Top selling insurance agent, Bryan Smith, has teamed up with the business coachi platform Thrive15 to be a business coach. Thrive15, similar to Lynda and Khan Academy, provides web-based learning video courses, but with a bit of flair coined, “edutainment.” The educational site prides itself on partnering with world-class mentors and successful business people to provide engaging and practical trainings for people who are looking to start a business, grow a business, or advance in their careers. Smith joins other successful mentors on the site that include former Walt Disney World® Resort Executive Vice President of Operations, Lee Cockerell, Golden Gavel and Cavett Award winning speaker, Jim Cathcart, and NBA Hall of Fame basketball player, David Robinson.
Smith’s career as an insurance agent began in 2010 and he has quickly turned it into a successful one so now he can help teach others as a business coach. Within four years of beginning in the insurance industry, Smith has become one of the nation’s most successful insurance agents. Smith attributes his success to the implementation of best-practice sales systems, pig-headed discipline, and the creation of a success-oriented sales organization culture.
Smith’s journey to success has taken many twists and turns. Smith grew up serving as the head of household for his mother and brother after his father deserted them during his early teenage years. Smith still flourished as a student-athlete and had been considered to have potential for starting a professional baseball career. Those aspirations were flattened, however, when he was hit by a drunk driver, effectively ending his hopes for a career as an athlete.
Smith’s persistence and drive in the face of adversity has made him successful and helped him get to where he is today. His insurance business has received several awards including Oklahoma Magazine’s “Best of the Best Award” from 2011-2014.
When Smith isn’t selling insurance, he is dedicated to brining hope to his local community. Smith is actively involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Board, Tulsa Men of Vision, the Chairman’s Circle, and Thrive15.com, where he serves as a business coach and mentor.
Rustic Cuff Founder Teaches Pricing on Thrive15 as Business Coach
Jill Donovan, the founder of Rustic Cuff, has teamed up with Thrive15.com to provide training about effective product pricing as quality business coach. Thrive15.com is an online educational platform boasting engaging video trainings from world-class business mentors such as NBA Hall of Fame basketball player and venture capitalist, David Robinson, WWII veteran and international entrepreneur, Jack Nadel, and Golden Gavel and Cavett Award winning speaker, Jim Cathcart.
After devoting hours to creating jewelry as gifts for friends and family, Donovan decided to start her own business, now Rustic Cuff. Previously Donovan had spent years as a practicing attorney and law professor at the University of Tulsa. Donovan’s business has seen great success creating products that have been featured on the cover of Oprah’s O Magazine, and in other popular publications such as Elle Magazine, Redbook, and Seventeen. Donovan’s cuffs have also been worn by countless celebrities including Oprah, Giuliana Rancic, Britney Spears, and several others.
In her training on Thrive15 entitled Pricing: How to Price Your Product Effectively, Donovan dives into the key factors that should determine one’s pricing. One of the key factors that Donovan used in her own business was recognizing that people enjoyed wearing her products, but with the pricing she had set, they began to devalue her products. She decided that it was essential that she increase her processing to create the perception of higher value.
Some of Donovan’s other courses on Thrive15.com include the titles Refining Your Big Idea into a Big Time Product, Power of Social Proof: 7 Moves for Generating Massive Momentum, and Product Creation: How to Develop a Prototype. Thrive15.com provides practical and entertaining business training for anyone looking to start a business, grow a business, or advance in their careers. Subscriptions, which provide unlimited access to the extensive library of business trainings, start at $19 per month.
NBA Hall of Famer Teaches Effective Decision Making as Business Coach on Thrive15
NBA Hall of Famer and “Dream Team” member, David Robinson, has teamed up with Thrive15.com, the Kahn Academy for business, to teach effective decision making. Robinson who has seen great success both on and off the court is an expert at making key decisions. His course on Thrive15.com, titled Effective Decision Making, is all about pulling the trigger on big decisions and making the best decision based on the information one has gathered.
In his training, Robinson details the ways that he has used to come to key decisions and how business people can use the same systems to make effective decisions as well. Giving an example of a difficult decision, Robinson explains that it is important to try to develop a win-win situation for all parties involved. The next key for any big decision, Robinson says, is making sure that he has enough information and gathers all of the facts that he can. Finally, Robinson says, that it is important that those big decisions align with the vision of the person or the organization. Then, as Robinson explains, “Do your due diligence. That’s the very best you can do. Then you jump.” As Robinson points out, not every decision is going to be a good decision, but he suggests living with the decision and never looking back.
Throughout his career Robinson has experienced great success. He has displayed a great passion for education in San Antonio, which led to the creation of the Carver Academy, a school for elementary-age children in the San Antonio area. Robinson is also one of the co-founders of the $250 million private equity fund, the Admiral Capital Group, whose portfolio includes nine upscale hotels, Centerplate, one of the top hospitality companies in the world, and national sports retailer, Academy Sports + Outdoors.