What Are the Day 1 Bear Minumum Essentials ?

squeed · 03-20-2009, 11:29 PM

Assuming that you have your license for P&C or Life, Health, and you've picked what you want to focus on. You have a phone, email address and business cards.

What are the other Day 1 essentials that you have to have, to get started ?

-S

DJM · 03-20-2009, 11:41 PM

Contracts with an imo or carrier. good salesman skills, a good personality, drive. this one is very important

souldeux · 03-21-2009, 12:06 AM

My first day, I had a list of names and numbers, a computer, my contracts, and a cell phone. And I was off to the races. Aside from a website, I don't have much more now - and I'm doing fine.

Tomfromtheshade · 03-21-2009, 12:08 AM

I don't know much about P&C, but I will tell you what it takes to make it in the life business.

You need two things. First you need a product that you believe in. Second you need to desire to find the people that want the product.

That is everything that you need.

Obviously, business cards, a website, and a phone don't hurt either.

SoCalBroker · 03-21-2009, 12:41 AM

A Large group of people who Like You, Trust You and Know what You Do.... and an effective s-y-s-t-e-m to build and nurture that group.

al3 · 03-21-2009, 01:20 AM

You should learn the English language. What you want to know are the bare minimum essentials.

My advice is to finish junior college and then start your career in sales. You are going to get one chance to make a good first impression and often that will be via the written word.

I believe that if you can't write, you can't sell.

YMMV.

squeed · 03-21-2009, 08:18 AM

Al3, good point. I'm guessing that using the wrong word in a contract could cause a problem.

I'm sure that another peeve in the insurance world would be

Insure vs Ensure

Like when people write "I want to insure you that it won't happen again" That one drives me crazy.

Next time I'll have to remember to not post at 11:30 PM on a Friday after a few beers.

I tried to edit my post to fix it but it doesn't look like you can change the title.

Thanks for the schooling.

al3 · 03-21-2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by squeed

Next time I'll have to remember to not post at 11:30 PM on a Friday after a few beers.

Well, you see THERE is your problem. Beer only muddles your mind. Real writers don't drink beer (or wine.) Guys who drink beer write pulp-fiction. Writers who drink hard liquor create literature. Only real booze will give you the clarity of mind needed to post on this forum! I'm a Jack Daniels guy after 11 PM myself but I believe any poison will work for you.

Try a few shots of Jack/rocks before you post and you will not have any problems with spelling or grammar. Works for me!!

Al

myinsurebiz · 03-21-2009, 01:09 PM

So - I assume that Jack would be a "bare" essential then ?

Tom

moonlightandmargaritas · 03-21-2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by squeed

What are the other Day 1 essentials that you have to have, to get started ?

The only essential is a strategy for keeping a continuous flow of prospects coming to you. Everything else is academic...

Markingriffin · 03-21-2009, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by squeed

Assuming that you have your license for P&C or Life, Health, and you've picked what you want to focus on. You have a phone, email address and business cards.

What are the other Day 1 essentials that you have to have, to get started ?

-S

A answering machine with a good message on it.

A list of prospects that you are thinking about approaching.

GPS or a MAP.

Nice suit.

SoCalBroker · 03-21-2009, 02:13 PM

Try a few shots of Jack/rocks before you post and you will not have any problems with spelling or grammar. Works for me!!

That answered many questions ...

Paradigm · 03-21-2009, 02:20 PM

Try a nice chilled grey goose before posting and the incessent ramblings of the incoherent and incompetent will seem to you like a beautiful sonnet or a melodic concerto.

al3 · 03-21-2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by SoCalBroker

That answered many questions ...

Well, having seen your website hawking your so-called referral system for $395, I too have questions... but I doubt they will ever be answered.

Paradigm · 03-21-2009, 02:28 PM

The truth of all offers and leads is they all work. if you have enough money and enough time to work the system. The secret to success is investing time and money in yourself and your business.

What works for agent A may not work for Agent B due to personality or some other difference. Find what works for you and then keep doing it until it doesnt work for you; then find something new that works for you and repeat step 2.

al3 · 03-21-2009, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Paradigm

Try a nice chilled grey goose before posting

My sum knowledge of wine is "November was a good month."

Gary Goose is vodka. When it comes to vodka "Tuesday was a very good day!"

For a quick "fight-club" post here, gin or vodka is fine. But to post something of substance I suggest you stick to the aged spirits... usually the older the better. Sip is slowly. Eventually you will be able to "write the sunset"

Mr. Glenn Holland: Let me ask you a question. When you look in the mirror, what do you like best about yourself?
Gertrude Lang: My hair.
Mr. Glenn Holland: Why?
Gertrude Lang: Well, my father always says that it reminds him of the sunset.
Mr. Glenn Holland: Play the sunset. Close your eyes. One, two, three, four.

Adult Gertrude Lang: Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.

Now that, my dear authors... is great writing... and damn few people do it well... sober!! :-) (I don't know if Patrick Duncan (author of above) imbibes when he writes... but I would not be surprised.)

Paradigm · 03-21-2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by al3

My sum knowledge of wine is "November was a good month."

Gary Goose is vodka. When it comes to vodka "Tuesday was a very good day!"

For a quick "fight-club" post here, gin or vodka is fine. But to post something of substance I suggest you stick to the aged spirits... usually the older the better. Sip is slowly. Eventually you will be able to "write the sunset"

Mr. Glenn Holland: Let me ask you a question. When you look in the mirror, what do you like best about yourself?
Gertrude Lang: My hair.
Mr. Glenn Holland: Why?
Gertrude Lang: Well, my father always says that it reminds him of the sunset.
Mr. Glenn Holland: Play the sunset. Close your eyes. One, two, three, four.

Adult Gertrude Lang: Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.

Now that, my dear authors... is great writing... and damn few people do it well... sober!! :-) (I don't know if Patrick Duncan (author of above) imbibes when he writes... but I would not be surprised.)

Hmmm maybe some agents who phone prospect while drunk should post and lets see if it works as well in our field as in the literary world

I know being high while giving a speech definitely eliminates any stage fright and I am convinced most actors are stoned.

GreenSky · 03-21-2009, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by al3

My sum knowledge of wine is "November was a good month."

I believe that sums up much of your knowledge - especially of insurance.

We all look forward to another long post where you point out that I have an anger management problem, etc. Can't wait!

Rick

Paradigm · 03-21-2009, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by GreenSky

I believe that sums up much of your knowledge - especially of insurance.

We all look forward to another long post where you point out that I have an anger management problem, etc. Can't wait!

Rick

Rick,
You should change your name to agent provocateur

You know he's gonna come out swinging LOL

arnguy · 03-21-2009, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by squeed

al3, good point. I'm guessing that using the wrong word in a contract could cause a problem.

I'm sure that another peeve in the insurance world would be

Insure vs Ensure

Like when people write "I want to insure you that it won't happen again" That one drives me crazy.....

Actually, insure, ensure, and assure are interchangeable verbs which basically have the same meaning. In Britian, assure is used to mean life insurance. I believe Equitable Life Assurance was the name used here in the USA. And how about Assurant?

P.S. I was waiting for Rick to come on here and give a knock, Al. I thought you two guys burried the hatchet---or was that buried in each others back?