: |
Theodore Steigerwalt (email: bib899@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Currently on a crew |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Love coming out and meeting new people everyday. You never know what you are going to get at a door." |
| Theodore's Story: |
|
"It took me off the street and out of the life of street crime. It showed me you can make money and still have fun doing it. "
|
| |
| Name: |
Dominic Debrowsky (email: dominicdebrowsky@yahoo.com ) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Currently on a crew |
| Best thing about your job: |
"The best thing about my job is i get to see the USA." |
| Dominic's Story: |
|
"I have been doing magazine sales for two years now it is the best thing. Before I was in a gang for 11 years and I've been out for two years now and I will never go back because I have seen the world. "
|
| |
| Name: |
Ciara Harper (email: lovecharise@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Currently on a crew |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Meeting people from all around the world, and learing knowledge from people behind the doors." |
| Ciara's Story: |
|
"The best thing about joining mag crew was leaving Toledo, Ohio, I was told I could never leave cause of my chronic asthma, but then I met an agent and she hired me and I love mag crew! I kept geting sick and and never gave up and kept going back, until one day I had little treasure (she loves ramen noodles) and then I stopped to be a mom, but I realized that my family was mag crew and I love Mr. Kellum and Mr. Travis so much I had to go back."
|
| |
| Name: |
Joshua Torres (email: voltronzer0@aol.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Manager at Firestone |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Having a grand in my pocket every week,
buying anything I wanted and going to all the big
states in huge hotels. " |
| Joshua's Story: |
|
"I went out of high school curious,
wondering what is this thing all about? At first
it was different but then in like a week or so I
got it and was making like $500 a week easily, then
it was about 2 months later it was like $800 week.
I met my wife on the same crew and she is now in
the medical field and I am a manager at Firestone
making good money. I would do this line of work
if you want a change in life for a while fast pace.
I was a quiet person, not outgoing, didn't know
how to talk to people. I learned everything I needed
to know about sales and speech for work and life
from this place. You can make a lot of money- I
did. I brought home $10,000 cash and made $55,000
in one year."
|
| |
| Name: |
Dawn Russo (email: drusso@subintegrity.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Publishing |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Working with Door to Door Companies that
exemplify integrity." |
| Dawn's Story: |
|
"I am a consultant for magazine
subscription agents and magazine publishers and
have been in this business for 17 years. I have
not knocked on doors but have contact with many
who do. I can say that those companies that are
in this business for the right reasons have provided
young adults with an opportunity that in many cases
they would not have had. These companies have provided
income, a place to sleep, an adventure to see the
beautiful USA and are teaching these young adults
a trade: salesmanship. It is the choice of anyone
regarding the decisions they make about themselves
and their future. Yes, there can be negative publicity
about this industry as there is in any industry,
but I believe NASA has made some mistakes in their
choices and even companies as large and contributing
as Wal-Mart has problems with negative press as
well. My point being, this can be a very useful
program for young adults who are struggling with
everyday life and don't have the support of a family
to help them make good decisions. I commend those
Door to Door Companies who strive to make this a
better industry and a better world by teaching young
adults the value of a job, earning an income, and
self-respect."
|
| |
| Name: |
Charles Key (email: chazkey@aol.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Manager |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Well I would have to say the best thing
about my job is everything. I have the opportunity
to show young men and women that there is no limits
to dreams, if you are given the chance. You are
the only one in charge of your life! You can learn
more about me at http://www.MyTravelJob.com
" |
| Charles' Story: |
|
"Well, it was my second week
after my 18th birthday. My life was about to change
forever. Just before that on my 18th birthday I
got a card from my uncle saying “Happy Birthday!
You don’t have a job, get your stuff out of
the house by the time I get home.” Sounds
like tough love, you think? Well, it was done out
of love, and he is a great uncle, who loves me dearly.
For two weeks I spent my time couch surfing (staying
with friends) from Hollywood to Ventura, CA. I had
no direction in life, nor did I really care. I saw
an job ad that said “Travel USA” and
I said, "that’s me, a travel job, I can
do that!" I was on the job/crew for about two
to three months and it all started to make sense,
I could be a manager, I could be a leader and teach
others everything I have ever learned. I was a pretty
rough kid with no future bouncing around Hollywood
and Ventura. Now I see kids/agents and I just want
to show them that, all those who broke you down
and told you that you didn't have a chance. You
have a chance, you have a voice. I have a chance,
I have a voice. Just think about it, you're reading
this. To all you doubters in the world, embrace
the New Generation and show them what they can have.
