Help with Project 200

[thenextlevel]

I am in the process of getting started with New York Life. One of the first things I was told to do was a Project 200. I didn't have to much of a problem getting names of 200 people i know, the problem is there address. 90% of the numbers I have are cell phone numbers. Most of these people aren't in the phone book. Short of calling them and asking them for their address what can I do?

 

[GreenSky]

How many of those 200 do you want to keep as friends?

Rick

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Project 200 is fantastic when you want to weed your friends list down to 2 or 3.

This is a FAILED method of launching your career. Abort. Even if you wrote a few deals - then what...

 

[thenextlevel]

Wow. This forum is filled with negativity. I wasn't asking for criticism regarding the project 200, just help with ways to find addresses. If I wanted to read discouraging posts about life insurance failures there are plenty here to keep me entertained for weeks

 

[arnguy]

Use the white pages inasmuch as they are working numbers.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Wow. This forum is filled with negativity. I wasn't asking for criticism regarding the project 200, just help with ways to find addresses. If I wanted to read discouraging posts about life insurance failures there are plenty here to keep me entertained for weeks

Great. I'm sure all of your past friends and contacts can't WAIT for you to call and hit 'em up for insurance. Imagine their excitement when they answer the phone: "HEY!!! What's been going on!" Then you go "Oh, nothing. Sorry we've been out of touch but you see, I have this manager who wants overrides so I need to hit you up for life insurance."

And you are missing the difference between negativity and realism. But if you want to avoid being realistic and think these are just "negative comments" that's fine. Don't take your resume off Monster.

 

[djs]

whitepages.com, reverse number lookup. Doesn't work so well for cell phones though.

Don't misread the negativity of this thread. Companies that have new individuals start with project 100 (or 200) tend to have a lot of agents not make it long term (true with most insurance). Your goal needs to be to learn to prospect beyond friends and family. This is harder to do and should be your priority.

Your managers priority is to get you to write the business of your family and friends before you decide if you want this as a career. That way, they have the business even if you leave. My recommendation is to wait till you have been doing this a year.

Dan

 

[Franz Kafka]

You got negativity because you asked a dumb question (sorry).

Why can't you just tell em "I don't know their fxxxing addresses!!!"

If the sales manager still insists on getting their addresses after that, write something and shove it to their face.

Give the manager what he/she wants and keep them happy and do your own thing cause they don't give a **** about you (the sooner you realize this, the more chance you have of making it). JMO

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I'll tone it down because maybe he'll listen:

Project 200 exists for one reason; it results in a few quick deals and managers are pressed to hit certain numbers. Your 2 deals multiplied by thousands of other agents ads up quickly. The down side is it puts you in a very negative light with your old friends who find it against social norms to be contacted and solicited for business when you have not maintained the relationship. Even close friends will be put off.

However, it does not address a career in the insurance field which is designing and implementing a long-term marketing plan.

I touched on it before, but so you go through your list of 200 and write a few deals. Great. but now you're back at square 1.

If I was in your shoes - new at NY Life - I'd want to mingle with successful career agents and find out their marketing strategy.

 

[arnguy]

Project 200 is just like an activity report. It requires creative thinking!