Asia Advisers Network Editor Benjamin Ang and official training partner Performance Breakthrough Coach Jensen Siaw, had the honour of speaking with close to 400 insurance advisers from Manulife Cambodia. They were in the nascent life insurance market to share their industry experience and inspire the advisers to achieve MDRT.
This initiative is part of Asia Advisers Network’s commitment to play an active role in raising the bar and in catering to the information needs of advisers and agency leaders in the region.
MDRT breakthrough mindset
Advisers who were present at the event had a sole purpose – to qualify for MDRT. While Performance Breakthrough Coach Mr Siaw shared various strategies which advisers can use to achieve their MDRT aspirations, the most important message was to “get started”.
He said: “When you don’t feel ready, say YES. When you don’t think you can, say YES. When you are not sure if you will succeed, say YES.”
From his experience over the years, he shared that advisers are often held back by fear. And these fears could be masked by them over-analysing and trying to convince themselves why a goal cannot be achieved or to not even set an aspirational goal in the first place.
The key to overcoming fear, he said, was to “Think less, do more. Don’t think, just do.”
“Anyone can achieve MDRT. MDRT is a responsibility and a promise you must fulfil,” he said.
Doing well by doing good
As Cambodia’s life insurance market only started in 2012 with even some advisers wondering how viable a career in the industry is, a key message Mr Ang shared with them was the immense long-term potential and viability of the insurance market.
In Asia Pacific, the mortality protection gap stands at US$58 trillion, according to a Swiss Re study in 2015. And the advisers saw for themselves in hard figures that from the developing to the most developed markets, protection gaps exist that need to be filled.
And, hence, the noble role that insurance advisers play in society in narrowing the protection gap was highlighted.
“Find your ‘why’ and remember the reason you decided to take the plunge and join the industry. Don’t worry about the rewards because if you think in the best interests of your clients and help enough people, it will come. This really is an industry where one will be doing well by doing good.”
Hungry for success
The dedication shown by these advisers impressed the speakers. Many travelled hours to attend the session, with some even travelling eight hours to hear them speak. While they were there to inspire and share with the advisers, they also walked away inspired by their thirst for knowledge and hunger to succeed.
“This is a testament to the existence of Asia Advisers Network which was launched by Asia Insurance Review to serve the needs of insurance advisers. It further motivates us to continue the work we are doing to help raise the bar in the industry and to highlight the great work done by the unsung heroes,” said Mr Ang. A