They will listen, just give them a chance. We were
all young at one time, I chose a travel job, others
choose to go to college, and some choose to go to
a factory job. Each one of us can make a difference
in the world, I chose to lead and it’s very
rewarding. You can check me out at http://www.MyTravelJob.com.
New Generation is my Crew and United Subscription
Agency is where I clear my orders, and I must say
“USA ROCKS”."
|
| |
| Name: |
John Nelson (email: bigbadjohn012@aol.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Sales/Publishing |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Where do I start! Travel, I was in charge
of my destiny , I learned ethics, That doing the
right thing was just right! I've been blessed to
have earned millions in this industry, The foremost
fact is earning money, and keeping it, is a side
effect of doing things right, and of the competitive
skills honed in the direct sales industry" |
| John's Story: |
|
"I had just come home from a
stint in the Army, it was Friday, June 24th, 1983.
The first question out my old mans mouth was "what
are you gonna do" My response was I'll look
for a job next week Pop. I forgot to mention my
dad was a general,A real live 4 star Marine General.
I don't think that was the answer he was looking
for. The next morning at breakfast he had my reenlistment
papers, a college application, and a newspaper.
He said pick one and make up your mind. Monday,
June 27th, 1983, the most beautiful red-headed girl
I've ever met handed me an application. She said
fill this out, wait outside in line. Monday night,
June 27th, 1983 I got hired!!! YYeeaahh!! I was
in Philadelphia, PA. I was hired on to Denver Price's
013 magazine crew (the pretty red head turned out
to be Mrs. Price.) That's how it started. I've had
more ups in this industry than downs. Twenty-four
years later I can look back and honestly have no
regrets about my choice of a profession and life
style; the skills, the determination, the tenacity,
the competitive edge I've learned have helped me
become a Good father to my children, a better son,
The best creative, and inspiring Manager to my own
sales crew, "The 012 power crew" And to
the managers and crews, that have come up in my
organization And to be able to publish my own magazine
from scratch and make it in the publishing world.
Today I run Home owners choice magazine, And I run
U.S. Custom Chemical inc. We sell Pro-Tek chemical
products: protekchemical.com.
It's been an awesome 24 years. I've formed friendships
that have lasted my career, I've lived 3 lifetimes!!!
Some times I think I'm the luckiest man alive. I'm
looking forward to 24 more great years. 'The Best
Times Aren't Even Here Yet...'"
|
| |
| Name: |
Suzanne Miller (email: suzannemiller6981@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Meeting new people and traveling the country...
seeing all the cool places " |
| Suzanne's Story: |
|
"I love selling magazines! Don't
get me wrong...there are days that I hate it...but
that's with any job. I've been on a few crews, and
Fidelity Reader Service, is by far the best company
that I have ever worked for!! I love the people
I work with; and the things you get promised out
here...you actually see! It's not just a dream!
You actually get what you deserve!!!"
|
| |
| Name: |
Eva Turos (email: eturos24@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
"Being able to travel and see the USA, and
meeting all types of people" |
| Eva's Story: |
|
"I starting the magazine business
6 years ago. I had nothing going for me and I wanted
to start something new so I called an ad in the
newspaper and I started right away. My mom hated
it at first because her baby girl was traveling
and not gonna be near her. But now she loves it
because she knows that the magazine business has
turned her baby girl into a women. It's a great
job. Actually it's not a job to me, IT'S MY CAREER"
|
| |
| Name: |
Mike Bosch (email: mbosch13@gmail.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Sales Manager |
| Best thing about your job: |
Making as much money as I wanted to, traveling,
learning direct sales marketing skills, people communication
skills, business management, and the power of positive
thinking. Plus much, much more... |
| Mike's Story: |
|
"I was hired at age 18. I come
from a family of seven; my mom was a single parent
working two jobs doing the best she could to raise
us, mostly boys, raised in a social economic low
income poverty and crime stricken area. Gangs were
becoming a popular way for youths. I guess I was
lucky to have joined with a company that ran its
organization with southern family values. We had
a set of rules like: no alcoholic beverages during
week nights, and absolutely no drugs of any kind.
