Why Are So Many Agents Lazy?

[slushpuppyking]

Laziness isn't always the culprit. This profession has many layers of bulls#$t to it and it is so damn easy to start off on the wrong foot. Whether you're straight out of college, have only done retail, or like most have had a 9-5 job....you are basically in the land of Oz when you jump into the FE market. And it' true that most people do just JUMP right in.

Most common exposure? Craigslist, and we all know what kind of BS you are being taught/told when you learn that way. If you survive that and still want to try this out you have the internet and it is full of so much info it's overwhelming. You tend to focus very much on the lead aspect which in turn is just money down the drain for most rookie agents.

When the reality of FE hits you it's over. You aren't lazy, you just had a long time where you thought it was one thing and the truth is something else entirely. You start off with thoughts of 250k/yr and unlimited "free" leads to finding your own super awesome lead source and hoping for 100k/yr. Then you find out that is a pipe dream and you have to invest a ton in leads, set your own appointments, start to run out of cash fast, and then have a lousy close ratio because you never got proper training.

Then you are reading threads about door knocking because it's gotten to that point, but by that time you've decided it's just not for you and you're off to find another 9-5 "secure" job.

That is what happens to a ton of new agents, and I don't think it's fair to call them lazy. Really it's more like shell shock and the realization that what FE is and what you thought FE was are 2 different things. So you move on.

IMO a lazy agent is one that knows this business, knows how to make money, knows exactly what to do, yet just doesn't. They do $5,000 in AP one week and then are lazy for the next 2 weeks and do nothing.

 

[Agentguy5]

Laziness isn't always the culprit. This profession has many layers of bulls# to it and it is so damn easy to start off on the wrong foot. Whether you're straight out of college, have only done retail, or like most have had a 9-5 job....you are basically in the land of Oz when you jump into the FE market. And it' true that most people do just JUMP right in.

Most common exposure? Craigslist, and we all know what kind of BS you are being taught/told when you learn that way. If you survive that and still want to try this out you have the internet and it is full of so much info it's overwhelming. You tend to focus very much on the lead aspect which in turn is just money down the drain for most rookie agents.

When the reality of FE hits you it's over. You aren't lazy, you just had a long time where you thought it was one thing and the truth is something else entirely. You start off with thoughts of 250k/yr and unlimited "free" leads to finding your own super awesome lead source and hoping for 100k/yr. Then you find out that is a pipe dream and you have to invest a ton in leads, set your own appointments, start to run out of cash fast, and then have a lousy close ratio because you never got proper training.

Then you are reading threads about door knocking because it's gotten to that point, but by that time you've decided it's just not for you and you're off to find another 9-5 "secure" job.

That is what happens to a ton of new agents, and I don't think it's fair to call them lazy. Really it's more like shell shock and the realization that what FE is and what you thought FE was are 2 different things. So you move on.

IMO a lazy agent is one that knows this business, knows how to make money, knows exactly what to do, yet just doesn't. They do $5,000 in AP one week and then are lazy for the next 2 weeks and do nothing.

Was wondering where you disappeared to! I guess you never made the switch to selling FE full time?

A couple of months ago I gave a bunch of free DM leads to an agent who was door knocking all day for several days. He wasn't lazy at all, quite the opposite. He had been trying to sell insurance for a couple of years but never learned how to close.

He didn't seem to be able to take in what I was teaching him. I offered a ride along which he never did.. I sent him recordings of me doing my presentation, spent time with him on the phone explaining how he had to quit being so nice and start taking control. He kept saying he was doing it his way because he was comfortable with that and he didn't want to come off being pushy...

In the end, he wasted a bunch of leads, wasted his and my time, and is gone... all because he couldn't grasp the concept of "closing" and was not interested in getting a little uncomfortable!

Right now I have a post in the "offers" section with FREE leads, 100 point contracts, and training... and have NOT gotten 1 reply! What's that about? I would have done anything for an offer like this when I got started...

 

[Newby]

Newby, Have you made over 100k a year since you were 25? That's the point here. I know people that make over double that now but they had UPS and DOWNS along the way! I find it to be remarkable he did this at such a young age(25) and Maintained that income though all the economic turmoil of the past 18 years.

In today's dollars, pretty close. I was 25 in 1985. I have worked on commission since I was 17 years old. Selling Motorcycles for 19 years and selling insurance for the next 16. My 1st year in insurance I did take a dip but still made over $75,000.

Some people did come out of the gate working hard and earning a lot of money. I didn't buy into the "have to go to college" stuff. I was working long hard hours and driven by the unlimited income that commissions can do for you.

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Why do you care so much about it. You will find those that make the Money rarely talk about it. Why give the IRS ammo?

I've only had one IRS problem ever. When I was 27-years old I sold enough Honda Motorcycles for Honda to win an 8-day trip to Tokyo Japan. It was very high end. I think the taxable value was $13,000 in 1987. I didn't even know I had to claim it. I did.

