THE VALUE OF TECHNOLOGY: ONE CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE by Jack Burke The insurance industry, along with other industries, has often been accused of directing the benefits of technology...

When you come right down to it, failure is a word we use to describe anything short of absolute success. Like perfection, success is unforgiving, when measured systemically. You either succeed or you don’t. For many people, there is nothing between success and failure. It’s an either/or, all-or-nothing outcome. Get an interesting and inspiring perspective on the concept of failure in this document by Mitch Axelrod.

THIS IS A SLOPPY INDUSTRY WHICH CREATES GREAT OPPORTUNITIES! by Chris Burand Property/Casualty, and even Benefits, insurance, as practiced, is often sloppy. In many cases, quality...

THREE STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BRANDING by Larry Acord Independent agents often ask, Don't I have to be a large agency t...

THREE TIPS FOR SETTING GOALS by Bill Cates As you set goals, consider these three guidelines. (Although most people dont think of the third one, its just as important as the...

TIME FOR E&O ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS by Grace Bauer Although most agencies seldom have an E&O claim, practically every agency procedure from thank-you notes to meetings can hav...

The best way to master the tools reviewed here is to practice using them on the next spreadsheet you create. Sometimes it pays to take a step back and ask, "How can this basic spreadsheet be enhanced?" When these tools (along with a myriad of others that Excel has to offer) are applied properly, it's amazing what a spreadsheet can do.

Once these tools are mastered, it will be difficult to go back to that old pocketknife. When preparing your next spreadsheet, keep in mind the Excel tools discussed here, and use them often. Just as your trusty pocketknife comes in handy in many different situations, so will these tips for Excel spreadsheets.

TIPS ON WRITING SALES LETTERS Sales letters have many purposes: to sell a specific product, to sell the agency image, to keep customers informed of new coverage options, to complement service f...

We can all use tips for preventing computer catastrophes. In this document, Patricia Berry provides safeguards to keep your systems error-free.

TRACK RENEWAL WORKFLOW by Grace Bauer Even in the most efficiently managed agencies, there are times when one hand really doesnt know what the other is doing. In this documen...