Speaker 1: 0:31

I am Christine Engels and it's Christine Engels Insurance Agency. It's an all-state agency. I've been running it for 12 years so it's mostly personal insurance. So home insurance, car insurance, condo insurance, all that kind of stuff, everything that takes care of and protects families yeah, and belongings and all that good stuff, exactly, thank you.

Speaker 2: 0:51

I would like to ask how you dipped your feet into this industry and how you got started and you even met Mayhem. But we'll get into that a little bit later. I did meet Mayhem.

Speaker 1: 1:00

Yeah, that was really fun. So, yeah, I got into this business totally random. So that's the honest truth. It was really my insurance agent. It was like, oh, this is our insurance agency for sale. And I looked into it and decided this was 12 years ago, in 2012. I have two kids who are 21 and 24. I was a software developer, then I was an at-home mom and then, coming back into the world, instead of going software development, I bought my own business and been running with that and it's been great.

Speaker 2: 1:28

Amazing. I love that. And then what have been some of the challenges for you when you transition, when you go into a new role, maybe changing positions or finding employees Like how does that all work as a business?

Speaker 1: 1:39

owner? Sure, yeah, it's a lot. There's change. I mean, the only thing they always say you can count on is change, and there's been so many changes. And have you know? We've been doing this for 12 years. I had a small agency. We grow every year. We have more and more customers, customers. So instead of having one or two employees, I now have 12 employees, and so the expectations of how we're going to grow every year and have more clients and get bigger and better and do all of that keep increasing. So I have to be able to roll with that and figure out how are we going to introduce ourselves to new clients, how are people going to start considering us, and then how to get the right people on the team. So it's been a lot.

Speaker 2: 2:19

Amazing. And then the type of services that you have. Can you go into detail a little bit about why people should get them or why they are getting them? And maybe there's trends. You're like, okay, wow, everybody's really getting car insurance right now or home renter's insurance. What's going on? Oh, I see, Talk to me about the trends and all that Sure.

Speaker 1: 2:36

So obviously everyone needs car insurance who has a car, everyone needs home insurance who has a home. So really we tend to find a lot of people and help a lot of people who are buying new homes. A lot of our business comes from referrals from realtors. Mortgage lenders are like hey, can you take care of our clients? So we are trying to be super responsive and on top of things so people trust us with their clients.

Speaker 1: 2:59

So we start off generally looking at we're looking at your home, we're looking at the car. But we want to make sure a lot of people are looking at some things that they might not think about, like extended liability coverage. It's called like a personal umbrella policy or a PUP. So we'll find like a lot of people don't realize that, oh, they're like I have insurance or, yeah, it's all good, but then they might get sued for hitting someone. Right, and let's say you have state minimum coverage $30,000. And you hit someone and there's medical bills and that's $500,000. That bill for the difference comes to you and you might have to be responsible for that.

Speaker 1: 3:38

So, we do a lot of education and talking to people about making sure that their liability limits are correct for them, so that if you do get sued, there are things that you have the protection you need, yes. So right Now you're like oh my gosh, why do I have an umbrella ball?

Speaker 2: 3:53

That's what I'm thinking Wait, am I protected in that sense?

Speaker 1: 3:56

Yeah, and then life insurance, I think, is also really important. So you have to have the basics. But a lot of people say, oh yeah, I have it with work, but they might not have life insurance enough to cover their home to replace their income. So we just like to find out a lot of people about what their needs are so we can take care of them properly. That's what's happening.

Speaker 2: 4:18

No, absolutely, I love that. Have the people's best interest in educating them. Yeah, that leads me to my next question with marketing. Like, how are you getting the word out there? Because maybe some people aren't aware of this stuff and I feel like you could offer a lot of insight out there and be like hey guys, have you ever gotten into an accident before and someone sued you? Well, fear not, I'm here to tell you the top three things. I feel like you would be so good for that. Oh, thank you, that's super cool.

