Growth, it’s a passion of mine and it’s one of the core values of my company.  I pursue growth, in all areas of my life, like a professional sport.  It’s engrained in me, I want to expand into the best version of myself, to be all who I was created to be.  I often say, your business will only grow to the edge in which you grow yourself.  However, growth can’t just be limited to your professional endeavors, or you become boring and one dimensional.

Today in church, my pastor said, “Growth is not an option” and I was like – WOW is that true, in ALL facets of life (including faith).

Our growth often happens in the little things, like the commitment to get up and go physically into church rather than coddle the urge to watch church on TV – you put yourself in a position where better things can happen.

Or your commitment to get up early, so you can start your day with a morning routine that sets you up to succeed.

It can happen when you position yourself to be brand new in a room full of people you don’t know!  I did that this past week when I joined my first board meeting at IIAW!  It was maybe a little uncomfortable but very shortly I made new connections and learned SO much! (pictured above)

Growth happens outside of comfort.  It takes 5 seconds of courage to feel the fear and do it anyway.  Stepping up and stepping out!

There is fulfillment in growth, you can stand proud of YOU – because at the end of the day we are not in competition with anyone else, comparing ourselves to others is just a distraction and steals our joy!  Personal growth creates resilience, stagnation means you are left behind.  

Beyond personal, I see this organizationally as well!  When an organization is committed to growth, I have witnessed that commitment acts as a filter.  If an individual in that organization isn’t committed to growth – they don’t stay for long, they can’t…the culture kind of weeds out the stagnant and unwilling to expand and level up.

At the end of the day, growth is an inherent part of our human existence…embrace it!
B.

Insurance isn't easy right now. There are a variety of reasons.

First, inflation has a trickle-down effect. Everything costs more now, with insurance being responsible for bringing us back whole, inflation directly impacts the pricing of insurance.

Second, supply chains continue to have disruption and labor shortages exasperate the problem. Combined, these factors cause delays and therefore more expensive claim payouts.

Third, we continue to see an increase in natural disasters. Prior to the year 2020 the 40 years combined averaged 6.6 billion in payouts due to natural disasters. Insurance companies use this data to help determine insurance rates. In reading an article I noticed a statistic by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that announced in 2023 we have already seen a record number of billion-dollar climate disasters. Although 2023 is not over yet we have seen 23 natural disasters which have exceeded 57.6 billion in payouts so far.  Similar increases were in 2021 and 2022 as well.

Insurance companies have to file with the state and gain approval to increase rates, a lot of the states are not granting increases in a timely manner (or at all), this exacerbates the problem. 

The above factors (and others not mentioned) have caused many insurance companies to be unprofitable for a couple years now. We are seeing carriers make decisions that in my 23 years in insurance I've never seen before. Record insurance rate increases (MN was #1 in premium increases nationwide in 2022), companies freezing new business, companies closing down departments, company layoffs, an increased struggle with claims, and restrictions that seem to change by the day... this just touches the tip of the iceberg.

While this article is not about insurance, it is about the character that is revealed during hard times.

Right now I hear a lot of complaining, venting, and overall wallowing in the condition of the market. This being said, at Aspire, our number one priority is the care of our clients. This is an opportunity to show our value, and to take great care of our clients. This is a time where our proactive service and superior operations shine through.  This is a time where clients NEED sound advice from a professional.  Challenge accepted! 

This is also a time where our attitudes reveal if we have grit and are willing to face a challenge or if we shrink in the face of difficulty.  Last week was a tough week for my team, we had a variety of meetings addressing difficult accounts, difficult companies, and situations that stretched us.  Over and over last week I heard my team say to each other “we got this” and I watched as they pulled together as a team to support each other.  We met our challenges with a great attitude and finished the week with wins and raving fans! 

We talk a lot about how the hard market can be looked at as an opportunity – to show our value, to help our clients, to educate, to show we care and so much more.  We don’t have control over what companies do with their rates, but we can focus on the things we have in our control.   

I always say, be careful what comes out of your mouth, because your ears hear it!   

My takeaway is this – in hard times, look for the opportunity.  I know that on the other side of this hard market, my team is going to be sharper than ever!   Be mindful of entertaining too much venting, what you focus on is what you will see more of (and your ears are hearing)! 
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What opportunities are at your fingertips?
B.
 
