Hi, I’m Jordan

 I’m a newly licensed insurance agent. I decided to record my experience of starting an agency. I did it for myself, to look back one day and really reflect on the journey.

 In searching for a way to start the agency I investigated just opening and trying to get appointed with companies and just hustling it out. However, the more I researched the more I found that a single agent isn’t going to get the appointments with carriers to really be able to start earning. So, I shifted to finding a large company, but I did not want to be captive, so I switched to franchising. I connected with John Galt Insurance because they allowed me to build an agency of my own without having to come out of pocket with a franchise fee. That was huge because I just didn’t have a money to invest like that.

Money was not the only consideration. John Galt told me that they will train me not only on how to work on quotes and writing business but on how to grow a business. This part really caught my attention. I have done sales, but I never had formal sales training specifically in the area of insurance sales.

They call the sales training MDP- Million Dollar Producer Program which funny enough is designed to grow you into a million-dollar producer in premium. A title like that carries a lot of weight and expectation.

I step into the training room, first day of the MDP class and truthfully, I felt really confident. I worked in a lot of different industries in my life, from life insurance to car sales and even selling wine. Insurance was attractive because of the residuals from the policy renewals. 

I saw Pete and a table; He is getting his notes together. Just a blazer no tie. Honestly looking just like a producer in our class. guy.

I went over an introduced myself looking as eager as I sounded. I heard he had designed this program based on his career and experience in the insurance business. He gave me a warm greeting and a smile that made me feel like he was looking forward to the class as much as I was.

He asked where I was from how I came to the business and what my plans were. 

I started sharing my big plans, get an office not too far from my house, a busy plaza with a store front that is professional looking. Look into some kind of lead service and of course I need to get the office furnished and probably in the near future someone to help with paperwork.

He listened and smiled. He says, you know, I have a question. In a low tone very inquisitive Why should I buy insurance from you? Why should anybody buy insurance from you? 

I must admit, I stood there, and I just didn’t have a complete answer. I mean, in my mind, I’m thinking, well, we’ll I’ll do a good job, I’m going to find the best price and you know I’m good at my work. It wasn’t’ pretty. 

He said, Look, this program is going to teach you what you need to do and how to do it to be successful. But it’s also going to teach you how to change your mindset. He says, you’re thinking like an employee.  I’m going to change your mindset to being an agency owner truly owning a business. 

When we’re done with the program, I’m going to ask you again, why should I buy insurance from you?  I know at that point you going to have a much better answer than right now. And I’m looking forward to that journey for you. I have to say, I sat down and I all that confidence that I had really did go out the door. And I didn’t know next what to do, because in my mind, I had a game plan. And I was just going to use this program to kind of just sharpen my skills, and I quickly realized that I’m really just going to start a brand-new journey. 

Class was about to begin, and I was ready to Ask Pete.