What is Your Story with American Income Life?
What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now. – Anonymous
Some people seem as if they were born knowing what they’re good at and what they want to do in life.
Michael Phelps, winner of 14 Olympic gold medals, began swimming at the age of seven.
Lindsay Vonn, 2010 gold medalist in the women’s downhill, has been on skis since she was two.
It doesn’t work that way for most of us, who generally have several false starts before finding our place in life.
Look at middle-aged ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ singing phenomenon Susan Boyle. Ms. Boyle spent much of her adult life unemployed, caring for her aging parents. At age 49, her album, ‘I Dreamed A Dream,’ became the best-selling album in the world for 2009.
The late Charles Bronson was 38 when he made his first film. Bronson was in his fifties when he acted in his most popular films, the ‘Death Wish’ series.
The point isn’t how long it took them to find their niche, but that they did ultimately find it.
It’s always interesting to learn how people got from where they were to where they are now. What circumstances led them to their current path? Did they follow a set plan or were they simply in the right place at the right time? Did you know that prior to joining American Income Life Insurance Company 14 years ago, Scott Smith, Executive VP/CMO was the Village Administrator of Seneca Falls, NY? Or that Debbie Gamble, Senior VP Agency came straight from part-time employment in college to her 32-year career at American Income Life? The same is true for Rob Falvo, Senior VP of Field Operations, who has been with AIL for 23 years.
American Income Life is full of inspiring stories of incredible people. What’s yours? What did you do before you came to AIL? How did you come to be with American Income Life Insurance Company?
Tell us your story.
I am ready to get going with everything, I want to succeed in this career. I have learned a lot in the past week. I never thought that I would be in this field, but when I started this, I realized how interesting this is. It did help a lot when things where brought and explained.
I never in a million years would have thought that I would enter the field of being an Insurance Consultant with AIL., but what a fulfilling and adventure it has been. From the variety of people that we meet to the greatest feeling in the world of leaving a home secure. Today I wonder why I did not enter this field 20 years ago.
There are many things I find that I love about this Career, this job, this life. One thing that really sticks out is the fact that when I mess up, it’s my fault. I can’t blame anyone else but myself. I’m responsible. With that being said, when I succeed, It’s my success as well. No one can take that from me. It’s my show, and I love my show.
My journey began in May of 2008 when I graduated from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. I moved to Atlanta for an internship with a major retail chain hoping to be offered a position when it was over. Before the internship ended, I was offered a position with the company but had to relocate to Savannah Ga. So I packed my bags and headed south. In Nov of 2008 my position there was eliminated(as well as 600 others across the southeast) the week before Thanksgiving. So back to the drawing board…….. I received the call to interview with The Hogan Agencies in December and 18 months later I am now MGA and run this office. I couldn’t be more blessed. I truly feel that the Lord moved me to Savannah to work for American Income, it was never to work in retail.
About a 15 months ago, I walked away from what I thought was the right direction with a company that understood what I was looking for. When I was introduced to AIL, I really saw Opportunity Unlimited. Immediately when I sat in orientation, I was impress at what an incredible company AIL really is and I knew that this was my chance to work hard at something today, and reap the benefits in the future. I saw that the opportunity for advancement and growth was real whereas no matter how hard I worked at my previous job, I wouldn’t go anywhere because company politics. I appreciate the opportunity that given to me and now as an newly promoted MGA, I’m keeping my eyes open to those around me who are in search of Opportunity Unlimited.
I started with AIL at age 19.
I saw an ad in the newspaper and applied. Before I knew it I was making more than all my friends combined.
Thirty one years later, I am still more excited today than when I started.
Who would imagine that we are the best company still breaking records, still in business and financially secure.
You would be either crazy or dead not wanting to work with AIL or NILICO.
It is the business and company where all your dreams become realities!!!
I was one of those “good kids”. I got good grades all the way through elementary, middle, and high school, and was awarded a full academic scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC. I graduated with a B.S. in Systems and Computer Science, and was accepted into the graduate program at GA Tech. I thought I was doing the right things to put myself in position to earn the kind of money I wanted to make, but I found myself being completely unhappy with the path I was on. On top of that, the job market for my field had gone down the drain before I even finished my Master’s degree. I quit school and tried to find something better. I had tried just about everything (real estate school, leasing apartments, network market, etc), all of which brought to an $8.00 an hour job at Old Navy. I eventually turned to selling cars because I thought it was a better opportunity than what was available to me at the time. But I soon got tired of standing on concrete with dress shoes on for 10-12 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, with no truly consistent income. Next month will mark my third anniversary with American Income Life, and I can honestly say that I’ve made more money and helped more people at this job than at any job that I’ve had in my entire life. This is the best opportunity for an average person to make some significantly above average income.
