The Dangers Of Speaking For Yourself

It's never just about you

In my business of insurance and benefits, I come in contact with people every day. People ask me questions, I give them information, and then they usually make some level of decision as to what their next move will be.
Every now and then, I come across the person with no questions and a surly attitude about the entire insurance "scam" process by saying the six words destined to come back around and spank them firmly on the tookis..."IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME".
Just typing that hurts. However, in some cases they might be right (to a certain degree). I can't predict the future any more than they can, however, I know of people who have never spent a day in the hospital, have never been to see a doctor, never taken a medication, or had anything happen to them physically or mentally that they needed to be concerned with.
Should someone like that really see the need to insure themselves. I think so but I can see where they are coming from. Call it luck, good genes, or born under a favorable sign. Whatever it is, the "charmed ones" feel invincible and impervious to painful situations where they will ever need a shred of insurance. They even go so far as to be very cavalier with their aging process and inevitable death as they say, "WHAT DO I CARE...I'LL BE DEAD".
This is where I take my chance to speak up and remind people that it's not all about them.The discussion could go on for days with just a simple phrase of "But what if?" They can reply back and I'll reply with the same phrase until one of us just agrees to disagree and move on.
The harsh reality about insurance of all kinds is the fact that it really is not all about the person in the place of decision. In all insurance aspects, other people in the lives of the decision-makers come into play. Let's look at a few insurance pieces and I'll show you what I mean:

1 - Health insurance. This is the big one. Sure it's expensive, but so is health care. By saying no to health insurance you are telling all those around you that should something happen to you you are counting on them to help you pay the exorbitant hospital bill. By saying no to health insurance, you are telling all your future creditors that you don't care if you have to file for bankruptcy.

2 - Disability insurance. Disability insurance allows you to have an income while you are away from your job due to some illness or injury. Unless you are able to accumulate sick days or have a pretty big savings account (which is a form of insurance), a disability can ruin you...and those around you. Things happen every day that keep people from doing their jobs. Some of those things last a couple of days while others can last a year or more...or indefinitely. From the time it takes a working person to go from injured to getting any government assistance to gain income, it could be two years or more. What do you think happens in that time? Your stuff starts getting taken from you. So when things start to fall apart, where does the wise one now turn for help? That's right...others. Those people he didn't think about to begin with are now his lifeline to survival.

3 - Life insurance. I go over this one until I am blue in the face. While the insured doesn't care what happens to them when they die, others and the law do. The "hefty bag" answer is not an option. A "Weekend At Bernie's" comedy is not in the cards. Life insurance has never been about the insured. It's always been about who they leave behind when they die. Even for the single 20-something, life insurance says to their friends and family that they will financially take care of their final expenses and leave the money so that things may be done properly and in order.

As I type this, I am reminded of one word this all boils down to...RESPONSIBILITY.

My last statement is this: the next time you have a decision to make, ask if anyone else will directly or indirectly be effected by this decision at some point and how making the right one can make for a better situation for everyone involved.

It's never just about you.

Would you like to talk about insurance options for yourself? How about for others in your life who need to consider the options they have?

I try to be a phone call (205-370-8453) or an email (gene@generamsay.com)

Since I used RESPONSIBILITY (it's ok to admit that sometimes you just don't want it) as the key word in here, I thought a funny take on it would be in order:

What Do You Want?

In the business of insurance, things can get pretty personal. A person reaches out to me to acquire some insurance they feel very strongly that they need to have to protect themselves and/or those they love. I listen and evaluate the best way I know how to and attempt to steer my client in the direction that I feel will best suit their needs and concerns.  The real question throughout the process is sometimes not, "What kind of policy do they want"? Rather the question is plainly, "What do they REALLY want"?
In the daily relationships we all have with people, I have found that many people land into just a few categories and as long as we are aware of where they are coming from we can not only be of the best help but can truly fill a void in people's lives.
1 - People want help. Seems like a no-brainer, but it's the basic human need to reach out to others in our times of need and ask for help.  Some people are too proud to come right out and ask for it, but if you pay attention it will quickly and easily be revealed that the person speaking to you needs help.
2 - People want explanations they can understand. In a business like insurance, things can get complicated and words and phrases I understand as an insurance professional may sound perfectly normal are just nonsense to the average person. When someone asks about a policy wording or how some type of insurance works, they don't need to be bogged down with the impressive speech I have...they want an answer they can understand.  I strive to do that with every person I speak with. If you are an attorney, or a doctor, or whatever your profession...steer clear of your verbiage and change it up for the person you are speaking with so they are informed without being further confused.
3 - People want someone to care. There is the phrase out there that says, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."  It's so very true and something we all need to keep in mind as we try to understand what people want. Showing someone that you care can be as simple as acknowledging your feelings for their current situations to doing some physical gesture and/or assistance that directly could help help/enhance their moment. Most of these things boil down to the final thing...and probably most important thing that people want:

4 - People want someone to listen. All the things we have mentioned above can be combined into this final piece.  Listening is crucial to everyone. If we listen (not just hear) to someone, we make HUGE leaps and bounds into providing others what they truly want. True listening involves tuning out distractions, focusing on the person speaking, absorbing what they say. I never mentioned anything in this list about "solving" anything or just blurting out your feelings and opinions. Sometimes people just want to truly be listened to and that's it.
As we interact every single day, let's try to keep in mind that everyone has needs and wants and if we can step up to fulfill that moment then we have gone a long way toward being someone special to someone else at that moment.
My clients know I do my best to be there for them.  If you want someone to help you with what you need and want, and I can help in some way...I'm always an email (gene@generamsay.com) or a phone call (205-370-8453) away.

Welcome to The Ramsay Bugle...Blog Style!

Hello all.  This blog is new for me for 2011.  In an effort to be of the best service and provide my friends and fans with the most and best information, I needed a platform that would allow me the flexibility you need and an avenue where I can bring the most information to you.  This new blog will also allow me the ability to post more things without attacking your inbox.
I will continue to do the Constant Contact newsletter for everyone on my email list.  If you are not on that list, I will be posting many of the main articles that I send to everyone in that venue.  Why not just do the blog?  When I asked all of my friends and fans what THEY wanted, many came back with just keeping the newsletter with others stating that an online blog would be a good idea.  The newsletter is once a month and does take some doing to put together.  The blog I can write and/or post as I am inspired and have time.  Many of my friends and fans follow me on Twitter (@RGRamsay), Facebook (Gene Ramsay - The Insurance Man), and LinkedIn.com.  Those people will be notified every time I post here.  So basically, if you want to stay connected with me on all levels, follow me here by subscribing to this blog and connecting with me on the various social networking sites as well as getting on my email list.
Thank you to all of you for asking for this and being willing to be a part of my life in business and otherwise.  I hope to bring everyone here timely and valid info with regards to the insurance industry as well as other things I am involved in as they happen.  I feel it is KEY (for those out there who want to know me for business purposes and social purposes) for me to share on this blog who I am and what I do.  I can state all day long that you should work with or connect with me in some capacity so you know what you're getting when you contact me.
Lastly, if you ever have questions or comments, feel free to contact me through here.  I always try to be a phone call or an email away...so let me know what I can do to serve.
Step into my office...