In this engaging discussion, we unpack the significance of individual citizenship and the fundamental values that make one a quality human and a contributing member of society. Inspired by Teddy Roosevelt's iconic speech, 'The Citizen in a Republic,' we emphasize the need for these ideals in our current society, where they seem to have been replaced by more materialistic values.

Ever wondered how community and emotions can shape your business leadership journey? Buckle up as Ryan Hanley opens up about his roller-coaster ride in the business world - from getting fired multiple times to eventually running his own company. Through his intimate storytelling, we uncover the emotional turmoil leaders often face and appreciate the power of choosing the right words for every situation.

Ready to commit to a transformative journey and reach your highest potential? The episode takes a fascinating turn as we delve into the Mandalorian Code from the Star Wars series, illuminating how keeping personal promises shapes our identities. This is the way.

Some of the toughest decisions in my life involved hiring and firing employees. I was confronted with the emotional toll it took on both ends of the spectrum. That's why our guest, Joey Coleman, renowned author of 'Never Lose a Customer Again' and 'Never Lose an Employee Again', is here to shed some light on this intricate process. With his own experiences as a leader and the challenging decisions he made as a CEO, Joey offers a unique perspective on the employer-employee dynamic. The episode further highlights the intertwined connection between customer experience and employee experience, shedding light on the employer's responsibility to create a remarkable environment for their team members. We also dissect the balance of hierarchy and dialogue in decision-making, the dangers of confirmation bias, and the importance of rest and recovery after big projects. So, grab your headphones and tune in to this enlightening episode packed with valuable insights for leaders and managers alike. This is not just a conversation; it's a transformative journey.

Discover how to revolutionize your insurance business as we chat with the incredible Shawn Fitzgerald of the Scratch Agency podcast. Shawn's unique blend of progressive technology and prospecting techniques, combined with a respect for traditional methods, will give you the edge you need in today's competitive market. Together, we'll explore the importance of finding freedom within ourselves, overcoming limitations, and navigating the challenges of the current economic crisis. Dive into the world of carrier sales centers as we discuss how they can help you maximize efficiency and grow your business. Learn the ins and outs of working with carrier representatives and customer service centers and the advantages of carving out a niche for yourself in the insurance industry. We'll also reveal the power of AI tools like ByWordAI, Chat GPT, and Grammarly in revolutionizing your blog writing process, saving you precious time and resources. Finally, we get personal with Shawn as we discuss the mental and emotional journey of being a scratch agent. Shawn shares the incredible benefits of starting a podcast to build relationships, learn from guests, and find a sense of community, from the loneliness to the self-discipline required. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that will inspire you and provide tangible strategies to elevate your insurance business to new heights.

Join me as I dive into an enlightening conversation with Kimi Donahue, senior agency success manager at Openly. Discover her inspiring journey in the insurance industry and how her passion for connecting with others through music has played a role in her success.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Brian Falchuk, author of The Future of Insurance, as we explore the exciting potential of traditional insurance carriers collaborating with insurtech solution providers.

What does it take to rise from humble beginnings and achieve massive success in business while creating millionaires out of your key employees? Join us as we sit down with James Webb, author of Redneck Resilience, and explore his incredible journey from a small town in Mississippi to becoming a successful entrepreneur owning one of the country's largest Orange Theory Fitness franchises. In this fascinating and inspiring conversation, we dive into James's entrepreneurial journey and the pivotal moments that shaped his life and career. We touch on his early experiences selling pot holders at church bazaars, becoming an x-ray tech, and how the internet changed his entire trajectory. Throughout our discussion, we also examine the importance of resilience, relationships, and generational thinking in overcoming challenges and fostering long-term success. Don't miss this engaging episode, as we also discuss the often-overlooked topic of compensating high-performing employees in industries like the independent insurance industry, where there is no consistent solution. James shares valuable insights from his own experience on creating an ownership structure that motivates and rewards employees, as well as the benefits of profit-sharing plans and equity-based incentives. Tune in to learn from James's incredible journey and unlock the secrets to resilience and success.

Doug Benz, co-founder of New Buffalo Insurance (with his incredible wife, Liz Benz), is one of my personal favorite people in the insurance industry. One of the things that I enjoy about Doug is he always has one eye on the future while staying true to his professional insurance agent roots. I loved this conversation and I'm sure you will too...

CJ Hutsenpiller is a true insurance entrepreneur, running his family agency while also being co-owner of The Collective Agency Council and owner of Tacobot, a chatbot agency that specializes in lead generation and client experience chatbots for the insurance industry. I loved this conversation with CJ and I know you will too...

