Independent Banker - February 2023 - 48

Alex Sheen
Colin Coggins & Garrett Brown
Alex Sheen wants to inspire others to become better at sticking to the
commitments they make.
" It seems like a lot of people don't keep their promises anymore, " says
Sheen, founder of nonprofit Because I Said I Would. " It used to be that a
handshake meant something. And think about the promises we even make
to ourselves, about our health, family or work, that often go unfulfilled. "
The aim of Because I Said I Would is to help people build resiliency skills
and develop character in order to honor promises. The nonprofit conducts
programs at correctional facilities, including juvenile detention centers,
and also runs after-school chapter programs at high schools.
Each school chapter holds monthly workshops focusing on character
development as well as social and emotional skills. In addition, chapter
members address needs in their local communities through initiatives such
as literacy for youth, community beautification, social connectedness,
food insecurity and care for cancer patients undergoing chemo treatments.
Because I Said I Would also recently acquired property for a summer
camp for young people who have been abused, are experiencing suicidal
ideation or are in bereavement. The nonprofit is working with school
counselors to identify potential scholarship recipients.
Everyone can take away lessons from the philosophy behind Because
I Said I Would, Sheen says. " We focus on self-control, accountability and
honesty-elements that we all wish we had a little bit more of these days, "
he says. " We all have work to do on resiliency skills to keep our promises
and commitments. "
f See Alex Sheen during the general session on Wednesday, March 15.
" The greatest salespeople on the planet are not who people think of when
they think of the word 'sales,' " says Colin Coggins. " In reality, these people
are not overly gregarious, but they are self-aware. If something they are
saying to a prospect doesn't land, they're able to course-correct. "
Coggins, who cofounded Agency18 with Garrett Brown to help missiondriven
organizations improve their employees' leadership and sales skills,
notes that sales skills are important even in a leadership role that has
nothing to do with actual sales. He says a flexible and authentic approach
like he describes above diff erentiates truly great leaders from those who
pretend to be someone they're not, even if it's unintentional.
" They're trying to be whatever version of themselves they think is
going to be successful, " Coggins says. " They don't think they can be their
authentic self to do the job, but the opposite is actually true. "
Brown agrees that the average leader focuses strictly on the mechanics
of their job: building rapport, overcoming objectives, asking for the close
and even being an active listener. While those essentials are important, the
most successful leaders focus most on being authentic.
" If you focus on the mindset and not just the blocking and tackling of
how to sell [or persuade], you come across diff erently, " Brown says. " You're
actually someone who's interested in the person, cares about them and
genuinely wants to help them. "
f Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown will discuss their innovative approach
to leadership during the general session on Tuesday, March 14. Their book,
The Unsold Mindset, is out now.
-Katie Kuehner-Hebert
independentbanker.org // 47
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - February 2023

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