Well, 6 months in, I am now another statistic of the business. I went captive, with a company I really like, but I tried unsing all the leads given which they dried up, we have not got any new leads in over a month. I have tried direct mailings and I was sending out 300-500 per week with a few different letters, and the responce was not very good. I tried targeting my mailings as well, didn't really work for me.
I am not blaming anybody but myself, I didn't do something right, not really sure what, I am sure it don't help starting in this career as a single dad though either when there is not a second income to help in the start. I still think this is a great job, I just could not live on comission starting out. On that note, anybody know anybody looking for a military experienced account manager in TN?
Well, 6 months in, I am now another statistic of the business. I went captive, with a company I really like, but I tried unsing all the leads given which they dried up, we have not got any new leads in over a month. I have tried direct mailings and I was sending out 300-500 per week with a few different letters, and the responce was not very good. I tried targeting my mailings as well, didn't really work for me.
I am not blaming anybody but myself, I didn't do something right, not really sure what, I am sure it don't help starting in this career as a single dad though either when there is not a second income to help in the start. I still think this is a great job, I just could not live on comission starting out. On that note, anybody know anybody looking for a military experienced account manager in TN?
All set backs are only temporary. You will land on your feet! Do not rule this business out future wise. It has a way of getting in your blood. Good luck!
Man, use you're military experience and do not take not failure as an option.
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Mark
"Corner Bar"---Independent Agent Anthem
My credit score's fallen like the New York Mets
There ain't a debt collector that ain't called yet
They say, "Money don't talk, it only swears"
And got me cussing in my underwear
You didn't make a mistake. You learned how NOT to prospect for leads. I don't know what advice you received in the past, but perhaps going captive is what you should have done in the first place.
What might be appropriate for a single guy with no responsibilities is probably not for a guy in your situation.
OK, so now you are captive. So what. Learn as much as you can from whomever you are with, make some friends in the office, and for the first 90 days keep your ears open and you mouth shut. Do what they tell you do do... don't bitch, don't moan, don't complain. This is NOT the end of your career, this is the beginning. And you are likely to have many more "fits and starts" before you assume room temperture (which at age 61 I'm somewhat close to!)
If you believe in yourself and you have a bit of drive, a bit of confidence, and a "can-do" attitude, you are going to do just fine. I like to tell young people to "embrace the fear." It's good for you. You will learn to cope with it. Believe it from someone who has run more businesses into the ground than most people have ever thought about starting... "THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD."
If you have to go on food stamps or welfare or whatever... to keep going forward.. as Nike says... just do it. Work hard each day and each time you come up empty with a rejection remind yourself that you are just that much closer to making a sale. It's all about numbers. If you ask enough women to marry you, sooner or later you will find one who will (Well I did, anyway!)
Live within your means, stay out of debt. Teach you child good values by practicing a good work ethic, and if you are faith-based, get involved with your church or synagogue, temple, or mosque.
Get out and do some heavy physical fitness each day. I've run 2 miles each day for the past 40 years and I can tell you that it helps to burn off the stress (and weight.)
You won't find any strength in a bottle or a pill. I say that because so many others thought they would. You won't... so don't even go there.
Post here. You have friends here. You can get advice and inspiration here... but no matter what keep your eye on the prize, laugh at adversity, and try to remember the old Jewish saying "And this too shall pass."
I would go out and find a job that you feel you can support your family with, and pursue this business on a part time basis.
You have your time and effort invested in insurance this far, but your families emotional and [COLOR=#000000]financial security must come first. I know I wouldn't function to well if I had to worry where my next mortgage payment was coming from.[/COLOR]
That stress affects the family as well.
Just keep networking with people that you run into as you work and play, and business will continue to come in.
I do more business on nights and weekends, than I do during the week. I Just sold a policy today at 4:00pm, and one Friday at 9:45pm.
Take care of your family, take care of yourself, the rest is just stuff.
------------------------------------ Michigan Health Insurance Is my main site. Check out the links directory, more than 9875 helpful links and growing.
I Just sold a policy today at 4:00pm, and one Friday at 9:45pm.
This is not a 9 - 5 job, especially when you are starting out. Not saying Jeff did this, but many do.
I don't work as many nights & weekends as I used to, at least not on the phone, but I do respond to quite a few email requests late at night, early AM and weekends.
This is a tough time for anyone, especially someone new. The tri-cities area of TN is unique and there was (at one time) a lot of blue collar industry there. I am sure employment has suffered there like a lot of places.
As others have pointed out, you can work this business part time if your heart is in it. Several on this board did that. Bob Levine (Bob the insurance guy) is one who comes to mind.
If you have not spoken with Mark Rosenthal, look him up. He has lot's of ideas that can keep you in the business part time if this is what you want. Same for Todd King and he is in your general part of the world.
I would go out and find a job that you feel you can support your family with, and pursue this business on a part time basis.
You have your time and effort invested in insurance this far, but your families emotional and [COLOR=#000000]financial security must come first. I know I wouldn't function to well if I had to worry where my next mortgage payment was coming from.[/COLOR]
That stress affects the family as well.
Just keep networking with people that you run into as you work and play, and business will continue to come in.
