Burn the Ships

[Guest]

Great point, my Dad (leading by example) left for work at 7:30AM at the latest, got home at 9PM, (in sales, was a top dog also) I had a paper route as a kid, he paid me for tasks, then Iworked in a deli at 14 (cigarettes were $.65, yes, less than a buck) etc etc etc. Not coincidence when I worked at an agency I was usually first in, last out and the top producer.

My favorite is to ask an applicant about the jobs they had as a teenager.
If they stall on this question, I then take it they were a "golden spoon" child. Meaning, they were given everything in life. Many of my personal friends NEVER did a lick of work until well after college. Mommy and daddy paid for everything. Bought them a car, paid the gas, you get the picture. These, "golden spoon" people don't know what it is like to drink cheap beer, eat mac and cheese, and, be out of money.
When I ask the question, "about the jobs they had as a teenager", I look for, did they have a paper route?, mow lawns?, wash windows?, etc.
These people developed a work ethic very early in life. And probably have a strong desire to succeed.

 

[DS4]

I worked in almond orchards starting at age 13 making $.65/ hour. I later had 3 paper routes.
Anyone that ever had a paper route will agree. It builds character. You are a small business person providing a product and service, and, you had to go door to door to collect. No electronic billing back in my day.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Here's a taste of my childhood.

This is me at around 12 on the Gravely. Only around 5 more hours to go to mow the lawn - then I did 5 other small farms. I believe nowadays if a 12 year old was on a small tractor the parents would be arrested.




Weekend activities would begin with chopping a few cords of wood. I had some good tips from dad: "when you're swinging the maul don't miss the piece of wood. Then you'll take a good chunk out of your leg."

 

[Guest]

This is awesome!!

Here's a taste of my childhood.

This is me at around 12 on the Gravely. Only around 5 more hours to go to mow the lawn - then I did 5 other small farms. I believe nowadays if a 12 year old was on a small tractor the parents would be arrested.




Weekend activities would begin with chopping a few cords of wood. I had some good tips from dad: "when you're swinging the maul don't miss the piece of wood. Then you'll take a good chunk out of your leg."

 

[VaDwayne]

Maybe it's time for new mentors in your life![/quote]



Amen, these new guys, including myself, need to have people surrounding us that serve as examples on not only how to run a successful business, but how to also be successful in life. Many agents on the forum will tell you how good they are, but they should be willing to help you too.


This is my mentor:



He is a 70 year old doctor serving a month in Haiti helping people in need. This is the guy that I want to be when I am his age. He is a successful doctor but he is also a great husband and father, and a great businessman. He takes the time to meet with me once a month for breakfast and he is genuinely concerned with my well-being as well as my wife and children's.

Surround yourself with as many people as you can that are more concerned with others than they are with themselves, and you will be successful.

Several people on this forum have been influential in my insurance career, including Frank and Todd, but this is one of the men that changed my life. Here are some secrets I have found out, from him:

1. Serve others, everything else will fall into place
2. Want to stop worring about your income, give a portion of what you make to those less fortunate. You may or may not make more money, but what you have will go much further and your stress level will decrease.
3. Give your family your time, a happy family will make you enjoy your career, and everything else you do, much more.
4. Care about the people you help in your career
5. ENJOY what you do, and sell what you enjoy. If you do this, you won't work another day in your life.

 

[Jim Jenkins]

 

[retread]

Anyone read Outliers? There is a chapter about 10,000 hours of practice, equating it to making someone successful. Practice makes perfect.

Now let's consider this, you played football, who taught you? Did you learn on your own? No, you were taught by someone who knew better than you. Even if you had a natural ability, it can likely be fine tuned by someone who knows better, has had success, etc.

In everything you succeeded in, this was likely the case, regarledss of if you were mentored directly or sought it out on your own.

Now move to an MGA/GA. If they can teach you how to sell, train you, encourage you, help you set goals and make you really feel part of a team, is that a bad thing? I have about 47 agents currently who will say it's the best thing they've experienced in a long time. And it's only going to get better.

Every agent seeking an opportunity should use the following mindset when reading the forums:

If someone is not way more credible, insightful and successful than you are, who cares what they say? If they put others down, they are probably not happy with their own lives. Therefore, they can't lead you any further than where they're currently at, can they? You want barely one sale a day, listen to them, you want to fail 90% of the time, listen to them, you want to struggle and piece meal your way to knowledge, listen to them.

BUT, that's probably what you're already doing isn't it?

Maybe it's time for new mentors in your life!

Is this reply of yours directed at my comment on predictors of success? It seems that you put practice above character. My thought is that you can practice the wrong way to do something until you are very good at doing the wrong thing.

Also, you seem to have missed the point I was trying to make about my football offers... the college coach wasn't interested in teaching me anything, he just wanted to recruit and sought to throw some spaghetti (me) against the wall to see what would stick. Same with the coach at the Naval station. He wanted a middle line backer. It didn't matter that my experience was as fullback, he wanted a line backer and my skill set didn't match up.

I compare the agency recruiters I have come across much as these coaches I described. They want big producers in order to increase their profits. Any way they can fast talk a fledgling into their game, they consider it fair play. "Too bad you're a newbie... take yer licks and keep on tickin' " is their philosophy. "It'll do ya good... NEXT?..."

Perhaps you do provide personal care... I don't know. But your hype is reminescent of the tactics of those others, so I guess you get painted with the same tar.

 

[Guest]

Why would you think my entire post was directed at you? Absolutely not. And I was speaking of before college, as in the training you received. I agree with what you said completely, that's like the Pajama Man charging you $5000 for you to write business under him and make him more money. It's disgraceful.

And what hype do you speak of? I am confident in what I do, I'm a professional, others have confirmed my accomplishments, so is that really hype? In the sense it seems you're implying? Or are you listening to the naysayers who try to discredit others, trying to make agents look small when actually they're are the small ones?

We all have a lot to learn, but I'll say this til I'm blue in the face, I never, ever hear truly successful people put people down, try to discredit others and spout out based on ego, jealously, pride (pick one), yet it's commonplace (and sadly accepted) on this forum!

Is this reply of yours directed at my comment on predictors of success? It seems that you put practice above character. My thought is that you can practice the wrong way to do something until you are very good at doing the wrong thing.

Also, you seem to have missed the point I was trying to make about my football offers... the college coach wasn't interested in teaching me anything, he just wanted to recruit and sought to throw some spaghetti (me) against the wall to see what would stick. Same with the coach at the Naval station. He wanted a middle line backer. It didn't matter that my experience was as fullback, he wanted a line backer and my skill set didn't match up.

I compare the agency recruiters I have come across much as these coaches I described. They want big producers in order to increase their profits. Any way they can fast talk a fledgling into their game, they consider it fair play. "Too bad you're a newbie... take yer licks and keep on tickin' " is their philosophy. "It'll do ya good... NEXT?..."

Perhaps you do provide personal care... I don't know. But your hype is reminescent of the tactics of those others, so I guess you get painted with the same tar.