We had a great time at PCRS and we have the photos to prove it!  Lots of new information received and we made tons of connections, made new friends and we have new clients as well!  Looking forward to next year.

HM Risk Group Commercial

1. Hire for right person for the “culture” not the “job” – I am trying to create a unique and innovative insurance brokerage. It is important that I find employees who understand our mission and our culture.

2. Business should never give way to creativity – The best businesses are the most creative. At HM Risk Group, we have struggled with creativity in an industry where creativity is an anomaly. I am more convinced that our model not only works for us but it will allow us to stand apart from our competitors in the future.

3. “No Code, No Bathroom” – This is a fantastic quote stolen from a developer with Cheezburger. Employees feel better about a new position when they are able to work on the first day. I have decided to change our onboarding day to allow employees “jump in” on their first day of work.

4. Public recognition is important – Employees need to see that a working hard is rewarded and contrary to popular belief it is not financial recognition that employees are seeking a public job well done.

5. When you are in a horse race, focus on your own horse – There will always be competition, if you constantly worrying about the “other guy” you will waste precious time that could be spent building your own business.

6. Rethink our behavior – As business leaders, we should rethink our processes and rethink how we measure our business success. If we retrain our customers to think a differently about our business processes then the abnormal will become the new normal.

In one of the interactive session, that I attended a woman overheard that I was an insurance broker and wanted to hear my thoughts on social media in our industry. Take a look and let me know what you think.

South By Southwest Video

2. Employment Practices Insurance Coverage – The EEOC released their annual study in late 2010, which showed a dramatic rise in claims due to employment practices. The EEOC study documented a rise in claims at an average of 10%. These claims ranged from race to age discrimination. In an economy where companies are seeking ways to become leaner, we will continue to see a trend upwards concerning employment exposures.

3. Professional Liability Coverage – Do you make money because of your brain trust? Then your business may have a professional liability exposure. Many risk manager and business owners are unaware of how general liability policies would respond to claims opposed to professional liability policies. It is important that you discuss your business model with your insurance broker to make sure that you and your business are protected.

As our global economy begins take a new shape and business landscape, it is important that you make sure that your business is protected from new and innovative threats.

Have you notice that country clubs are invite only and recommendation must be made by a current member?  Well if you are lucky enough to be invited into “club,” you receive amazing service and great conversation with interesting people that others only dream of.

They usually have access to all “new and exciting” information for their clients.

Small never means a lack of educational or technological resources, it is quite the contrary, small business tend to have great technological resources, mobile applications and other new avenues to meet the need of our clients.  Small businesses are also very flexible allowing us to implement advances faster than our larger competitors.

Privacy is always a major concern.

Country clubs valued the anonymity of their clients.  It is a place where you can go and escape the outside world without having your secrets exposed.  Hackers love to find the security gaps in large companies, smaller companies avoid such gaps by simply using great companies who cater to small business needs such as google, and they are secure too.

They don’t overlook the simplest details.

The birthday cards and conversations about your kid’s soccer game are the little things that matter most.  Trust me when I tell you, a bigger company forgets to mention the little things.

They don’t scrimp on fringe benefits.

I love free nights at hotels and 1^st class upgrades on flights, surprise, small businesses understand that as well and not only do you get all of the items listed above but you get fringe benefits too!

It should be a no-brainer, if you are willing to stay at a boutique hotel who wouldn’t you feel comfortable placing your business in the hands of an insurance broker who really understands your needs.

Pacific Coast Reproductive Society

Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

Association for Reproductive Medicine