 
 
 

​When I was going through Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses program, we were asked a question. "What sets you apart from your competition?" In the independent insurance agency space, most often we hear personalized service, or we hear we have many companies, and we shop for you. Here's the problem, if everyone says the same thing sets them apart it's not a differentiator anymore. Additionally, let's just say we use that we provide excellent service, most oftentimes it's our opinion. How does one measure if great service is truly being delivered? I would argue that our current clients are the ones who should be answering if excellent service is delivered. So then how do we measure our client satisfaction? At Aspire we have a variety of measurables, two of which I think give our clients a voice. The first is our retention, the second is our internal Net Promoter score.

I'm going to take a moment to brag on my team. During a very difficult market in the insurance industry, we have managed as a team to look at difficulty as an opportunity, to be proactive with our clients, and to continue delivering excellent service despite the extra strain on our resources and our hearts too honestly. Last week when I pulled our internal Net Promoter score, I was so proud to see a 90.2% happiness score. When clients have contact with us, they are sent a survey, they are asked out of 1-10 stars where do you rank your experience (1 is not great and 10 is amazing)?  The 8-10’s are raving fans!  This means that our team is living up to one of our core values, to create raving fans.

 
I often reflect on the significant impact that our relationships and associations have on our personal and professional growth.  Did you know, we are the sum of the five people we spend the most time with.

It's easy to fall into friendships, people we work with, people who have kids the same age, people who are involved in similar activities.  Although I can say that I have many people I enjoy, and whom I’d readily call a friend, my inner circle is small and hand-picked.

My inner circle consists of mentors, motivated peers, and those who are dedicated to moving in the same direction as I am – forward!   I don’t want to sit around – stuck – having the same conversations I had 1 -3 -5 years ago. 

The conversations here are different, they challenge and give valuable insight because they want to see you succeed.  They may challenge your thinking, offer constructive criticism, and inspire you to push – so trust and vulnerability is a non-negotiable all the way around.   Connecting deeply with others who are driven and have ambition fuels me! 

Last week, I spent an impactful 3.5 days with a small mastermind I have been in for about 5 years now, we shared, challenged, connected, and collaborated.  The conversations were uplifting and even though there was even 3 of us within a 40-minute area…we are all rooting for eachother.  What I love even more, is that this group is full of people with varying belief systems…and somehow 3.5 days in a Vacation Rental together in close quarters – we were each other’s biggest cheer leaders. That speaks volumes about the character of those in the room.

Growing up my youth group leader did this exercise where one person was standing on a chair, and another on the ground.  They took turns trying to pull each other – one, up from the ground to on the chair, and the other from on the chair down to the ground.  Which is easier?  It’s easier to pull the person on the chair down to the ground.
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So, pick your people carefully, there is transformative power in meaningful relationships!

Love your people,
B 

PS - a little shout out to our token male, Tom!  He was on his bike when the first picture was taken.

​Anyone who knows me, knows I am passionate about Habits!  I can speak personally to the power of both good and bad habits, maybe that is why I am so passionate about them as I’ve experienced how they impact the trajectory of your life.
When I first started my blog I wrote about systems, planning, habits and the like…I have a lot of habits and systems I lean into to help keep me on a narrow road.  I have to get pretty specific and creative in this area because by nature, I am VERY free spirited and a little impulsive…also, I don’t have a boss…so having accountability all around me is really important. 
I have written about how habits and systems are not ‘one and done,’ they grow and evolve as we do!  I have recently been adopting some new habits I wanted to share with you.

1. MCT oil in my coffee!  Check out this infographic on it – I can attest to each of these benefits so far.  I just keep my MCT oil by my Keurig so it’s something I do automatically now.  

      2.  Intermittent fasting!  I start to eat about 11am and stop by 6:30pm.  I will share that I am NOT hungry at all, and it’s been a freeing experience.  I find that I think about food less when it’s kept in this framework, sounds odd I know but you know the concept that there is freedom in discipline, same concept. 

