Do you feel like you are inundated with ads from lots of big national insurance carriers?
The gecko, Flo, Mayhem and Jake are now common household names and have spawned lots of memes!
Millions of dollars are spent each year on these ad campaigns. Are you sucked in and purchase insurance online or with a phone call to a representative at a toll-free number?
This is an option of course, and millions of people buy their insurance policies this way.
Is there a better way?
Do you personally know who you will talk to when you are in an auto accident and need to get medical attention or a rental car?
Can you ask a real live person in your town and state a question or get help with your billing from someone that actually cares?
Shaking hands
In most cases, a good local insurance agent is more than just an insurance agent. Local agents are heavily involved in their communities. They support kid’s sports teams, sponsor all kinds of events, and give of their time and other resources to local non-profit organizations as well. You could say they have a vested interest in the health of those communities and families that reside in them.
Find an agent that will educate you about protecting your assets, your family and your business. Find someone that will work for you to find good rates and will spend time making sure they have written you insurance policies that you understand. Find an agent that you see out in the community making a difference.
If you don’t have that type of agent, give us a try!
Insurance agents sell insurance, right? At the very least, your insurance agent should be able to educate you on what you need regarding insurance coverages and policies and also be a risk consultant. We can all agree on that. But is it enough?
Think about the other ways your insurance agent can benefit your shared community as well. Is your agent actively giving to charitable organizations? Is your agent mentoring other business owners? Is your agent taking classes about insurance and other business topics?
I imagine you are like me in your desire to support local businesses. I like to spend my money with businesses that are owned and managed by good people that are trying to do good things. I like to see owners giving their time and resources in the communities in which they live and work. I like to see them participating in continuing education classes and professional development opportunities.
Personally, I want to be sure I am the best insurance agent and business owner I can be! With this in mind, I signed up for Leadership Central Kentucky, a program through Commerce Lexington that helps business owners and leaders in the community learn about the various counties in Central Kentucky, as well as learning about themselves.
This is the article I wrote about my experience at the first meeting, an orientation retreat in Berea, Kentucky.
Leadership Central Kentucky Orientation Reflection
When thinking about the Central Kentucky area, you probably think of bourbon, horses, manufacturing, higher education, beautiful scenery, and politics. You would be right! What you may not realize is all the fantastic leaders in this area that give of their time and resources to make our region the best it can be.
I enjoyed the opportunity to meet 2 dozen of them and spend a couple days beginning to build relationships with many of them. Our sessions were held at Boone Tavern and were facilitated by Dr. Virgil Grant and Amy Stout. The care and planning they invested in the workshops was evident in the choices of materials and topics, down to the hot browns and Derby Pie and bourbon!
Like me, I’m sure you have done various personality profiles over the years, but a “new” one is the Enneagram Test. This assessment has been around for thousands of years but has become popular in this area more recently. Everyone in the class completed a self-inventory, and then as a group, we learned what personality types we were and how to best use those natural gifts and talents in our professional and personal lives. What an insightful exercise!
Another topic we discussed in our meeting is regionalism. We were challenged to think about some of the ways that we can maintain healthy competition between the counties but also work together in a spirit of cooperation to further benefit the Central region of the Commonwealth.
Through a conflict resolution workshop by Dr. Grant we learned that being transparent, negotiating from a place of good intentions, and the relationships between various people and industries are all ways to begin to work together. We can attract new businesses and workers with their families to our region, bringing diversity, tax dollars, and new ideas that will help our economy grow.
I am looking forward to what this year brings with great anticipation! The people I’ve met and what I have learned so far are a testament to a great program.
Send me an email if you would like to know about the programs and organizations Castle Insurance supports in Central Kentucky. Maybe we can volunteer together! You will be blessed!
