Episode 276: Breakthrough Mentality with Bill Butler

I am excited to feature over the next few episodes, the Top 3% high-achieving agents from our UPP circles, who have also donned the cover of Rough Notes magazine.

Today, our extraordinary guest, Bill Butler, founder of Butler and Associates Insurance in Apple Valley, Minnesota, shares his journey from military service to becoming a highly recognized insurance agent featured in Rough Notes magazine, and it is nothing short of inspirational.

Bill provides remarkable insights into the importance of surrounding yourself with high achievers, learning from failures, and the transformational power of niche specialization. He reveals how focusing on veterinarians has driven his agency’s growth and credibility. We’ll also hear about the crucial role of networking, industry involvement, and having a supportive ‘square squad’ in achieving sustained success. With motivational advice for fellow insurance agents and tips on time management and productivity, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss.

Highlights:

  • Prioritize feedback from a “square squad” of close, high achievers.
  • Elite agents excel through unique and rigorous business practices.
  • Supportive networks are crucial, especially in challenging times.
  • Clarity on ideal clients and strategies often comes through trial and error.
  • Niche specialization drives success and defines your brand.
  • Failures in niche attempts lead to crucial learning experiences.
  • Achieving breakthroughs requires a consistent and sustained build-up phase.
  • Consistency in efforts is key to long-term success.
  • Immediate action trumps overthinking to achieve goals.

About Bill Butler:

Bill Bulter is president of Butler & Associates Insurance Agency Inc. and founder of Butler Vet Insurance, focusing on insurance for the veterinary and pet services industry. He spent twelve years in the military with the Minnesota Army National Guard and US Army, serving in various roles both in Minnesota and 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, before entering the insurance industry. He is active in his local business community, veterinary associations, and Rotary Club, and is passionate about giving back to others. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he and his wife, Shannan, reside in Burnsville, Minnesota.

www.butlerveterinarybook.com

www.butlervetinsurance.com

Join us in Phoenix Arizona, November 8 & 9 for the 2024 UPP Grand Mastermind event!

This Invitation-ONLY, LIVE Mastermind is Exclusively for Independent Insurance Agency Owners who want to create a personal no-excuses roadmap to your next level of success.

If you want to:

  • Overcome the top obstacles holding you back from personal and financial freedom.
  • Identify the next-level processes to become an efficient, self-sustaining agency
  • Uncover the tactics to becoming the true CEO of your agency and leading your team to success

The UPP Grand Mastermind is for you!

Request Your Invitation Now 👉 https://bit.ly/UPP-Grand-MM-P

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

If you want to learn more about our Coaching & Mastermind Programs and how they can help you grow your agency business, schedule your private Agency Growth Session with Mike Stromsoe Now (click here)!

Episode 202: Cloning Your Clients (Part 2) with Kevin Donlin

I am excited to have Kevin Donlin back to continue our conversation about client attraction and retention.   If you missed our last episode with Kevin, please go back to Episode 199 for more golden nuggets.
In part 2 of our conversation, Kevin and I discuss continued business growth and retention strategies through personal connection, technology, and recognition.   Learn the importance of newsletters, niche market strategies and effective endorsement letters for sales.  This episode is packed with information that you are not going to want to miss.

Highlights:

  • Retention is a form of connection and the best way to do that is to connect with your client in a personal way.
  • Using technology to keep notes on your customers so that you can connect with them on a personal level will help you set yourself apart.
  • Put about 50 to 70% personal information in the newsletter and about 20 to 30% about your industry.
  • Get your clients’ names in your newsletter as a form of recognition. Create your own form of People magazine.ds
  • Utilize “Funnel Vision”, pull ideas from other industries to attract and retain clients.
  • Pick a niche that not only highlights who you are going after but your unique qualification as well.
  • Client testimonials, success stories or even tragedies (with consent of course) can help you share the importance of insurance and generate sales

 

About our Guest:

Kevin Donlin has been involved in marketing since 1994, when he sold one of the first ebooks online, payable by check and you had to mail it to a post office box. That was e-commerce in the beginning!

From 1995 to 1998, he was Webmaster for FedEx.com, where he worked with the pioneers of online marketing.

Since 1998, he’s been a copywriter and marketing advisor for clients in North America, delivering sales gains of more than $1 million on multiple occasions with direct mail and online marketing.

He’s been interviewed by ABC-TV in Detroit, Fox and NBC News in Minneapolis, CBS Radio in Los Angeles and New York, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, and too many others to list here.