Speaker 1: 4:40

Yeah, I mean I do a lot of meeting with people, so we do a lot of networking. So, like, a biggest portion of people finding us is through referrals. So people saying, hey, you should work with Christine and her team. They're fantastic. Like literally this morning I had three or four emails that were saying you should work with Christine. I have my insurance with her. You should use her too. Look at that.

Speaker 1: 4:59

That's fantastic, and so our biggest thing is just being super responsive and making sure I get back to people right away so they know we got you. Also, I do a lot. A lot of people find us online. So if you look up Christine Engel's insurance agency online, then we show up really well because we have like over 400 positive five-star Google reviews Beautiful. So, as long as we show up well online, so either people who don't know us can find us and then, if not, you know, hopefully a friend will tell you yeah, exactly Right.

Speaker 2: 5:31

No, I think that is great and just keep upping it. I think your social media stuff would be great, like all insight you have so people can be like I did not know that, she's funny, let me follow her right you never know, but I do need to do like more, like actually educational videos.

Speaker 1: 5:44

So that's on the plan for the year, like what we just talked about having a little snippet on umbrella, on life insurance, on home insurance.

Speaker 2: 5:51

So that's, that's coming right, yeah, I love it. I'm excited for you. Then, yeah, love it. And now talk to me about meeting Mayhem. Like hello, you met the face of Allstate in the commercials.

Speaker 1: 5:59

Super fun.

Speaker 2: 6:00

How did that happen? Why did that happen? Where were you? Where was he? What, yeah?

Speaker 1: 6:04

I know. So the current Mayhem that's happening forgot it today. So that's the problem. But that's Mayhem and we can accept it, we can move on. But the funny thing was he came to one of our all-state conferences. So we have an annual conference. I'm on an all-state executive council, so there's 10 agents out of 6,000 agents in the country where we committee. I'm on that and they were like hey guys, come on, you can come meet Mayhem. And I was like, okay, so we're waiting in line for Mayhem. So the funny story was I'm like if I meet Mayhem I can't just smile and do a nice little picture. I said I've got to do something fun. So I brought my tambourine, I started dancing I wish there was video of that, by the way. Yeah, I do too and I walked up and I said will you dip me? And then he instantly went whoosh. So it's slightly you know.

Speaker 2: 6:57

He won't forget you. Yeah, it was fun. That is so cool. Did he say anything? Was he nice? Was he like the commercial? What was that?

Speaker 1: 7:02

He was really fun. So then our group. I said let's take a group picture. I said we also have to do something fun, so I said what do him? Across this way and we had a picture of like dropping him, you know. So it was super cute.

Speaker 2: 7:15

That's awesome. Thank you for sharing that. That's really cool. It was fun, beautiful story and I know you said you have like your team and I think you've got like some new people on board. Talk to me about what type of people you want to have around you and in your team and what type of experience you want people to have when they work with you and your team.

Speaker 1: 7:38

Memphis is an insult and she said you're like work, work, work and then get up and dance like you're at Margarit. And I said, yes, that's exactly who I am and that's exactly who I want my team to be. So I have a great team right now, but really I want you to work hard and then we can have some fun together. So, on our service team the people who take care of our current customers I hired, luckily, a bunch of people who have a lot of experience Beautiful, and so that's great. So I have some people who are newer and they're getting trained and we're bringing them up, and some people who've been with Allstate Insurance for 10 years or seven years yeah, and that's great. I have people who work with new customers, like prospects. Really, I think that's more about being organized and having personality Absolutely prospects. Really, I think that's more about being organized and having personality, because I think and you know anyone who's watching this I am hiring for my sales team. So like, feel free, if that fits, you Give me a call, yeah love it.

Speaker 2: 8:32

And now just my other question, because I want to know, like based on like the culture and your team that you have, what kind of experience you want or do you hope that people get when they work with you guys.

