lance cashion: remote control

intel: generating leads - What's more valuable?

People are constantly being bombarded with ads, solicitations, marketing materials, etc.  We get more spam, unwanted calls and junk mail than we can handle.  

In social situations or events where there is no time or opportunity to close a sale, you must connect quickly and effectively. 

At one point, it may have been good to leave a prospect with a stack of crap about your product or service in the hope that they would contact you and buy.  This is what I call 'lame marketing' and its down right lazy.

Stop doing this!

Instead, gather your prospect's information and tell them you will email them in the next couple hours. Better yet, schedule a call with them right then and there.

"Joe, it was great meeting you today, I can schedule a call with you tomorrow at 9:30am to finish our discussion."  (write time down on your business card when you part ways, send a follow-up email ASAP)

Get their info and get their permission to connect.  Do not load them down with crap.

Acquiring a potential client's contact info and permission is more effective and valuable than giving them yours!

Have a good one

Lance Cashion

American Health Underwriters

Intel: Your Personal Brand (Article Linked)

After reading the Inc. article, I decided to write about it...

 When most people think “brand”, images of Apple, Google and Nike usually come to mind.  However, we must recognize the importance and power of the faces, values and personalities that are brands in and of themselves. Think about the personal brands of Dave Ramsey, Billy Graham, Steve Jobs, The Grateful Dead. Donald Trump and Prince.  These are strong brands.  You know them.  You know what they do.

I learned the importance of the personal brand several years ago when I was building a brand around my music career as a DJ and producer.  Over the years, dedicated fans, music enthusiasts and potential customers would see (or hear) my name or my company name (Slow Motion Music) on print ad, flyers, message boards, radio, or word-of-mouth and know that the event, record or product was of the highest quality possible. I held myself and the people I chose to work with to the highest standards possible.  After four years of hard work, our brand was the standard on which all others were measured in Austin, Texas.

Today, technology has given each of us an opportunity to brand ourselves and our products cheaply and effectively.  You must leverage these powerful tools and communication platforms to build your brand. 

Below is an article from Inc. Magazine entitled; How to Build Your Personal Brand- With traditional publicity vehicles and the Web’s resources at hand, making a name for yourself is easier than ever. Author: April Joyner

Article Link Here

This article is packed full of useful information and links of further research.  I highly suggest you read it, digest it and implement some of the strategies.  I have published an article about defending your brand here.
 
Keep on, keepin’ on

Lance Cashion
American Health Underwriters

The Hybrid Health Plan of Tomorrow (post-Obamacare)

I was just running some quotes for a client.  We all know that we're going to see some huge rate increases in the next 6 months (Obamacare).  That does not stop folks from needing health insurance.  As an agent, I am responsible for directing this process for my clients.  They depend on my to make the right decision for them.  The choice that makes sense and will protect & provide for them in a time of need.

Here is what I came up with for a 45 year old female in Texas (good health).  She is currently paying $350 and its going to increase over $400 in June.

• HSA Plan 75/25: $2500 Deductible = $192/mo
• SBA $5000 Accident Coverage = $29.95/mo
• $20,000 Lump Sum: Critical Illness/Long Term Disability/Life Benefit = $30/mo

Total: $251.95

I just saved her $149 per month and provided better coverage.  Not to mention, I served her need by protecting her on all fronts for a fraction of her current premium.  When rates increase in 6 months, she'll be better positioned to absorb the blow.

There you have it!  The method of insuring for the PO (Post-Obamacare) world. It is a hybrid combination of several products that provide protection and security.  I've been doing this for years... It was always one of many options... Tomorrow, it may be THE ONLY option.

It is just a matter of time before we start seeing $20K and $50K deductible health plans hit the market... you hear it here first.

Holler if you need help with this stuff!  If you are interested in work with a team dedicated to helping people with this stuff, holler.

Lance Cashion

American Health Underwriters

Intel: Healthcare Reform Timeline (House Reconciliation Revision)

Here we go.  Below is a timeline for the current Healthcare Reform legislation (House Reconciliation Revision- Apr 1st enactment).  This gives the basics as we know them now.  For the record, I do not support this legislation.  I will save my opinions for a later time.

