What if you could land a six-figure career before even graduating college? That’s exactly what Cade Cook did. At just 23, Cade was a nursing student balancing two jobs, uncertain if the hospital path was for him. Fast forward two and a half years, and he’s now a full-line rep in medical device sales, running his own business at a distributorship and making over six figures.

This is his story.

Why Nursing Didn’t Fit

Cade grew up wanting to help people, which is why he went to nursing school at the University of Akron. But after years of clinicals—especially during COVID—he saw overworked nurses, medication errors, and burnout everywhere. Conversations with instructors often ended with, “We don’t really like the job.”

That shook him. Cade knew he wanted a career helping people, but he also wanted freedom, fulfillment, and growth. Nursing wasn’t checking all the boxes.

The Aha Moment

During a cardiovascular ICU rotation, Cade met a pharmaceutical rep who brought in Chick-fil-A and chatted with the staff. That job looked different—lighter, freer, and more fulfilling. Research led him to medical device sales, where his hands-on personality and competitive edge seemed like a perfect fit.

That’s when he connected with Jacob and joined the New To Medical Device Sales program. Before Cade even graduated with his BSN, he had already broken into the industry.

The Hustle That Paid Off

Balancing school, two jobs, and networking wasn’t easy. Cade cold-called reps on LinkedIn, tracked conversations on a spreadsheet, and studied surgical trays at night. His hunger and willingness to grind set him apart.

Eight months in, Cade was promoted from associate to full-line rep—a leap most people say takes years. He proved that when you act like the job is already yours, opportunities come faster.

Why a Distributorship?

Instead of chasing a “safe” W-2 job at a big company, Cade joined a distributorship. Here’s why:

• Family feel: With only 15 people on the team, Cade felt valued and supported.
  
  
• Flexibility: He gets to sell across 12 different companies’ products instead of being tied to just one. If a surgeon doesn’t like one option, he always has a backup.
  
  
• Patient-first mindset: Cade chooses what’s best for the patient, not just what hits quota. That honesty builds trust and long-term business.
  
  

Of course, it comes with challenges—less formal training, juggling case coverage, and running his business as a 1099 rep. But Cade embraced it all, learning taxes, expenses, and leadership along the way.

Lessons Learned in Two Years

Here are some takeaways from Cade’s journey so far:

• Respect everyone. Doctors may ask the staff what they think of you. Treat everyone—from scrub techs to front desk—with equal respect.
  
  
• Do the job to get the job. Want to be a territory manager? Start acting like one. Cover cases, set up lunches, and show initiative.
  
  
• Grind smart. Early on, he studied every night and took trays home. That effort earned him trust and faster promotions.
  
  
• Be patient-first. Reps who recommend what’s best for patients—even if it’s not their product—earn lifelong credibility.
  
  

Advice for Newcomers

Cade’s message for anyone trying to break into medical device sales is simple:

• Do it. Don’t let fear or “lack of experience” stop you.
  
  
• Network hard. Talk to people, ask questions, and learn about their daily lives.
  
  
• Play the long game. Sales cycles can take months or even years, but patience pays off.
  
  
• Love the grind. The reps who go the extra mile end up winning the most.
  
  

Final Thoughts

Cade Cook’s story proves that age, background, or “lack of experience” doesn’t define your future. At 25, he’s already running his own business, supporting surgeons, and making a real impact, all because he bet on himself and embraced the hard path.

Whether you’re in nursing, another clinical field, or a completely unrelated job, the truth is the same: if you’re willing to hustle, learn, and put patients first, you can create a career you love in medical device sales.

If Cade can do it, so can you.

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All the best,

Jacob McLaughlin