There was a three-strikes-your-out law for trouble
makers and people who fought. We all received our
own account books and kept track of our income,
sales, production, bad business, etc., which made
it easy for us to set weekly and monthly financial
goals. The P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude) meetings
helped us to focus on bettering ourselves in all
aspects: the way we dressed, how we talked, who
we associate with, and always having money in our
pockets. We were called the T.O.P.S. (Team Of Professional
Salespeople) on the crew. I was visually impaired
but managed to earn and save enough money to pay
for the retinal operations to my sight, now I have
20/20 vision. I met my wife which gave me a beautiful
daughter. My wife passed away when my daughter was
two years old. I then stopped traveling to raise
my daughter. While working part-time in an office
still hiring for the company, and private security
on the side, I still had enough money to get a nice
place in a two family brick home in a private community,
$5,000.00 worth of new furniture, and dream child's
room. My daughter is now 22, graduated with honors,
went to beauty school, and is now a professional
hair stylist. Since I did my duty as a responsible,
devoted, and caring father, I'm back to work the
company, and they welcomed me back with open arms.
You see, some crews believe in QUANTITY rather than
QUALITY, believing that the more people you have
the better for sales and production, hiring people
by the masses without doing a proper background
check and allowing their crew to run rampid, letting
them drink, smoke, stay out late, and letting them
do what they wanted. This is when you have people
or crews that give the industry a bad name. Because
of this industry, I've helped my mother with many
bills, bought my brother a car to find work, fixed
my sight, helped pay my wife's hospital bills, got
my new place in a safe, quiet community to protect
my daughter from the elements, etc., so I believe
strongly in this industry. Remember in anything
you do when dealing with large groups of people,
yo will encounter certain problems, but if you don't
have rules, laws, regulations, or principles things
will get out of hand. I wrote this poem inspired
by Ms. Maya Angelou: "BE MINDFUL, MY PEOPLE,
TO WHAT YOU DO OR SAY - FOR A NEW PERSON WAS HIRED
ON THIS CREW TODAY, REFRAIN FROM GOSSIP, PREDJUDICE
AND LIES - FOR SENSITIVE ARE THEIR EARS AND EYES,
TOGETHERE WE CAN BUILD SUCCESS AND FAME - WITH UNITY
WE CAN EARN OUR RESPECT BY NAME- AND IF ONE OF OUR
PEOPLE SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL - DON'T LOOK TO BLAME
ONE - BLAME ALL..." To this day, the T.O.P.S.
still use this poem."
|
| |
| Name: |
Belo Kellam (email: belo@frsnaples.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Auto sales, jewelry sales, magazine sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
Being paid what I was worth, traveling and seeing
my country. |
| Belo's Story: |
|
| I dropped out of college and saw the
travel ad. For three years, my parents encouraged
me to leave and come back home. Then after my successful
advancements through the years, in 1978 my Father
(a successful banker) agreed to run my new company
as tight as a bank. He passed away in 1989, and
with what he taught me about ethics, hard work and
dedication, my present company Fidelity Reader Service,
has thrived and grown to what it is today. I owe
so much to him, my mother, and my first manager
for teaching me discipline, and to He who makes
all of this possible, the Father of us all. |
| |
| Name: |
Brent Jones (email: world3_3@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
Talking to people and meeting people that can,
and will help change my life. The experience of
talking to people who think and feel like I do is
the best in the world. |
| Brent's Story: |
|
| Leaving was the hardest thing I did...
Then it became the smartest... I learned how to
deal with adversity . This has changed me into a
new and better person who now has, respect, knowledge,
belief, and direction to become the person I know
I can be. It's more than a career, it's a lifestyle. |
| |
| Name: |
Tara Hocking (email: tara_hocking@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
I love the fact that I can make people laugh and
get paid for it; I love making people smile |
| Tara's Story: |
|
| Well my life wasn't going anywhere.
I was working dead-end jobs as a waitress, and then
I was a secretary. I joined the mag crew, and that
was the best thing that could have happened to me.
It was a like a dream come true. I have been in
the business for almost five years, I left for awhile,
and guess what? I came back, because of the opportunities,
they are amazing; you decide how much you make.
