Collect Names Not Titles

The Amazing Triad at Victra

Early on in my career, I had a number in my head that would allow heaven to open up and shine some magical ray of sun on me. It was a very biblical moment I visualized in my head.

The result when I was only 31 years old ended up being not as biblical as I would have hoped. Honestly, it was darn right depressing. At 31, I had just hit a HUGE career milestone in a single commission check and sat there feeling empty.

About six months later, while speaking with my mentor I came to understand what happened that day. For thirty years I had chased a number with nothing else in mind. Along the way, I failed to miss that what was actually propelling me to success was not a number, but actually the people's lives I was affecting along the way. That simple understanding that my success was not because of the zeros on a check or the title after my name changed me forever.

All these years later, I explain to countless people that how I NOW measure my success by the names of the people I can say I got to work alongside that are now achieving amazing things. Talented individuals that took themself from a call center floor, sales pit, or just some entry-level job now leading others to achieve greatness.

Tonight I wanted to celebrate just a few of those people I have had the honor to know and watch their success blossom over the past years. Please know this is not my entire list, as that would be a LONG list. These are just a few that inspire me every day to keep pushing to find one more for the list.

  • Shane Oskins - Shane and I met while both working for The Connection. Shane, at the time, was a floor supervisor that we choose to tap to be a Program Manager for a program of mine. Shane's leadership and determination helped him continue to succeed, and today Shane is the Director of Business Implementation for MTM.

  • Rodney M. Smith - In my first management role, Rodney was one of my first ever employees. The career he has created for himself in sales is a regular reminder of how important it is never to stop learning to be a better leader and that no matter how bad a leader you are, your team can still succeed. LOL! Today Rodney is the Director of Sales and Market Development at Plex Systems.

  • Carolyn Barcus - A person once told me that a sales leader is only as good as the person running account management. In my career, I have had the honor to know a few amazing heads of Account Management, and Carolyn was certainly one of the greats. Carolyn and I met when she took her first-ever Director role at The Connection. She was beyond nervous, but with a tight jaw, she was able to get things done. Today her career is still shining bright as the Director of Vendor Risk Management at Prime Therapeutics.

  • Michael "Doc" Dye - Doc stepped into my life during a consulting job. He was then still just known as Michael, working as a Supervisor. Doc was one of the few Supervisors that took my offer to reach out if they needed any help. It happened right when he became a casualty of the COVID layoffs. Seeing raw talent within him, I took him under my wing as a Customer Success Advocate. He later proved himself an invaluable resource in building a channel solution and BDR team. Today Doc is an SDR for Nintex, where he is working on perfecting the sales side of his career. He is one I watch closely as I know for a fact Doc will be the head of some major team in the next few years!

  • "The Triad" (Caddius, Jake, and Daniel) - The newest additions to my list Caddius, Jake, and Daniel are three Line of Business Directors for a contact center I had the honor to consult with. The nickname of, The Triad, got applied to them to acknowledge that together they are the most powerful "Leader" I have seen. All three come from a unique pedigree of sales and customer service retail experience that has prepared them very well for their new adventure leading the fastest growing teams in the company. Their story is just getting started, but one I mention as I got to be there as it began in the contact center, and I am certain will end with all three of them at VP or in the C-Suite ranks at some point in their careers.

  • There are so many more names for this list like Nic Dartnell, Jacob Britt, Richard "Hutch" Hutcherson, Doug Miracle, and on and on and on... Every name is just as important as the rest and all of them have affected so much change in the people that have had the opportunity to know them.

My hope for all of you reading this that may be chasing a number like I was for so long to realize that a number will never bring you near the satisfaction in your career as names and stories like those I share above. Being there to watch any part of a person's career is amazing, but when you can be there for a major moment in their career, there are no words to express the joy you will feel as you watch what they do next.

These stories are what drive me to be better each day. These people remind me that a simple word of encouragement or high-five can literally change a person's life forever.

To All of Your Success and Prosperity!

Michael McMillan

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