I do more business on nights and weekends, than I do during the week. I Just sold a policy today at 4:00pm, and one Friday at 9:45pm.
Take care of your family, take care of yourself, the rest is just stuff.
LOL...I've written quite a few just going to Wal-Mart, grocery shopping and having a policyholder that I see there tell me to come by...that they wanted additional coverage or a husband/policyholder, wanting to get insurance on his wife and I went by a couple of hours later and wrote the policy.
As far as the job(insurance), it is not easy starting out. There's an art to selling that the starter of this thread may need help with to get going. He never stated he had received a great deal of help.
Why do people think leads will make or break them... WATCH GLEN GARY GLEN ROSS, ITS NOT THE LEADS.
Get out every day and hand out 60 business cards! shake their hand, look them in the eye and tell them to keep you in mind... TO HELL WITH PAYING FOR LEADS and sitting back hoping for a phone call... the reason you are failing is that you think the world is too small, only a few people to talk to, only a few "leads" to sale too... BULL
Do you realize that 100,000 people or more live in at 60 mile radius from you? that is more than you could see in a lifetime, and thats less than an hour away....
GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND GET OUT AND SALE...
Not trying to be a jerk, but honestly, what did you expect? the "captive" company makes it sound like you just pop in, make a few calls, and boom $100,000 a year... um...... NO....
Man, don't give up..... just get OUT....and sale... its that easy....
I really feel the insurance business takes atleast 3 years to get going unless you have lots of contacts.
This is by far a very tough time. With all the "keyboard warriors" selling off of online leads and the shift of people going to web for individual health insurance.
I remember some of your posts and correct if I am wrong but werent you trying to sell annuities? Right know any investment type sale must be very difficult.
[COLOR=black]Water Boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]What is the difference between 211 and 212 degrees?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]1 Degree. Not much is it?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Why am I bringing up this stupid fact?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]A lot of new agents, get the water hot, but give up just a few degrees before the water boils. It takes time for the water to boil.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Some of us get mad when the water does not boil quick enough or the fire is not hot enough.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]I see some agents that are so close to making it in this business, which give up before they find their niche.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Most of us season agents did not set off this way. We are failures, but the difference is that we didn’t give up. This was not just a job but this was a career to us. We invest in this career and sink or swim, we didn’t jump off the boat. That is not to say what we didn’t want to.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Also, to be honest, not everyone is meant for this career. This career is not a quick fix to your money problems. I also see some agent that think they will just stay in this business a few years, make it rich and leave. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]This career, not job is hard work, long hours, and a drive to help people. You have to be wiling to invest 100 percent of yourself into it.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]It is like trying to get a train to start moving. At first it will be hard, but it will get easier and easier as the train gets going.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]A mistake that some of us successful agents make is when the train gets going good, we slow down and get comfortable, which can make the train stop again. [/COLOR]
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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.
I think one thing that hurt me the most was being a single parent. Where I raise two children on my own with no financail support, that made me work extra hard, I got creative, but when the money runs out, what else can you do ya know? I am at the point now where my vehicle is baing taken back on the 31st. When I was in the military everything was great, I came right out, got right in to this full stream but time was my enemy. I tried to build the business (I was captive) as fast as I could and tried to learn every last thing that I could. I used audio books on sales every moment I was in my car, when I was going to bed, I done around 1000 direct mailings a week (thankg goodness for the postage machine in the office).
I did try, I can not say that I did not, but now here I am looking for other careers because I put everything in to this. Don't get me wrong, a great job if you can wait it out and I thought I could, I have struggles for a while and kept at this, but now I have to give up hoping and trying, and make something happen for my children. One of the pains of being a single daddy.
No criticism intended jaugusta, but MOST fail. Even with a good attitude, company and leads. It is not an easy business. I don't know how many resumes I sent out my first year or two as an insurance agent, but it was a lot. If you don't have the time to make it happen and you have responsibilities and you have a job opportunity, you have to do what is best for your family. Take the job. You will still have your insurance licenses and can peck away at it until you get a break, but in the meanwhile, take care of your family...
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Chuck
If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn't have a job if he was any smarter.”
No criticism intended jaugusta, but MOST fail. Even with a good attitude, company and leads. It is not an easy business. I don't know how many resumes I sent out my first year or two as an insurance agent, but it was a lot. If you don't have the time to make it happen and you have responsibilities and you have a job opportunity, you have to do what is best for your family. Take the job. You will still have your insurance licenses and can peck away at it until you get a break, but in the meanwhile, take care of your family...
You are very right Patch!
Jaugusta: There is no shame in what you did, go take care of your family; then your mind will be free to be creative. Best of luck to you and your family.
------------------------------------ Direct 1-866.417.9580 X 109 mail@ngfgllc.com
Only 10% of those who attempt the sales field will be successful to any degree and 10% of those will make 6 figures or better.
The Reasons people fail at sales
1) Inability to deal with rejection
2) Inability to deal with the sales cycle
3) Inability to develop momentum with a sales funnel
4) Inability to follow a disciplined plan
5) Inability to survive the initial learning curve
6) Inability to self fund living expenses and marketing until commissions are steadily flowing in
Well, at least I tried
Re: Well, I Tried.
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