Who We Are
Give More. Enjoy More.

We're here to help you create better results, better relationships, and more opportunities. (Each feed each other well, don't you think?)

We do it by publishing our fresh, no-fluff messages and ideas in different
ways – in books, booklets, and videos as well as on pocket cards, posters, and many other cool reinforcement items. The idea is to help people (you and your people) keep the good stuff top-of-mind so better things happen.

Our material is helping leaders at thousands of companies, organizations, and school systems get people excited, committed, and focused on what needs to be done.

It's also helping hundreds of thousands of people as individuals (even families) to live engaged lives of contribution and care.

We're real people here and we'd love to help you. Our office is located in Richmond, Virginia but our roots are from all of the United States. Our names... Emily, Jim, Bethany, Joe, Jessie, Collin, and Sam. We're here all week.

Thank you very much (say that like Elvis ... it's more fun).

The Team

Smile & Give

Several years ago, we created a charitable program for our team called Smile & Give. It gives everyone at Give More four days each year to volunteer with the non-profit organizations of their choice.

Also, we contribute 1% of top line sales (1% of whatever comes in regardless of costs) to support causes focused on helping people. It was inspired by Yvon Chouinard's 1% for the Planet program (Chouinard founded Patagonia Inc.)

that encourages companies to give 1% of top line sales to support environmental causes. We got the idea from one of the books we love, The Art of Power. It was in Appendix B (page 199) by Chouinard (appendices have good stuff sometimes).

Some of the groups we've worked with and supported (time and/ or money)...

Our People

Sam Parker Jim Gould Emily Kittrell Jessie Kieffer Joe Gilbert Bethany Frazier Collin Brady

Sam Parker - Writer

I co-founded Give More Media with Jim in early 1998 after selling for more than a decade in several different industries – financial services, pharmaceuticals, joint replacements, office products, and software.

I've written most of the content you'll find at GiveMore.com & JustSell.com. I have a degree in business (marketing) from James Madison University (1987) and speak to groups about many of the topics in my books. My loves: Organizational behavior and shining a light on those small things that can have the biggest impact on results ... and good food ... and my family & friends ... and my co-workers ... and my customers (probably in a different order, of course).

Originally from the Washington D.C. area (grew up in Annandale, VA), I now live in Richmond with my wife Jennifer (an artist), our three kids (although one just went off to college this year) and an 85-pound dog named Sesto (it means sixth in Italian ... as in sixth member of the family).

I frequently thank Jim for being the Master of Business Administration.

Jim Gould

I co-founded Give More Media with Sam in early 1998. Before Give More, I was in sales and management for an international finance company (9 years) led by two terrific mentors (Thanks Otto & Jeanne). Working with them, I learned the value of training & development and eventually created their management, service, and industry training programs.

In 1995, while back in school, I caught the web bug and two years later I joined an Internet banking company (before online banking actually used the web).

I co-authored SalesTough and occasionally guest lecture to university classes on sales, entrepreneurship and online marketing. I graduated from James Madison University (1988) with degrees in finance and international business and received a masters in business administration from George Mason University (1997).

Before coming to Richmond in 2001, I lived and worked mostly in the Washington D.C. area with some brief stints in New York City and Atlanta. I met my wife Lindsay at JMU and together we have three kids (and a dog that weighs 10% of Sam's dog, Sesto). I enjoy coming up with nick-names for Joe.

I secretly wish Sam would become a master in business administration as well.

Emily Kittrell

I'm Richmond born and raised - The Fan District to be exact. I escaped to the mountains of Blacksburg for a bit, where I studied Business Management and Psychology at Virginia Tech.

In the winter of 2009, I adopted my mess of a dog, Sully. He is the true definition of (wo)man's best friend. (And I'm convinced he can understand every word that I say.)

A wonderful opportunity to work with a special needs student brought me back to Richmond. Shortly after the school year ended, I began working in the IT staffing industry, and in June of this year, I found my way to Give More. If you have any questions, concerns, comments or just want to chat - I'm here for you! I also make sure that each and every package is handled (and packed) with extra love.

If I'm not spending time with friends, cooking or enjoying live music, you can find me at Edo's.

Jessie Kieffer

Originally from the Washington D.C. area, I moved to Richmond to go to Virginia Commonwealth University (go RAMS!) ... when I graduated in 2009, I decided to stay. I now live 5 minutes from Give More's office with my fiancé and our 2 dogs.

Here at Give More, I've become known as the Master of Coordination ... need to know how a marketing campaign is going, when that sweet new product is arriving, or have our newest book edited? I'm your girl.

When I'm not keeping us buzzing behind the scenes ... I like to pound the suburban pavement (I run), unleash my inner hash-slinger (I cook), and entertain my k-9 (a chocolate lab).

Joe Gilbert

I go by Joe, JoJo, Jilly, and most often Da Man. I'm the web developer, coder guy who makes all of our sites and emails work. I've been a part of the team for over three years and have loved every second of it.

I graduated in 2008 from James Madison University with a degree in Interactive Media and a minor in Computer Science.

My life outside of work revolves around my wife, Emily, our doggie, Moogie Boots, and our close group of friends and family. I enjoy wine, music, technology, and fancy food. So much so, that in the past two years, I've been to Napa three times ... don't hate.

