Insurica - December 2022

Check out our latest edition!

SPECIALIZING IN YOU Agriculture Ministries Education Environmental Hospitality

Not-for-Profit

Technology

DECEMBER 2022

Health Care

Manufacturing

Staffing

Transportation

Financial

Construction

Energy

THERE’S ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY

You Just Have to Find the Proper Balance

Everyone wants more time to spend with family, participate in favorite hobbies or ministries, grow their businesses, and go on vacations. The paradox is that none of us know how much time we ultimately have, so we need to spend our limited time doing the things that matter most to us. As you read this, understand that yesterday is gone and tomorrow may not come, so it’s wise to make the most of your time today. I’m one of those guys who has let time impede his happiness. I always thought I would finally be happy once I accomplished something. There was always an “if” or “when” preventing me from enjoying the moment. As I grew older, I realized that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. When we’re young, we think tomorrow will always come; generally, it does. But I’m no longer as young as I used to be. I’ve already lost some friends, so I’ve had to adjust my thought process. I no longer put all of my focus on the destination; I am trying to take the time to enjoy the journey. I’ve had to work on being content in the moment, and it’s taken a lot of effort. Reflecting on my life, I realize I’ve accomplished more than I could have dreamed. I know I can run my business, but sometimes I let the business run me. Finding the proper work/life balance can be very challenging, especially as a business owner. We’re wired to grow our business continually, even after record-setting years. It can be hard to reach that growth, and more time goes into surpassing previous numbers. This inevitably takes away time meant for family and friends. Recently, my Bible study group has been working through the Book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 3 states that there is “A Time for Everything.” This is an excellent reminder to us all that there is enough time in the day for all our responsibilities. If you ever feel like you can’t find enough time during the

day, I suggest you read through the chapter, and it might help overcome the obstacles blocking your path toward happiness and/or contentment.

I subscribe to a newsletter from Jack Raines titled “Young Money,” who discussed ideas relating to time in a recent edition. Raines is a young guy who graduated from an Ivy League school. He got a big job on Wall Street as an investment banker before realizing he wanted more from his life. He quit and went on a 19-month backpacking trip through Europe, where he gathered great life experiences. Raines made a statement that stuck with me in his recent newsletter. He stated, “We spend 99% of our lives working towards moments that will encompass a mere 1% of our lives, then we feel nostalgic about the 99%.” It’s a true statement. We spend all our time trying to accomplish goals, but we don’t enjoy the journey in the moment. It’s not until we’ve reached our destination that we truly appreciate what we just went through. Raines also states that if we are constantly waiting for the right time to do something, we must realize that the time will never be right. We just have to do it. Additionally, Raines says that if we spend all our time doing things we don’t enjoy to obtain money or prestige, the only guarantee we get is that our time is spent doing things we don’t enjoy. One more insight I really enjoyed, “The guy who dies with the highest net worth? He should have found cooler stuff to spend his money on.”

Don’t let time become an obstacle to your happiness. Enjoy moments and situations as they happen, and maybe you’ll be more content with your life.

–Brad Johnson President, Risk Services of AR

Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries. • www.INSURICA.com • 1

IMPROVE YOUR EXISTING CUSTOMER SALES

A hurricane ravaged the Florida coast at the end of September, displacing thousands of people and causing billions in property damage. Hurricane Ian was a category 4 hurricane and saw winds of 155 mph. It was so strong that it almost qualified as a category 5. It was the fourth strongest hurricane ever to hit Florida. Hurricane Ian is a potent reminder of the importance of flood and wind insurance, especially if you live in a high-risk area.

WITH THESE 3 STRATEGIES

Property data and analytics provider CoreLogic recently released estimates for

One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is focusing too much on new customers or potential leads. While your business needs to attract new customers, you can’t forget your existing ones. These clients have already done business with you. They know what your business and its products can do for them. If they like the business relationship enough, they’ll even refer other people to you. That’s why it’s essential to boost your existing customer sales in addition to pursuing new leads.

damages sustained during Hurricane Ian. They estimated between $41 billion and $70 billion in insured and uninsured losses due to wind and storm surge damage. Between $31 billion and $53 billion of the losses are estimated to be insured, which leaves between $10 billion and $17 billion for uninsured losses. CoreLogic stated wind losses are estimated to be $23 billion to $35 billion, and flood losses to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private insurance for residential and commercial properties are estimated to be between $8 billion and $18 billion. There’s no telling how long it will take for Florida to recover from the damages incurred during the hurricane. The population of Florida has grown by 50% over the last 20 years, and many areas affected by the hurricane are densely populated. Tom Larsen, the senior director of hazard and risk management for CoreLogic, said, “The extra costs incurred from the surge in repair needs, simultaneous with a fragile economy, are headwinds to rapid reconstruction. We should expect to see resident displacement and housing affordability issues in the state for some time to come.” While we don’t see hurricanes in Arkansas, and it’s relatively rare that the storm remnants make it our way, we do see tornadoes and floods from time to time. Whereas wind is almost always a covered peril in property insurance policies, flood is often excluded, so a stand-alone flood insurance policy is usually a good idea..

If you want to improve your existing customer relationships and sales, try utilizing one of the following strategies.

