In this powerful episode of It’s Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast, host Sharon sits down with Kevin Ramsay to explore what it truly means to shift from having a job to building a meaningful career. They begin by unpacking the mindset differences between simply earning a paycheck and intentionally growing in your profession. Kevin, who started as a farmhand in Saskatchewan and rose through the ranks in the auto industry before becoming a leader in water treatment sales, shares how aligning purpose with work can lead to lasting fulfillment. He emphasizes that when employees feel invested in and valued, their motivation and loyalty skyrocket—and employers benefit just as much.
Kevin recounts his journey from distrusting sales to redefining it through integrity and service. His success at Culligan stems from a culture of comprehensive training, strong mentorship, and authentic care—from both employer and employee. His story illustrates how loyalty and trust are cultivated through consistent investment in people—highlighting that great leaders don’t micromanage; they listen, support, and create environments where their teams can thrive.
The conversation wraps up with key takeaways for both employers and employees: career growth stems from mutual respect, shared purpose, and a belief in the greater good. Kevin’s advice to leaders is clear—invest in your people, be transparent, and help them align their personal goals with company goals. And for employees, he urges them to bring a mindset of ownership, service, and self-awareness. Whether you’re looking to build a lasting career or a sustainable team, this episode is packed with heartfelt wisdom, leadership insights, and inspiration to build workplaces where people truly want to stay.
About Kevin Ramsay
Kevin Ramsay is a dedicated sales leader whose career is rooted in hard work, community values, and a passion for helping others. Raised on a farm in Neilburg, Saskatchewan, Kevin’s early experiences shaped his strong work ethic and people-first approach. After working in the auto industry for over 20 years—holding roles from mechanic to top-performing sales consultant—he realized that true fulfillment came not just from what he did, but from how he did it: with purpose, honesty, and heart.
Kevin has thrived at Culligan, where he now serves as Sales Manager across multiple locations. He’s played a key role in growing the business by focusing on client relationships, ethical service, and team development. Kevin leads with empathy and integrity, believing that the only sustainable advantage a company has is its people. His commitment to mentoring, continuous learning, and treating every customer like family has helped build a culture of trust and excellence—turning everyday jobs into lasting careers.
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Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions:
Contact Kevin Ramsay | Culligan Water:
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Transcript
Sharon 00:16
Welcome to It's Time for Success: The Business Insights podcast. Today's episode is from job to career and why it matters. So today's episode is what I think every business owner and every employee needs to hear. We're diving into a powerful conversation about the difference between having a job and building a career, and there's a big difference. A job is something you do, a career is something you grow into.
As business owners, we know how much time, money and energy it takes to find the right people, then train them, mentor them and help them succeed. But culture doesn't build itself. Vision doesn't carry itself forward. It takes people who are brought in, who see your business as a place they can grow with, not just clock in and out, and as employees, especially those starting out, it's easy to see work as just a paycheck, but when you shift your mindset from job to career, everything changes. You take more pride, you gain more purpose, and you start carving out a future that fits who you want to become.
Today's guest, Kevin Ramsay shares his honest journey from picking rocks on a prairie farm to building deep, lasting relationships in the auto industry. His perspective on work, loyalty and purpose is something we can all learn from, no matter where you are in your journey. If you're an employer trying to build a culture that lasts, or someone wondering what's next in your work life, this episode will inspire you to dig deeper and think bigger. Let's dive in here. Ready? Kevin?
Kevin grew up on a farm near Neilburg, Saskatchewan, where hard work, family values, and community shaped who he is today. He spent over two decades in the auto industry wearing many hats, from mechanic to media manager to top-performing sales consultant.
What stands out about Kevin isn't just his career path, it's his outlook on life, work and relationships. He's someone who leads with heart, stays grounded in his roots, and has built a reputation for integrity, connection and resilience. Whether you're in business or navigating career changes, or just trying to figure out your next move, there's a lot to learn from Kevin's story today. Kevin, you have a bit of a commitment to our listeners right off the get go here. Why do employees stay? How do they grow and how do they thrive in their new roles? So Kevin, why is this so valuable for both employers and employees?
Kevin 02:37
I always say the only sustainable competitive advantage that you have are your people.
Sharon 02:44
It is, it's so true. They represent everything you built, so thank you for that. Let's talk a little bit about how you got into sales and what kept you in the industry for 30-plus years. Kevin,
Kevin 02:55
Yeah, it was a very odd journey. So Ross Ulmer had become a mentor of mine at a young age when I started working for him at Ulmer Shev as the mechanic that you had mentioned. And I worked through that time in my life, got my journeyman left for college, and then after college, I got the opportunity for my quote, dream job, which took me to Edmonton, and I was there for about a year with the Advanced Research Park developing laser storage for computers. But I never, ever saw my family, and quickly realized there's, there's a diff...