Editor's note: We put the cart before the horse with our first blog posting, getting right into Cory's strategies. Many of you asked, "Who is this wise man with so much to say?" So we back up here and give you the backstory.
My name is Cory Michael Dmetro Andrichuk.
I was born on Feb. 11, 1972 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to Ukrainian parents. I grew up in the travel industry. You will often hear me say that I have over 40 years of travel industry experience and this is because my parents owned and operated a specialized cruise/travel retail agency all my life. I like to say that as soon as my umbilical cord was cut, they put me to work stamping brochures in the family business.
I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs. Over the years, I watched my parents work hard, sell travel, deal with clients, and coach and mentor staff. They quickly became my first role models. Today, my mother, a home-based travel entrepreneur, is still in the business and currently sells a million dollars in cruise sales a year!
I have a degree in Sociology. In 1997, I graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. During my university studies, I began my entrepreneurial career by combining my love of travel, technology and coaching into my own company called Web-Tech Designs. The company focused on Internet education, consultation and website design. As a result of this enterprise, I was able to graduate debt-free!
I am an early adapter. I continued along my career path by taking a position as an independent contractor with Shaw Cable Systems in 1997. I helped pioneer the 'Super Internet Highway' by introducing Internet cable-modem technology in Western Canadian markets. I was recognized as a top performer and given the opportunity to initiate and advance sales relationships with small and medium sized businesses in the corporate market.
I have worked with some of the biggest and best companies. As a result of my strong and valued reputation in business and the travel industry, Carnival Cruise Lines recruited me in 1998. They assigned me to one of the company's largest territories in Canada, giving me the title of Business Development Manager. I grew market share by 55 percent and achieved the top sales awards with three brands, Carnival, Seabourn and Cunard.
I have won many sales awards. In 2002, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) offered me Western Canada as a territory to manage, which resulted in my moving to Surrey, 20 miles outside of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
In less than three years, I was nominated "Regional Star" and in 2005 I achieved "Global Salesman of the Year" for NCL. I was promoted in 2006 and spent two years devoted to the growth and profitability of 25,000 home-based travel agents, which included managing six elite home-based travel head office organizations - over $30 million dollars in total sales.
I am an entrepreneur. In 2009, I launched my own business coaching practice, brandUcoaching. I became a highly-specialized business coach who inspired and motivated travel entrepreneurs to achieve great results! I spent the last five years working with this unique group, helping them brand themselves, enhance their sales skills and develop their true entrepreneurial mindset.
I am not afraid to try new things. I expanded my horizons in 2013 by becoming a contracted facilitator with Fusion Learning, a highly regarded sales facilitation company. Through them, I facilitate sales training with companies in the financial industry, primarily credit unions.
I live a balanced life. I live in Lindell Beach, B.C., Canada (2 hours east of Vancouver) with my wife, Cheri and two of my sons, Evan and Caden. My eldest son, James, lives in Surrey, B.C. and is engaged to get married to his beautiful fiance, Nisha (my future daughter-in-law) this fall (so proud!).
I love to travel (45+ cruises and 15 countries later, but who's counting?!?), music, working out, cooking, playing/ coaching rugby, baseball, soccer and spending time with my family.
I fancy myself a great martini mixer and love to entertain! In the future, I would like to write a book on my life experiences, which would include the practice of selling and branding yourself.
I am excited about the future. I am proud of what I have accomplished over the years; however, I know that my true life's calling has just begun. My hope is that you will join me on this journey together and continue the conversation on my facebook page here.
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