Glenford Smith | Frustrated with selling life insurance

Frustrated with selling life insurance

I am a 27-year-old UWI graduate. I received training and worked with a brokerage for two months in pursuit of a job as a sales rep for life insurance. I signed a precontract for a period of six weeks during which I was expected to sell a certain amount of products. However, despite my best efforts, by mid-April I grew frustrated and disappointed because I only got three sales. I decided not to proceed. On my behest, my boss wrote a letter to terminate the precontract. Also, I invested money in material, travel, call credit and hard work walking in the sun. Is it fair that I not only gained nothing financially, but will lose my reputation as a stable and focused employee?

- S.L.

Thank you for your question. Your letter had to be condensed because of the length. I want to commend you for trying something new in your career, never mind that it seems not to be working out. You are still in the early stages of your career, so don't be discouraged if things seem to be frustrating you at the moment.

During the course of your pursuing your career goals, you will meet upon what you may call disappointment, but do not judge it too soon. These same experiences, you may later say, were the best things that happened to you. Your experience as a life insurance sale representative may be one such.

It seems to me that you did okay with the sale of three policies in two months. Remember that you are just starting out. One piece of advice I would give you is: go with what you truly love. Ask yourself if you'd do it even if you weren't getting paid. If you'd do it no matter what, that is a good indication that you are engaged in something that you are very likely to succeed at. It is something to do.

You asked your boss to write the letter terminating your precontract. Was it too quick? Could you have given it more time? Only you can answer that. But you need to think about the customers you are selling life insurance to. Why do they really need it? If you are convinced they really need it, shouldn't you be out there trying to persuade them?

Selling life insurance is hard. If you quit so easily, then it is not for you. You should quickly realise this if you're easily frustrated and disappointed because you did not get the desired result. The people who are successful in life insurance have to go through disappointments, rejections, and frustration. But they kept on going nonetheless.

If this is not for you, there may be something to glean here. Whatever career you want in life, you will face disappointment and frustration. The difference is that when you're doing something that you love, it doesn't matter and it won't stop you. You just have to decide.

With reference to the money you spent, the credit used, and your time invested in the sun, I would just advise you to charge it to experience. You seem to be a very intelligent person, as your friends and your boss as indicated.

Draw inspiration from your record of success and achievement in the other field. Decide if life insurance is for you; if it is, give it everything you've got and you will succeed.

I wouldn't worry too much about your reputation suffering irreparable damage if you decide this isn't for you. Everybody knows that sometimes when you try, things don't work out.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of 'From Problems to Power' and co-author of 'Profile of Excellence'. Email: glenfordsmith@yahoo.com.