A compelling interview with Liberty’s new Business Development Manager Brad Prince. Brad speaks about his passion for Seniors’ Care and what drew him to Liberty.
How long have you worked in security? What drew you to the industry and, specifically, to seniors care?
Short version: I’ve worked in industry for 3 months now (laughing). 1 month in 2007, and 2 months now in 2014. Also, I did some business consulting work with Liberty and a few other small security companies over the past 4 years, so that adds to my industry knowledge.
Longer version: Lot’s of my buddies have sold systems. Like a significant amount of friends over the past 13 years. So I gleaned the moving parts of the security business here and there. I did business school post secondary, so I have been intrigued with the business model and market for such services. I think the directs sales part of what Liberty has done is really cool. I have a great respect for those that succeed at that – the sales reps and the companies that can deploy and manage that direct effort.
Before I started Law School in fall 07, I sold systems for 2 weeks then switched. I got spooked about commissions and a consistent income before grad school, and got a different summer job. I’ll add that I had a decent start of 5 sales in my first two weeks of door-to-door work – so I wasn’t a complete hack. Ironically, I ended up dropping law school after a semester and then got a commission sales job with a high end motor sports outfit here in Edmonton – Martin Motor Sports. After that, I did just over 4 years of small business consulting and that brings us to today.
I was drawn to this role for two reasons.
- Liberty Security – the company, its people, management and culture.
- The opportunity to play an influential role in helping seniors age in their homes with minimal institutional and healthcare requirements. Also, providing greater peace of mind & tools for the elderly person’s loved ones and in-home caregivers.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given professionally that you feel you utilize on a daily basis?
I like this question. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive lots of really good advice (I’ll share 3, not just 1, if you don’t mind).
1.) Ask people you trust for good advice. Watch how she/he works and pay particular attention to the small details of how they interact and live their lives. Ask specific questions of them, regarding what really interests you. Get curious.
2.) Continue in the pursuit of professional development & learning. Earl Nightingale said, “You’ll find boredom where there is the absence of a good idea”. So continue to look for good ideas: read & discuss good books relevant to being human, being a family member, your industry, and your specific profession. When you get bored, bad things happen.
3.) The other piece of good advice is to not be afraid. Another Earl Nightingale quote – “Whenever we’re afraid, it’s because we don’t know enough. If we understood enough, we would never be afraid”.
I like good quotes too. I’m sure you figured that.
How does this set you apart from others in this same industry?
We have a really good product and service offering (to read more about Liberty’s InTouch System, click here. It is a great idea, and more importantly, it works really well. It really helps families. Like most of us, I love my family – immediate or just social family. This family structure has always connected generations. Anything that any of us have, has come from previous generations: this free country, our strong economic situation, our vibrant city and province…it is all a product of our foremothers and fathers. I want my elderly loved ones to be able to age in the way they want, and still be safe. This is the service that drives me. I’m not bored, because it is such a good product and we have lots of elderly friends out there to help.
So professionally, I’ve learned what’s available out there. I’ve learned the details of how other services are provided, and grasp how they are all different. I’m also very keen to keep up with how these kinds of services & technology develop and evolve.
In terms of the “never be afraid part”: as salespeople and marketers, I think we waste so much time worrying about what “we might do or say” and how people “might react” and how that “might make us feel as a result”, and so forth. It is all quite selfish sounding. Not that it can come all at once or that I think my 8 year old, for example, can be fearless tomorrow, or that I am fearless now – because I am not. But it is a progression. When you care enough for others and you have a grasp on communication, then it is natural to reach out and want to know people better, be able to understand them better and help more. When you have a product that can serve people really well, the natural extension is to let people know about it. This is my role: to educate as many people as possible that our product exists and it can help our elderly loved ones and their caregivers…and it can start helping right now, in a way that products in this space have never done before.
To get back to your question: this kind of mindset, I believe, sets me apart.
Written by Alex Watz
