Conrad Franey, one of the original partners of top distributor Gateway/CDI and former vice president at Brand Addition (asi/202515), has shared the lessons he has learned in his 25-year career in the promotional products industry in a new book.

The Elements of Success: Using Preparation and Perseverance to Achieve Maximum Results contains nearly 100 pages of insights and advice for thriving in the workplace. Franey lists 29 habits necessary for achieving professional success and personal happiness, offering anecdotes and real-life experiences to support his theories.

“People tell me it’s common sense, but knowing these things and actually executing them are different,” Franey told Counselor. “Nobody does this all the time, but if you try to do at least some of it, you’ll see progress. The successful and happy people in the world tend to do this kind of stuff.”

From being polite and cultivating a positive attitude, to executing time management skills and dressing appropriately for your audience, to even following simple steps such as smiling more and putting your cellphone down, Franey’s elements of success touch on all aspects of your daily life. “I love this industry. I’ve made a lot of friends and some good money,” he said. “But oftentimes, I think we’re our own worst enemy. There is a lack of professionalism and preparation throughout the industry. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, so I’m trying to give back and share what I’ve learned.”

After earning a journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Franey worked as a foreign correspondent for The Stars and Stripes and as a reporter and editor for both The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Sporting News. After hearing about a job opening at St. Louis-based incentive and marketing company Maritz, he was intrigued by the thought of international travel and relentlessly pursued the position, which he recalls in his book.

A decade later, Franey left Maritz to partner with Chuck Fandos and lead Gateway in becoming a multimillion-dollar Top 40 distributorship. “Conrad has managed hundreds of people in his career and is an excellent communicator,” Fandos says. “His experience, straightforward communication skills and common sense approach make this message one everyone should take to heart. It is simple and easy to follow and puts the responsibility for success where it belongs – on the reader.”

After Gateway/CDI was sold to Brand Addition, the largest distributorship in the U.K., in 2016, Franey retired from the industry and launched The Elements of Success Consulting Group. With a quarter-century of knowledge and experience, he has decided to impart his wisdom upon the next generation of business leaders and professionals. “I used to run Gateway University, which was a collection of ongoing training classes for our employees,” Franey says. “The Elements of Success was a class, so I’ve been teaching versions of this for some 20 years. Now I want the rest of the industry, and people from any industry really, to learn what it takes to be successful.”

The Elements of Success: Using Preparation and Perseverance to Achieve Maximum Results is available at www.eoscg.com. Franey is also available for presentations and speaking opportunities.