Want to hit your 2015 goals? Think Bike Ride.

I said I wasn't going to buy a bicycle. It's been way too long since I've ridden a bike. But here I am, a victim of family pressure, sitting on a brand new bicycle in the parking lot of the bike shop with a helmet on. I'm slightly freaking out. The last thing I need right now is an injury. "I'm not sure if I can still do it," I tell the store rep. "It's just like riding a bike," he tosses back with a knowing smile and a wink. I'm thinking, of course he'd say that. He just wants to sell a bike! He doesn't care about my hospital bills, disability or personal humiliation. I realize I'm being dramatic, so I push off and find myself wobbling around the parking lot deciding whether I'm going to be a casualty or a conqueror.

It really took only about a minute and the old confidence kicked in. I felt like a six-year-old who had finally mastered a ride without training wheels.

The next morning I go on my first family ride. The round trip is 10 miles. 10 miles! Yikes! I think I could do 3 but 10 seems to be asking way too much. Oh well, worst-case scenario, someone will have to pick me up with a truck when I collapse somewhere along the way. I take off with the group. I learn a lot that day.

The Lake Okoboji trails are absolutely beautiful. The lake-shore and cornfields look like a scene out of a movie. At 8am the temperature is 65 degrees – just perfect –with healthy, fresh air (even with an ever-so-faint scent of pig manure) blowing past my face to remind me how good it is to be alive.....

The interesting thing is that for the first half of the ride I really didn't take in much of the incredible world around me. I was too consumed with my own concerns. How long was the ride going to take? Would I be able to do it? Would I have an accident? What if I can’t keep up? But the ride back was a completely different story.

I now had the confidence of the ride out under my belt. I knew my destination going back. And I was familiar with the route I was taking. The scenery came alive. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in a long time.

And yes, of course this relates to 2015 insurance sales in a critically powerful way…

Many insurance agents aren't comfortable with new online technology. But think about this. Somewhere along the way we all learned how to use a phone. So we do know how to use technology to communicate. Online technology helps us do what we already know how to do...but in a new way.  It's just like riding a bicycle!

When it comes to what you’re capable of when using online technology for your business, it's a bit like we're still on the ride out...the full picture of where we're headed will become much more apparent in the next few months. So now is the time to perfect the ride. Ask us for help if you need it. Ask questions if you have them. You will want to be able to hit full speed next year. So hop on, get out of first gear, and let’s see what this baby can do!

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Q4 starts today

As an insurance agent, you are probably juggling your responsibilities right now. You must finish the year strong, while also planning for the New Year. You want to set yourself up for a big 2015. This means you need a strong Q4, AND a comprehensive strategy for next year. 

You can learn from your peers. Avoid their mistakes to give yourself the best chance for success. Below are some of the most common errors I see.

Strategy Mistakes Made by Insurance Agents

1. Being reactive instead of proactive. Is this your agency team? Are they consistently contributing to revenue, or is it all over the map? Until you can systematize your marketing tactics, contribution to revenue won’t be steady.
2. Unable to differentiate yourself from your competitor. The first question to ask yourself is – do you understand who your competitors really are? And if so, do you know what their marketing strategy is? Is it the same as yours? If so, you are limiting yourself. You will only be able to differentiate on product or prices.
3. You don’t understand your buyers. If your marketing strategy isn’t aligned with your buyers, they will not have a great experience. 
4. Not aligning your marketing strategy. Your marketing strategy needs to be aligned with both the corporate strategy and the product strategy. This is critical to being able to contribute to the bottom line.
5. Relying on luck. Some insurance agents don’t have a strategy. They rely on pure luck. This is dangerous. Very dangerous.