Speaker 1: 8:43

Yeah, that's good. I think that the idea is that we're like super professional. I want people to really and be proactive. You know we want to look at our customers. What kind of help might they need? We want to call them, offer them insurance reviews. So I want people to feel, I think, that they work for us, for me. They know that we're award winning, we're going to succeed. So the idea is you're always going to do your best. You're gonna learn a lot about insurance, because we want to be able to pass it on to our customers. Otherwise, what are we offering? So I think it's experience, like knowledge and how to work with people well and being organized. That's the thing.

Speaker 2: 9:19

I love it. Thank you, and where do you see yourself in the next five years as a person and with your business?

Speaker 1: 9:25

Good question. So really, with Allstate, you know this is going to be my retirement gig. I'm not moving on to some other kind of situation after this. I own my own business. I will do this until I retire, but I want to keep building it and getting bigger and bigger and bigger. So I have a certain like level. Like this is the number of customers I want to have before you know.

Speaker 2: 9:48

I the end of this time, my sale out, you know.

Speaker 1: 9:50

Yeah, but so that's the plan. So I think over five years five years from now I'd love to have a little bit more management in my team. Yeah, so that I can have a smoother, maybe transition to like working a little bit less five years from now.

Speaker 2: 10:04

I love it, and I'm glad that you put thought to it too, because sometimes I like to, not that I say that, I like to catch people off guard, but I'm like, hmm, let me see what you got to say here.

Speaker 1: 10:12

So I like that you We'll see. That's the plan we try.

Speaker 2: 10:15

Yes, and then when you're not working.

Speaker 1: 10:25

What do you like to do, like in your me time to like refresh and just get things that like light your soul on fire? You know what I'm saying? Yeah, so I know. Yeah, so I'm definitely into being. I love being outside and I love being active. So those are the two things like I have to be outside and I have to be active pretty much every day. So I love yoga, I love to run, I dabble and pick a ball a little bit I wouldn't say I'm good, but I have some fun with that and dancing, you know. So all those things Walking the dog.

Speaker 2: 10:48

As long as I'm doing all that, I'm good to go, keep yourself good and a mental state and be happy, because you also need to be at your best when you're at work. So don't overburden yourself.

Speaker 1: 10:58

Agree, I definitely need a ref In the middle of the day. I might even go for a run. I like to do middle of the day workouts or middle of the day outside to like reboot Right and start fresh.

Speaker 2: 11:07

That's me, but with a nap. But I want to change that into running and doing something you know, but I love that. Yeah, I'm sure there's many, but I like to hear everybody's individual struggles that they've had, whether it's maybe with hiring or finding a new space or like staying on top of everything. What have been some challenges that you could share with us on how you've worked or pivoted or got around them?

Speaker 1: 11:35

Yeah, no, and of course, like I'm being all cheery, but there are times when I think the worst thing is when you feel like super overworked, there are times when I don't have enough staff, and then all of a sudden you realize you're working like all the time, yeah, and there's too many things I realized if I'm feeling crazy it's because I don't have enough people on my team yeah, so that's when it's a realization that I need to hire or reorg and then get people to help me, because you shouldn't feel crazy all the time no you should not.

Speaker 1: 12:04

You know you might have days or moments like that, but if it's every day like that, you know you have to. You know hire, and that's hard. It is hard to find people that fit what you need. But I think that's the hardest is when I felt like super overworked, and there are times that you've got to fix that.

Speaker 2: 12:22

Yeah, I can relate to that too, where I'm just like I feel crazy every day, like I am overwhelmed with this, like I need to step back and be like okay, you don't have to do everything, like you can get help. You can let people say like hey, let me take this from you. It's totally okay, Since sometimes we just have to allow ourselves or be like okay, I need to hire.

Speaker 1: 12:43

That I can trust other people to do. Yes, either a service Like maybe it's not even just like people on your team, but maybe you hire an accountant or get somebody else to do your bookkeeping or something, so that you're not crazy. Exactly, that's not fun.

Speaker 2: 12:54

Or you have time to be crazy on another thing and not this one.