     3.  Eat Keto Green.  I have been seeing a Functional Dr for a while ago, we have been working on getting myself back into order after an intense last 5 years that took its toll.  That awesome experience can be a series of other blog posts….  2 months ago, Chelsea shared that it was time to start to change my eating to Keto Green.  I ordered a book before I started, this is NOT a diet, this is my life eating from this point on, so I want to understand the WHY behind it and have the tools and conviction to get me through times when I just really want to eat Pizza!  It has been an incredible experience, yes, I have lost weight but honestly that is secondary to the clarity in my mind, my energy and overall improvement in my wellbeing!  Here is a little more about the difference between Keto and Keto Green. 
​https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/keto-alkaline-diet/keto-and-keto-green-dieting-whats-the-difference?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest

Remember to continue to upgrade you, and your habits – don’t let them get stale!  And…if you try any of the above, I’d love to hear about it, I enjoy sharing what is working for me (and what is not). 
Cheers,
B

When I first started my book of business, from scratch, my kids were 2 and 3 years old.  While I am wildly blessed with a supportive family, I still felt a tinge of guilt for some of the time I needed to invest in building. 

When the kids were 5 and 6, I started Aspire Insurance Group, and my demands/ responsibilities grew.  I used to feel so awkward when my kids were in elementary school, the school had a strong culture of Mom’s in PTA, I wasn’t able to volunteer often. 

Don’t get me wrong, I was intentional to be connected and present with my kids, but our family harmony looked very different than most other families. 

Over the last 6 months, I have had some conversations with my kids (now 15 & 16) about their perspective/ experience growing up…and at the end of the day it’s probably the most important opinion to me.

Adam (hubby), Evan (son) and I were talking about some mom’s being at home and others working, it was a general conversation.  I shared about the inner arm-wrestle I have worked with prioritizing family and my business.  Evan seemed surprised, and shared with me how he was proud to see me work and that he would not have wanted to grow up any other way…he wanted to see me spread my wings and fly.  It was almost like an instant refresh to my soul.   

Last month, Chloe (daughter) was in a team meeting (she helps with social media at the Agency) and she discussed with the team that she was able to watch me start and grow the agency over time.  She had a front grow seat to entrepreneurship!  What a thought!  There wasn’t a message of “my mom didn’t do this or that” it was encouraging and humbling to hear her speak proudly. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that staying home with your kids as a mom is likely one of the hardest jobs ever, it’s just not my personal calling and there can be guilt often associated with some of the sacrifices that are made. 

My takeaway from these conversations is…guilt is a useless emotion and let your kids see you shine!  As parents, our kids mean so much to us, I have often said that our kids are our most vulnerable area and I do believe that to be true.  All this being said, we are individuals, outside of parenting, who are made with a unique purpose…your kids seeing you spread your wings and fly will be impactful for them growing up, it’s not a selfish act.
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Go fly!
B.

Trust is an invisible force, an intangible asset that sets the foundation of successful business relationships.  Trust is the glue that holds customer relationships together, the root of effective marketing campaigns and the foundation of successful collaborations. 

Revenue is the lifeblood that keeps companies alive and thriving.

Trust drives word of mouth marketing, it drives repeat business, and it facilitates successful collaborations.
 One of my strengths is building trust and authentic relationships, it’s what comes naturally to me.  I am a big fan of leveraging individuals’ unique abilities in a business environment – how I build a business and lead will be different than the next person.

Aspire Insurance Group has been built on word of mouth, by trust and authentic relationships.  This has created a great culture of clients, where typically trust is the foundation. 

The re-occurring theme that comes to my mind is Trust drives Revenue.   

This is a perfect example of how putting people and relationships first allow income to flow in.  Rather than, if you are chasing a dollar, people can sense it and most often you spin your wheels. 
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What do you do to build trust in your business relationships?
B. 

When I was in grade school my family went to a mission’s base in Montana, the kids learned this skit where we wore these large garbage bags and sang this song about “Garbage in, Garbage out…sooner or later it’s gonna’ come out.”  I have flashbacks to this skit often in my adult life, little did I know how applicable that song would be in our daily lives.

The choices we make, the information we consume, and the influences we allow can significantly impact our overall well-being and success.

When you consistently make poor choices, such as procrastinating instead of working, indulging in unhealthy habits, or surrounding yourself with negative influences (you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with), you are essentially feeding yourself with garbage. As a result, you can expect suboptimal outcomes and unfulfilled potential.

On the contrary, when you make thoughtful, positive choices – setting clear goals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and fostering positive relationships – you are providing quality input to your life's program. The outputs, in this case, are more likely to be successful, fulfilling, and aligned with your aspirations.

In the age of information overload, what we consume has a significant impact on our mindset, beliefs, and outlook on life. The adage "You are what you eat" can be applied to our mental diet as well. If we constantly consume negative, misleading, divisive, or irrelevant information, we are essentially poisoning our minds with garbage data.

