Is there no future in selling insurance?
I think as someone who has been an agent and is now an agent, I can say two things.
First of all, we must admit an objective fact and express a position.
The objective fact is that the stigma of the insurance industry does exist. The belief that “Insurance is a fraud” and consequently, “Agents are dishonest” is not only prevalent among your acquaintances, but you may also encounter it frequently in the future.
The best stance is to not hold any stance, maintain an Open Mind mentality, let go of all prejudices, and follow the “love and responsibility” that the insurance company tells you. See with your own eyes, walk with your own feet, and constantly ask yourself, how is this industry? How is the company I work for? Do I like this industry?
It can be said that if you don’t have basic enthusiasm and love for an industry, no matter what industry it is, it will be difficult. Those industries that appear to be glamorous on the surface have a lot of suffering that you don’t know about. For example, a doctor sees 40 patients in one morning, and the commission for each patient is only 3 yuan. If he encounters a patient like *Xue, he will make trouble with you, and even stab you with a knife. For example, for lawyers, the field of graduates is seriously saturated. After ten years of working as a lawyer, you may still be doing odd jobs for barristers and not be able to receive your cases. For example, in the financial industry, all my classmates are in the Big Four or investment banks. I worked overtime day and night, and even when I was below 30, I could no longer do it, and some even took off my job. A girl at China Everbright Bank even joked with me, “It’s better to sell sweet potatoes than to do finance.”
In all industries that seem high-end and high-paying, people in them have to make sacrifices or trade-offs. If you don’t like this industry, it’s better not to do it.
Let’s talk about the insurance industry. It can be said that the competition in this industry is extremely cruel. The elimination rate is higher than 70%, and the top 20% are the ones who can make money. The success model of any business lies in how much-added value you can give to the other party. For example, people with good looks tend to perform better, so their added value is to give the other party a good aesthetic experience. People who are proficient in financial management have good performance because they can not only negotiate insurance with customers but also help customers solve many financial management problems. So, as a fresh graduate, you can think about it, where is your added value?
My former insurance company manager had a medical background and was very charismatic. She was the kind of person who, no matter what her profession, if you were sitting in front of you, you would want to have a word with her. You can say to her. I defeated 90% of the agents without opening my mouth. Is this a state that ordinary people can achieve?
The financial industry is impetuous, and insurance agents are 10 times more impetuous than other financial industries. Why do you say that?
1. Performance is king
If your performance is good, your voice will be loud. All the applause, flowers, and honors are yours. As for what means you used to achieve it, I don’t care. I once heard a department director teach a newcomer, “You make an order for 5,000 yuan. Next time you go there, you have to think of a way to turn the 5,000 yuan order into a 50,000 yuan order.” The newcomer was stunned for a moment after being lectured. I was stunned and didn’t dare to say a word. What I heard on the side was thrilling. As for the “customization on demand” mentioned, the environment where performance is king is destined to run counter to “customization on demand”. I only want to make big orders, and the contradiction between the performance mentality and the professional attitude is self-evident. Metaphor. Performance for the sake of performance will lead to a lot of misleading sales, and this is the source of the stigma in the insurance industry.
2. Anti-intellectualism and reflection
The favorite saying of insurance companies is “Simply obey and do as you are told.” The second favorite saying is “Education is a bronze medal, ability is a silver medal, and connections are a gold medal.” Every morning, I give chicken blood, drink chicken soup, and tell stories about signing contracts. I tell you about a person who is unknown and will make a million a year in a few years. Hearing this will make your blood boil. However, when you want to jump out of this well and become a frog looking at the outside world, everyone will come out to stop you and tell you don’t look, don’t listen, and don’t do it. Our company is the loudest, and everyone else is terrible. But I am a serious person, and I just wanted to take a look at what this industry is like, what the big picture is like, whether other people’s products are good, and what other companies are like, so I decisively left insurance. The company, because I know if I were there, I would always be blindfolded.
3. Religious Marketing Model
The philosophy of insurance companies is brainwashing, not like a professional financial institution, but more like a religion. Why is food so popular in China? This is because our educational philosophy is inherently cramming and does not encourage people to have independent critical thinking. What they learn from childhood to college is passive acceptance. Many people have weak self-awareness, lack of critical thinking spirit, and blocked information channels, so they encounter insurance companies. With this kind of violent thinking impact, it is inevitable not to be brainwashed and become a fanatical believer, taking it as his duty to spread “love and responsibility”. They have all gone astray. As a factual judgment, insurance products are inherently good and bad. It is the right way to use scientific thinking to analyze and compare, and to distinguish the false while preserving the true.
A few final words, if you really love this job and want to make it your lifelong career, grasp two trends.
1. Separation of production and sales
Represented by major insurance brokerage companies. People there are more rational, and objective, and have a critical spirit, which can cultivate a good self-awareness for young people.
2. Internet trends
The interaction between the financial industry and the Internet is a major topic in the next ten years. There is already a trend, and the prospects are limitless. If you join now, you can enjoy the bonus period.
But I hope you have a bright future ahead, and we will see you again in the world.