Bethany Frazier

Before moving to Richmond, I was originally a bona fide Texan (yeehaw, ya'll).

Beyond my contributions to keeping our customers happy and packages shipped (maybe even yours), I help people make good things happen by giving ideas, feedback, and answering any questions about our material and messages.

When I'm not being a badass at work, I keep up with my food blog, dabble in painting, sweat it out in hot yoga, and discover new indie music that eventually goes mainstream (sigh).

Collin Brady

Having worked on family and friend's projects from a very young age, I've always enjoyed working on anything visual and creative. I hail from Long Beach, CA and have spent most of my years traveling around the country, finally settling in Richmond city and finding Give More.

I have a background in art direction in advertising from VCU and love living in the city. I have two Iggies (Italian Greyhounds) and a girlfriend (Tricia) in my family. I enjoy music (and anything related to the Grateful Dead), camping, exploring and the outdoors, and traveling as much as possible.

Timeline

1986

Sam and Jim meet at James Madison University as pledges of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity. Despite what may seem a bit geeky on the surface, the fraternity also had women (called brothers, too... Jim married one, in fact... she's a lady).

Jim would later lead the fraternity while Sam sold people on joining the fraternity.

December 1987

Sam graduates a year and a half early. No. It was actually a semester late. Little did he know, his future wife was graduating in the row in front of him (they didn't connect until 3 years later). She was not a brother.

May 1988

Jim graduates. On time. Of course.

1988 – 1997

Jim changes employers once after 9 years. Sam changes employers 7 times.

Both are in Northern Virginia.

Fall 1997

Sam and Jim meet every couple of weeks for early morning bagels before heading off to their respective jobs... very early.

During one of their discussions, Sam talks about an idea he's had for many years for National Sales Radio, a radio format for salespeople on the road (a group of which he'd been a member for so many years). They both liked the idea but realized how difficult it might be to do something with it when neither had any radio experience. Then Jim asked...

"What if we did it on the web?" and the excitement began.

As they begin thinking things through more formally in the following weeks, Sam whines about his current work situation. He explains how he was talking with his manager about his desire to move into the vacant VP of Sales role and his frustration with the manager's response...

"Would you just sell, Sam? Would you please... just sell?"

Jim smiled. "That's the name."

And they both smiled... and began to move. They smoved.

December 1997

JustSell.com domain is purchased for $90.

January 1998

Budget is broken on a copy of FrontPage 98 so Sam can start learning how to make a real website (please... he's was a salesguy... the noblest of professions).

February 1998

On Friday the 13th, to mock superstition, they incorporate the company as MaxPitch Media Inc., a name they think has a sales ring to it but also implies they'll be working at a "maximum pitch."

Very quickly, the realization that the name is difficult for people to say and remember has them focusing more on the JustSell® brand and name when talking about the company.

Family and friends begin to make investments in this dot-com community for sales managers and professionals. Crazy days in Northern Virginia's AOL country.

Sam and Jim think they'll make money selling things salespeople need (travel, books, training materials, etc.).

Sam begins full time. Jim works before he goes to work and then when he gets home from work.

Sam begins his journey of gaining 30 pounds.

April 1998

On the first, they publish JustSell® on the Internet for the first time.

Jim buys a copy of QuickBooks. Sam cringes at the thought of spending money on accounting details.

June 1998

Jim begins full time (a few days before his second child is born... actually, his wife had the baby).

November 1998

Selling things to the JustSell® community in the first months isn't making enough money to eat. After a few sales training organizations ask to be listed on the site, they launch The Sales Bureau and begin to take paid listings and broker training and keynote speakers.

February – December 1999

Angel money sought, pitched and secured. VCs never thought the potential for the business was big enough (a little demoralizing at the time).

First office space in September (1700 square feet of industrial flex space... very non-sexy, but they loved it).

First technology person hired. First salesperson hired.

January 2000 – February 2001

Got up to a team of about 8 people and tried many different routes to making money... continued brokering of training and speaking, selling website and email newsletter advertising, building a sales recruitment website and selling leads created from news profiles (eventually called Prospect Daily... it was very cool). They even did a couple SalesRadio.com shows.

Sam begins his journey of losing 30 pounds.

March 2001

A bad Northern Virginia commute and an office lease coming up for renewal prompts Sam to blow into Jim's office...

"What the hell are we doing here? We could do this business from anywhere in the country."

July 2001

Company relocates to Richmond, Virginia (the new sales capital of the world).

January 2002

Things get very rough. The team is down to four people total. Cash was frightening (the lack of it).

Sam and Jim make the decision to focus exclusively on selling web and email advertising around the content they were publishing.

February 2002

Things begin to get better.

July 2002

As a personal project, Sam self-publishes 212° the extra degree® as an ebook.

August 2002 – April 2008

The team grows to 24 people. Sales joy continues. Sites to support advertisers are launched. The company starts to sell 212 books, videos, posters, and training material. Lessons are learned.

May 2008

After many years of the MaxPitch name being difficult to remember and say (and meaning absolutely nothing to its customers), the team develops its new name of Give More Media... hoping to help people embrace the fundamental truth that if we give more, we ultimately enjoy more.

Present

Loving our people... those we lead and those we serve.