Melisa A. Massie

I attribute my success to dedication and hard work. You just have to keep pushing through and not give up. You have to show up and show up even when you don't want to. That's what makes the difference in this field.

The best career advice I ever received was from my very first agent owner, who I began my insurance career with. He told me, don't sweat the small stuff. You've got to check it at the door, coming in and going out. Don't take things home with you. And if something seems overwhelming or you're anxious about doing that step that you need to do, don't put it off. Just dive in and do it. In the beginning of my career, for those first couple years, I always would put those hard things on the back burner. They would give me a stomach ache, you know? Over the weekend, I'd worry about things. But again, that goes back to checking it at the door. It'll still be there tomorrow. But if it is something that is concerning to you, or something that you have to reach out to the customer about, just do it. After I kind of got over that hump, that's what I do. I mean, I just pick up the phone and get it done. The moment that I feel like, oh my god, this is gonna be hard, I just do it. And it always works out better than I would ever think that it did.

First of all, you're smarter than you think you are. There's so much I could say about that, but it is a fulfilling position or role to be in the insurance industry. You learn every day. You're never gonna stop learning in this industry. So you will have to lean on your teammates, don't hesitate. You know, ask the questions. The only stupid question is the one not being asked, because you need to ask the question. Ask the question. Not everybody knows everything. No one knows everything. So you should be very knowledgeable in what you're doing. There has to be some knowledge in what the client is engaging in, what insurance companies are offering. You've got to know your market.

The biggest challenge I'd have to say right now is with the market being hardened by costs. But the opportunity in that is to provide the best possible service to the client. Provide the education regarding the policy features and coverages and how that is protecting their business. So you've got to be very knowledgeable in what you're doing. There has to be some knowledge in what the client is engaging in, what insurance companies are offering.

Integrity is very important to me. You know, doing what you say you're going to do. I'm very detailed. I like things to be neat and tidy, with respect to not my living space, per se, but the work that I produce. If it's going to leave my desk with my name on it, I will make sure that it's I's dotted and T's crossed. I'm very, very detailed. And customer service. I mean, that is very important to me, that I'm servicing customers or my teammates to the best of my ability and educating them along the way as well. I enjoy sharing knowledge that is going to benefit others. Because in a team, it's true teamwork. I know it's a funky cliche, and some people think it's, you know, some people think it's a funky cliche, but teamwork does make the dream work. And if you're not collaborating together as a team, and you're not working in tandem, it gets more difficult.