As I write this, I’ve just returned from the Global Travel Marketplace (GTM) West conference, held this year in Las Vegas. (Note: GTM West is owned by Northstar Travel Group, parent company of TravelAge West.) Over the course of three days, I had the opportunity to talk to some of the most successful advisors in the industry, and it was exciting to hear so many unique and creative approaches to selling travel.
What was just as inspiring was observing the way the agents shared ideas, solutions and best practices with one another.
During the event, a few of our staff arranged to have lunch with several highly experienced advisors. You’ll hear more about that lunch over the next few weeks, but, once again, one of the most impressive traits we observed in the agents was their willingness to share ideas. Whether we were discussing different ways to recruit and train new agents or offering original marketing tips, their generosity made for a great atmosphere.
While talking with these agents, it occurred to me how important it is for every advisor to have colleagues who can be used as a sounding board. What used to take place in an informal way around an office watercooler now needs to be addressed with a bit more forethought. (Only two of the nine agents we met with have a physical office.) But the added effort is well worth it. Too often we get stuck in our own bubbles and lose sight of the big picture. As the saying goes, you often don’t know what you don’t know, and it can take another agent to help you see the pitfalls of a particular approach.
So, make some time to build your own network of trusted colleagues in whatever way is most comfortable to you. And don’t hold back: Offer advice and assistance, as well as ask for it. As Henry Ford once said, “Competition whose motive is merely to compete, to drive some other fellow out, never carries very far.”
Show other agents that you can be a team player, and you’ll have much to gain in the long run.
