Hi I’m Janice.
I’m now doing something I’ve never done before, even in these days of technology, blogs and twitters, it seems like everybody’s at it but me. I’ve managed to survive without ever writing a blog. This week, I’ve decided to get in on the act so I’m writing a guest blog for John.
When I was thinking about what to write about I thought I’d do a bit of commentary about what’s going on in the world, isn’t that what people normally do in blogs, then I had a good look through the papers and decided it’s all too depressing, you don’t need me adding to your woes, anyway I’m an optimist so I have to look on the bright side.
So then I thought, as John’s on hols, what better opportunity to talk about him behind his back.
I work for and with John, we work hand in glove every day. Those of you who know him, or have been following his blog will have guessed that my life is never dull…
“Nutty as a fruit bat”?
“One of a kind”?
“A unique character?”
All of the above?
When I tell people I work for John I see a mixture of admiration and dare I say it… pity!
Some days I feel like I deserve both.
But if you were me, looking after relationships with 3000 brokers, 200 partners, in a recession, when you can expect the unexpected, and all at a time of the biggest insurance services rebrand ever in the UK, you like me would know there is no one you would rather work for and with.
On the days when meetings are tough, numbers are hard and challenges are relentless he can pick you up with a few words.
When nasty articles appear in the press, when they don’t really say it but you know they mean you, we rise above it together.
And when your most recent survey tells you that the majority of your brokers now feel positive about us becoming Aviva, we high five together! (we don’t really high five, it’s not really us, well only when nobody is watching)
Igal’s on holiday too this week, on Monday it felt like I was doing everybody’s job but that’s another story. Now Igal is another person very few people don’t have an opinion on. And you guessed it, there is never a dull moment.
But you see the one thing I love about being me is that life is never dull. I work with people who are passionate, and committed. I work with people I can laugh with and cry with, and we often do. Above all I work with people, of all shapes and sizes with one thing in common, they genuinely, unfailingly and passionately care.
One question that seems to be doing the rounds at the minute is do we, soon to be Aviva, in all our new brand glory that’s on it’s way, all of a sudden, do we really now only love small brokers and not love the big brokers anymore? Not so long ago it would have been the opposite we only love the big broker, not the small guys
I suppose for me the answer is simple. I love them all. The very first thing I learned in this business was “it’s a relationship business”. Brokers are individuals and they come in all shapes and sizes, with different things they want from different relationships.
Some want and are in a “club of one”, unique, big, individual, special.
Some want and are in big clubs or networks, because that’s what they want to be, unique, small, medium or big but still individual. It’s my job to look after all of them, big, small and in the middle.
That’s another thing I love about being me is that I get to work with brokers, who are people, of all shapes and sizes, who I talk to and listen to and learn from everyday.
At the end of the day we’re all people, individuals, with different needs, wants, emotions and challenges, and a universal desire to be recognised for who we are, as individuals. John, Igal and I, we’re just people.
- Janice Deakin is Corporate Sales Director of Norwich Union –
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