It’s 10:45pm CT and Laura and I are en route from St. Louis via Minneapolis to Vancouver where we will overnight as it is too late to get a flight to Vancouver Island.
Laura and I are feeling fulfilled after delivering a Membership Workshop to NAIFA Missouri. This is the 8th Membership Workshop for NAIFA States that include; Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio.
Especially this year, as I begin to present the Membership Workshop, I’m finding that the NAIFA audiences are more stoic. I believe audiences are influenced by a massive amount of change that include; what is going on in the news, pending association charter changes relating to the Quality Membership Experience, the Department of Labor and dwindling membership, which are all influencing and overwhelming their state of mind.
Aside from high energy NAIFA Missouri State President, Mark Acre, who Laura and I met a year earlier in Las Vegas and became friends with on Facebook; I found the NAIFA Missouri audience true to their State Motto; “Show Me”!
“The “Show Me State” got its nickname because of the devotion of its people to simple common sense. In 1899, Rep. Willard D. Vandiver said, “Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I’m from Missouri. You’ve got to show me.”
During the Membership Workshop I addressed all of it; what is going on in the news, pending association charter changes relating to the Quality Membership Experience, the Department of Labor and dwindling membership, which are all influencing and overwhelming their state of mind.
My goal is to help audiences understand themselves from the inside out. In the absence of understating there is judgment and when there is judgment there can be no understanding.
Here is what the NAIFA Missouri “Show Me State” audience had to say;
“Simon helped me understand the amygdala and how to initiate and follow the writing exercise. He provided inspiration to focus on keeping my mindset in check resulting in a more positive way of thinking about my relationships, my business and my association.”
Mark Acre
One Source Insurance Group
“Success = 90% WHY. Thank you. Your message is on point. I see great value in your business ideas and will recommend you to the St. Louis Chapter.”
Jim Graham
Employee Benefits Consultants Inc.
“Most motivational/sales related talks focus on the how/what/when. You focus on the ‘WHY’. I have done personal growth work for decades and your material is exceptional”
Greg Grimes
Koley Financial
“There’s a difference between ‘needs’ and ‘values’ – and the amygdala stuff. Simon showed us how to move from now to the future – he challenged us to think where do we want to take our practice and how.”
Tony Manasseri
Thrivent Financial
“Encouraged to evaluate my goals, both for my business and for NAIFA Missouri. Simon’s material is both relevant for NAIFA and how to relate to my business to improve”
Robert McDowell
McDowell Financial Group
“I liked that Simon talked about the disciplines of success and the importance of having a business plan. The feeling of not being alone, being in this business as a ‘newbie’ it is reassuring to hear agents that have been in business for so long struggling too.”
Danielle Meads
Osceola Insurance Agency, LLC
“Simon provided inspiration for both our NAIFA Missouri membership and my business. He brought back to mind the LILI lessons I learned!”
Ann Pugh
Bill Houk Agency
“Simon showed me how to send the amygdala packing! And we now have a plan to effectively recruit new NAIFA members.”
Karen Rutledge
State Farm
International Values and Behavioral Analyst, Business Coach, Speaker and Author
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