Last week I was in Indianapolis at the Vertafore NetVu 15 conference where I attended a presentation Peyton Manning gave on being a “Game Changer.” Peyton talked about being a leader on the field and off. His sports analogies hit home, as I have spent a quarter of my life working for Nike. Everything involved with what it takes to be a top athlete can be applied to being a business leader. The main message is to keep moving forward. Keep innovating. Keep learning. Keep changing. Never be okay with good. Be great!

Here are some things you can do right now to be a Game Changer:

1. Have a Coach – Always keep learning. Be coachable. Have a mentor. Someone who can give you another perspective and who can be there for you when you need wise advice. Trust your coach.
2. Use the Best Equipment – Use and try new technology. Do not be afraid to fail or upset your team with something new to learn. Automate marketing and tasks so your team can focus on the important things like nurturing your clients and growing your business. They will thank you when they know what they need to focus on, and you have made their jobs much easier.
3. Always Train Your Teams – Your employees should always be learning. Marketing, sales, and social media techniques are always changing, along with the insurance industry. Invest in your staff. Value them and they will give you 110%. Invest in experts to train your teams.
4. Know What You Are Good at, and Perfect It – Every agency has something that sets it apart. Maybe it is a niche market you serve where you are an expert. Blog about it. Maybe your staff members are big Facebook users, and you are big on investing in your community. Make sure your clients are aware that you are giving back. Do not be afraid to be yourself and show your agency’s personality. Clients respond well to that.
5. Set Goals and Adjust Your Baselines – With the industry always changing, know where your agency stands right now. What is your retention rate? What percentage of new business are you bringing in each year? How many clients are rounded out and what are the additional opportunities? What marketing strategies are working? Create a baseline and set goals for each year. Create a plan to get there. Perfect each thing you are doing well and continue to add something else. Never stop.

“Remember to enjoy the journey, not the desired destination once you get there.” – Peyton Manning