Close Close
Sign In
Newsletters
Popular Financial Topics Discover relevant content from across the suite of ALM legal publications From the Industry More content from ThinkAdvisor and select sponsors Investment Advisor Issue Gallery Read digital editions of Investment Advisor Magazine Tax Facts Get clear, current, and reliable answers to pressing tax questions
Luminaries Awards
Podcast Center Video Center Webcasts Resource Center Events
About ThinkAdvisor Contact Us Advertise With Us Asset & Logo Licensing Sitemap Terms of Service Privacy Policy Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
ThinkAdvisor

Life Health > Life Insurance

What insurance agents can learn from Derek Jeter

By Michael Goldberg

X
Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

There’ve been a lot of exciting “feel good” sports stories in the news lately. And it’s about time.

LeBron James, the best basketball player on the planet, left his hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers four years ago to play on a dream team in Miami to win a couple of championships. Now he’s back home to play with the Cavs. Some (especially those from Cleveland) feel that he abandoned a city that desperately needed a champion. He’s back and has changed the entire league while saying all the right things to the media. It’s a nice story and great for basketball. Probably not so great for the Miami Heat.

In baseball, it’s the year of Derek Jeter. After coming back from an injury, Jeter is playing good baseball at age 40, in his final season. Jeter went 2 for 2 (2 hits in 2 at bats) in the All Star Game and has made history by having the second highest batting average of all time in All Star Games – .481 average, (13-27) in 14 All Star appearances.

Even if you don’t follow either of these sports yourself, it’s hard to not see the impact stories like these have on the sports world, sports fans, and of course, the media.

What do stories about LeBron and Jeter mean to me? Outside of the “feel good” thing, LeBron and Jeter remind me of how we take to role models and look up to people that do great things. Yes, they’re both great players, but these guys also almost always say the right things. They have become almost bigger than their environments (LeBron may be bigger than his sport!). They help others and in doing so look to leave a great legacy.

As a financial advisor, broker, wholesaler, agent, or rep, is there a LeBron James or Derek Jeter in your industry (or with your firm) that you should be paying attention to? Following on Twitter? Getting to know? Emulating?

Could these stars in your industry be helping you? Coaching you? Mentoring you? Developing you?

If you’re a new advisor, agent, or rep — or someone who simply wants to play the game at a higher level — think about who is on the fast track in your world that you admire. Who goes about their business in a way that you would hope to imitate?

In boxing there’s an expression, ‘Styles make fights.’ I love Mike Tyson’s style. He was shorter than most of his opponents and therefore developed a devastating left hook and body attack. As an amateur boxer who is often shorter (and older!) than my opponent, I try to emulate Tyson’s style and approach. I’m not successful all the time but each time I get a little better and a lot more confident. And that’s the point.

Do you know an advisor whose approach reflects a fighting style that you think would make you a success? Who has the best approach when speaking with others? Who has a target marketplace you admire? A work ethic you respect? Who has great organizational skills, deep product knowledge, a cool attitude, a high closing ratio, a high opening ratio, strong networking ability, impressive business acumen?

You may not be able to meet LeBron or Derek tomorrow but you can take the next step in connecting with an All Star in your industry that might just make all the difference.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.