Be it Resolved…

Happy New Year! 2008 is off and running and, if you’re like me, you’re busy closing down 2007 and looking forward to 2008 and the potential it brings to our agency operations.

I always set in place personal New Year’s resolutions. No, I don’t always follow through with them all,
but each year I try harder to live by them and, surprisingly, I’ve had some success. I do the same in my professional life. We all do agency goal setting, but it might be advantageous for us to develop individual professional goals as well. I present to you my resolutions for 2008. Be it resolved:

1. That I will continue to strive to Live the Brand. Trusted Choice® has reached an all-time record membership— nearing 10,000 agencies at press time. Just think, we were at zero agencies only six years ago. But numbers will not make the program a success, not unless our members truly live the brand! I invited you to join me in that effort in October. This is the fourth month, and the Trusted Choice® Blueprint for Branding Success suggests we “tie into Trusted Choice® national ad flights using local print, TV or radio advertising” and “implement the brand into our agency identity by adding the Trusted Choice® logo to agency signage.” Let’s do it!

2. That I will sharpen my skills. Those skills include, but are not limited to, prospecting, risk placement and management, sales presentations, finance, claims management, customer service and agency advertising and promotion. As I need help with these, I will turn to our Big “I” Best Practices series, along with the Virtual University and its “Ask an Expert” service, an incredible member benefit run by Big “I” staffer and seasoned insurance professional Bill Wilson.

3. That I will work even harder to become more IT savvy. I will continually encourage my staff and fellow agency principals to utilize real time initiatives in concert with my agency management system and my individual company Web sites to bring rapid and efficient results to my policyholders’ requests and demands.

4. That I will seek access to as many markets as possible in order to provide my clients with cost-effective coverage that meets their needs. Of course, I will continue with a strong stable of solid insurance companies, but they can’t be all things to all people. Enter the excess and surplus lines carriers, or those that offer extremely attractive coverages for certain risks. Big “I” Marketssm offers an expanding array of exceptional coverages, and it generates a growing part of the non-dues revenue to our national and state associations. I will remember to quote with Big “I” Markets when I am placing a risk that it may match.

5. That I will follow carefully the legislative issues affecting my agency and business concerns, both on a state and federal level. I will work hard to tell our story when needed by volunteering for civic groups within my community so others learn our message and help us support what’s best for consumers. If asked, I will assist in lobbying efforts at the grassroots level by calling, writing or personally contacting my government leaders to assist them in assisting us. Realizing this all comes with a price tag, I will pony up the necessary funds to support our political action committee, InsurPac, which protects and promotes our careers and businesses. I will lend support to key congressional races in volunteer capacities.

6. That I will support my state’s Big “I” association more fervently than ever. Our industry is under increased scrutiny from legislators, regulators and even “instigators.” We must protect our industry and should never resort to apologizing for what we do and the service we provide to the American economy or leave doubts in the minds of others as to our true feelings about our own occupation. This is a great business to be a part of and it will only stay that way if we work at retaining it.

7. That I will volunteer for association endeavors needing my expertise, remembering, “Many hands make light work.” When asked to take part, I will. When asked to attend, I’ll go. When asked to present, I’ll speak. When asked to assist others, I’ll mentor.

8. That I will live by the Code of Ethics of the Big “I” and the Pledge of Performance I signed as a Trusted Choice® agent, always mindful of the professionalism they represent and the duties I hold to the public, the insurance companies I represent and to my fellow agents.

9. That I will try to be a better boss, a better community leader, a better spouse, a better father and a better person. 10. That I will stop to smell the roses. Bring them on and let’s get started hoping “things will be great in 2008.”

Bob Fulwider

Chairman