Sometimes our careers require other parts of our lives to take a backseat. Maybe this means giving up a hobby due to longer days at the office or saying goodbye to a home because you have to relocate. Sometimes our careers can even disrupt our relationships, leaving less quality time for friends and family.
Alec Lewis was posed with this very problem several years into his career with Ford Motors. After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 1991, Lewis started a career with Ford Motors, all with the intent to one day own his own dealership. After years of working toward his goal, the time to take the reigns had finally come. But, when Lewis was filling out the paperwork for his dealership he started having second thoughts. Lewis, whose wife had recently given birth to their son and had a daughter on the way, would have to spend at least three years away from his family while building his business. This was a sacrifice Lewis wasn’t willing to make.
With a newborn son and another baby on the way, Lewis wanted to make a career switch that would allow him to spend quality time with his growing family. After a good friend of Lewis’ suggested he look into a career in the insurance field, Lewis discovered Farmers Insurance and was impressed by the opportunities it offered.
Lewis made an appointment to meet with Brian Bertelli, the district manager at Farmers’ District Office in Olympia. Bertelli told Lewis of the benefits available in doing business in the community where he lived and what it meant to be a “true” business owner. Lewis was excited and after going through training at the District Office in Olympia, in 2002 Lewis opened his very own Farmers Insurance agency in Olympia.
More than 10 years and one big career shift later, Lewis finally owned his own business. And, after his Olympia agency opened, Lewis opened additional agencies in DuPont, Tumwater, and Federal Way. Lewis was experiencing a whirlwind of success – but it didn’t always seem as though it would be this way.
When Lewis received his first paycheck, he was ready to give his resignation. Not used to making so few dollars, Lewis felt as though he had made a big mistake. He marched into the District Office in Olympia, thanked Bertelli for the opportunity, and began to gather his belongings when Bertelli asked Lewis a question. “How many of your son’s baseball games did you make this month?” Bertelli asked. Lewis thought to himself a moment. For the first time in his career, Lewis’ schedule allowed him the flexibility to fully be there for his family. “That was something I was never able to say before,” explains Lewis.
A career that allowed Lewis the ability to spend time with his family was, after all, the driving force that led him to a career change in the first place. Lewis stopped and thought a moment and Bertelli asked another question, “Knowing that’s why you came on board, why would you go back to what you were doing before? It’s only going to get better.
And get better it did. Lewis continued to grow his agency, increase his staff, and eventually added three more agencies to his repertoire. With more success came bigger paychecks, and as his own boss, Lewis was in charge of making his own schedule – which meant he could always be there for his family.
Things were better than good, but they were going to keep getting better. With a toolbox of knowledge and resources in his back pocket, Lewis took on a position as district manager at Farmers Insurance District Office 10 in University Place. In this role Lewis would be able to help train future agency owners to open and operate their own agencies just as successfully as Lewis did.
“I’ve been with the company for 15 years now and right now it doesn’t feel like work,” explains Lewis. He says everyday he goes into work feels like he’s going on vacation. “I’m blessed that my staff is hand picked by me. I get to go to work everyday with people that I truly enjoy hanging out with.”
But, more than just loving his work environment, Lewis lives for making a difference in the lives of the people he works with. Lewis’ wife is a teacher and he says he had always envied that his wife was able to see firsthand the impact she had on her students. “As district manager, I am able to see people come out of college or who are just starting a family and know that they feel secure because they have a successful career. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing that I had a small part in bringing them aboard,” explains Lewis.
Lewis loves his job and looks forward to working with future agency owners in the years to come. “If you’re looking to start your own business or make any type of change in your life,” says Lewis, “you have to be willing to take a risk.”
Are you ready to make a change? If so, Lewis invites you to take a risk with Farmers Insurance and District Office 10, where you will be provided with the knowledge, resources, and tools necessary to successfully start your own business.
For more information about Farmers Insurance or to schedule an appointment and kickstart your career, visit their website or call 253-212-0431.