Link to Timeline document file (PDF): Download HC Reform Bill Timeline_6

Have a nice day

Lance Cashion

ps. If you have questions about health insurance or the effects of this reform on premiums, please feel free to email me.

Entreleadership 1-Day event take away

I took my team leaders to Dave Ramsey's Entreleadership 1 day event in Dallas Thursday.  I was a bit apprehensive about their reactions to Dave and the material when I decided to invite them to join me at the event.  I ended up asking them to buy their own tickets.  This added more pressure but they now had a vested interest in getting their money's worth.  I believe in the material and Dave's delivery always get's the point across.

Nearly 48 hours later, I have had an opportunity to get feedback from each team member.  I found that each of them got something completely different from the lessons.  One of our top managers, who is in a leadership position said that the goal setting and section on business plan basics resonated with him.  In fact, we had a 20 minute discussion about how we all need to sit down and write our small business plans and KRAs (Key Results Area).  This also led to an important discussion about goal setting and the importance team members' personal budgets.  Our team is on commission, if we partner with them in their personal financial walk, we can help them avoid financial crisis that would affect their production.

During the live lesson, I noticed our head recruiter and director of marketing was making notes like a madman on the Delegation and Time Management sections.  We've since sat down to discuss strategy modifications going forward.  These are minor course corrections in the process we currently employ.  We both agree that some people need to "get off the bus". 

Another of our team who is one of our top managers and in-house team motivator is tweaking our current goal-setting process.  He noticed the significance that Dave placed on goal-setting while I was reminded that goal-setting is essential to winning. 

I believe our next leadership meeting will be extremely productive.

At the end of the day, Entreleadership 1 Day event is a solid product (as is the Master Series).  Similar to when the iphone was introduced, I promote great products that improve lives.  I like buying great products.  When I was a DJ, I sought out quality music and introduced it to the masses.  When I sell insurance, I make sure it is the highest quality and I make sure to sell it to as many people as possible.  When I build a team, only the best will do.  That is why I brought them to Entre 1 Day Event.  I care about improving their lives and that of my the folks in my organization. 

You can read about my experience at Entreleadership Cancun (6 Day Event) here...

It's a culture thing.

Lance Cashion

Review: "Switch" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Switch hit book stores yesterday.  Let me begin by saying thanks to my friend Daniel Tardy over at Dave Ramsey's office for sending me an advance copy of the book. A very clever contest imo.  It's late and I'm tired... this post is a 40 minutes tardy for the deadline but it's been a long week. 

Switch goes down many paths and paints many pictures of Change.  We're not talking about change for the sake of change.  We're talking about change for the sake of good (improving health, increasing business, serving others, teaching, increasing efficiency, saving lives, etc).  The book lays out several examples of instigating and executing change successfully where change is needed but may appear difficult.  I noticed most of the examples used in the book were real-life stories where an underdog character or group made something happen that caused a positive event to occur.  These methods were simple, effective and were deployed by people who set out to solve a problem and/or make an improvement. Simplicity seems counter-intuitive but the authors provide some great narrative and examples to point out that big change does not need big planning or extensive research.  Being creative and recognizing what actually motivates people to abandon old behavior patterns and buy into something different that will improve the situation or environment is the thread that runs through the tapestry created in "Switch".  Focusing on bright spots, keeping well away from too many options that cause Decision Paralysis and other insights add a deeper psychological nuance to the book that I enjoyed and overlooked in my own attempts to make change happen.  

The Elephant and Rider analogy is used as the relational theme of struggle, cooperation and perseverance throughout the book (Our rational and emotional minds). I could relate to the stories used to illustrate what makes up change and how to make it happen when you may feel like you are up against an impenetrable wall of opposition.  It's the Elephant's directed strength and endurance that will transform that wall into a door.  But, its the Rider who must direct the initial process and map the "critical moves" to reach the goal.  Both must work in concert to achieve results.  Apart, they are ineffective.

