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My goal is to provide useful employment/career information that enables you to make informed decisions about your work life. The current employment landscape is more than a notion. To succeed in this highly competitive environment you will probably need to step outside of your comfort zone.

Our guest, Lou Alexander, certainly stepped outside of his comfort zone. Lou graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Rhetorical Studies. After a stint in the NFL, he is now a sales leader whose passion is to cultivate and develop new sales reps. 

Growing up in Linwood, California, the youngest of ten children, Lou always felt that he had to prove himself. When he started playing football at 15, he felt that he had found his purpose. With this motivation, he started to dedicate himself to improve his health, wellness, and discipline. After high school he received a full ride to Syracuse University, and then landed in the NFL. Not taking that opportunity seriously, he was subsequently cut from the team.

With $22 to his name, Lou was flying to a football workout in Boston when a man walked onto the plane that caught his attention. He used his curiosity and courage to ask one question. “Can you help me?”  The gentleman replied, “How can I help you?”

After 45 minutes of pure, authentic conversation, Lou discovered that the man was a tech investor. “Ten days later I was working for him as a sales rep, and now as a sales director.” Lou beams with pride. “In that situation, my courage had to outweigh my pride.”

When talking about his experience Lou says,

“I was able to progress quickly because I did the prep work. I had to be mentally prepared and willing to perform. I had to ask the right questions and be receptive of his teaching. A lesson I quickly learned is that it is okay to not do a great job the first time around. These are lessons you can use to grow. I had to be teachable and vulnerable. I learned to consider feedback a gift.” “I teach those coming behind me to consider who they are surrounding themselves with.”  “You need people who are forcing you to come out of your comfort zone,” advised Lou.

“I teach those coming behind me to consider who they are surrounding themselves with.”  “You need people who are forcing you to come out of your comfort zone,” advised Lou 

Advice that Lou leaves with us today is: 

• Be different. Wear your story like a badge of honor.
• Be solution oriented and methodical. Understand the job that you are persuing. 
• Persevere and be courageous. You are going to step out beyond the masses and do a better job than anybody that you are stepping in front of.

A bonus tip:  Create a 120-day goal plan for yourself and hold yourself accountable to the things that you say that you are going to do. You will be amazed at what you will be able to do.