Michael Eagan founded The Independence Hub, which seeks to make insurance the preferred industry for neurodivergent talent. Insurance Hub aims to offer the insurance industry connections to best practices and talent through industry educational and neurodivergent recruiting events.

In this episode, we're joined by Monica Parker. Monica brings to the table a vast knowledge of navigating and communicating organizational change. An international speaker and presenter, she is a regular contributor to several platforms, including The Guardian and Thrive Global and has also appeared on CNN and BBC Worldwide as an authority on organizational culture, change management, and inclusion. Monica is the author of The Power of Wonder; The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead. This episode is going to blow your mind...

In this episode, we're serenaded by the dulcet tones of the all-powerful James Jenkins. James is an innovator and an eternally curious problem solver. He's an unapologetic risk and insurance nerd who gets excited about things that bore most people. Faith and family are the two most important things to James. This is an episode you don't want to miss...

Brenden Corr is the director of business development at Loss Run Pro. He joins the podcast to talk about how we bet on ourselves and actually win... We also may have, at some point, discussed loss runs as well. This is an episode you don't wan to miss...

Derek Hayden is a Certified Risk Architect at Dansig Insurance Risk Advisors and winner of The Protege Reality Show. I believe Derek is the epitome of a "Human-Optimized" agent. This is a tremendous conversation with a tremendous independent agent. Don't miss this episode...

Carol Roth is the Creator of the Future File® legacy planning system, a national media personality, a billion-dollar dealmaker, a brand spokesperson, an investor, a board member & bestselling author of The War on Small Business. In this repeat visit to the podcast, Carol expands on your warning calls two years ago with the War on Small Business with her new book, You Will Own Nothing: Your War with a New Financial World Order and How to Fight Back. Carol is easily one of my personal favorite economic commentators for her real-world, pragmatic take without bias for political or word games. I highly recommend pre-ordering Carol's book: You Will Own Nothing: Your War with a New Financial World Order and How to Fight Back. You are going to love this conversation...

Stephen Turnbull is the founder of T5 Insurance, At T5 Insurance, their motto is three simple words. Understand. Educate. Protect. T5 will take the time to understand your risk to be able to properly educate you on all of your options to provide the best protection for you, your family, or your business! This is an incredible conversation, don't miss it...

Michael Malfa is the CEO and co-founder of Boardwalk Insurance, an independent insurance agency located in Ontario, Canada. I think Michael's LinkedIn bio says it all, "Championing change, always looking for new, efficient ways to deliver enhanced customer experiences. As technology evolves, so must we. Our goal is to leverage technology and make it our ally, rather than our enemy." We get down on many different topics associated with the digital production of insurance business. You're going to love this one...

Izik Lavy is hte CEO and founder of GeoX Innovations. GeoX experts use machine vision and deep learning technology to automate fast and accurate extraction of 3D objects from aerial imagery and create worldwide property databases. This property data is for Insurance companies to study property features, get current property intelligence, effectively process claims, streamline underwriting, and evaluate risks resulting in significant cost reductions and lost revenue capturing. Don't miss this conversation...

Aaron Gordon is the vice president of Gordon Companies. Aaron Gordon is one of my favorite people in the insurance industry...The dude bleeds the independent insurance agency. And while Aaron may come from a traditional agency, his thoughtful design has prepared the Gordon Companies for massive growth in the future. This is a TREMENDOUS conversation you don't want to miss..

"Billy Van Jura is an unabashed slayer/supporter of innovation, agency model advocate and is intolerable of weak stuff. Has multiple length sticks to poke into the Hornet's nest." Bill Van Jura founded Birchyard LLC and is one of the most prophetic and antagonistic voices in the independent insurance industry. He's also among the most thought-provoking people I've ever met, and I relish every time we chat. Don't miss this episode...

Jason Cass is the managing partner of The Insurance Alliance, founder of Agency Intelligence and managing partner of Virtual Intelligence. In this episode, Jason explains his newest project, Indietech 2023. IndieTech 2023 is the first of its kind, Independent Agent Insurtech Conference. You do NOT want to miss this conversation...

Tim Hardcastle is CEO and co-founder of Instanda, a digital insurance solution for the innovative insurance professional. This is one of my favorite conversations on this podcast in a long time... The INSTANDA platform enables carriers and MGAs to create, build and implement complex insurance products in weeks or months. Capitalize on opportunities and be first to market while lowering overall TCO. Seamlessly integrate with your ecosystem and technology environment. Tim and Ryan dive deep into their entrepreneurial journeys as well.