This blog post is part two of a series explaining why I became an insurance agent and, why I encourage others to consider a career in insurance.
If you’re like me, then these things were on my mind when I was deciding to become an insurance agent:
- You’re wondering if you can find success, fulfillment, security and unlimited potential with a career in insurance;
- You’re looking for a change: a career that allows you to be your own boss, set your own schedule, and create an income stream that flows into your bank account 24/7 and 365 days a year;
- You’re hesitant to explore a professional sales career because of self-doubts, or concerns regarding negative public perceptions, or a fear of how complicated financial products might be.
I had all of these doubts and concerns and even more. Now, looking back on my more than 30 years in a career in insurance, I have no regrets, and I would not change a thing.
In reality, whether you have previous sales experience, a college degree or not, or lots of other peripheral criteria are secondary considerations to qualifying you to run your own business as an insurance agent.
I have decades of hiring experience, mentoring, and developing agents in the insurance industry. Over the years, I’ve learned that some primary qualifications are what insurance candidates should consider before launching a career in insurance.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I like helping people?
- Is it natural for me to confidently talk to strangers?
- Do people trust me? Can I keep confidences?
- Do I have a natural market? (involved in the community, sports, attend a church, a member of a group, etc.)
- Do I have some basic and necessary computer skills?
- Am I entrepreneurial? Do I like building business-related organizations?
- Do I speak and write with a professional tone?
- Is value more important than price? (Do I always buy the absolute cheapest things, or do I buy things that have the most value at the best price?)
- Can I be persuasive when giving recommendations about things I believe in?
- Am I afraid to work hard? Do I have tenacity in my work?
- Do I write down your goals with a plan and hurdle dates, and hold myself accountable?
- Am I stronger working independently or as a team player?
- Is it exciting for me to know that my effort level would be directly related to my income level?
- Am I a good listener, a quick learner, and good at quickly implementing things I’ve been taught?
- Am I a positive person? Do others like to be around me? Is my personality magnetic?
Now, rank the above questions on a scale of one to five with one representing “Absolutely NO” and five representing “Absolutely YES.” If your answers to these questions are generally positive, for instance, an overall average of four, five, or above, then you should seriously consider pursuing a career in insurance.
The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply. –Denis Waitley
If you think you’re not cut out fo it but do have a high score, think of it this way. Have you ever heard a song that resonated with you deeply? I’m thinking about Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean”! Have you ever seen a movie that impressed you profoundly? I remember the first time I saw “The Count of Monte Christo!” Have you ever had the perfect meal at a restaurant? When thinking about my dining at Ruth’s Chris or Roy’s, my taste buds still perk up – even though those meals happened over 10 years ago! Have you ever driven a car that made you feel like a million bucks? I still get goosebumps when I reflect on the day I first drove my 1967 Pontiac Firebird muscle car! It’s experiences like these that can make even the shyest person come out of their shell and passionately recommend them to someone else!
Insurance sales (any sales) is like that.
A professional that can be sincere, involved, caring, and passionate can be successful in sales 90% of the time.
The remaining 10% comes from product knowledge, practice, and consistently getting in front of people to understand their needs and express your passion. It doesn’t matter if you’re a waitress/waiter, a Lyft driver, a used car salesperson, or a truck driver. It doesn’t matter if you have a master’s degree or a G.E.D. It doesn’t matter which side of the tracks you grew up on.
You can learn to have a successful career in insurance.
What matters most is that you have self-drive, you articulate your passion, you care about people, you’re a good listener and a quick learner, and you’re willing to commit to work hard and stick to it!
Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it, nothing great was ever achieved. –Ralph Waldo Emerson
This article provides foundational information about the kind of personalities who would have an advantageous start in a career in insurance. If this is you, think about it and then apply to become an insurance agent. We want to talk to you and explore the possibilities together.
Remember, it’s all about what you put into an insurance career; it may seem hard at first, but time and again, the results prove the effort is worth it. See what Harvard says are the Seven Personality Traits of Top Salespeople.
That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased. –Ralph Waldo Emerson
The next article in this series will pick-up with my personal career history after being hired into my first insurance position, and detail some of the prerequisites necessary to get hired as an insurance professional.
Stay tuned…
Courtesy image by Mary Pahlke from Pixabay