Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a happy holiday season. On this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing what agencies can learn from Amazon's entry into auto insurance, six tips to start 2021 off the right way and our upcoming Agency Leadership Webinar Series. 

Amazon's Entry into Auto Insurance Holds Valuable Lessons for Agencies

According to Insurance Business Magazine, "Last month, Amazon made its entrance into the Indian insurance market when it partnered with Acko General Insurance to sell auto insurance products for two- and four-wheeled vehicles in the country. The move reflected a broader trend of technology giants showing increased interest in the insurance industry."  US insurance agents don't need to worry about Amazon's entrance just yet, as experts say that Amazon is far from taking over the auto insurance market in this part of the world. So what can this teach US agencies? "Insurance companies need to focus on meeting the needs of consumers who want a frictionless buying experience, like the one provided by Amazon. If they instead make customers go through a lot of hoops, such as long claims processing and lots of paperwork, they are bucking the trend of the easy, quick, and frictionless service that consumers are looking for. This is a critical misstep considering when it comes to selling insurance, agencies' competitive advantage lies in how they engage with the client." Read more here. 

Agency Leadership Webinar Series - Agency Technology

Join us at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19th for our next installment of our Agency Leadership Webinar Series. Our featured speaker is Steve Anderson, author of "The Bezos Letters - 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon" and world-renowned agency technology expert.You won't want to miss this webinar - register here. 

6 Tips to Start Your New Year the Right Way

2020 was a very long year, and now it's time to clean the slate and start anew. For 2021, here's a few tips that you can follow to start the year off right: 

1. Do a self-review

According to News12, "Despite 2020 being full of unexpected moments, hopefully, you were still able to find time to accomplish some goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Ask yourself what personally went well and what you'd like to improve as the new year begins. What skills or relationships did you develop that were a bright point in your year? What caused you stress this year? A self-review like this can help you to better understand the highs and lows of the last year and set a precedent for a great year ahead."

2. Finish Tasks

You may have ended 2020 with a to-do list of things that you didn't have time to finish. Start crossing them off now to free up your list for new things you want to accomplish in 2021. 

3. Reach out to loved ones

We may still be facing COVID-19 and its restrictions, but 2021 is the perfect time to reach out to your loved ones (virtually for the time being.) 

4. Clean Up 

A tidy space can help you mentally prepare for the new year. Whether you choose to do a quick tidy or a deep clean, studies show that a clean space is associated with more positive emotions like happiness, satisfaction and calmness. 

5. Set New Goals

Create your 2021 goals but make sure these are SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based). 

6. Put Yourself at the Top of the List

Make yourself a priority this year to help you reach your own goals!

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter Big I Buzz. If you aren't subscribed, click here to add your email to our emailing list. We hope that everyone has a great rest of their week!