This applies to our lives, what you see, what you hear, what you say, what you eat, what you think, where you go, the company you keep…  

This is one of the reasons I don’t watch TV, especially the news…among many other life choices. 
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Consume wisely,
B.

I have written a lot about habits, routines, and plans – they are powerful!   One of the struggles I have had in the past is two-fold.  First, I have struggled to stay the course when life changes and thus my routine changes, not by my choice.  Second, when a routine is stale and needs to be refreshed, I hold on too long and burn it out before I notice I need a refresh and change my routine proactively.  These are areas I am working on...I know I am not unique in this area. 

Change is an inevitable part of life.  Transitons commonly lead to pitfalls, letting go of good habits. The routines that once served us well might start to slip away as we navigate through unfamiliar territory and shifting seasons.

I have learned some strategies over time to help me correct course and adhere to the routines that serve me well…I am NOT perfect at it but I thought I would share what has been helpful to me.

Embrace Flexibility, when life throws curveballs, rigid adherence to routines can lead to frustration and disappointment. Instead, practice flexibility in your habits. If your usual morning workout routine becomes unfeasible due to a new schedule, consider an evening workout or a shorter routine. Adapting your habits to fit your new circumstances will make them more sustainable.

Know your "Why,” remind yourself why you started a particular habit in the first place. Whether it's maintaining a healthy diet or dedicating time to a creative pursuit, reconnecting with your motivations can reignite your commitment. Your "why" provides a strong foundation to weather the storms of change.

Set Realistic Goals, during times of transition, your time and energy might be stretched thin. Set realistic goals that you can accomplish. If you can't dedicate an hour to reading every day, aim for 15 minutes. Small, achievable steps maintain momentum and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

Create Anchor Habits or Stacking Habits, I do this all the time!  A simple example is putting my collagen next to my coffee each morning, so I don’t forget or making sure I am meeting a friend to work out, so I don’t bail.  Anchor & Stacking habits provide stability and a sense of control.

Seek Accountability, inform a friend or family member about your desire to maintain certain habits, or heck, even hire someone to hold you accountable (I have done this plenty). Accountability partners can remind you of your commitments, especially when change makes it tempting to veer off course.

Practice Self-Compassion, remember, you're only human. Instead of beating yourself up when you fall short, practice self-compassion. It’s not if you fail, its how you handle yourself after…I just wrote a blog on that not long-ago HERE.

Stay Patient and stick with it, establishing new routines amid transitions requires patience. Understand that it's okay to take things one step at a time. Consistency is key, and even small efforts add up over time.

If you want to learn more about staying consistent with your Habits, one of my favorite books is Atomic Habits by James Clear, it’s on Amazon HERE.

Embrace the fluidity of life!
B.

I have been through a lot of sales training in my 23 years in insurance.   When I first started out working for an agency, I cold called (it was awful)...I was just 20 and the rejection at that age was tough for me.  At the same agency I ran telemarketing teams to get warm leads transferred to me, I worked leads that were purchased as well.  I’ve seen endless scripts; I’ve learned lots of tactics.   NONE were a good fit for me.  In fact, it would have gathered that I was not good at sales if my measuring stick was comparing my outcomes to how effectively I used the scripts and sales tactics.  It was not authentic to me - it's not 'my how.'

When I ventured out on my own in 2010, I used none of what I learned.  My opinion is that most sales training is antiquated and geared to sales hunters.  I also believe that the best salesperson….is not a salesperson!  You see, people now are savvy to sales…the moment they sense they are being sold to, they are gone.  I get it, me too!

I believe there are two kinds of salespeople, farmers and hunters.  Most sales training is geared to hunters, and if you are a farmer, it’s easy to think you are not great at sales and often you are encouraged to go into service rather than sales.

I am a sales farmer.  I build and leverage relationships, real ones, not relationships where I have an ulterior motivation.  I want to bring value, I want to be your advocate, I look at my profession as a helping profession.  I build trust and authentic relationships – and business comes because of that.  It may be a slower build, but it is SO rewarding.  It also builds a culture of amazing clients…culture is more than just your team; it extends to the clients you attract and retain as well. 

Sales farmers are relational, not transactional. 

At Aspire, we are farmers…  If you are a farmer, don’t let anyone tell you that sales is not for you, and we have room at our table for you!
B.