Charles Medlicott > First Investors Office Manager

"If you surround yourself with good, hard-working people who share a common goal—great things will happen."

I began my career with First Investors in 1991. I was young and motivated, with a strong desire to succeed. I set an average of 15 appointments a week but it was still a struggle. However, I always believed that failure was not an option, so I forged ahead and stayed focused on future growth.

It was not until 1995 that my career really took off. That year, my manager, who had recognized my potential, brought me with him to open a new office. Under his focus and guidance, my skills really developed and grew. In 2002, when he offered me the opportunity to manage the office, I jumped at the chance.

Since then, I've faced challenges, made mistakes and learned from each one. I wanted to make my office a top ten office, a goal that eluded me the first few years, but I kept at it. We had a breakthrough year in 2007 – 2008, and I attribute that success to the strength of my team. I inherited a great core of senior representatives and a new assistant manager, who all contributed greatly to our winning year.

My manager continues to offer me guidance and sound advice. He reminds me that when a leader loses focus, everyone around him will lose focus too. Our office encountered a stumbling block at one point this year—but instead of giving up, we analyzed our problems. I thought back to something the President of First Investors had said at the 2007 Convention—and which someone repeated at our Managers' Conference in March—"If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got." So we changed our tactics, refocused our goals, and ended up finishing the year as the #8 office in the Company.

I strongly believe that if you surround yourself with good, hard-working people who share a common goal—great things will happen. Over the years, I have been privileged to work alongside many talented people. They all have different personalities, but each one has played a role in shaping my career. I am very proud of the team at my office, whose teamwork helped us break through the top-ten barrier, and lay the foundation for years to come. I am also grateful to my wife, Barbara, who has been there and supported me throughout my career.

We work in a tough but wonderful business, and I have resolved to always persevere and never quit. I hung the following poem on my office wall as a reminder:

When things go wrong
As they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
-Anonymous

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