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By Richard Ensman
You've heard the myths of NAIFA membership before, and
perhaps you've even believed them. But ultimately, you knew that membership
was the right move for you and your business.
So next time you hear a colleague attempting to explain why he won't join
NAIFA or the local association raise your head, open your mouth and dispel
whatever association myth your friend happens to believe.
Myth # 1: “It takes
too much time.”
Leaders in many industries say that if you spend 5 percent of your work
time engaged in professional development, you'll be well on the way toward
long-term success. For most people, 5 percent means 100 to 125 hours a
year. And guess what? Heavy association involvement—including a convention,
a few regional or committee meetings, and some behind-the-scenes telephone
work—will probably consume much less than that. But in the end, you
decide how much time you want to commit, whether it’s two hours,
a year or 50.
Myth # 2: “Membership
costs too much.”
The fact is, in many cases membership costs less than a dollar a day and
you may spend more at Starbucks in a year than you would on your NAIFA
membership. More important, just one good idea gleaned from your membership
can be worth thousands of dollars.
Myth # 3: “I already
know the right people in insurance.”
Sure you do. But you don't know everyone. And you don't know the people
who will join NAIFA next week, or next month or next year. And you don't
have exposure to the ideas, knowledge and enthusiasm these newcomers bring
to the table. And guess what? Anytime you participate in an association
event, you can always get to know someone a little better—and learn
something new.
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| There is no finer resource than
your association to keep yourself abreast of research, news and trends. |
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Myth # 4: “I’m
just one person. I don’t really make a difference.”
Are you kidding? All it takes is one person to set NAIFA on an aggressive
new course of legislative advocacy. All it takes is one person to organize
a committee dealing with new industry standards. All it takes is one person
to energize an association group with new ideas and enthusiasm. Yes, one
person can be lost in the crowd. But one person can also be the impetus
for exciting new initiatives.
Myth # 5: “I’ve
already learned what I need to know about insurance and financial planning.”
Even if you have full command of the knowledge in your field, in this
day and age it changes constantly. There is no finer resource than your
association to keep yourself abreast of research, news and trends. And
just as important, if you're brimming over with knowledge, it's even more
important that you share what you know with your peers. The more knowledge
your peers possess, the stronger your industry.
Myth # 6: “Association
issues don’t concern me.”
Just about everything NAIFA does concerns you in some way. The tax issues
raging in another community today might affect you tomorrow. The new technology
being developed in another part of the nation by association members might
help you preserve jobs and profit five years from now. Or the sales trends
in a nearby community might well be on their way toward you. Association
membership alerts you to what’s going on around the nation and the
world.
Myth # 7: “Members
have to attend too many meetings.”
Sure, NAIFA has some meetings—an annual convention, committee meetings,
regional conferences, special events. But ultimately, you decide what
you're going to attend—and how deeply you'll participate. And when
you're not able to attend, you can still learn about meeting highlights
through Advisor Today or your local association newsletter, meeting
minutes or your colleagues. And whenever you can't attend a conference,
you can be secure in the knowledge that great work is still being done
on your behalf.
Myth # 8: “The
association just helps my competition.”
Despite their differences, competitors recognized that they have common
interests. These include certification, product standards, industry-wide
promotion, training and education, legislative advocacy, and more. Only
by working together can individuals pursue those interests and aggressively
insure the health and future of the insurance and financial planning industries.
Myth # 9: “NAIFA's
not really interested in me.”
NAIFA is first and foremost a membership organization. You select the
officers and board members. On your behalf, they set the industry agenda,
select the staff that serves you, and establish the programs that help
you become better at what you do. Nowhere else in the world—other
than your own home or business—can you call, write or email with
a question or concern and be welcomed with such undivided attention.
Myth # 10: “It’s
just all too tiring.”
Trade and professional associations are one of the greatest energy builders
of our age. Just sit in a lively NAIFA seminar or committee meeting for
an hour, or walk the trade show hall at the convention. You’ll feel
the air thick with energy, excitement and ideas—always enough to
recharge your batteries for weeks or months to come!
Richard Ensman is a freelance writer and frequent
contributor to AdvisorToday.com. He can be reached at publisher@compuserve.com.
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