I found "Switch" to be fascinating.  Although, there were a couple stories that seemed to drag a bit.  I learned applicable lessons.  From the psychology of initializing change to the after effects of change.  The end user experience, the lives transformed, the innovation, the improvement made by an individual human with one idea, one vision that made the world different in a good way.  Casting a vision that stirs emotions and conjures up "feelings" seem to be the best way the Rider can direct the Elephant's behavior.  Often the change I wanted dies a death of a thousand cuts by way of over-analysis, too much research and no gas left in the self-control tank. 

Reading "Switch" was a rewarding experience.  More reviews can be found on Daniel Tardy's Blog here...

Lance Cashion

Application: Decision Paralysis

iPad: Will I buy one? Or will Apple send me on for free?

Dear Mr. Jobs,

I'm thinking ipads are pretty cool.  I also think the ipad gives us a glimpse into the future of personal computing.  Once voice recognition applications take a bigger chunk of the market.  Keyboards will be a thing of the past (no more carpel tunnel).  You'll need a touchscreen and that will be it. Sweet.

I'm thinking I'll wait for the 2nd generation iPad.  I got a 1st generation iphone and it still works like a charm but I wished I had a later model.  However, I'm ole skool with my beat up two tone 8 gig iphone. 

Maybe Apple's evil genius marketing has not really dug its claws into the materialistic, techy side of my American psyche. 

Maybe the price tag is a little tough to swallow.  Wait, the ipad commercials have not really begun running yet... nor have I been on a plane sitting next to someone with an ipad.  (I know how you people work... and I like it)

Ok, I'm just another victim of Apple's evil genius...  How long can I last?  The Self-control tank eventually runs out of gas.  Maybe Apple will send me one due to the fact I have had Apple computers since 1993... I've gone through 4 Macs (impressive b/c that 4 macs equals 8 Dells... and one of my MacBooks was stolen from me).  I'm a AAPL stockholder...

Mr. Jobs, please send me a ipad.  Thanks buddy!

Lance Cashion

Intel: website or blog… what will it be folks?

We’re seeing a shift in the way businesses and individuals present themselves on the web.  

"What medium do you use to communicate your service, product or brand on the internet?"

Building a website can be very expensive.  Most of us have horror stories about spending thousands building a state-or-the art website only to find that it falls into irrelevancy after a few months or years because you are at the mercy of the folks who built your site.  If you need to make an update immediately, you are often hamstrung by some developer who is going to charge you $150 per hour to make a simple update or adjustment. 

What was once a powerful marketing and communication tool for organization has become a liability due to the fact that you’ve paid a ton of money for an out-dated product that you are now baby-sitting.  Let’s not mention the frustration that comes along with the typical website service. (The company who handle my organization’s websites is outstanding, but very EXPENSIVE at times due to custom features, back end architecture and functionality.  We use www.omegabyte.com).

The Blog is taking over as the preferred identity, presentation and communication tool for companies on the internet.  Unless you require specific functionality, the Blog is very customizable and will serve you well.  The best part?  You will be in the driver’s seat and in control of your message, your presence and your web identity.  Did I mention? Blogs are usually FREE!  The days of pulling your hair out trying to reach your “web guy” are over (by the way, this may be the reason why I don’t have any hair left).

Setting up a blog is simple… you can customize and add functionality as well.  Below are some blogs that I have personally used.  Currently, I use typepad.com.  But, the beauty of the blogs I suggest below is the fact that each one is different and you can choose the one that suits your needs best! 

Typepad

Wordpress

Blogger

Feel free to contact me if you need a few tips or direction.

Lance

about remote control

What I do:

Health Insurance Expert & Licensed Agent (specializing in the individual market), Marketing Technology, Sales, Audio Production, Composition & Film Scoring, Professional DJ (retired).  I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

What I can do for you:

I provide sound advice, insight, support, product and service in any of the areas above.  I am adaptive, counter-intuitive and unconventional when necessary.

Remote Control  is an experiment in self, data, learning, sharing and spreading information.  Posting pieces of life, trials, music, politics, joy, visions and developing thoughts.  For some, this will be entertainment.  To others, a place to learn, perhaps grow.  I'm here to energize, provoke, antagonize and move to action.  Whatever your beliefs, I will force you to prove yourself and I must do the same. Words will become of landscape of ideas that will inspire you to think and act.

Feel free to contact me and thank you.

Lance Cashion