In order to properly serve our clients and prospects we must first diagnose their problem and pain. The way we do this is to ask questions. Find out where they are hurting and why. If we jump right into quoting or fixing without diagnosing the problem how do we know they best way to treat their pain? WE DON'T.

Although salespeople (and sales managers) might blame slow sales on the economy or the lack of company marketing, the truth is that everyone can be smarter and more productive. In this article, John Graham focuses on how salespeople — and everyone else in business — can become more productive. Graham challenges us to take a hard look at we do and, more importantly, what we’ve become accustomed to doing.

In the realm of technology, Don Tapscott, keynote speaker for ACORD Technology Conference '97, holds the crystal ball. His book, The Digital Economy, has influenced the direction of automation in the corporate world. Excerpts from an interview with Tapscott, published in In ACORD magazine, follow.

Today we are witnessing the early, turbulent days of a revolution as significant as any other in human history. A new medium of human communications is emerging, one that may prove to surpass all previous revolutions, including the printing press, telephone, television, computer, in its impact on our economic and social life.

Roughly defined, disintermediation means removal of the middle man. Do a linear projection based on historical forces and you'll conclude that the disintermediation of the agent from the Personal lines process is inevitable. After all, when Warren Buffet, Conning & Company, banks, large insurance companies, and others agree on something, they must be correct, right?

If you are an entrepreneur, then you know that from the day you started your company you exposed yourself to certain risks.

The high-hazard workers’ compensation program powered by Pride Risk can provide a viable solution for any client that is having trouble finding affordable workers’ compensation coverage—regardless of industry. However, some businesses have inherently high risks due to the nature of their work, and specific governing codes can indicate that a company will need a specialized workers’ comp solution.

Let Pride Risk be your solution for these difficult cases. You’ll be able to deliver immediate savings and long-term financial stability for your clients with a program that is designed to fit their specific risk management and financial objectives.

Are you considering getting an insurance policy? An insurance policy is a term which is common to adults, and most of them don't even know that they already own one. Whether it is life, home, car, renters, or any other type of insurance, people generally go for them. The insurance companies also launch different schemes to attract the masses.

With so many options, it becomes difficult to choose the right policy. In the process of choosing, people make various mistakes. Here, we'll focus is on the different mistakes people make while buying a home insurance and life insurance policy. If these mistakes are considered and prevented, then policy buyers can save a big chunk of money and can get what they actually pay for.

Sometimes I think that the best thing that could happen would be for someone to take away the computer printer. Why? Because, every time I send an E-mail out to a large group, a third of the group will print the message even before reading it, a third will read it and then print it, and only the last third will simply read and delete it.

Although the technology is in place to sell insurance via the Net, consumers aren’t giving up the one night a year when they sit in their living rooms and listen to their agent pontificate about the advantages of "Plan A" versus "Plan B."

This dynamic might be changing. Insurers have cleared a huge hurdle for online sales — the need for a customer signature — either by using credit cards to bind coverage until the policy can be issued or by legalizing electronic signatures. Despite this advance, a very low percentage of insurance transactions are being handled online.

Occupational illnesses suffered by telemarketers have risen from 18% of all illnesses in 1981 to 62% in 1992. You may have heard complaints of stiff or sore necks, backs, hands, wrists, arms, elbows, and shoulders. Or you may have seen an increase in Workers Compensation claims from insureds who have their own telemarketing or call centers.