But, just because you are now doesn't mean it's going to stay that way forever.
Because there comes a time during every agency's growth where the potential is challenged.
It's how that potential is handled and transitioned that has a good chance to separate you from the pack.
That's what I talk to Landon Bentham, of Callahan and Rice Insurance, about as he questions the longevity of his growth.
P.S. The Agency Nation newsletter can certainly extend the growth you're looking for.
No one wants to tell someone they're not doing a good job, that's why accountability can be a tricky thing.
Even worse, no one really wants to not pay someone because of that lack of effort.
However, if your agency adopted a compensation model that both punished and reward for that behavior, you might start experiencing completely different outcomes.
That's what I talked to Jason Cass, of The Insurance Alliance and Agency Intelligence, about as he details how he pays his people.
P.S. We'e been know to hold people accountable here from time to time.
There's a good chance it might all come down to communication and how much may or may not be happening.
It's always the person who has something to say that's responsible for the action after they say it.
Which certainly includes no action at all. That's where we find ourselves more often then we should across the industry.
These are just a few of the things I sat down to talk with Bill Sager, Executive Director and Jeff Grice State National Director for AIIA in Alabama.
The truth is, it's what you do best and it's really hard to give people too many facts about it.
However, one thing that usually goes dramatically overlooked is your ability to tell an emotional story all the way to the sale.
It's always dangerous to play with emotions, but highly rewarding if executed properly.
That's what I talked to Avery Moore, of ECI Insurance, about as she starts to questions her factual approach.
Because if you haven't taken the time to figure it out, there's a good chance you'll never know.
Once that question has been answered you can figure out where the help should come from.
That help should be properly positioned to grow the agency where the expectations are currently sitting.
That's what I talked to Bogus Handzel, of Handzel and Associates, about as he tried to figure out where to get his from.
P.S. People have said there's a lot of successful help happening here.
That uncertainty is what needs eliminated for any progress to be made.
More work has to be done, language changed and expectations elevated (get it). Once they are it becomes a lot more exciting to see what happens next.
In order to get there, a detailed process needs to be established from the beginning.
They only question is if you're able put all the pieces in the right place.
Original Extended Version: No One Wants to Request a Quote
P.S. We talk about a lot of those details inside the Agency Nation newsletter.
We've all been dealing with the aftermath in our own way, however after a couple of days as legendary as that, we had to get together and talk about them.
By now you've seen not one, but two accounts of the conference, it only seems fitting to add a fireside chat to record.
This is the first conversation Ryan, Sydney and I had with each other since we left Cleveland, I wasn't kidding when I said we were #DealingWithIt.
If you didn't make or just want to revisit the vibe through the sweet tones of our voices, this is your chance.
P.S. This is where you need to be if you want to make sure you don't miss out on Elevate 2019.
Honestly, the choice is yours initially. However, as you start to see what's involved it should become painfully obvious.
When you rise to the Insurance Mindset Challenge, you're requiring that business goes where it goes, you're able to extensively "speak the language" of the industry you're trying to serve and finally have to try and make something of your next company rep marketing meeting.
That's what I talked to Ryan Anderson, of Alliance Insurance Group, about as he starts to build his.
P.S. You should really see what going on in this newsletter.
It doesn't matter if it means moving office locations, encouraging people not to show up there or deciding once and for all who your best client is.
Taking that decision to the the next level is something that has a ridiculously good chance of helping.
Once you decide who and what are involved it because a lot easier to support them.
That's what I talk to Alex Dopazo, of Dopazo and Associates about, as he explains the support he gets.
It would actually cease to be a topic of discussion and occupy a level of normality never seen before.
It's something that some of us have to remember to take a step back on, in the best way possible.
It's in this realization that possibly exposes how big of a gap we need to close.
I've recorded thousands of minutes worth of podcasts and never have I been more nervous or concerned about the first five in this episode.
The only catch is you have to follow them down their rabbit hole to find out if it's worth your time.
Even then it could be months, maybe even years, before you realize the full scope of what's possible (and what's not).
Instead of diving head first into a line of business that might allow you to engage with people you enjoy doing business with.
That's what I talked with Tim Hoelle, of Tuscano, about to figure out how they can help you get good at what you know.
Connect with Tim here:
P.S. Sometimes we have an agenda, but there's plenty of opportunity here.
It's during that construction process that you'll truly be tested on the strength of your structure.
But that's exactly what will happen if you want to try and reach your creative potential.
One of the only ways to do it is to have the proper support around.
That's what I talk to Woody Brown, of The Rhodes Group, about as he attempts to embrace his.
P.S. There plenty of support inside the Agency Nation Newsletter.
The only thing you have to do is tell them what they want to know.
That's the hard part and only something a valued "objective" third party can do.
You're that third party, some might even call you an advisor.
That's a resposability you take very seriously, however there's a good chance your getting serious about way too late.
The sooner (see earlier) you start the advising process the easier it will be for them to find you.
That's what I talk to Ed Monson, of Monson Insurance, about as he starts to connect the dots after it happened to him.
P.S. We don't have a billion dollars for ads, but we do have a billion ways to help your agency.
It's by embracing the advanced systems (and automation) at every turn that will make your life easier.
It's everything from managements systems to the process behind video proposals.
If these tools are deployed at the right time in your agency insurance gets a lot cooler.
Connect with Erin here:
P.S. The Agency Nation newsletter isn't a bad place to start either.
Joey Coleman took the stage at Elevate 2018 to show everyone just how powerful that short amount of time can be for your business.
Your only chance is to be obsessed with your agencies on-boarding process to constantly reaffirm their decision.
The less you do the more fear and anxiety you allow to creep in and take control of the next buying decision they have to make.
Check out Joey's Book:
Connect With Joey here:
P.S. The Agency Nation newsletter can make at least half of those 100 days better.
All you have to be willing to do is say something (anything) about them before they do about you.
That shouldn't be that hard because it's certainly an idea that 99 percent of businesses are uncomfortable with.
However, once you realize just how powerful it is and how little you have to say, there's a good chance you accept it.
That's what I talked to Sean Halpin, of MJH Insurance, about as he tries to iron out the wrinkles in his competition grabbing strategy.
P.S. The Agency Nation newsletter will help you stay far away from your competition, you should try it.
It's this disproportionate balance of activities that usually leads to burnout and despair.
Let's be honest, there's a reason you made it this far in this industry and rarely does it have anything to do with those nagging tasks.
Now you're faced with the challenge of making sure they get done consistently every month but still leave you time to do what you want.
That's what I talk to Nick Thalhammer, of Cincinnatus Insurance, about as he contemplates the work he might not have to do anymore.
This is just a tiny clip of the sales inferno that engulfed each person in attendance that afternoon.
If you want your agency to catch fire, first you need to ask yourself two questions.
What's your business model and how much value do you need to start the sale on the right?
They sound simple enough and that you might have been doing a version of that for many years.
However, once you've figured that out it just because a matter of execution and may the best person win.
Check out Anthony's Books:
Connect With Anthony here:
P.S. We're trying to start the sale on the right for you here.