-
Determine if rules and
regulations presented by management are State Farm
mandated programs or Department of Insurance
guidelines.
-
Having a State Farm
relative, unless in a management capacity, does not
secure your contract.
-
Always have a Plan 2.
-
Have a backup source of
income, no matter how lucrative the agreement
appears, whether it be a working spouse or affluent
relatives who are supportive.
-
Prior to starting,
thoroughly review the 21 Competencies with your
recruiter and get a signature and date.
-
At every review with
management personnel, re-review the 21 Competencies
and get a signature and date.
-
Read, understand and
keep all exclusions, exceptions and disclaimers as
they pertain to your opportunity.
-
Try and get as much as
you can in writing and keep it.
-
Document/document/document.
-
Never pay an
employee/contractor under the table.
-
Join a nationwide trade
organization and attend local meetings.
-
Develop a relationship
with captive agents from other companies and compare
their experiences with yours.
-
Think Big Picture;
expand your horizons outside of State Farm.
-
Familiarize yourself
with Anti-trust violations; NEVER disclose our rates
on anything to another company.
-
Acquaint yourself with
"Operations" vs. "Agency" management criteria.
-
There is Old State Farm
and New State Farm; learn the difference.
-
Meet once a month meet
with an established "trustworthy" agent for ideas
and direction; high production does not always
equate to trustworthy in the agency world.
-
Almost everyone in SF
management is a nice person.
-
Management personnel is
highly trained but light on life experience.
-
Upper management attends
the same school of etiquette and elocution for
consistency and continuity.
-
Identify current
corporate buzz words and adopt them into your
vocabulary.
-
Understand the
Operations mind set.
-
Recognize the Victim
mentality that management effectively uses to
justify decisions. Do not incorporate this attitude
into your agency experience.
-
Get any commitments or
promises from management in writing and keep same.
-
"I have always told
people that it is not what the company tells you
that is important, but rather what they choose not
to tell you." Quote from SF Agents Forum.
-
Listen carefully at all
AFO meetings; do not ask questions for clarification
until after you receive your contract.
-
If at all possibly, hire
and train a relative for office staff.
-
Loyalty is a major asset
in a staff person.
-
Have your own personal
computer at the office.
-
On SF Outlook, every
keystroke is retrievable - nothing is private.
-
Have your own private
email address.
-
Thoroughly learn ABS and
keep up with modifications.
-
When/if a staff person
leaves, make sure you know their function and can
step in and take over until a replacement it found.
-
When you get your
contract, re-evaluate your financial situation and
make the necessary adjustments.
-
Join SF Credit Union, it
offers a $25k signature loan.
-
If angry or frustrated,
wait 24 before responding in writing.
-
Keep anything with
relevant signatures, particularly if management is
involved.
-
Everyone is expendable
and it is not all about you.
-
Remember - IF IT CAN
HAPPEN FLORIDA, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
