Oct., 2015
Dear Colleagues:
Last week I attended the CPCU Society Annual Conference on your behalf in Indianapolis. (Next year’s is in Hawaii….What was I thinking, right?). While in attendance, I attended sessions on Agents E & O, The Evidence Pit Stop, Spying in the Skies- Drones, The Evolving Liabilities of Cyber, Ethical Decision Making, as well as network meetings, general sessions, and much more. It had been over 20 years since my last attendance at a CPCU Conference, and while much has changed over the years, some things remain the same.
One of the constants that struck me while at the conference is that there have always been complacent CPCU’s, and CPCU’s that push themselves to be the best they can be. The complacent CPCU ends their learning curve upon receipt of the CPCU designation. Our designation doesn’t require annual updates or continued education as a requirement to keep our designation. Maybe it should. The best CPCU’s know that the achievement of attaining your CPCU designation is only the beginning of your learning and they are always looking for ways to better themselves not only in their insurance/ risk management careers, but in their personal lives as well. As I continue to mature in this business, I find that things are changing quicker every year and that if I don’t continue to read, to search out answers, to dive in to new coverage issues, to take classes, etc… in other words to learn; I will get left behind very quickly and no longer be relevant. From a personal standpoint, we all have strengths and weaknesses. Some of us are very analytical. Some of us are very good communicators. Some of us are very theoretical and high thinkers. Some of us develop strong relationships very quickly. All of these things can be good, or bad depending on what you do with them. We see producers that are very good communicators and build relationships quickly but can’t analyze an insurance coverage to save their lives! We also see those that are very analytical, but are afraid to close a deal for fear of an answer of “NO”! The trick is to find your place in this industry where your personality fits in the best and then to use your strengths, recognize and work on your weaknesses and then strive to be the best you can be!
As we welcome our new designees Amanda Boring, Cheryl Ruth Brack-Mulford, Don Flickinger, Robert Glettler, Haiping Song, Anthony Sposato, and Tracy Taylor into our Chapter, let’s help them be the best they can be. To our new designees, my challenge to you would be to learn who you are. What is your passion? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Oh, and before I forget….never stop learning. Welcome to our ranks, good luck, and here’s to a long successful career…Solute!
Jim