Engage with current customers often. After successfully completing a sale, reach out to your customer to ensure everything is going well with your product or service. You can address their concerns and provide excellent customer service if they are unhappy. If they are happy, they’re now aware that you care about them as a customer. They’ll be much more likely to buy from you again or even tell their friends about your company. You should also send out email marketing to your existing customers to share information about new products, services, or promotions. Start a customer loyalty program. Many companies offer their customers loyalty and reward programs — the more they shop, the more they earn. This is a great way to encourage current clients to continue shopping with you. Why would they go to a competitor for a similar product if they can earn rewards for shopping with you? Just make sure these rewards are worth your existing customers’ time, and you’ll see a boost in return sales before long. Cross-sell and upsell your products. You may offer merchandise considered to be one- time purchases that leave no reason for a customer to return, but that’s not necessarily the case. Try selling products that relate to their original purchase. Your company might also have products customers would buy, but they just don’t know about yet. Make sure

to cover your bases, and be sure to ask if there’s anything else you can help each customer with after completing every sale. Follow these tips — and you’ll be sure to see an increase in sales from referrals and previous customers as well.

2 • www.INSURICA.com • Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries.

Overcoming the Odds

HOW ONE MAN BEAT CANCER AND IS INSPIRING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME

attacking the host cells. Over the next 18 months, Michael had issues with his skin and gastrointestinal tract before his liver went into failure, nearly killing him. Michael continued to experience issues from his condition and the treatments he was undergoing. This past June, nearly two years after his initial cancer diagnosis, Michael began a new extracorporeal photopheresis treatment. This treatment has helped patients with various autoimmune disorders, including graft vs. host disease and t-cell lymphoma. The treatment separates his blood and treats it before returning it to his body. Now, Michael is in full remission and has decided to share his journey on a podcast titled “Michael and Mom Talk Cancer.” In doing so, Michael created a vast support network for cancer patients and survivors across the globe. SUDOKUWEB

Learning that you have cancer is never easy. You know you have a challenging and extensive battle in front of you, and you will need to fight with every ounce of your being to come out on the other side. It’s a situation many individuals experience, but one young man from Florida is inspiring hope for others after successfully beating aggressive blood cancer. Michael Cramer decided to visit his doctor after he experienced fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss. He assumed the symptoms were related to the stress he was experiencing from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the truth was much more difficult to swallow. The doctor diagnosed Michael with hepatosplenic t-cell lymphoma. The doctor informed Michael and his mother that most people do not survive it, and Michael might only have eight months to live. At only 21 years old, Michael decided to fight and underwent three rounds of intensive chemotherapy before receiving a bone marrow transplant. The transplant was unsuccessful and left Michael with a severe complication called graft vs. host disease. The donor cells were

Michael’s story shows that we can overcome anything when we persevere through challenges, even if they seem impossible.

Solution on Pg. 4 Have a Laugh!

3

7

6 2

9 1 8 6

9

162 5

215 47 5 6 971 4 8 5 9 1 28 2 97 438

• First select a number/operator and than apply it to a sudoku cell.

Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries. • www.INSURICA.com • 3

1501 Mart Dr. Little Rock, AR 72202 501.666.6653

6 8 2 3 1 9 5 4 7 7 5 4 6 2 8 3 9 1 1 9 3 7 4 5 2 8 6 9 4 7 1 6 2 8 5 3 8 2 1 5 3 4 7 6 9 5 3 6 8 9 7 1 2 4 3 7 8 4 5 6 9 1 2 4 1 9 2 8 3 6 7 5 2 6 5 9 7 1 4 3 8

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

• First select a number/operator and than apply it to a sudoku cell.

INSIDE This Issue Finding Time for All of Our Responsibilities page 1

3 Methods to Boost Existing Customer Sales How Much Damage Did Hurricane Ian Cause? page 2

How a Young Floridian Survived a Fatal Cancer Diagnosis page 3

Tired of Feeling Anxious and Fearful? page 4

Tired of Feeling Anxious and Fearful?

Read ‘You Are Not a Rock’ by Mark Freeman

As you read, you’ll learn how to recognize your problems, practice mindfulness, prioritize and follow your values, and

We’ve all felt anxious, guilty, fearful, and sad — it’s a part of life. Perhaps you’ve tried to avoid or suppress these emotions, but you’re not a rock. As humans, we experience these feelings all the time. Trying to control them may only make matters worse. So, instead, focus on something you can control — your actions. That’s the central premise of Mark Freeman’s mental health book “You Are Not a Rock.” He aims to teach readers how to build emotional fitness and overcome their struggles and hardships with different techniques. The book is divided into two sections titled “The Basics” and “The Transformation.” The first half is about learning basic mental health skills and unlearning ways of thinking about mental health that cause us challenges. The second half focuses on how to create and build what you want to see in your life instead of trying to avoid and control what you can’t see.

understand your fears. The strategies in “You Are Not a Rock” are the same tactics Freeman used in his personal life, and he shares some of those stories in the book. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that Freeman highly encourages you to complete. By performing these exercises, you can better understand the book’s contents and implement Freeman’s tactics in your life. Before Freeman helps readers begin their journey, he states that strengthening your mental health is like working on your physical health — you won’t see instant results. “Changing your brain takes time and effort … I’m not going to share with you any magical supplements or special mantras. This is simply a book about actions,” Freeman says in his introduction.

If you’re interested in reading “You Are Not a Rock,” you can purchase your copy wherever books are sold online or in bookstores.

4 • www.INSURICA.com • Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

insurica.com

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator