G
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Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!!!
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"If anyone tells you that something can't be done, remember that they are correct but only when it pertains to them, not to you."
Classic Liano.
Amen Brotha!!!
Classic Liano.
Amen Brotha!!!
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Interesting stuff Rob! Time for some other recent blog articles. Let the posting begin!
Affordable Pennsylvania Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans
Affordable Pennsylvania Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans
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The advice given by Rob is about the worst advice you can ever take. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it all sounds nice and I'm sure it gives you all a hard-on about getting motivated, but in the real world, risking everything is a fools play.
Rob wants you to join his team and to work your ass off to make him rich. He is not interested in your best interest any more than ANY sales manager of any IMO/FMO or captive agency is. It is about THEM, not you.
That is not to say that perhaps you won't get good training and education from him or any other IMO/FMO... but never lose site of the fact that these entities care first about themselves and secondly about you.
I don't care whether it is an agency, a captive carrier, or any association who wants your dues or the override on your production. It's them first... you second. Never, ever forget that... no matter how much sugar and honey they spread on the toast that they are feeding you... they come first... your interests will, in this industry, always come second. This is an industry run by arch-neo/conservatives who in their heart of hearts truly believe that "greed is good."
When it comes to most sales trainers (and I assume this one as well) you are a tool, a vehicle, an implement for him/them to earn income. The more you are committed, the greater the possibility he/they has of getting income from your efforts.
I don't believe for a minute that any responsible association like the one run by Rick (ILIAA) or the one run by John (I forget the initials) or NAHU or NAFIA would ever advocate that a new agent or any agent not have a "plan B" in case it just does not "work out."
And even Rob will admit that even with the best sales training in the world (which I assume he can provide) it will NOT work out for the majority of agents who enter this industry.
Please listen to me, newbies. DO NOT BURN YOUR SHIPS. Look at this new career as another journey in life... and like all journeys sometimes you don't like the scenery and sometimes it rains and sometimes, due to no fault of your own, you lose your way and you can't get to where you want to get to.
Please, please, please, don't spend your last dime on Rob's sales training or Compulife, or any other sales "method" or "tool" or quote-engine or lead company or "system." Keep your ships in the harbor and keep them well protected because the odds are that you will not like what you find on land and that you will want to board them again and sail to another venue.
Rob should be ashamed of himself for the advice he has given, but one must understand what his interests are... which are not necessarily YOUR best interests.
I'm not selling anything here, nor an I recruiting for a down-line or an association or for any FMO or captive company. I'm telling you the honest truth. This is a hard, tough business that everyone and their dog thinks they will make six-figures in, but most end up running away from with their tail between their legs.
If you don't believe me call Rick or Nick or John. They will tell you that while I might be the world's greatest a$$hole (an accolade I strive for and relish in this venue) I am telling the truth and that "burning your ships" is about the stupidest thing you could do.
Al
InsuranceSolutions123 Agency
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As a disclaimer, I haven't read the blog post, just the thread and Al's last post in particular. I think there is a balance. A "toe in the water" approach is going to fail, period. You need to decide you are going to make it and do everything you can do to get there.
That being said, you need to take reasonable risks. I remember people getting collection calls and not being able to even afford a car calling me and asking me for advice. You need to have the time (money buys time and so does a small standard of living) to give yourself a fighting chance. I was right out of college, no money, but not many bills or people depending on me to make a living.
So my advice would be this, decide if this is a reasonable risk to enter the business given your skills (past sales experience, being a "people person", ect) and financial statements. If you deem it a reasonable risk, fully committ at that point and go with the throttle wide open. For if you don't, you have zero chance at being around in one to two years.
That being said, you need to take reasonable risks. I remember people getting collection calls and not being able to even afford a car calling me and asking me for advice. You need to have the time (money buys time and so does a small standard of living) to give yourself a fighting chance. I was right out of college, no money, but not many bills or people depending on me to make a living.
So my advice would be this, decide if this is a reasonable risk to enter the business given your skills (past sales experience, being a "people person", ect) and financial statements. If you deem it a reasonable risk, fully committ at that point and go with the throttle wide open. For if you don't, you have zero chance at being around in one to two years.
In a strategic sense, Rob is correct. We need to have the attitude and expectation of moving forward and that "failure is NOT an option".
Tactically, however, Al3 is right. You must try many methods--most will fail miserably, some will have mediocre success, some will have great success. But, the only way to know, is to try.
"Use steamroller strategy; that is, make up your mind on course and direction of action, and stick to it. But in tactics, do not steamroller. Attack weakness." Gen. GSP, Jr.
In other words, using a "burn the ships" strategy with lousy sales "tactics" will result in absolute, miserable failure and hunting for a new career next week.
For example, 15 years ago when I got into this business, every new agent was given a call sheet and was told to make 100 dials a day and set up at least 2 appointments a day.
Those sales tactics barely worked in the mid 90's. Now, they are impossible to work (for most types of insurance).
I don't care what your attitude might be or if you've "burned your ships", if you use doomed sales and marketing methods you'll be out of this business in no time flat.
So, have a "burn the ships" strategy, but use a variety of methods to improve your chances of success.
Tactically, however, Al3 is right. You must try many methods--most will fail miserably, some will have mediocre success, some will have great success. But, the only way to know, is to try.
"Use steamroller strategy; that is, make up your mind on course and direction of action, and stick to it. But in tactics, do not steamroller. Attack weakness." Gen. GSP, Jr.
In other words, using a "burn the ships" strategy with lousy sales "tactics" will result in absolute, miserable failure and hunting for a new career next week.
For example, 15 years ago when I got into this business, every new agent was given a call sheet and was told to make 100 dials a day and set up at least 2 appointments a day.
Those sales tactics barely worked in the mid 90's. Now, they are impossible to work (for most types of insurance).
I don't care what your attitude might be or if you've "burned your ships", if you use doomed sales and marketing methods you'll be out of this business in no time flat.
So, have a "burn the ships" strategy, but use a variety of methods to improve your chances of success.
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Or at a minimum, have one that works and work it like a junk yard dog.
agreed... but the only way to find the "one that works" is to try a whole lot of methods.
I was reviewing some notes I'd made my 2nd year in this business. I was thinking of some additional methods to use to get more leads. I laughed out loud when I read my notes because I don't use any of those methods today. Those methods aren't even on my "to test" list. I either tried them already and they failed or I used some of them for awhile and then replaced them with better methods.
Test, experiment, measure.
fail fast.
failure is guaranteed. the majority of things you do in business will fail. (T.A. Edison is a good example.) if you fail fast, you'll get to success quicker than your competition.
He-she who tries the most stuff wins.--tom peters
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I agree with you. The only thing I would add is shorten the learning curve and copy someone else already having success. If you are new, time to mess around is usually limited.
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