YOUNG AGENT PROFILE
MIKE GOODMAN
Goodman Insurance Solutions Sublette , KS
How did you get into the industry ? I was introduced to the insurance industry by my father-inlaw , writing crop insurance for many years . I joined forces with an agency in our region as a producer in 2017 . Upon building a name for myself locally , the opportunity to go on our own came in 2020 when we established Goodman Insurance Solutions .
What benefits do Young Agents bring to the industry ? I believe that Young Agents bring many benefits to the industry , including but not limited to technology and customer experience . To no surprise , technology can ’ t fix poor management . Still , I think young agents are leveraging digital communication paired with traditional service to build relationships that start with ease of doing business . Young agents enter this business arena having the most recent “ other side of the fence ” experience as a consumer and therefore are more in touch with expectations of the everyday customer .
How do you see the industry changing in the next 5-10 years ? I have been wrong many times in my life , so here ’ s to another one ! I foresee the industry evolving into one that is as competitive as ever paired with an all-time high level of customer experience . I think the trend in most households of both spouses working is here to stay ; therefore , today ’ s consumer needs to be able to do business on their time . I still value brick and mortar , although I think availability will continue to prevail as the service benchmark . As much as technology has decreased traditional face-to-face interaction , I am confident that people still want to be seen and heard . With this , I firmly believe that taking care of people will never go out of style .
Who / What has been your greatest resource ( s ) and why ? My greatest resource has been learning from people . The day that I stop learning from people is the day I will need to move on to something else . Of course , I believe in formal training and education , but the real world and experiences are the ones that stick with me and is where the rubber hits the road .
What is your greatest reward as an independent insurance agent ? My greatest reward as an independent agent is being able to slow down , talk to people , and listen . I can ’ t tell you how many times people say , “ I ’ ve never had anyone ask me that " or " My agent never visited my property ." Of course , making sure people are paid on losses is rewarding . Still , fulfillment for me comes in listening to people ' s concerns and explaining what the paper they are buying is designed to do .
What advice would you give to an incoming young agent ? Listen to people who have real credibility . Entering the industry can be overwhelming . It was for me . I am analytical by nature ; therefore , I never run out of questions to ask . There are many people out there that will tell you “ How to do it ” but have never done it . For me , I have found that some of the most successful people are eager to help you with complete transparency . Some of the things I do to help fill my cup are listening to podcasts both industry and non-industry related , reading books , talking with both young and veteran agents at conferences , and spending less time comparing on social media . There is a lot of noise in the world today . Quiet the noise .
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