In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes Jacob Hicks, a sales coach with an eclectic background in various industries, including retail, real estate, and optical sales. Jacob shares his insights on the evolution of sales and the importance of systems, follow-up, and understanding of your ideal client profile.
David and Jacob explore Jacob’s journey from selling suits to coaching salespeople, touching on the principles that drive success in sales across industries. The conversation delves into effective sales strategies, the importance of follow-up, and how mindset plays a crucial role in achieving sales success.
Jacob discusses his sales experience, starting from selling suits in retail to his work in real estate and the optical industry. He shares the unique lessons he’s learned along the way, including his entrepreneurial beginnings selling Osage Oranges and potholders door-to-door.
Both David and Jacob agree that follow-up is one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects of sales. Jacob emphasizes the importance of having a solid system in place for follow-up, whether automated or personalized, to stay in front of prospects and clients consistently.
Jacob recalls a pivotal moment in his career when a mentor told him that the insurance industry was full of “C players.” This insight pushed him to elevate his own standards and always compete against top-tier professionals. He encourages listeners to focus on creating a system for success and sticking to it.
Jacob and David dive into the concept of an ideal client profile. Jacob talks about how focusing on the right clients can prevent wasted time and energy on deals that are unlikely to succeed. He stresses that saying “no” to distractions and focusing on high-quality prospects is a game-changer.
The duo explores the role of self-belief in sales. Jacob shares how overcoming limiting beliefs can significantly increase one’s potential in sales, with a special focus on setting higher goals and pushing past comfort zones to achieve greater success.
Jacob discusses how investing in personal growth, whether through coaching, training, or networking, has played a significant role in his success. He encourages listeners to prioritize their own development to reap higher returns and better performance.
Jacob reflects on his transition from inside sales (selling suits) to outside sales (in the optical industry), highlighting the key differences and skills that apply across both settings, including the importance of showing up, asking the right questions, and building rapport.
The last several years have reshaped the landscape of property insurance across the country. While most national carriers have retreated from coastal states, wildfire zones, and other catastrophe-exposed regions, a handful of disciplined players have taken the opposite path—leaning into difficult markets with a strategic, data-driven approach.
For most entrepreneurs, the decision to start a business is rooted in the promise of freedom. Freedom from a boss, freedom to control income, and freedom to build something meaningful. Yet for many business owners, particularly in service-based industries and middle-market companies, that freedom slowly erodes. What begins as ownership eventually turns into obligation, where the business demands constant attention and the owner becomes the single point of failure.
The insurance industry is full of shortcuts. Some producers look for ways to streamline the quoting process, others avoid hard conversations with clients, and many rely on endorsements or extensions because they are “easier” than diving into the details. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in the world of cyber insurance.
Too many agents assume that a cyber endorsement on a BOP or commercial package policy is “good enough.” It isn’t. In fact, treating a BOP cyber extension as a replacement for a standalone cyber policy leaves clients dangerously exposed, puts producers at risk of losing accounts, and opens the door to costly errors and omissions (E&O) claims.
Cyber threats evolve faster than any other area of risk, and endorsements simply can’t keep up. If producers want to protect their clients and themselves, it’s time to understand why standalone cyber insurance is non-negotiable.
In the middle market, producers don’t lose because the competition has better pricing.
They lose because the competition understands people better—their motivations, their fears, their priorities, and what makes them say yes.
The cyber insurance market has softened in recent years. Requirements that were once rigid — like mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools — have been relaxed by many carriers. But here’s the danger: just because carriers aren’t demanding these safeguards today doesn’t mean businesses can afford to ignore them.
The insurance industry is entering one of the most transformative seasons in its history. For decades, our world has been shaped by carriers, underwriting cycles, prospecting methods, and the grit of producers willing to outwork their competition. But today, a new force is reshaping the landscape—and most producers, agency leaders, and industry professionals aren’t ready for it.
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