When John was introduced to Primerica, it was 1980 and he was going into his seventh year as a defensive back in football, playing three years for the New England Patriots and three for the Philadelphia Eagles. He had been a teacher/coach for 1½ years before football and was still substitute teaching in the off season to earn extra income. He saw Primerica not only as an opportunity for off season income but he also recognized that it was his “only way to be free.” He was having success in Primerica during the four months after he joined and it was the first thing he had been excited about outside sports. Therefore, in May of 1980 when it was time to get ready for football, John evaluated his options as an athlete after seven years and decided to go full time in Primerica. He became an RVP in 1982, earned his first $100,000 in 1986, $200,000 in 1996 and $300,000 in 2000. He became an SVP in 1986 and a National Sales Director in 1989. John has 238 representatives in his hierarchy and eight RVPs. Four of the RVPs are $100,000 earners.

John and Barbara have been married 37 years. They met at Camp Pioneer in Pearl , Mississippi in the summer of 1967 and married five years later during John’s senior year in college at the University of South Dakota where he was playing football. They have four adult sons, Jon-Tamrod (JT), Keenon, Jamal and Justin, who are all licensed in Primerica. They all had the honor of being presented as an exemplary Primerica family and spoke before 50,000 people at the company’s international convention in 2001. The Sanders have four grandchildren, ages one to seven.

John and his older sister were raised in Chicago where his mother worked as a kindergarten teacher and his father as a postal clerk. His dad was a deacon in the church and later a minister. Barbara was one of eight children, born and raised in Jackson, MS. Her mother was a homemaker and her father a plumber. They grew up in the church and with a life of service. Presently, at their church, John is chairman of the deacon board, and on Sunday mornings they prepare breakfast for the homeless. In addition, they are integrally involved with Camp Pioneer , a Christian nonprofit ministry whose goal is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with young people.

The camp is very dear to John and Barbara where they worked several summers in high school and college, and continue to be involved in the ministry. John and Barbara moved to Kansas City after college, where he taught high school social studies. After he began playing football, they moved to Jackson to be closer to their family. Not finding a home that suited them, they moved into a mobile home on the camp property and stayed there for a couple of years. They later purchased a house in the city of Jackson but in 1985 decided to build on five acres of land across the street from the camp in Pearl , MS , a suburb of Jackson . During the school year, Barbara volunteers as a tutor, driver for the van, and public relations and development director. During the month of February, John and Barbara coordinate a marriage enrichment weekend for married couples. In the summer program they have served in various capacities including camp director, program director, and maintenance director. All of the Sanders’ sons have worked in the summer camping program and in the summer of 2009, Justin (age 22) served as the program director, following in his mother’s footsteps. Annually, John Sanders and Associates (the Primerica business) sponsors a year end appreciation dinner for all the camp staff (about 40 people) at a very nice local restaurant. Camp Pioneer is the Sanders’ mission work and Primerica gives them the freedom to engage in it.

Primerica has changed their lives in other ways also. John and Barbara work together as a team in the business; neither has a j-o-b. They have the opportunity to meet and help many people and watch them grow. They have been on numerous company trips to fabulous locations and have taken many trips on their own to places such as London/Scotland, Acapulco , Hawaii (numerous times), San Francisco , Bahamas and Puerto Rico . In 1987, they were MVPs of Primerica and have also been MVPs with the SuperTeam, among many other awards they have earned. John’s highest income in Primerica in one month is $42,000; he made $50,000 a year as a football player in the 1970’s.

When asked what his goals are going forward, John said, “My number one goal is to be the best husband I can be to Barbara.” He also wants to become a Senior National Sales Director and to have at least 10 persons direct to him who earn $100,000 or more (which Barbara says will help him to be a better husband to her).

Team name: “Sanders Tenacious Crusaders” – When this name was decided, he and his team were on a crusade (as they still are) to “destroy cash value life insurance, the worse savings program the world has known. ‘Crusade’ suggests ongoing, never over. ‘Tenacious’ suggests a different toughness, an understanding that you’re in for a battle.”

States: Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, California, Washington, Indiana, Louisiana

Guiding principle: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Advice to new reps: “This is a marathon, not a sprint. Therefore, focus on long term gratification and give your efforts time to mature. The full bloom takes time. Build a business that will last.”

Advise to long timers: “Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”

Other words of wisdom: “Be proud. Be tough. Attack.”

• Proud – “You must feel good about what we do because we take a stand.”
• Tough – “You’ll be challenged so you must be tough.”
• Attack – “In order to grow, you must attack your goals daily.”