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Education

StreetSmarts SM

Success grows on a strong foundation

By Marc Beauchamp networking, insurance, human resource management
Bankcard Life software, payroll services and eventually ended up as a
finance manager.

Editor's note: We are delighted Bankcard Life founder Marc Beauchamp
signed on to write Street SmartsSM for the coming year. His expertise At 30 years old I had become the number one finance
and enthusiasm for training others to do well in a diversity of payments- manager in the country, but there was one problem: I was
working 10 hours a day, six days per week. This is where I
related specialties is inspiring. Knowing how satisfying a career in pay- gained a key insight that led to a second distinction: that I
ments can be, Marc didn't want to just rest on his own laurels; he wanted was trading time for money. I realized I’d never be able to
to give a hand to others seeking to find a satisfying career of their own. earn the type of income desired and have the freedom to
Writing this column fits right in with that ongoing mission. Please wel- be with my young family unless I made a change.
come Marc. We're certain you'll find value in what he shares this year.
It just so happened a friend of my father’s stopped by
’m honored to have the opportunity to contribute the office and shared details about this new opportunity
to the Street SmartsSM column for the next term. where he could work business hours, no weekends, and
This industry has given me and my family so was making a whopping $336 commission per $49 monthly
I much. I just hope I’ll be able to give back in some lease he sold. He said he was writing five to seven deals
small way to The Green Sheet readership. What a ride it’s per week with preset appointments. With dollars signs in
been over the last 25 years. I’m thankful to Kate and The my eyes, I went in the field with him for a day.
Green Sheet team for providing this platform to share my
thoughts and learnings on the business. Shortly after that, I turned in my resignation to embark on
this new journey. My wife was four months pregnant, and
My story both of our extended families thought I was absolutely
Like many of us, this merchant services industry found crazy to leave a job making over six figures, especially
me by chance. Shortly after being discharged from since we had very little savings in the bank.
the Marine Corps, I was working as a part-time credit Have you ever made a decision that you knew was right,
manager while attending college. One day I came into but the tribe told you it wasn’t possible?
work and found out the company had been taken over by
a competitor, and the majority of the employees were laid My instinct told me that this was where I needed to be. I
off instantly. This was the first major distinction I made in started at my kitchen table, went to work for the company
my business life: I realized there was a difference between of my friends, and quit one month later to open my own
working for someone and working for myself. sales office. I’ve never looked back. I found a business that
created recurring revenue, great upfront commissions,
At the time, I didn’t have the money, experience or provided flexibility. And I could leverage myself through
confidence to go out on my own, so I did the next best others. I was in heaven.
thing: I got into sales. Over the years, I sold computer

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