How Much is This Worth to Me?

[PittAgent]

I sold health and life insurance a while back and didn't really do so well. I worked for Insphere selling United and ING. I'm not so sure what the problem was - it might have been my inability to generate steady referrals, didn't have a whole lot to invest in other marketing, and I was just very inconsistent. So I quit the insurance business and went and took a normal job. But now that I've been working the job for a while I'm finding I made about as much selling insurance as I do with the job - it's just that it's a whole lot more stressful when it's all commission.

I met a manager for Lincoln Financial who is very successful. He brought me in and introduced me to his whole team. I met the GM yesterday as well. The entire group is very successful. They showed me proof that their group is #4 in the country and everyone is making money. The guy that recruited me is extremely successful. He basically lives in a mansion is loaded. I asked him if he just manages or if he still sells. He just laughed and said, "Of course I still sell. It's too much fun and I make too much money!" This guy actually promised to be my mentor and personally train me and "hold my hand" if necessary until I'm making at least 2k per week. Another thing I like is the team of agents is all very tight. They have weekly meetings where they share everything that brought them success and the GM - who makes 10k/week is hands on. He does training himself and is even available for calls/texts if you need him for anything - even during a sales call.

I guess my question is how much do you value a great team atmosphere and a mentor/trainer who is extremely successful and promises to train you personally? From my point of view, that is what I need. I'm great in front of customers (when I can get in front of them) and I have a strong work ethic.

 

[thall]

Be sure you know what he means by personally training you, to some people that means giving you a list of the products and a good luck hand shake.

 

[PittAgent]

He told me personally showing me what he does and running appointments with me.

 

[HarryRenard]

Did Inshpere make any promises?

Few quick questions/comments
Of course management still sells they have to sell each new hire on how great they are and they've obviously sold you.

It is great that they have strong training but who are YOU going to sell. How do they get YOU in front of people to make your presentation.

Last point, try not to be so impressed with how much everyone is making and the big houses, it is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Good post Harry. What other's are making, even in the same field is irrelevant.

There is one thing that will always be true so pay attention:

For real opportunities it's a hard interview. The focus of the interview is you - what you can bring to the company, your past experience, etc...

It will always involve a second interview complete with credit checks and the checking of your past references.

On the flip side, anytime an opportunity "stinks" it's the exact opposite. The main focus of the interview if how great it is to work there and how much money you can make.

So where was the focus here? He brought you in and introduced you to his entire team? No manager of a legitimate opportunity would ever do such a thing until you were already checked out from head to toe.

 

[arnguy]

A word to the wise is sufficient.

 

[WinoBlues]

A team and mentor that fits you is huge.

I would ask what he plan is after you run through your warm market.

Last, Are you male or female?

 

[Lyn]

Last, Are you male or female?

Now Wino, why would that matter?

 

[WinoBlues]

Now Wino, why would that matter?

PittAgent's >>This guy actually promised to be my mentor and personally train me and "hold my hand" if necessary until I'm making at least 2k per week. I am afraid I am just a jaded old agent. That hand held and mentored a young, fresh out of college, red head about 22 years ago. I of course was only after her warm market.

 

[PittAgent]

Thanks for the advice guys. I did leave out some things that might have been helpful.

1. Insphere did not make me any promises. They did promise free leads for the first few months and they came through on that promise. Other than that, I was pretty much on my own to ask for help as I wanted it.

2. I had talked to this guy back in August about joining his team. At that point he did check me out. I did have two interviews but I never met the MGA. At the time I didn't have the support of my wife so I took a job that didn't pay so well but it was a steady income. Now she's sick of paycheck to paycheck and surprisingly supports my new venture! It just so happened that the day I contacted him again (in October) his MGA was conducting what he calls group interviews where he gets to know people. I went and met the MGA, the other guys getting interviewed, and other team members who they brought to let us ask anything we wanted of them. I thought that was a nice touch.

3. Something that was really big to me was that they didn't lie about the group interview. The MGA straight out told us he doesn't take everyone and he wouldn't take all of us. There were five of us there that day and he took two of us. If he had actually gone ahead and taken all five I would have believed he was just like any other insurance guy - throwing anything against the wall to see what sticks.

4. We did discuss a plan for after the warm leads because I don't want to use my warm market. I burned it out with my Insphere business. I have about 1,800 leads of different kinds from my Insphere days that I never even touched. These were people that were "uninsurable" and I paid for them myself and the Insphere policy was they never get a lead you pay for - even if you quit. So I have a hell of a list to start out with not to mention the company leads I can buy.

5. Someone successful to teach me is VERY important to me. Don't tell me you'll show me how to make 100k if you're making 25k. The MGA gave me a copy of the monthly newsletter and, true to his word, the guy that recruited me was in the top 25 in the whole company last month and the MGA's team was 4 of 84. I like being part of a winning team and believe someone who has been there and done it can teach me a hell of a lot better than some guy who is "just starting out."

Finally, the guy that recruited me had me over to his home with my wife to meet his whole family this weekend. We spent several hours together just hanging out and he explained how things work to my wife and made her a personal promise that he would not let me fail. I'm not kidding you. He actually said that.

All of this together has made quite an impression on me. Why go to all the trouble if they're just trying to get my warm list (which I already told them isn't coming)? Do you experienced guys think this sounds any better now? Thanks again for your replies.