Suzilla: Family Business Podcast

Straight out of Wenatchee Insurance, we had to talk about inflation this week. As parents with a Senior getting ready to graduate and small business owners, we feel the pinch. With Car insurance prices hitting 22% and articles talking about groceries as a splurge item, it’s time to talk about saving money. As small business owners, this is not our first time around for finding places to save money. We have been getting a lot of quotes that by the way that they are pitched show that they have bought into some myths and they are spending more money around their policies. Tips on how to thrive in tough times. #wenatcheeinsurance

We have people who come to our Insurance office for the first time filled with dread. Grey-skinned, grim looks focused on the task of diving into insurance through their beliefs. (Seriously, we are going to do an insurance myth episode because someone is telling fibs). When they leave are radiant, expressive and confident. Smiles are something that you cannot measure but you can see the results. This week's Suzilla is about building smiles with your business.

We have done business for over a decade currently we are working with Wenatchee Insurance. One of the biggest principles in presenting an offer is that it has to have value to the other person. Walking around there are some clear examples of this basic principle not being followed. There is a group of people that present an offer in terms that only value their position. This selfish behavior doesn't build good relationships/ communities. So today's Suzilla is about presenting offers for other people to accept.

The day that we did this episode was a day that I had a person using Tiktok contact me for insurance help. Since the days of the farm line, there has been some form of social communication over distances using technology. We are going to get into the bill even though we have a very small footprint on there as we recognize its value to the First Amendment and the marketplace. The Grapevine is important and it looks like politicians are attempting to kill it before the election. So let’s talk about social media.

There is a battle today about Education. How much should we spend? How much improvement are we getting out of it? How much should we spend on bonds? As insurance Agents we have continuing education regularly and not everyone pushes for improvement. Let’s talk about Education versus improvement on today’s Suzilla.

We have been running a small insurance office for years. We talk about the importance of the customer experience and tearing down 'no soliciting' signs in other podcasts. We have even talked about how to do creative outreach and events. It boils down to the idea around comfort. How are you projecting comfort to clients, friends, and strangers?

Around Wenatchee Insurance we are. Yes, the Lunar New Year occurs on Saturday. We have gone through the fires of 2023 and are looking forward to the New Year and the prosperity that comes with it. We have been laying the groundwork for the last couple of weeks to begin hatching. New Year, New us. It takes time for renewal. What have you set up for prosperity in 2024?

As insurance professionals, we work with trust. Customers have to recognize that you have a product that will work in their darkest hours. We build trust just the same way that we tear it down. Here comes an exercise in trust.

We are going to talk about being a Veteran in America on Veterans Day. There is predatory marketing that takes place, an IG moment or two and then we are used as political talking points to take away helping others. We are getting real with our office Veteran.

After running the enrollment center with the Washington Healthplanfinder for the last six years, we know a little about giving back. In the age of people running to jury duty, maybe we need to make a 180 and run to it. Instead of making a difference one day a year how about making a difference a week or daily? Community engagement goes beyond Instagram moments. It’s why animal clubs are dwindling or don’t maintain beyond social commitments. Let’s add community meaning.

While STEM gets a lot of play, what doesn’t get enough talk is supporting the arts in school. We use a heck of a lot of art and we run an insurance agency. My hands are bricks and it doesn’t stop me from supporting and appreciating art. This is where kids get to explore their creativity which drives genius and empathy. As business owners our next partner, employee, or client will probably come from the arts.

Fall is an exciting time of the year around here. Kids in school, Football, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Black Friday Specials, Dances, Open Enrollment, Halloween. Setting up for winter We are going to talk about energizing your life, your family, and your business during this episode.

After 12 years of running an insurance business, I can say one thing. There is no perfect customer, employee, or business model. Every year I set a plan and make adjustments. We are going to get into making adjustments so that you can fly. The first rule that we work with is to get out of your business and do events.

Scheduling is critical when you do Health Insurance and you are looking at hundreds of appointments in a few weeks. We just dropped a little over $500 for our Calendar program for the year and it is worth every penny. In the last couple of years, we have heard complaints about supply chain shortages. Some of that comes from scheduling. I went to see three different tattoo artists. I literally spent four days tracking down artists and attempting to schedule a new piece with cash in hand. How many hours have you spent waiting on your doctor for an appointment? All businesses rely on scheduling. Some are for clients and some are for resources for your business. If you rely on booking appointments, then you want to dial in.

We have been assisting with health insurance since the beginning of the ACA. The first year I had a ton of people with ITINs and tax returns seeking to purchase health insurance. Because of how the ACA was written they were eventually denied coverage. Later in 2017 during a rules change the Dreamers were also denied using the Healthplanfinder for coverage. It all changes on November 1,2023, when we began enrolling immigrants regardless of status on the Healthplanfinder. They may be eligible for state credits and not federal however it is a start. The plans will start on January 1, 2024. The information stays in the state system, so in-person assistors will be working hard to verify applications. This will keep the information private however it does mean that enrollments will take longer. July 1, 2024, those making less than 138% of poverty will be eligible for Apple Health on a first come first serve basis. We are recommending that everyone interested in selecting appointments early as the enrollment period ends January 15, 2024.

It is an important time to talk about the three big mechanics of delayed gratification. This is how you build teams and experiences. These are powerful building tools when used correctly. When mishandled then it becomes destructive.

Our insurance business has been experiencing massive growth. It took us five months and seven days to write as many policies as the entire 2022. So when someone told me that the economy was slowing down, I had to take a deeper look. It seems like the media is in cruise control. One group talks about how bad the Democrats do for the economy and then the other side of the news says how bad the incumbent party is doing for the economy. They are not talking about policy shifts like the 32,000 job sites. They are not talking about the small business growth with the Economic Development Districts. The Biden Economy is hot and we can see small businesses continue growing in the next couple of years with this plan. The economy has shifted whether the media is talking about it or not.

We have been doing insurance for half our married life. It takes a lot of education to move everything forward. How do you become a better you, partner, business etc. Do you schedule time during your day to improve one skill? When was the last time that you read a book or tried something brand new? How about making a new friend? There is a reason that people make a lot of friends in school and it becomes harder as they age. If you want to reverse that trend then let's start working on something new. Honest change comes from awkward moments.

Insurance is not an instant business as we have to look at things over long periods of time and then plan. We have folks building dream homes out of concrete and steel to protect from wildfire. We have large portions of Canada on fire. Hawaii’s losses are monstrous. Kids in Montana are upholding their state’s constitution to protect the environment. How do we do better on the bottom line and keep it sustainable?

By focusing on effect you can affect a response with the people around you. The Bear season 2 is a real good example of the details a restaurant can have to create an experience. Other businesses can work on similar effects to change lives. Let’s get into it.