by Jim Ruta
You are in the last “danger zone” at your seventh anniversary. Advisors commonly second-guess themselves at two, five and seven years. You are likely to wonder whether you are doing the right thing, are doing enough of it or should finally get a “real job”. The...
by Jim Ruta
When I was a branch manager, this came up all the time and I never really had an answer I liked. I have the answer today, though. Working with thousands of agents, I discovered that if you have to push yourself to do your job, you’re doing the wrong job. At best,...
by Jim Ruta
I visited recently with TOT member Van Mueller after a Wisconsin NAIFA talk. He told me he was just speaking with a struggling advisor looking for help. Van asked a deceptively simple question that revealed the advisor’s problem. “Do you have a hobby?” “Fishing” he...
by Jim Ruta
You may be past the point of no return, looking for a way to “escape” if you’re asking this question. I remember telling an agent that if she called 100 people for an appointment first, she could then quit with a clean conscience. So, she called, said something like,...
by Jim Ruta
Right after Van spoke in Canada, he and I shared the main platform at the Lone Star Symposium in Houston. I heard his talk and spoke with him for a couple of hours. I know his secret. Let’s be clear though, Van Mueller is a very special sales person. Yes, he says he’s...
by Jim Ruta
The Top 10 Things I learned at MDRT: Some people have overcome amazing odds and still achieved greatness without bitterness. There is something very humbling and motivating hearing about people who succeed greatly despite excruciating circumstances. It makes you...
