Many financial professionals get involved in the community.
The chamber of commerce has plenty of them, just look in the member directory.
How does an agent size above the crowd and make a positive impact?
How do they make a name for themselves and build a positive reputation?
How to Blow Yourself Up
Let's start with what not to do.
The first step towards building a positive reputation is avoiding becoming a pariah.
Bear in mind you are not the first insurance professional who has joined the group.
Someone else has done it badly.
People have good memories.
What Not to Do
1. Do not join, claim involvement and never show up. People will think you only joined to make your resume or LinkedIn profile look better.
2. Do not overpromise. Do not join a committee and never show up. Do not join a committee and do nothing. Do not claim you can get your firm to give money and not follow through.
3. Do not have alligator arms. Some people only show up for the free events. They don't make contributions or attend paid events. You come across as really cheap.
4. Do not try to run the organization. You feel the Old Guard is asleep at the switch. You volunteer your opinions about what they can do better. You ignore local politics and alliances.
You try to take over. You get frozen out.
How to Make a Positive Impact that Gets People Saying Good Things
Community organizations have many roles for volunteers. This is usually done through committees.
Here are three that are a great match for agents or advisors.
One is always in crisis.
1. Membership.
This is the annuitized revenue stream of the organization.
If they have dues coming in on a steady basis, they are less dependent on holding gala events.
Many organizations have only a sketchy idea of how you attract new members.
Opportunity: You are great at prospecting. You know how to find prospect names and organize a mailing.
You know how to do it cheaply and use your own hands and other volunteer labor in the organization. You invite a group of friends to your house.
