Successful people in insurance, or in any business all share the same qualities: they have a plan for success and follow it.

We found this short piece about “Ensuring your success” and thought we’d share:

…the five keys for successfully strategizing your plan. The old saying, “If you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail” speaks a lot of truth. Actually, let’s talk about failure for a moment, because failure is not necessarily a bad thing. We all know that failure at some point is inevitable. What is important is that we view it as temporary, and get back on track right away.As a matter of fact, we often learn more from our failures than our successes. Many great inventions and discoveries came about while working to accomplish something else. So failure is a natural part of the learning experience and is nothing to be feared.Since your goal is to succeed, you need to have a well-conceived plan, put that plan into action, and resolve not to give up.In order to ensure your success, ask and answer these five key questions:

  1. What do I need to do to get started?
  2. What is likely to distract me? What might take my time, energy and effort away from achieving my goals? What can I do to prevent these things from holding me back?
  3. Who do I know that has had similar success and what did they do to get there?
  4. When do I want to achieve my vision?
  5. Who can help support me and hold me accountable?

If you ask yourself these five important questions, write down your answers, modify and adjust along the way, and ALWAYS stay in action, you will be well on your way towards achieving your goals.via Ensuring Your Success « Edge of Change Edge of Change.

Self-help books talk a lot about focus, having a plan and surrounding yourself with successful people. Two of my favorite books to get you started are:

From Think and Grow Rich, we find the foundations of setting up a mastermind group- where you can connect and encourage within a small group in order to grow your business and your self. Hill looked at “winners” and figured out their best practices. He identifies “13 proven steps to riches.” The book is called the granddaddy of all self-help books- and is even available for free online: https://archive.org/details/Think_and_Grow_Rich

From Bettinger’s book synopsis on Amazon:

When Frank Bettger was twenty-nine he was a failed insurance salesman. By the time he was forty he owned a country estate and could have retired. What are the selling secrets that turned Bettger’s life around from defeat to unparalleled success and fame as one of the highest paid salesmen in America?
The answer is inside How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling. Bettger reveals his personal experiences and explains the foolproof principles that he developed and perfected. He shares instructive anecdotes and step-by-step guidelines on how to develop the style, spirit, and presence of a winning salesperson. No matter what you sell, you will be more efficient and profitable—and more valuable to your company—when you apply Bettger’s keen insights on:

  •  The power of enthusiasm

  • How to conquer fear

  • The key word for turning a skeptical client into an enthusiastic buyer

  • The quickest way to win confidence

  • Seven golden rules for closing a sale

And while books are a part of your preparation, good training from great teachers is also a huge help. That’s why at Advantage Education Group, we find experienced insurance professionals who love to share their insights and the secrets of success to help our clients get certified or gain the continuing education credit they need.

It’s all our part of “Insuring your success.” Advantage Education Group offers pre-licensing courses, continuing education courses, performance training, management training to the insurance industry.