Benjamin Raymond knows achieving success is rarely an easy road.

“I had to fight for it and grind for it,” said Raymond, the founder and CEO of Raymond Insurance Group. “I had to keep pushing when I wanted to give up.”

Raymond will share more about that lifelong journey to personal fulfillment during the next installment of the BB&T Lectures in Free Enterprise, hosted by the Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia.

The lecture – titled “Playing the Game Without a Coach” – will be held Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 6-7 p.m. at UWG’s Townsend Center for the Performing Arts. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Tickets will be available at the Townsend Center box office starting Tuesday, Sept. 17.

As a child, Raymond spent time in foster care and did not have a lot of stability during his adolescence. Raymond explained he lived with three different families while he was in high school, using focus and dedication to create his own outcomes.

Now, Raymond – who appeared as an agent in a popular State Farm commercial last year – hopes to give back by sharing his story and motivating others who relate to his experiences.

“My goal in this talk is to pour some motivation and love into everyone’s lives,” said Raymond. “Sometimes in life, we can get in a rut as we tackle the tasks at hand, but I want everyone to leave with the ability to visualize their dreams and know how to make them a reality.”

Raymond graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double degree in business and communications and marketing. After spending several years in a corporate setting, Raymond decided to start his own business.

He founded the Raymond Insurance Group in 2007, and it has since become an award-winning company. Raymond also dedicated time to writing his book “Playing the Game Without a Coach,” the basis for his lecture later this month.

Raymond continues to mentor and inspire others who may not have an easy road to success. He credits hard work and dedication as major factors that influence who you become.

“The biggest thing I’d like to leave with everyone is that their decisions, dedication and desire will be the difference in their destiny,” Raymond said. “I want to take them all on my journey so they can apply the lessons I’ve learned to their lives.”