A few years after that I married a CPA and sleep good at night now. I probably pay too many taxes. But I don't care. An audit wouldn't scare me.

 

[rousemark]

IMO a lazy agent is one that knows this business, knows how to make money, knows exactly what to do, yet just doesn't. They do $5,000 in AP one week and then are lazy for the next 2 weeks and do nothing.

That is not necessarily lazy. Could be that agent just has different goals than the one that does it every week. There are lots of people that will push hard for a week so they spend a couple of weeks doing other things. Some are motivated by money and others are motivated by free time.. Doesn't make either lazy.

 

[TwiLight]

A few years after that I married a CPA and sleep good at night now. I probably pay too many taxes. But I don't care. An audit wouldn't scare me.

That's nice, you will find with continued success at FEX that you will care.....CPA's are not perfect. It only takes one tax class for a CPA to get licensed in most States. Not my point though....Your wife has a vested interest in you and your business, so that is 100 times better than what most agents will see in their time in this business.

Insurance Agent's are the most Audited group by the IRS and they love to go after those that Brag about their income.... They look at forum posts and other industry info to gather info if you are targeted.

My advice is this about Income Bragging. DON'T do it..... Don't give a 29 year old at the IRS any ammo to make you his/her stepping stone to their next promotion for a $60k annual salary form $57.500......

This is purely business Advice Scott. As you grow FEX you are more of a target.... Not just from IMO's but from those who would like to tear down your successes just for KIX.

 

[rousemark]

Not my point though....Your wife has a vested interest in you and your business,

Just pray she is not mad at you on April 15!

 

[slushpuppyking]

That is not necessarily lazy. Could be that agent just has different goals than the one that does it every week. There are lots of people that will push hard for a week so they spend a couple of weeks doing other things. Some are motivated by money and others are motivated by free time.. Doesn't make either lazy.

I wrote it with the scenario being they do truly nothing for 2 weeks. No vacation, no side job, they just don't work their leads. Didn't think I'd need to spell that out.

 

[rousemark]

I wrote it with the scenario being they do truly nothing for 2 weeks. No vacation, no side job, they just don't work their leads. Didn't think I'd need to spell that out.

Some of us old folks are a little slow.. But the definition of free time is to do what you want to do, not work another job, etc.. For some, it may be sit in a recliner and vegetate watching Pawn Stars reruns.. but that does not make them lazy.. They do enough to achieve THEIR goals not the goals someone else thinks they should have.

BTW, are you still selling the drug assistance plan?

 

[John Galt]

Laziness isn't always the culprit. This profession has many layers of bulls# to it and it is so damn easy to start off on the wrong foot. Whether you're straight out of college, have only done retail, or like most have had a 9-5 job....you are basically in the land of Oz when you jump into the FE market. And it' true that most people do just JUMP right in.

Most common exposure? Craigslist, and we all know what kind of BS you are being taught/told when you learn that way. If you survive that and still want to try this out you have the internet and it is full of so much info it's overwhelming. You tend to focus very much on the lead aspect which in turn is just money down the drain for most rookie agents.

When the reality of FE hits you it's over. You aren't lazy, you just had a long time where you thought it was one thing and the truth is something else entirely. You start off with thoughts of 250k/yr and unlimited "free" leads to finding your own super awesome lead source and hoping for 100k/yr. Then you find out that is a pipe dream and you have to invest a ton in leads, set your own appointments, start to run out of cash fast, and then have a lousy close ratio because you never got proper training.

Then you are reading threads about door knocking because it's gotten to that point, but by that time you've decided it's just not for you and you're off to find another 9-5 "secure" job.

That is what happens to a ton of new agents, and I don't think it's fair to call them lazy. Really it's more like shell shock and the realization that what FE is and what you thought FE was are 2 different things. So you move on.

IMO a lazy agent is one that knows this business, knows how to make money, knows exactly what to do, yet just doesn't. They do $5,000 in AP one week and then are lazy for the next 2 weeks and do nothing.

Still sounds lazy to me

 

[Newby]

That's nice, you will find with continued success at FEX that you will care.....CPA's are not perfect. It only takes one tax class for a CPA to get licensed in most States. Not my point though....Your wife has a vested interest in you and your business, so that is 100 times better than what most agents will see in their time in this business. Insurance Agent's are the most Audited group by the IRS and they love to go after those that Brag about their income.... They look at forum posts and other industry info to gather info if you are targeted. My advice is this about Income Bragging. DON'T do it..... Don't give a 29 year old at the IRS any ammo to make you his/her stepping stone to their next promotion for a $60k annual salary form $57.500...... This is purely business Advice Scott. As you grow FEX you are more of a target.... Not just from IMO's but from those who would like to tear down your successes just for KIX.

Yes but what I mean is that my wife is so conservative that I think if we got audited, the IRS would probably find that they owe us money.