How Successful Insurance Producers Can Stay Grounded, Build Respect, and Avoid the Arrogance Trap
In the commercial insurance industry, success can come fast, especially for driven producers who are focused on the middle market. The money starts coming in, the book grows, and you find yourself standing in rooms where you once only dreamed of being. But with that success comes a subtle trap, one that’s caught more than a few top producers off guard: arrogance.
It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s the silent erosion of empathy. Other times, it’s the misplaced belief that your way is the only way. In this post, I want to explore how insurance producers can stay grounded even as their careers take off, how they can build respect by honoring where they came from, and how to avoid becoming the very kind of producer people whisper about after conferences for all the wrong reasons.
Let’s dig in.
The Hidden Danger of Success in the Insurance Industry
The path to becoming a successful insurance producer is rarely easy. It takes hustle, resilience, and the ability to navigate rejection like a pro. But when you finally start winning consistently, something changes, and not always for the better.
I’ve been in rooms filled with top producers where the vibe feels less like collaboration and more like a bragging contest. It’s easy to feel like you’re not enough if you’re not talking about the size of your commission checks or the exotic trips your bonuses have paid for. The culture of competition can quickly shift from motivating to toxic.
And that’s the problem: once the sales spotlight is on you, it’s tempting to lean into it a little too hard. But success without self-awareness is dangerous. It clouds judgment. It changes how you treat people. And worse, it makes you forget how you got there.
Remembering Where You Came From
Every producer has a story. Mine doesn’t begin with a silver spoon or a family agency passed down through generations. I grew up eating boxed macaroni and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches. I’ve stood at the window watching to see if a tow truck was coming to repossess my vehicle. I’ve been broke and broken, and I’ll never forget it.
What those hard times gave me was perspective. They forced me to learn how to connect with people fast. They taught me resilience. They shaped how I lead my agency today.
When I finally landed my first big middle-market insurance deal, I was overwhelmed with emotion, not just because of the revenue, but because I could see the fruits of all the hard days. The problem is, if you’re not careful, those victories can change you. You forget the grind. You forget the people who helped you along the way.
But if you want long-term success in this business, remembering where you came from isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Arrogance vs. Confidence: Spotting the Difference
There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Confident producers uplift others and share the spotlight. Arrogant producers make everything about themselves. Over time, the industry notices. Here are a few red flags to watch for:
- You name-drop more than you deliver value.
- Your social media presence is nothing but highlight reels and humblebrags.
- You stop posting about your losses, lessons, or moments of vulnerability.
- You treat junior staff like they’re invisible—until you need something.
- You scoff at producers in other verticals or at different stages in their journey.
- You disrespect vendor partners but expect them to bend over backward for you.
These aren’t just bad habits, they’re warning signs. And if you recognize any of them in yourself, the good news is you can change. But first, you have to want to.
Practicing Daily Gratitude to Stay Grounded
Gratitude isn’t a buzzword. It’s a tool. One of the most effective ways to stay grounded as a producer is to build a daily gratitude habit. That could mean carving out 10–15 minutes each morning to reflect on the people who’ve helped you. It could mean writing one handwritten thank-you note a week. Or simply picking up the phone and checking in with someone who supported you early in your journey.
The busier you get, the easier it is to forget the people who were there when you weren’t successful. But those relationships matter. They deserve your time and attention. Not because they can still offer you something, but because they helped shape who you are today.
If you want to lead with humility in insurance sales, start with gratitude. Make it a recurring block on your calendar. Treat it like a prospecting meeting, because nurturing the right relationships is just as valuable.
Give Credit Publicly and Frequently
Too many producers make their success look like a one-person show. That’s a mistake. No major commercial insurance deal ever happens without underwriters, CSRs, account managers, and support staff doing the heavy lifting.
If someone on your team helped close the deal, say their name. Praise them in front of others. Celebrate their win as much as your own.
Early in my career, I had a mentor who sat in on one of my sales meetings. He brought a notepad and made a tally every time I said the word “I.” After the meeting, he handed me the paper with over 30 tallies and told me, “You’re one of the most selfish salespeople I’ve ever seen.”
That moment stung—but it changed me. Now, I lead with “we.” I credit the team. I’ve learned that elevating others doesn’t diminish your success, it amplifies it.
Lead by Serving Others When No One Is Watching
Not every act of kindness needs a social media post. In fact, the most powerful ones usually don’t. Whether it’s cutting a neighbor’s grass, donating anonymously to a nonprofit, or mentoring a new producer in silence, the magic is in the doing, not the showing.
A few years ago, I started doing things quietly, buying lunch for the office, supporting causes close to my heart, reaching out to struggling producers just to let them know I believe in them. I don’t post about these moments. I don’t need the applause.
Why? Because real leadership in the insurance industry is about more than visibility, it’s about authenticity. If you’re only generous when there’s an audience, you’ve missed the point entirely.
Build a Circle of Accountability and Reciprocity
If you want to grow in this business, surround yourself with people who challenge you. People who’ll call BS when they see it. People who love you enough to tell you when you’re drifting.
I’ve had to part ways with friends and colleagues over the years, not out of spite, but because we were no longer aligned. I only want people in my circle who are striving to be better and willing to help me do the same.
Reciprocity in relationships matters. Don’t expect to receive support, referrals, or mentorship if you’re not willing to give it. True professionals invest in others with no expectation of return, but the return often comes anyway.
Final Thoughts: Humility Is Strength Under Control
You don’t have to choose between being successful and being grounded. You can be both. In fact, the most respected producers in our industry are those who carry their wins with quiet confidence and treat people well, especially when they don’t need anything in return.
Warren Buffet isn’t flashy. He’s one of the wealthiest men in the world, yet remains humble. Why? Because he understands that your character matters more than your income.
So here’s my challenge to you: This week, do one thing to honor your roots.
- Help someone who can’t repay you.
- Give public credit to someone on your team.
- Reach out to a mentor you haven’t spoken to in a while.
- Show gratitude when no one expects it.
Because at the end of the day, people won’t remember the size of your book, they’ll remember how you made them feel.
Stay grounded. Stay grateful. And never forget where you came from.
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