Biggest Problem New Agents Have...

[Frank Stastny]

..It seems some of them have short memories and might have forgotten how it felt when first getting into this business,...

I have a lot of things that are "short" but remembering my first day and year as an agent is vividly inscribed in my mind.

Starting out with no training or support is not something that is easily forgotten. Especially when that is what was promised.

 

[Guest]

Great point Frank, and so many agents start out with no training or support, sure they get product training up the wazoo but what about sales training?

My first day as an agent I was given a hand written script and told to listen to the top guy, only hearing his end of the conversation, then lunchtime hit and I grabbed a bite and upon my return I was immediately put on the phones to sell. I got three sales that day (and was fed many leads) but I also had about 15 years of sales experience or it would have been a nightmare. In fact, this sink or swim tactic scared off many potentially great candidates who, if trained properly, would have rocked.

So I'll say the two most important things are this:

Leads and Sales skills.

If you don't know how to sell, you won't reach your potential because a career is not made on lay downs and call backs. And if you don't have potential clients to present to . . .

Now add a schedule, goals, diligence and continued learning/support and you'll be pretty good to go.

Everything else is secondary, websites, quoting tools, dialer, etc, get that stuff when you're making money, not when you need to be making money.

I have a lot of things that are "short" but remembering my first day and year as an agent is vividly inscribed in my mind.

Starting out with no training or support is not something that is easily forgotten. Especially when that is what was promised.

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This is excellent, although I disagree with the internet leads comment, if you were trained to sell, you'll be fine, I have many agents that are proof of that.

And hey, I knew of missing something, where's that darn wife? LOL

1. Decent contracts and great product knowledge
2. Good training, by self-teaching and through an agency in exchange for lower commissions through a decent and fair FMO or GA
3. Tons of leads (hopefully relatively inexpensive or free) to burn through until you get the F-ing fear factor out of your system, and learn to accept rejection and say....next
4. A supportive mentor
5. A supportive wife and family--if you have them
6. Some cash reserves to pay your bills for several months (some have argued just the opposite), but that's generalizing as I am here as well....and also ability to invest in the business.... No marketing, no prospects, no commissions. Yeah knocking on doors is "free" you just need to keep paying your car payment, car insurance and gas, not to mention your business cards, fliers, etc
7. Building your self-confidence to the point that you are not fearful of being "found out"....After all if you say to someone, I am just starting in this business, how credible will you be? So need to learn to "bend" the truth if someone were to ask you point-blank. Say, oh I've been doing this for a fair amount of time? And immediately divert the conversation to your agenda.
8. Working tirelessly
9. Staying away from internet leads. Sure way to demoralize someone just starting out in the business and going 0 for 30 or higher.
10. Setting realistic expectations, but setting them and working to achieve them.
Outside of that, it's a piece of cake.

 

[VaDwayne]

"When you know, and you know you know, condfidence replaces fear." (Joe Verde, I think)

 

[iaminsman]

A big problem that I face as a new "independent" agent is my wife. She sometimes gets frustrated that I work so hard and long hours. Trying to convince them that getting started and being successful requires me to work as hard as possible to get as much momentum as possible at first.

It has been difficult to find an acceptable balance between work and family sometimes.....

 

[Frank Stastny]

A big problem that I face as a new "independent" agent is my wife. She sometimes gets frustrated that I work so hard and long hours. Trying to convince them that getting started and being successful requires me to work as hard as possible to get as much momentum as possible at first.

It has been difficult to find an acceptable balance between work and family sometimes.....

That can be a huge deterrent in both your relationship as well as your success. The only way I have found to help that situation is to make the time you do spend with her super quality time.

Jacqueline is extremely busy with her job also. We have found that the number one thing that keeps us both satisfied is going to dinner. We try to do it at least three times a week. It gets us away from all distractions and enables us to just concentrate on each other.

It doesn't have to be expensive, the important thing is that it is just the two of you only talking to each other without any other distractions.

Bring her a single flower in a vase. I have found that one flower has a much greater impact than a whole dozen. Send her a heart felt e-mail telling her how important she is to you and thank her for being so patient with all you are doing to make your life together better.

From time to time bring her a present wrapped very nicely. Women like to see very pretty wrapping. Tell her that it is an "unbirthday" present. That we all have one birthday a year but we have 364 "unbirthdays" and you feel that the "unbirthdays" are just as important as the birthdays.

You are a "salesman", use the tools of your craft. Do things just for her that you know are important to her. If you don't know what they really are then it's time to start doing some "fact finding" just like any good salesman would do.

 

[VaDwayne]

A big problem that I face as a new "independent" agent is my wife. She sometimes gets frustrated that I work so hard and long hours. Trying to convince them that getting started and being successful requires me to work as hard as possible to get as much momentum as possible at first.

It has been difficult to find an acceptable balance between work and family sometimes.....

You need to give up some of the time that you are working and devote it to her. There is nothing worth having that is worth losing someone you love. I can attest to that because I chose to chase a management career in the car business, and that, combinded with things that needed to be worked on, ended my marraige. I became a single dad with a four month old daughter and a 4 year old son.

A successful business, money in the wallet, will mean nothing if you are not happy.

 

[theinsuranceman]

A big problem that I face as a new "independent" agent is my wife. She sometimes gets frustrated that I work so hard and long hours. Trying to convince them that getting started and being successful requires me to work as hard as possible to get as much momentum as possible at first.

It has been difficult to find an acceptable balance between work and family sometimes.....

She should understand that she benefits from your hard work and success. She should be a cheerleader for you. Most American women are not like that. That's why I married an Argentianian princess.

 

[Full Throttle]

Hours mean nothing, productive hours do. If you work day time markets, spend 9am to 4pm seeing the people, you can leave the evenings to your family if you are willing to get up early to do the admin BS.

 

[1manshow]

A big problem that I face as a new "independent" agent is my wife

Had the same problem 23yrs ago when I was starting out....traded her in on a newer, improved version that supported me 100% Not saying that's the proper thing, just made my life much simpler. Different strokes...

Frank, you big softy what a romantic devil

 

[Guest]

100% correct! I see so many people waste time during money hours, it's crazy, be productive and you can leave work at work!!

Hours mean nothing, productive hours do. If you work day time markets, spend 9am to 4pm seeing the people, you can leave the evenings to your family if you are willing to get up early to do the admin BS.