| Why isn't my agency selling more? Why don't my | | | | whether or not we adapt that makes the difference. |
| producers use the software I have invested with to | | | | Change, evolve, and embrace the FACT that if you |
| make more sales? Why are my bills so high? Why? | | | | are running this agency and if you are making this |
| We hear these woe's from agents all the time. We | | | | move professionally, the success is up to you. Let the |
| hear them from coworker and friends at happy hour, | | | | business thrive where it thrives, watch where success |
| we speak these words to our financial councilors. But | | | | lies and follow it. Don't try to pigeon hole success and |
| what is the real issue? | | | | tell it what to be. Let it grow and show you where it |
| I have decided to conquer my fears for 2008. Yes, I | | | | thrives. There, you will find success. |
| know this sounds ambiguous and way to open ended, | | | | I have tried to create plans and tell the businesses I run |
| we are all afraid of lots of things and once one is | | | | what to be, but ultimately, all I have caused is strife and |
| conquered, another surfaces. Yes, I would agree with | | | | frustration at not achieving what I wanted. When I |
| that. I picked up a book though that is revolutionizing | | | | release, that is when I find that my employees, my |
| how I think about getting what I want. "The Secret of | | | | product, and my focus are stronger than I ever |
| Letting Go" by Guy Finley. This book has a fabulous | | | | realized. Strength is eternal. We have to identify what |
| first chapter in which helped me to see things clearer. I | | | | we fear. What holds you back? If we say we are |
| am a strong individual and I do think that I am stronger | | | | afraid...that is not enough. What are you afraid of? |
| than the average female. I thrive on the saying "what | | | | Failure? Rejection? Start by identifying what you are |
| doesn't kill you makes you stronger". But really, it's | | | | not afraid of, then call your fears what they are. Using |
| looking your fears in the eye that makes us stronger. | | | | the overall blanket of fear is not getting over that fear. |
| Survival does not. Because I am here, because I am | | | | Calling the fear by name and not letting it control you |
| working hard to run my own businesses and profit, | | | | will free you and let you identify it for what it is. This is |
| does not make me strong...it makes me a survivor. The | | | | the first step of really seeing yourself as a boss, and |
| fears will never go away if my goal is survival. | | | | for seeing what you are building your business to |
| I am not an ambitious person. I want a good life with a | | | | achieve. You maybe looking for success, but what |
| good salary, and I want to provide for my children all | | | | does that mean to you and what fears may keep you |
| the things that a good life would offer. I don't need | | | | from achieving it? Give yourself permission to be free |
| fancy cars; I don't need exotic vacations (even though | | | | of the stress and strife of making the business be |
| it would be nice). I need my business and the people | | | | what you want...follow the success that it is. You may |
| who breathe the life's breath into it to thrive. That is | | | | have to make really hard choices. You may have to |
| success to me. So conquering each road block and | | | | venture into areas that are new to you. But when you |
| facing another has been exhausting. BUT, this is the | | | | emerge, you will be better for the experience. Follow |
| nature of running a business. It will never go away. | | | | your business model, stick to deadlines, build your |
| So, as a business owner, what am I trying to share? | | | | agency and take care of your employees, and allow |
| Well, business owner to business owner, sometimes | | | | yourself to find what success means to you. |
| businesses do not turn out as planned. Sometimes it is | | | | |