389 Years of Truth

Commentary November 29, 2010 at 07:00 PM
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This week I am celebrating my 30th year in the insurance business. I've had a great career, done a lot of really interesting things and worked with some of the finest people I've ever met. If there is one consistent lesson I've learned over all of those years, it is that we are engaged in a collaborative endeavor.

I know — when you are delivering that breathtaking renewal or just trying to get a case through underwriting, it is tempting to believe you are on your own, but a lesson from that first Thanksgiving serves as a great reminder of the importance of working together to prosper — indeed, to survive.

In 1621, after a brutal winter, only half of the Mayflower's passengers and crew remained. The surviving settlers forged an alliance with Wampanoag tribe, who taught them how to survive and prosper in their new world. Working together, the harvest that fall was bountiful, and Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast that became the first Thanksgiving.

The lessons of 1621 still resonate today. We are thankful for our success, and we are grateful to you, our friends and colleagues. Together, we are engaged in a noble pursuit, providing security for our clients and their families when a devastating health problem or disability strikes.

The settlers' accomplishments would not have been possible without their partners — and our success is similarly built on our alliances. 2010 has been a tough year to be in this great industry. So at this Thanksgiving, 389 years later, stop for a moment amid the family, food and football to reflect on the good we do and the friendships and alliances that allow us to be a part of such a great profession.

Gobble 'till you wobble!

Check out more blog entries from David Saltzman.

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