Escaping the Corporate Jungle: Applying the 48 Laws of Power to Your Insurance Agency

Author

The Insurance Dudes
July 15, 2025

Weekly Trivia 🤔 Question: 

Which "Law of Power" from Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power could help a P&C insurance agent avoid client conflict by keeping emotions out of claim negotiations?

* Answer at the bottom of the newsletter👇

Today In 5 Minutes Or Less (TLDR):

🔒Unlocking Law #1: Power Moves for Insurance Agents🔒

Dear Insurance Champions,

Do you ever feel like you're a caged lion in the insurance corporate jungle? You’re not alone! In our latest episode, we dove deep into Law #1 from Robert Greene’s “48 Laws of Power”—and we’re just getting started on this power-packed series to help fellow agents break free and thrive.

Here’s what we explored:

Never Outshine the Master: Why Strategic Humility Wins

  • We kicked things off with Law #1: Never outshine the master. This isn’t just about keeping a low profile—it’s about practicing “strategic humility.” Instead of always seeking the spotlight, know when to give credit, when to step back, and how to make your market leaders look good. Trust us, it pays dividends down the line.

Real-World Parallels

  • The episode’s loaded with fascinating history (think Galileo and the king’s right-hand man) showing how celebrating others and sharing credit isn’t just a modern office “hack”—it’s smart survival and influence.

Making It Work in Your Agency

  • Whether you’re a captive agent feeling entrepreneurial or an “independent” still sorting out your freedom, Jason and Craig dig into how the so-called “franchopreneur” mindset equips you to win in the insurance game.

  • Learn why making your corporate leaders shine can accelerate your success, how to contribute to team wins (even if the contest prize seems small!), and why being right isn’t as important as being effective.

Action Steps:

  • Swallow your pride, check the ego, and play ball with corporate.

  • Find symbiotic relationships—help your leaders hit their goals so they’ll help you hit yours.

  • Take joy in helping others. The goodwill—and career opportunities—will follow.

Catch you next time,

Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman

The Insurance Dudes! 🚀

❝

Because at the end of the day, assuming and taking all of the credit yourself, even if you are the one who, who facilitated that, is gonna rub people the wrong way.

Jason Feltman

What Great Leadership Gets Right: Digital Tools, Purpose, and Emotional Intelligence

Embracing the future of leadership isn’t about flashy titles or the latest tech buzzwords—it’s about doing simple things, really well, day in and day out. First up, let’s talk about how we connect. Way back in the day, you’d just walk up to someone’s desk and hash things out, face to face. Now, group chats and Slack channels have replaced water cooler conversations. Sure, it’s convenient, but if you’re not careful, things get lost in translation. Someone’s quick reply might seem cold or a slow response might feel like they’re checked out, even when it’s not the case at all. As a leader, it’s my job to set the tone—dropping in encouragement, emojis, and making sure everyone feels included. Good chat etiquette isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s what keeps a team gelled when you’re not sitting in the same room.

The second big thing that poor leadership overlooks is the why. Not just the company mission statement you post on the wall, but the individual why—the reason each person shows up every morning (even if it’s logging in remotely in pajamas). The truth is, the days of people clocking in just for a paycheck are fading fast. People crave meaning; they want to know they’re making a dent, that what they do really matters. I spend time with my team connecting their personal goals with our collective mission. Helping someone see how their work impacts everyone else—that’s what makes people stick around and stay energized.

Third, and maybe most crucial, is embracing emotional intelligence. We’re not robots; stress and pressure hit everyone differently—especially in high-stakes insurance agencies. I’ve learned to never underestimate the power of being kind, keeping cool, and genuinely caring about how folks are doing. Using tools like the DISC profile or CliftonStrengths helps me understand my team better—what gets them fired up, what weighs them down, and how to make sure everyone’s doing what they’re best at (not just what needs to get done). When you put people in roles where they shine, everything changes. Performance goes up, but so does happiness.

So it’s really those three things: communicating with intention (even if it’s just an emoji), making sure everyone has a purpose, and always leading with emotional intelligence—because that’s the difference between a team that’s just working and one that’s winning together.

Around The Web 🌎

The YouTube 🎥

Most agencies fail their new agents with poor training and zero support systems. But here's the secret - the only real qualification you need is believing you belong.

This Week On The Podcast 🎧

We sit down with industry powerhouse Peter Fournier to uncover the secrets behind building a thriving, recession-proof insurance agency. Peter shares his journey from flipping Pokémon cards as a kid to carving out his niche in mortgage protection within the insurance world. He dishes out hard-earned lessons on money management, the critical importance of process, and how mastering referrals transformed his business. You’ll get candid stories from the field, tips on holding yourself accountable, and actionable advice for new and seasoned agents alike.

Answer To The Weekly Trivia Question: 

Law 39: Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish.

This law reminds us not to let emotions cloud judgment—especially when dealing with tense claims or tricky clients.

Calm waters = smarter strategies (and fewer angry policyholders). 🐟📄

We put together a free book and checklist to grow your insurance agency 👉 Here

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