He’s the author or co-author of 5 books on marketing, and he’s joining us today to share some of his latest tips and tactics to grow your insurance agency.

https://clientcloningsystems.com/

Free Client Cloning Kit: https://clientcloningsystems.com/free-kit/

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Email [email protected]

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

Virtual Training: http://uppfaststart.com

In Person Training: http://beunstoppablebootcamp.com

Episode 199: Cloning Your Clients with Kevin Donlin

Kevin Donlin is a copywriter and marketing advisor who has helped clients all over North America increase their sales by more than $1 million on multiple occasions with direct mail and online marketing. Join us as Kevin shares his latest tips and tactics to help grow insurance agency businesses with an emphasis on testing and direct response marketing. This episode is filled with golden nuggets that you will not want to miss.

 

Highlights:

  • If your marketing is done right, it makes selling easy. Take 90 minutes of your day to focus on marketing.
  • Send a thank you note. It makes you and what you’re selling tangible.
  • Review your day. What did you learn what went well? What didn’t? What can you do better tomorrow?
  • Direct Response Marketing – you want to get people to react, call, schedule an appointment, or request a quote.
  • Use the words of the buyers, the words of the clients, the words of the market.
  • Utilize an endorsement letter as peer-to-peer marketing strategy.
  • Make your breakthrough by pulling ideas from other industries. Very few are.

 

About our Guest:

Kevin Donlin has been involved in marketing since 1994, when he sold one of the first ebooks online, payable by check and you had to mail it to a post office box. That was e-commerce in the beginning!

From 1995 to 1998, he was Webmaster for FedEx.com, where he worked with the pioneers of online marketing.

Since 1998, he’s been a copywriter and marketing advisor for clients in North America, delivering sales gains of more than $1 million on multiple occasions with direct mail and online marketing.

He’s been interviewed by ABC-TV in Detroit, Fox and NBC News in Minneapolis, CBS Radio in Los Angeles and New York, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, and too many others to list here.

He’s the author or co-author of 5 books on marketing, and he’s joining us today to share some of his latest tips and tactics to grow your insurance agency.

https://clientcloningsystems.com/

Free Client Cloning Kit: https://clientcloningsystems.com/free-kit/

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Email [email protected]

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

Virtual Training: http://uppfaststart.com

In Person Training: http://beunstoppablebootcamp.com

Episode 198: ACTION with Terren Moore

Terren Moore, an Agricultural Insurance Specialist, joins me to discuss the importance of taking action and having a positive mindset in order to be successful in the insurance industry. Terren shares that his recent success was due to a shift in mindset and a goal-oriented approach. Are you taking the right actions to grow your business?  From niche marketing to social proof to beneficial networking, listen in as Terren discloses his actions that took him to the next level.

Highlights:

  • Positive action can change every negative situation.
  • When you take action two things can occur, success or a lesson learned.
  • There is inherent value in networking with successful individuals in the same industry.
  • Focus on niche to establish yourself apart from the others.
  • Developing your social proof builds trust with current and potential customers.
  • Having a streamlined process for handling leads creates a better customer experience

About our Guest:

Terren Moore started farming at the age of 15 after seeking new interest in his FFA chapter. His story as a first generation farmer has been recognized across the nation on television and several magazines. He began his insurance career with Texas Farm Bureau in 2018 before he opened his own agency in 2021. His farm operation and office are located in Greenville, TX where he grows sweet corn, peas, okra, and turnip greens. On the weekends he enjoys working on his farm and leading worship at his local church in Greenville. He is a member of the National Corn Growers Association and is passionate about his business and the ag industry.

https://www.mfi-services.com/

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Email [email protected]

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

Virtual Training: http://uppfaststart.com

In Person Training: http://beunstoppablebootcamp.com

Episode 183: Speaking the Same Language with Billy R. Williams, PhD

Do you feel that you have different roles and responsibilities than other agency counterparts? Are you consistent in your expectations and strategies so that everybody within your agency is speaking the same language?

In this episode, I am talking to long time Insurance Entrepreneur and Mentor, Billy R. Williams, PhD. Billy joins me to discuss being a jack of all trades, time blocking, and most importantly, consistency. If you feel you need clarity on what you, as the CEO of an insurance agency, should be focusing on, we outline the three primary roles you should be doing.

Highlights:

  • You can’t be average or good at things that generate 1000s. You have to be great at something that generates millions.
  • A niche means something that is so specific and so unique, that you become an expert in it.
  • Discover the four things that you need to consistent in that will allows your team to be on the same page
  • There are eight different areas that you want to fulfill in your agency and you need to fill these KPI defined roles with the right people.
  • It is too easy to get caught up in admin work as it is emotional based and leads you away from the work you should be doing.
  • If you are not time blocking you will not have time to do the things that you need to do.
  • If it is important it should be done in the morning.
  • Don’t miss Billy’s big tip on processes that you want to make sure you are utilizing.

About our Guest:

Billy R. Williams, PhD – CEO of the Williams Family Investment Group and President of Inspire a Nation Business Mentoring Services.