One quote I'm going to end with: "Success is
an accumulation of learned failures, without losing
your enthusiasm". Have a great day and get
a bunch :) |
| |
| Name: |
Ashlie Buck (email: ashlie_buck@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
The fact that I can run around and talk to people
and get paid for it... I have always gotten in trouble
for talking too much... Now what other people said
was my downfall is what pays me everyday. |
| Ashlie's Story: |
|
| I was raised in group homes and foster
homes. People always told me how I would never succeed
and now here I am proving them all WRONG!!! And
it is all thanks to the magazine business. It has
helped me to grow into a mature women. |
| |
| Name: |
Sandra Hall |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
I am the owner/president of Alliance Service Company |
| Best thing about your job: |
I loved having the opportunity to travel and meet
people. |
| Sandra's Story: |
|
| It was 1972 and I was fresh out of
college and wanting to travel. I saw an exciting
job opportunity in the newspaper with Par Reader
Service & Metro Press out of California offering
the chance to travel around the country along with
the opportunity to make great money, and I thought
to myself, this job is for me. |
| |
| Name: |
Beau Harry (email: beauharry@gmail.com) |
| Sold: |
Chemicals |
| Current profession: |
Finance Manager |
| Best thing about your job: |
Selling cleaner door to door gave me the opportunity
to learn the fundamental skills, and confidence
that are required that are required to be a great
salesman. |
| Beau's Story: |
|
| I spent a year selling Pro-Tek for
US Custom Cleaner. I learned more about selling,
and confidence in that year, than I have learned
in the several years since. |
| |
| Name: |
Krystal Stafford (email:
Realmoney325@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Working to become Nurse |
| Best thing about your job: |
The traveling is really great, and the people
are very positive in the jobs. The bosses are very
caring, helpful, and professional and you earn lots
of money. |
| Krystal's Story: |
|
| I came from a crazy environment, so
these lovely people moved me from that, and built
up my confidence. They also brought faith and wisdom
into my life, so now I see clearly, and I know what
I want. My goal is to help people, so I'm becoming
a pediatric nurse. |
| |
| Name: |
George Valentine (email:
globcirculation@hotmail.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
Travel, meeting new people all the time, and helping
the youth of America!!!! |
| George's Story: |
|
| I have to first and foremost thank
God for me getting this job seventeen years ago.
I am now the vice president of the company I started
working for back then. I am from a poor part of
Pittsburgh, PA, my parents never had enough. My
mother passed away when I was ten old, and all the
kids I grew up with (as well as my family members
and teachers at school) always put me down on a
daily basis. When I finally reached California five
days later, it was like a different world. All of
a sudden, I had friends and leaders that wanted
me to succeed. The confidence that gave me is the
reason I am still here today!! Please give our jobs
a chance!!! You never know until you try!! |
| |
| Name: |
Ricky Haibon (email: goldenchild_187@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
Knowing that no matter what happens, I will always
have the knowledge from the crew to take me just
about anywhere I want to go. |
| Ricky's Story: |
|
| Well in a nutshell, I was pretty much
doing nothing before this job, except for various
temp. jobs. Let me tell you. Those kind of jobs
will take you nowhere. It was like my life was surrounded
by dead ends. I was in the U.S. Navy before this
and when I got out my life just became stagnant
and I did not know where I was going or what my
profession was gonna be. Then some situations came
about with my significant other and I pretty much
had nothing, and no one to turn to. Thank God for
the internet!!! I was online and found the ad for
F.R.S., and the rest is history. I have learned
a trade that is insurmountable among any other.
Steve Travis and Belo Kellam have given me more
confidence, experience, knowledge, and character
than even my own family. For that alone I love this
job and this company. I know that this lifestyle
is what I want and that this company will take me
all the way to the top.....and that is just the
beginning. There’s no telling what I will
accomplish, and it is all from the magazine business.
That is my story and I am sticking to it. |
| |
| Name: |
Jeremy Jackson (email: jj@yahoo.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
I got to meet great people who kept me inspired
to become more than what I started out as. |
| Jeremy's Story: |
|
| Before I joined crew I was living
in a hotel in Illinois. A guy named Jim Cornelison
was telling me about the job in a bar attached to
the hotel. I started the job only wanting to do
it for 2 weeks so I could get the $500 that they
start you out with. And when I started talking to
people door to door, I enjoyed the knowledge and
encouragement that they were giving me to keep me
motivated. Well when I first started selling magazines
for Fidelity Reader Service. I was on TKO, and a
month later I got fired for not producing sells.
So my greatest mentor Mr. Steve Travis hired me
and gave me the greatest opportunity of my life.
I went from selling drugs to selling the hell out
of magazines. My very first contest (out of about
89 people), I came in 10th place. My goal was to
come in 20th. The next contest I came in 2nd place,
the 3rd contest I came in 5th, then 5th again. Now
i am in 6th, but the biggest success I got out of
this job was becoming something I never thought
i could be: a role model for others that want to
do something better with their life. My goal is
to be a manager and bring others up, like Mr. Travis
did for me. |
| |
| Name: |
Philip Pontrelli (email:
Belo@frsnaples.com) |
| Sold: |
Magazines |
| Current profession: |
Magazine Sales |
| Best thing about your job: |
Traveling, meeting new people, getting the money
I was worth, learning respect and self-discipline,
doing things as crew together, going bowling, and
going to the movies. |
| |
