Scott Simmonds - Insurance Newsletter

Helping Insurance Experts Build Great Businesses
www.ICMentor.com

January, 2008

Work Less

Not long ago a reader commented on several of my posts that mention decreasing work intensity and my goal of working less. He chastised me over my lack of work ethic and the idea that I was promoting laziness.

Nothing is further from the truth.

I believe that real wealth is found in spending time in exactly the way you want to. Having $10 million in the bank while working 14 hour days is not my idea of living.

My consulting practice is based on providing tremendous value to my clients. That's what they want - value. Nobody hires me to work hard - they hire me for the value I can provide. They want me to be responsive, creative, innovative, and valuable.

It is not about hard work - or even smart work. It's about providing value, getting paid for the value, and living.

Plagiarists

I recently blogged about the fact that parts of my websites have been plagiarized. See the details here. (While you're there, sign-up to receive automatic notifications of my blog posts.)

Some of the plagiarists are subscribers to this newsletter. One was even a mentor client. Amazing!

If you have any doubt, let me help. Taking someone's work and calling it your own is stealing.

The ease of copy-and-paste makes plagiarism a simple click, click, click. It is still wrong. The insurance industry is built upon utmost good faith. Integrity must be implicit in our work.

Feel free to use any of the material in this newsletter or on my websites - as long as you attribute it to me.

How about your own website? Are people stealing from you?

Computer Systems

About 6 months ago I started the migration from PC to Mac. Being cautious and protective, I bought MacBook for my portable computer - to ease into the Mac world. I'm currently still using a PC for my desktop.

I love my Mac. The best thing I can say is that it just works. It doesn't freeze, it doesn't slow down. It just works.

Part of the migration has included moving my web browser to Firefox. Another great product. I can customize the look and feel of my web work and use the same browser on both the PC and Mac. Same design, same function.

For years I have used iGoogle as my browser home page - the first page that comes up when I go on the internet. Google on Firefox is terrific. With iGoogle I can customize every aspect of the home page adding tools and links to help me work less.

I've also moved my email from Microsoft Outlook to Gmail. No, my email address has not changed. The Gmail tools are much better than what you get from Microsoft - better searching, better look and feel. Not perfect. Just better.

Full Day Seminar - Building Your Insurance Consulting Practice

Insurance Consulting is the greatest job in the insurance industry! Join me to learn how to build your consulting practice by providing value to your clients and profits for your bank account. This session is for those about to start, new consultants, and old hands who want to improve.

May 7, 2008 - Portland, Maine

Details Here

My two books are selling well. I have a booklet coming out soon that covers the bid process. It will be available in hard-copy and e-book form.

"Simmonds On Bank Insurance" - This book covers all aspects of bank insurance - bond, d&o, property, workers' comp, mortgage impairment, forced placed property, liability, and e-banking. I include sections on selecting agents, the bid process, and a glossary. This is a practical and useful reference for bankers who manage their bank's insurance program and agents who want to help them.

"Simmonds on Workers' Compensation Insurance" - Prepublication Price- 200 pages of hints, information, and tips for insurance buyers to manage their work comp policies. Due for publication in January. Get pre-publication pricing now.

Go To My Bookshop For Information

Consultant Mentor Program - Designed to help you build your business faster, with less hassle, and fewer false starts. Grow your current practice or gain the edge in your startup. The object is for you to make your business the best it can be - faster and more profitably. Visit my informational page at Consultant Mentor Program. Check out my Insurance Consultant's Handbook too.

Insurance Agent Mentor Program - Is your insurance career as successful as it can be? Is your book of business growing as fast as you would like? Is your retention as strong as others in your agency? I'm glad to talk about how we might be able to work together to build your book of business. Visit my informational page at Insurance Agent Mentor Program.

Please Forward This Newsletter To Other Insurance People

Scott Simmonds, CPCU, ARM, CMC
Insurance Consulting
Phone 207-284-0085
Fax 802-992-4027
Scott@ScottSimmonds.com
www.ScottSimmonds.com

Mentoring/Coaching Website: www.ICMentor.com

See My Blog - www.InsuranceBuzzer.com

Comments regarding insurance policies or products in this newsletter do not constitute an endorsement. I accept no fees of any kind from any company mentioned in this newsletter.