How many of us final expense insurance agents read on a regular basis? Besides the educational benefits of building your knowledge base and de-stressing at the end of the day, reading can help you sharpen your sales skills as well. Here are a few books we recommend to the budding novice as well as the seasoned professional.
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
A classic published in 1937 that has sold over 100 million copies, Think and Grow Rich is a must read at least once in your life. This book will reframe your perspectives about what you want and how you’re going to get there. Hill explains in this book how to back up your desires with realistic goals and focused passion. People have raved about this read for years—many recommend it be taught in high school or college classes to all students in all career fields.
The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me by Richard Paul Evans
This book takes a personal tone as the author shares formative memories of his life, starting as early as adolescence. Evans’ concept is built around eliminating fiscal irresponsibility and bringing awareness and consciousness to your decisions and intentions. Though this book focuses on the life of the layman, its concepts can easily be adapted to a sales-focused strategy. Keep in mind that some elements of this memoir/self-help book are religious in nature.
How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger
A business classic endorsed by Dale Carnegie, this is a book used by some salesman as an instruction manual for success. Though the book doesn’t focus on a specific sales community, the advice is extremely valuable for insurance salesman of all types, preneed insurance included. Bettger writes about how he changed his life from being a twenty-nine-year-old failure who had hit rock bottom in the insurance industry, to a forty-year-old success story who could have retired as the highest paid salesman in the country. Find out more about what he did to turn his life around in ten short years by biting into this delicious read.
The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
David J. Schwartz, a Ph.D. and wise word wizard, created a carefully designed program that gives you the secrets of achieving what you want in life. The author claims to have the ability to help you get the most out of your job, your marriage and your community. He helps you reflect and tap into your innate talents and desires, to focus your energies on what matters most. The first step in the program is to cure yourself of the fear of failure, which will translate beautifully to your insurance efforts and sales goals.
Use these books to work for you by choosing one that best suits your needs, or reading all of the above and creating a hybrid strategy that works best with your strengths and weaknesses.