Michael Mickens
MGA, The Hogan Agency
Georgia
Just another one champion sound
Me and Asta about to get down
Who the hottest in the world right now.
Just touched down in Kansas town.
Bet they give me a Bonus.
Tell them put the money in my hand right now.
Tell the John Akers we need more seats,
I just filled up all the conference seats
[Chorus (Estelle):]
Take me on a trip, I’d like to go to convention.
Take me to New York, I’d love to see LA.
I really want to go to convention with you.
You’ll be my American Boy.
He said “Hey Sister.
It’s really really nice to meet you.”
I just met this insurnace guy who’s just my type.
I like the way he’s speaking his confidence is peaking.
Don’t like his rates but I’m a like when I clam them.
And no I ain’t been to Miami
I heard that Cali never rains and New York heart awaits.
First let’s see the west end.
American Income breath take’n.
I’m liking this American Boy. American Income
Can we get away this weekend?
Take me to Broadway.
Let’s go shopping baby then we’ll go to a café.
Let’s go on the subway.
Take me to your hood.
I never been to Brooklyn and I’d like to see what’s good.
Dress in all your fancy clothes.
Sneaker’s looking Fresh to death, I’m loving those Shell Toes.
Walking that walk.
Talk that slick talk.
I’m liking this American Boy. American Income.
Who Killing em in the Kansas.
Everybody gonna to say you Billy, Absolutely, because all of these managers listen to me.
Asta once said to me, “Don’t Cool down, down, your recruiting now, now.”
I’m always recruiting oww oww.
Ain’t nothing new now now.
He crazy, I know what ya thinkin.
recruiting I know what you’re thinking.
recruiter. voice Blinger.
Holla at the next chick soon as you’re blinking.
What’s you’re persona.
About this Americana
Brama.
Am I shallow cause all my clothes designer.
Dressed smart like Roger Smith.
Before he speak his suit bespoke.
And you thought he was cute before.
Look at this peacoat, tell me he’s broke.
And I know you’re not into all that.
I heard your lyrics I feel your spirit.
But I still talk that Ca-a-a-ASH.
Cause a lot Agents want to hear it.
And I’m feeling like Dominic Bertini.
And Rob Falvo.
And I know they love it.
So I bring up that retention.
I have always worked in a sales field but never in an environment quite like Arias Agencies in American Income. I dont view my job as a comission job because I have had a real comission job, one where you are handed a phone book and told to make 250 calls a day on your first day. To be able to get a list of names with interested prospects each month is invaluable in any sales job. I was fortunate enough to have had great finacial success in the middle part of this decade in the mortgage business. When that field hit financial turmoil, unfortunately the company I worked for wasnt able to withstand the new market. After 2 years of grinding through sales jobs looking for the right oppotunity, I began to think I would never have that type of earnings capcity ever again. Hard to believe that the years I had my most finacial success would be in my mid 20′s. Then a friend of mine introduced me to American Income and I instantly realized this was what I thought would never come around again. Knowing how rare of on opportunity this is, I valued it and worked tirelessly to make sure I would never be wondering again. I am greatful everyday that I have with American Income and respect the opportunity unlimited to its fullest. Everyday I try to learn something and work harder than I did the day before, being surrounded by people who are where I want to be gives me the confidence that AIL can give me back everything I put into it.
I actually missed my first call from an AIL office. I had recently moved to St. Louis from Florida; yeah I moved from Florida to St. Louis, I did not mistype. Regardless, I didn’t get a voice mail from that call so I called the number back and said: What? Insurance? Labor Unions? What? I had just graduated from a university in Florida with a degree focusing on Pre-Law. I had planned on going to Law School at a little university in Louisiana called LSU within the next year but those plans were put on hold perhaps for quite a while.
AIL has changed my life. I thought I had worked hard before but that definitely was not true. I’ve gained an obnoxious amount of confidence. Although I did start out slow, I soon realized that by simply listening I gained an enormous amount of knowledge. I was told in the beginning that the training would be like a minor from college. Simply put, that’s an understatement. With much hard work, I became an SA in two months and have never looked back. I’d mainly like to thank Jeff Thiel and Norm Candelore for their continued and unwavering leadership. The Thiel Agencies is growing, watch out.