Well, at least I tried

[Bitnis]

"anybody looking for a military experienced account manager in TN?"

Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I'm not a recruiter but I believe the Reserves and National Guard are hiring, if that's an option. I know you said you are a single parent and that may rule this out. If not, I believe they are paying prior service up to a $20k bonus at the moment. That would keep you going for a while. And if you can put up with the BS for 20 years, a federal pension is hard to beat.

Just a thought.

I'm wondering what captive company you were working for also. Direct mail is one of the least effective and most expensive means of marketing there is.

 

[jaugusta]

"anybody looking for a military experienced account manager in TN?"

Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I'm not a recruiter but I believe the Reserves and National Guard are hiring, if that's an option. I know you said you are a single parent and that may rule this out. If not, I believe they are paying prior service up to a $20k bonus at the moment. That would keep you going for a while. And if you can put up with the BS for 20 years, a federal pension is hard to beat.

Just a thought.

I'm wondering what captive company you were working for also. Direct mail is one of the least effective and most expensive means of marketing there is.

I tried that actually, I have spoke with each branch trying to get back int he reserves but being a single parent isn't letting that happen. Oh well, it will work out. I am trying to figure a way to keep at the insurance, maybe a constant direct mail while I am working elsewhere, I don;t know. Thanks for all the kind words guys.

 

[captain94]

The company you worked for the leads always dry up after MA season. I was in your position once with the same company and a famly to support. I went indy and as the medicare market is the main market I focused onI also had good advice to keep selling individual major meds until my medicare book is big enough I can then focus on med-supps full time. Thats what I do and thats why im still in this business. There was alot of mac and cheese nights for dinner, but I paid my bills and suffered threw it. You may consider sell other lines in the off season until you become seasoned. individual is easy but persitancy is not as good as the grammys of the world, but it helped keep me in the game.

 

[wappahso]

Thanks for this thread guys and you nailed it Al.. "The future belongs to those who see possibilities before it becomes obvious...

 

[Ranger]

According to the TN DOI website, there's approximately 106,000 licensed producers in the state. Thats 1 insurance agent for every
56.6 men, women and children. I think the number of real estate agents is like 1 agent for every 100 people in the state.

It seems to me that the people who have done the best in both of these professions are the ones who are better known in the community. So you may be better off to go independent and get active in the community where you are from. There's a local
paper in the area, daily in Kpt, weekly in Washington County that
will run an add for you for a year for a very, very low price.
Go by Ingles supermarket and pick one up. That way you will
have your name in front of a bunch of people everyday.

 

[Hollywood Broker]

Thanks to all for helping this agent, I's really enjoying this thread!

Take it from me, I left a salaried career to join AFLAC as a captive agent. I leared alot but i made $0!! I was backed up on bills for 2 months dealing with the duck people. I picked myself back up, became a free lancer and that was the best thing I could have done for myself. I developed a great way to prospect and I've had great experiences. I learned that the more people i contact, the more sales I'll make. I'm working on a lead sheet now and out of maybe 65 calls so far, I just closed 1! So like Al said, this is definately a numbers game and you have to be motivated to survive.

Best of luck with your career path but please don't give up. And if you do descide to give up, watch the movie "pursuit of happiness" I guarantee you'll change your mind. Take Care!!

 

[jaugusta]

Well as some of you stated about going indy, I would love to, but after this I just do not have the funds to do so. I do appreciate all the kids words and such you guys have said though.

 

[somarco]

Pursuit of Happyness is indeed a great movie. I drag that out from time to time if I need to get pumped up.

Another is Door to Door with William H Macy

If you can watch either of these movies without emotion someone needs to see if you have a pulse.

It really doesn't matter how many agents are in TN, or GA, or TX. If you love your work and stick with it you will survive while others fall by the wayside.

People who say you can be a 90 day wonder are mostly blowing smoke. Sure, some folks hit the ground running and never look back but the path to success is littered with bodies of those who gave up.

The Critical Path to Success by Frank Sullivan was once required reading of new agents. Many also learned their trade by using Al Granum's One Card System

I recall hearing a very successful GA speak at a local meeting. He started in the business around 1940 and made something like $400 his first year. His father in law kept pressing him to get a "real job" but he persisted.

When telling his story someone said "$400 was a lot of money in 1940."

His response, "$400 was never a lot of money . . ."

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to your success are all the distractions of life. Taking care of family, having enough to cover your bills, dealing with rejection.

This business is tough. Just dealing with rejection is hard enough but if your mind is elsewhere, like how will you pay for food, utilities and a roof over your head, it is too much to deal with.

I'm not going to tell you this business is for everyone, or even if it is for you. I don't know if it is or not. Only you can answer that.

I can tell you there is at least one rookie on this forum who has also been kicked around. I also know he has the motivation to make it and will do very well.

 

[Paradigm]

Read Frank Bettcher’s “How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling.

First book I read when I started in this 10 years ago

 

[Franz Kafka]

IMO sales career does favor certain personalities over others. Hard work does not always = success in this field. You've gotta have "it" (whatever that is). If you've got only a little bit of "it" you can make a living by working very hard. If you've got a lot of "it" you can still make a living without working very hard. If you've got "it" and work hard, you've got "it" made.