What are your typical work schedules? How many hours per day, days per week? Also, how does that compare to when you were just starting out? Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the response! I really am just trying to get a good idea of what to base my day on when I'm just starting out and learning, also what to expect later on.
I rarely work Saturday's or Sunday's any more. Will do paper work, email, etc PM & weekends but do not make client calls. Sometimes I give clients & prospects my private cell for PM & weekends but I do so with discretion.
I advised myself with a simple plan starting out. I was going to make this a 40 hour a week job, whether it was cold calling, leads, mailing letters, calling current clients on the tiny agency that AIG gave me, etc.
The significance of the 40 hours, was that most of the guys working out of my office were not really doing a whole lot of anything, and had been that way for years. It took me about 1 - 1.5 years of concentrating on this solid 40 hour work week before I was actually working 40 hours either writing apps or following up on pending, or returning client's calls etc.
It eventually turned into 50 hours and I'm still never caught up. The same thing will happen to you if you want it. If I take an afternoon off, which is very rare, I will have numerous emails and phone calls to return and have to make the time up.
I advised myself with a simple plan starting out. I was going to make this a 40 hour a week job, whether it was cold calling, leads, mailing letters, calling current clients on the tiny agency that AIG gave me, etc.
The significance of the 40 hours, was that most of the guys working out of my office were not really doing a whole lot of anything, and had been that way for years. It took me about 1 - 1.5 years of concentrating on this solid 40 hour work week before I was actually working 40 hours either writing apps or following up on pending, or returning client's calls etc.
It eventually turned into 50 hours and I'm still never caught up. The same thing will happen to you if you want it. If I take an afternoon off, which is very rare, I will have numerous emails and phone calls to return and have to make the time up.
Sounds like you're doing good and need some help.
I usually start at 8:30 til whenever...sometimes it's early afternoon.....most of the time later.
I average 3-5 phone calls to my office per day. Use to get more, but automatic-claim-filing took care of most of that...........
I usually start at 8:30 til whenever...sometimes it's early afternoon.....most of the time later.
I average 3-5 phone calls to my office per day. Use to get more, but automatic-claim-filing took care of most of that...........
Well, I do have help, but my problem is agency management. I have a homegrown system, that is just not up to par, and I don't have the time to change it. I am going to get a pre-packaged deal after the first of the year. This is my top priority.
I spent all of my time on sales, and let my assistant do everything else, and you know what happens. You end of with so many clients, that following up on their requests and making sure that everyone gets a b'day card, thank you note, holiday card, acknowledging policy renewals, etc. becomes more of a $$ maker than acquiring new peeps thru leads, but you have to have the right system in place. My assistant has to work with a piece meal, bass ackwards system that I created and is more for someone with 100 clients, than a fairly large agency.
I screwed up, relying on myself too much. I actually am happy when a client cancels an appointment, that is messed up and I know it.
Last edited by bill3173 : 12-16-2008 at 09:50 AM.
Reason: misspelling
Well, I do have help, but my problem is agency management. I have a homegrown system, that is just not up to par, and I don't have the time to change it. I am going to get a pre-packaged deal after the first of the year. This is my top priority.
I spent all of my time on sales, and let my assistant do everything else, and you know what happens. You end of with so many clients, that following up on their requests and making sure that everyone gets a b'day card, thank you note, holiday card, acknowledging policy renewals, etc. becomes more of a $$ maker than acquiring new peeps thru leads, but you have to have the right system in place. My assistant has to work with a piece meal, bass ackwards system that I created and is more for someone with 100 clients, than a fairly large agency.
I screwed up, relying on myself too much. I actually am happy when a client cancels and appointment, that is messed up and I know it.
Sounds like you're real limited on available time.
I could do more in my business for the customers...problem is available funds. I always get back with them when they call and always service the customers. Really helps get referrals. Folks appreciate good service.
What are your typical work schedules? How many hours per day, days per week? Also, how does that compare to when you were just starting out? Thanks for the info.
You would not believe me if I told you the answer. Those that know me, know my answer.
I work a lot of hours. In my work, I can multi task. I can work and have fun at the same time.
I can't believe that I get paid to talk and help people.
I enjoy what I do, and it provides for my family and me.
The more you work, the more it will pay off for you.
I think that most of the successful agents on the forum at least spend 40 hours plus a week. But as your business grows, you can slow down. It really depends on how much money you need or want.
I see a lot of agent not making it in this business that spend less then 10 hours a week trying to be in this business and they don't understand why they don't make it.
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Mark Rosenthal aka markingriffin
IMO/Ins Agent/Agent Trainer/Free Advice markcrosenthal@aol.comwww.realfastservice.com
Please visit mywebsite to learn more about me.
Email me for my Free Prospecting MP3 Tapes.
Ok I'm a little confused by your schedules, considering that most of them end at 5 or so. Don't you make calls in the evening from 7-9 (when your potential clients are home from work), or is 5 pm just the end of a day for a small business health agent. By the way, I'm obviously a new agent myself.
Ok I'm a little confused by your schedules, considering that most of them end at 5 or so. Don't you make calls in the evening from 7-9 (when your potential clients are home from work), or is 5 pm just the end of a day for a small business health agent. By the way, I'm obviously a new agent myself.
Well, after almost 17 years I do have a large block of business so I tend to not work as much. durring the summer i was at the golf club every day at 4. now since the website is on page one for all search terms i just let the site dictiate my hours. if i get a lead i call it. the rest of my time i sell referrals and service my book of biz durring the day.
To start out u are gonna have to work your raw arse off 60 70 hour a week. after a few years things will change.
I've been getting stuff from Michael Jans, this supposed insurance guru. The jury is still out, but one thing that captured my interest is this concept of "working ON your agency, not IN your agency." The whole concept involves delegating to your staff so that as an agency principal, you are the captain of the ship and focus on growing the agency, rather than getting bogged down in minute details.
Any thoughts on this concept?
My company sells data to the insurance industry, and some of the prospects I talk to seem to be working in, rather than on, their agency, and therefor have no time or focus to grow their agency, so the concept sparked my interest.
I've been getting stuff from Michael Jans, this supposed insurance guru. The jury is still out, but one thing that captured my interest is this concept of "working ON your agency, not IN your agency." The whole concept involves delegating to your staff so that as an agency principal, you are the captain of the ship and focus on growing the agency, rather than getting bogged down in minute details.
Any thoughts on this concept?
My company sells data to the insurance industry, and some of the prospects I talk to seem to be working in, rather than on, their agency, and therefor have no time or focus to grow their agency, so the concept sparked my interest.
This is spot-on advice. the only hitch is that you must have a properly trained, self-reliant staff. Given the right training and resource materials, it should be no problem.
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