I recently recorded a Podcast around this topic. (Podcast coming soon) The days of meeting together in your local Town Square, shaking hands with your neighbors and doing business together are long gone. Our society has evolved and in so many ways this has been a GREAT change, yet some things have been lost and must be found again!
The ability to “Shake Hands” with your community is still VERY important and crucial to survive and thrive in a society based on the support of others to SUCCEED! It does not matter if you are an Agency Business Owner, another Business Owner or simply an employee of an Agency or Business Owner we all need others in order to prosper and succeed.
What has changed is the method in which we “Shake Hands!” Social Media and specifically “Facebook” have become the new medium to Shake Hands with your community. Technology has provided you with a NEW, Town Square, an endless space to share your message and connect with your community. The place you can meet socially, connect, communicate and trade your services and resources with others. Initially, I was not onboard with this dynamic. I am a Face To Face, Belly To Belly person by nature and still will utilize that in any opportunity that is presented to me. Yet, just yesterday I had conversations with people over 4000 miles away from me, shared ideas, shared our concepts and ultimately I shared a product with them and I HAVE NOT PHYSICALLY “SHAKEN THEIR HAND”
Time is limited, and utilizing our time as the greatest resource we possess is CRUCIAL. Technology and specifically Social Media allow ALL of us the ability to CONNECT, COMMUNICATE, COMMERCE in less time and with larger audiences. Yet, what I have found in my experience is that those people that are transparent, real, authentic and open in their Social/Digital footprint tend to “Shake The Most Hands”, YOU MUST BE THE SAME PERSON YOU WOULD BE IF YOU WERE MEETING THEM IN PERSON, SITTING DOWN IN THEIR HOME SHARING A COFFEE CAKE, like in times of old.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER TODAY: Are you delayed in your acceptance of Technology and Social Media as the new platform to “Shake Hands With Your Community?” If I met you in person today, would you be the same person your Social/Digital Footprint represents? Instead of fighting Social Media what can you do TODAY to accept it and utilize it’s benefits to connect you with your community? (A community with endless boundaries and limitless opportunities) Is your competition passing you by because they have accepted this new medium for communication and connection? What will happen to you if you don’t join this revolution and “Shake Hands” virtually?
John Lucero, is a successful business owner with over 20 years of experience in multi-line insurance agency operations for several major National Brands. With an expertise in Recruiting, Educating, Coaching, Developing and Product Knowledge, his passion and drive to ELEVATE Insurance Agencies to higher levels of success is what keeps him inspired about the future and motivated about making a difference.
