Is a Career In Insurance Right For You?

Many people, especially young people, are looking for something REAL these days. Not some temporary job with no future, or a part-time employer who thinks he’s better than God, but something real, tangible, worthwhile-doing, and long-lasting.

One occupation many are looking into is the insurance industry. It is, after all, nearly recession-proof. It can be very rewarding, as you help people overcome real problems, solve real issues, and prepare for a responsible future. And it isn’t a passing fancy or part-time plaything, but a real career, with opportunities for advancement, even entrepreneurship, in the years to come. So, if you are one of those hopefuls, how do you know that a career in the insurance industry is right for you? Let’s ask some qualifying questions, and see how you do.

1. Can you manage your time and resources well?

Many insurance agents find themselves working out of the office a great deal. They have to schedule appointments when the prospects are available, not necessarily when it is most convenient for them. So, the best agents are very good, or can get very good, at managing their time and resources to their best advantage. If you are highly motivated and self-disciplined, and already have some time management skills in place, you can beat the crowd and have a leg up on those who don’t.

2. Are you a people person, or a wallflower?

We’re not saying an introvert can’t become a success in the insurance industry. What we are saying is that those who can network well, communicate well with others, and who can reach out to people they don’t know with skill and savvy, CAN become a success without having to overcome people-skill problems. If you’ve got mad personal skills, your road to insurance agent success can be a lot shorter.

3. Do you enjoy some work-related travel?

Insurance agents often meet prospects and clients out of the office, in the clients’ homes or offices. If spending the day or the evening driving around town, or out and about the countryside, appeals to you, then you’d have an easier time accepting the travel demands of an insurance career.

4. Can you handle, or overcome, rejection?

Let’s face it. Insurance is all about sales. You have to sell the policies, the products, the financial services. And most people, at least the first time they are approached, say “No”. Some figures put the total rejection rate for insurance agents’ sales at 80% (some go even higher.) So, a good agent either has to have a way to overcome all that rejection and close the sale even when the prospect is more inclined to say “no”, or they have to have a back-up plan in place to get SOME sale out of each and every client.

Knowing your products and services, and matching them to your prospects and existing clients is the best way to overcome total rejection. “If Plan A doesn’t work for you, have you looked at Plan B?” Also, a good insurance agent knows that rejection is just part of the business, and learns NOT to take it personally. If you think you have the mental and emotional strength to overcome repeated rejections, then you’re well on your way to preparing for a career in insurance.

5. Do you see yourself in the role of “boss” and “business owner” in the future?

If you have dreams of someday owning your own business, and having your own employees working for you, then insurance could be the perfect career choice. After a few years as an agent, you can take the initiative and branch out on your own, creating your own office. Those who are happily content to work for someone else all their lives can also make great insurance agents, but they may lack a bit of the motivation that the career demands. So, for the go-getter entrepreneur-to-be, insurance can be the answer to your dreams.

A career in insurance can be demanding, but it can also be rewarding. Knowing whether or not you have what it takes going in can help you decide if the insurance industry is right for you. We hope that our quick question and answer session has helped you to make that very crucial decision. Good luck!

5 Things That Make Lynnwood, Washington Awesome

Lynnwood, Washington, at first glance, isn’t much different from any other “bedroom” community in the Seattle area. However, once you look a bit deeper, you’ll find that Lynnwood isn’t quite the sleepy little suburb that it might first appear to be. Lynwood, like most every other city, has its hidden gems and things that make it unique. Let’s explore 5 of these, in no particular order, shall we?

  • Public Artworks

From custom artwork on benches in a park, to a fused glass window in the Public Library, to artglass windows in a firehouse, Lynnwood is a treasure trove of public artworks. There’s a bit of something for everyone, too, be they art enthusiast or a young Visit the “Gentle Encounter” statue in Heritage Park with the kids. Or take a walking tour of public art works ranging from sculptures to a blown glass vessel, arrayed along 44th Avenue between 188th and 194th Streets. Lynnwood has a somewhat unique commitment to public artworks, with 1% of every new construction project’s budget going to the Lynnwood Arts Commission for the production or acquisition of new pieces.

  • Public Spaces

Much of the public artwork on display in Lynnwood is located in the city’s public parks. Lynwood has over 350 acres of dedicated public parkland. Over 230 acres are in developed park spaces – playgrounds, sports courts, picnic areas, athletic fields, spray parks, a skate park and more. There are over 100 acres of undeveloped open spaces – green spaces for walking, sun worshiping, and family recreations. Then there’s 20 acres of undeveloped park land, allowing a bit for Mother Nature to take over, and for birders and other wildlife enthusiasts to enjoy. Lastly, there are over 14 miles of public walking/biking trails within the city limits. There’s no excuse to stay stuck inside when living or visiting Lynwood.

  • Heritage Park

Many “modern” cities seem to always be looking forward to the future, and not paying much attention to their past. After all, for most “modern” cities, there isn’t much past there to remember. Lynnwood, however, hasn’t forgotten its past, or how different things were from how things are. From the era of WWI, to the 20’s when the area was the nation’s second-largest egg-producer, to 1959 when Lynnwood was finally incorporated as a city, Heritage Park will take you on an informative trip down the city’s Memory Lane. Come visit the original mercantile, the water tower, a pre-depression era Interurban railway car, and much more.

  • House of Clocks

You wouldn’t think a clock and watch shop would be anything special, but the House of Clocks in Lynnwood is just that. The building was originally a highway-side service station, built in an A-frame style in 1929. The owner and his family lived behind the station, on a small farm, growing strawberries. In 1963, the Nofziger family bought the service station and transformed it into a clock store and repair shop. The Nofziger family still owns and operates the House of Clocks to this day. Isn’t it “time” you visited this not-so-hidden gem?

  • Something for Everyone

From the preschool programs at the library, to the Teen Alliance group, to the many volunteer opportunities for adults, and the excellent programs and center for seniors, Lynnwood has something to offer every member of the family and society. Lynnwood is a rather racially diverse community, too, with Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanics offering their unique cultural interpretations. Everyone has the potential to find something to take part in, belong to, and enjoy, in Lynwood.

While not the largest of Seattle’s suburbs, Lynnwood makes up for its lack of size with a surplus of style and dash of quaintness. Come and experience all 5 of the above, as well as all of Lynnwood’s other offerings.