Young, Ethical, and Uncompromising: My Story at 16
My Ethical Stand in the Insurance World at 16
In the last edition of this newsletter, I told of my very early-age e-commerce “achievements”:
Now, one of those landmarks gave me a regular wage, something I had aimed for the minute I clicked out of the educational system I had lost interest in, however…
I wanted MORE!
In wanting to have more disposable income I sought out a side hustle as such, a part-time position with an insurance broker whose office was but a small journey from my somewhat diminutive rental.
At 16 years old, everything is an adventure, don’t you think? (Actually even at my more mature age I still find and like adventures lol).
I had seen a small ad in the local evening paper asking for someone to cover a few hours, two or three times a week in the evenings. My job was pretty much 9 to 5 so I knew that would fit…
It was time to go and push my nose through the door and see what the owner thought.
The guy behind the desk looked around his late fifties, to early sixties. Balding with very dense multi-lens glasses on. Shirt and tie, braces (the trouser holding up type for my friends reading over the pond haha) and a cheerful demeanour.
I told him I had seen the advert, what I was currently doing for employment, and where I lived with respect to the accessibility of my helping him with a few hours.
We chatted for some time and he outlined the duties, basically visiting existing insurance customers in the evenings, collecting payments and offering them advice should they require it. Sounded like something I could get my head around…and he offered me the position there and then!
As a parting shot, he mentioned he had some issues with his sight at that time and that that meant he couldn’t do the calls himself.
And so, my additional “career” in the insurance world commenced.
Obviously, to start with, it was unusual for me to go to people’s homes and basically ask them to stump up some dosh (translation: give me their money), but I soon got the hang of it.
After a month or so, the customers got to know me and I them. Back then people used to ask you in for a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit and perhaps some of that was them caring about this sixteen-year-old wandering the streets collecting money.
Anyway, one evening I dropped by the office from my list of visits and the owner asked if he could have a word before I went out.
He told me he needed me to start upselling the products people already had, to entice them with the latest and “greatest” policies to upscale the income to the business. He handed me several worksheets that covered the policy details, costings etc., and told me to read them over the next few days and then start a selling campaign.
So, off I went with this new task in mind and began my visits. In between each of these visits, I would look at the potential upsell in the paperwork I had and the costings to the customer.
Within a few days, remembering I had started to know the customers and their financial and living situations. I became quite uncomfortable with the idea as almost all of the customers I visited were already financially stretched. Also, I noted that whilst the upsell sounded like it was offering something you couldn’t do without, the policies the customers already had covered them more than they needed (perhaps the boss had already screwed them down and enhanced their payments a few years ago).
To be honest, the months rolled on and whilst I did talk to people about new policies and upgrades, I got the answers I expected from them.
One evening, I think I had been working the insurance gig for about 9 months by then, I made my usual first visit to the office to pick up my list.
Again the boss wanted a word…I immediately thought this would be about my lack of upsells…but no…
He told me he had had some further tests on his eyes and the news was not good, he was going to lose his eyesight completely within around six to nine months. And, due to my excellent performance, he wanted me to pretty much take over the helm! he wanted me to get fully involved in all of the workings of the business and eventually have the business and use him purely as a paid advisor.
So, recap, 16 years old, possibly heading closer to 17 years old by then, being offered what may be a full-time business, clearly lucrative and in a sustainable industry.
Thoughts?
I turned him down.
As I said, I knew the customers, I knew their situations and that for the business it would always be about selling something that was potentially unnecessary and would hit their pocket too hard.
Reflecting on that moment, I realized that integrity in business is non-negotiable. It was tempting to take on a lucrative role at such a young age, but I couldn't betray my principles. Turning down the offer wasn't just about the unethical practice of upselling unnecessary options to customers who couldn't afford them; it was about staying true to a code of honesty and respect. This experience taught me that true success isn't just measured by profits but by the values we uphold and the trust we build with others.
Until Next Time
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