Dr. Billy R Williams is the founder and president of Inspire a Nation Business Mentoring Services and CEO of the Williams Family Investment Group; a group of more than 150 partner agencies that produce over a billion dollars a year in new and renewal insurance premiums.

The Williams Family Investment Group also has investments in technology and services that support the Insurance industry

https://www.inspireanation.org/

https://www.facebook.com/WFIgroup/

https://www.facebook.com/drbillyrwilliams/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyrwilliams/

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Email [email protected]

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

Virtual Training: http://uppfaststart.com

In Person Training: http://beunstoppablebootcamp.com

Episode 182: The Vault Revealed

Back by popular demand, Joel joins me again this time for a share and tell session about things going on inside of the UPP circles.  Listen as we talk about onboarding, leadership, culture and designing your ideal client.  And if that is not enough, we are going to share a secret that we have never publicly disclosed before!

Highlights:

  • At the interviewing table is where the war for marketplace talent is won.
  • It’s leadership not “like”ership. You team will like you when you do what’s right for them and the agency.
  • Culture is the invisible architecture of your business.
  • If you can’t repeat your KPIs at any moment, then you are not paying enough attention to them.
  • You can multitask but you cannot multi focus.
  • Who are you going to promote to if you don’t know who you’re sending it out to?
  • After you bring in a new client, you should welcome them like nobody else’s business.
  • What does UPP have to that is specifically designed for you to make you stand out from everyone else in the marketplace?

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

 

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/

Virtual Events: http://www.uppfaststart.com/

Email [email protected]

Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com

Virtual Training: http://uppfaststart.com

In Person Training: http://beunstoppablebootcamp.com

 

Episode 105: 3 Insider Secrets to 230% Yearly Growth

 

I am excited to have a returning guest on today’s episode, Jesse Parenti.  When Jesse and I recently talked he told me about some numbers that stopped me in my tracks, and I knew I had to have him back on.  Jesse is going to share with us some strategies that he is using to increase his growth substantially.  You are not going to want to miss this one.

Highlights:

  • How Jesse’s first encounter with Mike changed his mindset about the insurance industry
  • Building a business plan around your ideal client
  • Overcoming fear and be willing to be uncomfortable in the process of success
  • Moving from auto and home insurance to find his niche in the food industry, especially in pizza delivery
  • The effects that Covid had on his industry niche and finding his next one in the cannabis industry
  • How anticipated growth over the next year is changing the way they are organized and marketing
  • His top three tips on carving out your own niche

 

About Our Guest:

As Director of Programs for PCF, Jesse Parenti offers over 15 years of commercial lines risk management, specializing in protecting the Delivery industry and over 4 years in the Cannabis industry nationally. PCF is licensed in all 50 states, managing 2000 + restaurant locations and 350+ cannabis businesses and growing.
Mr. Parenti’ s key client base includes last mile delivery, pizza and food delivery, cannabis cultivators, extractors, manufacturers, delivery and distribution organizations. He helps create custom solutions as a risk advisor using safety, consulting, HR and insurance placement.

 

You can reach out to Jesse at:

[email protected]
www.ninepointstrategies.com

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

 

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Email [email protected]

Episode 74: Size DOES Matter in the Niche Dominated by This Agent

Today we are joined by an incredible agency owner that has completely dominated a niche where SIZE does matter…

Joining her father’s business was the best decision that Toni Shibayama made.   She truly loves the insurance industry and engaging with clients.  This passion allowed her to take the business to the next level.

Highlights:

  • Creating that educational focus on risk management
  • Developing relationships with clients so that you are their go-to person
  • Moving from mostly Employee Benefits to a full-service agency
  • Motivating your team members
  • Gaining the reputation of a Niche Expert
  • Her upcoming book

 

Toni Shibayama, S&K Financial and Insurance Service

Managing Partner and Chief Risk Officer for Insurance, HR, Safety, and Wellness

 

For the past 20 years, Toni and her team has helped hundreds of business owners through strategic programs that mitigate lawsuits, foster workplace diversity, enhance performance management, and nurture innovation. Her expertise is in the hospitality and private club industry, where she focuses on injury prevention, leadership skills, emotional intelligence and helping to enhance the membership experience.

Toni has been a featured speaker for the Golden State Club Managers and Club Benchmarking, where she has focused on insurance and risk management for private clubs, and providing solutions in human resources and insurance coverage.

Her unique skills at managing workers’ compensation and safety compliance has also led her to serve as a contributing author for such prestigious industry publications as Boardroom, California Broker, Insurance Business America, and Construction Executive, among others. 

Toni attended the Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California and holds multiple industry designations, including Master in Workers’ Comp (MWC), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Certified Wellness and Benefits Advisor (CWBA).

 

 

Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!

Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Email [email protected]

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