To succeed as an insurance agent in this ever competitive insurance industry is not an easy feat. What we usually witness is the result of the hidden hard work, disappointment and defeat gone through by those who are now successful.

So what are some of the factors needed to succeed in this industry? We asked this question of our Facebook page and these are some of the answers we got from the agents there.

Passion! – Syed Fadzil

Sustainability – Faiz Abd Rahman

Action – Shofy Shaari

Perseverance – Edy Raden

We often speak of the “stuff” needed to succeed. The right attitude, persistence, perseverance, confidence, the list goes on and on. However, often times we forget the other stuff that we must leave behind, that are equally important in order to achieve success. So what are this stuff?

4 habits to break to succeed as insurance agent:

1. Stop comparing yourself with others

The success of others should be a motivation to you. It should make you want to work hard to achieve the kind of success they have. However most of us fall into this self-made trap of comparing ourselves – our lives, our achievements (or lack of) with that of others’.

The danger of comparing yourself to others is we almost always compare the best with the worst. For instance, we compare our neighbour’s shinny new Porsche to our 1992’s Proton Wira. Or his 8 consecutive years in qualifying for the MDRT to your RM2,000 monthly total sale.

This makes a very irrational and unfair comparison that only demotivates and demoralizes you. You only end up losing focus and doubting yourself and your own capabilities.

Comparing yourself to others will put your focus on the wrong person. So instead, focus on YOU. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Any bit of talent ought to be polished, any weaknesses found should be worked on.

So… water your own grass!

2. Stop paying attention to that tiny voice inside your head

Oh dear we all have it, although many don’t even realize it. That little voice that always doubts our decisions and actions. Where does it come from? Well, that’s actually our ego.

According to the great neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939), “in order to deal with conflict and problems in life, the ego employs a range of defence mechanisms. This defence mechanism helps ward off unpleasant feelings (i.e. anxiety) or make good things feel better for the individual,” (Simply Psychology). https://www.simplypsychology.org/defense-mechanisms.html

When we try to make changes in our lives, this little voice will start to question our decision. It is actually the defence mechanism that is trying to protect us from the disappointment stemming from a possible failure.

Sadly this voice has a major influence on us and time and time again we fall for the lies and the doubts it whispers in our ears. We then start to question our decisions start to asking: “Can I really do it?”

This voice is the source of most of our self-limiting beliefs and thoughts. With a better understanding of what it actually is, we should now be able to consciously ignore it.

Get rid of the self-limiting beliefs, pay no attention to the voice in your head!

3. Ignore what others say

Well we’re not saying to ignore completely what others have to say. What you need is the ability and wisdom to separate constructive criticism from the destructive ones. There could be several reasons why you need to be careful at taking advice or criticism from other.

Those who are negative or pessimistic usually do not wish to see others being successful. These type of people you definitely want to ignore no matter how genuinely they may appear to care about you. Their words of concern could just be the poison aimed to demotivate you.

Then there are those who honestly care and mean well, like the true friends we may have. However, just because they do does not mean they truly understand what’s best for us. While those who want us to succeed, like our parents, may not have the right knowledge of the industry or the job to offer real constructive advice.

Others’ advice and opinion don’t matter as much as we think they do. Give them a chance to speak their mind. But know that your faith in yourself should be what matters most.

4.Let go of the need to feel responsible for those who won’t help themselves

We often meet prospects whose financial situations are in such desperate shape we feel that it is our absolute responsibility to help them. Sadly though, many of them don’t seem to want to make the change. They turn down our offer to help and won’t even spent 20 minutes to listen to our free advice.

We often regret the decisions that they make and, as dutiful advisors, we sometimes blame ourselves for not being able to help improve their situations. This is usually true of young agents new to the industry. They are often burdened by the feeling that they have failed.

No one is responsible for another’s action and decision. You are only responsible for yours, and by spending more unproductive time on them trying to change their mind, you are no longer being responsible to yourself and your time.

Let go of the need to feel responsible for those who won’t help themselves. Know that you have done your best to help and that is as far as your responsibility goes.

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