Speaker 1: 12:56

Right, right, because I'm always crazy, I'm like okay, I'm not crazy here, but I'm crazy getting real about that, and it's not always rainbows and butterflies.

Speaker 2: 13:06

People think like, oh my God, you're an entrepreneur, Like, yay, you get to make your own hours. And like, well, yes, but it's not just 9 to 5. It's kind of 24 hours a day and like when something comes up, you kind of got to be there, exactly, yeah, and everyone looks to you for the answers. You're just like oh my God, what do I look to for the answers? I know.

Speaker 1: 13:24

Sometimes you're like oh, so, like today, if I'm out and it's super fun, I love being out, I love meeting people, but then you go back and you're like oh my gosh. Look at all the number of emails I have. I have to get back to those.

Speaker 2: 13:41

So you know it's all good. Well, I hope that you can get to that we both can do that and that you just keep growing and you meet all your endeavors. Like I'm putting it into the universe for you here, let's do it. Yeah, let's do it.

Speaker 1: 13:51

And I think also super important is to surround yourself with positive people.

Speaker 2: 13:56

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 13:57

And so I have a great group of Allstate agents around the country that we communicate all the time, support each other, share information, and that really helps me be successful and just you know, kind of makes those hard days okay.

Speaker 2: 14:11

Yeah, I'm sure and I'm happy that you have that community that you can rely on and like it gives you like an uplifting. Okay, you got through this, I can too. We got this.

Speaker 1: 14:19

Exactly.

Speaker 2: 14:21

Thank you. Is there anything, maybe that I have not touched on whether it's about yourself, your business, life in general that you would like to share? Maybe you have a new product coming in, or maybe something you're writing a book, I don't know.

Speaker 1: 14:32

Now you're stumping me Lil.

Speaker 2: 14:34

Sorry, no, I'm only kidding. I'm just kidding, no it's okay, stop, yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:39

What is happening next? I think I don't know, even Really. For me, my next thing is just making sure that we are talking to all our customers and looking at them holistically. So I'm just working with our team to make sure you know, if I meet you, I'm not just selling you car insurance. I'm talking to you about what do you need? Who else is in your family? Do you have pets that need help? Do you have, you know, like so just looking at everyone, just reminding us to look at everyone holistically, give them advice like you would to a friend, and so that's you know. That's always the goal.

Speaker 1: 15:13

It's just looking at people like the whole picture.

Speaker 2: 15:17

Yeah, I love it. And now, speaking of like pets, you guys offer pet insurance. Talk to me about that, or?

Speaker 1: 15:22

not, I know, isn't that interesting. So yeah, so I mean generally I sell all state home insurance, condo insurance, all that stuff. But we do have partners that do special things like event insurance and pet insurance and health insurance and so well, not health insurance. I don't know why I said that. But yeah so, but yeah so. But we can partner, you know we partner with other insurance companies that do that kind of thing, so we can take in the whole picture pretty cool.

Speaker 2: 15:48

Don't forget about your feline, or? Yeah doggy friends exactly to the pets over there. But no, thank you, um. And then let's see. My final question is going to be. It's one that I like to ask everybody why am I thinking about it? I know what it is, um. Do you have a quote or a saying, maybe, that has stuck with you, or that someone told you and you're just like whoa, like you're right, or that you would like to share? Just spread that wisdom.

Speaker 1: 16:13

Oh see, this is a good interview question. I'm going to ask people that too, because that kind of brings a little vision to the soul here. That's right. Yeah, I don't even know. Well, you know, my little tagline is shake it with Christine, so that's like my whole tambourine, Literally your tambourine, literally shake it.

Speaker 1: 16:29

You know what I mean. So I think really shake it up like dance, like do something fun. People say to me well, where do you find dance? I'm like you can dance anywhere. So just I do believe in just making sure you're giving yourself moments of joy. So it's not a quote, but it is kind of.

Speaker 2: 16:47

No, I love it.

Speaker 1: 16:48

That's my thing. You can shake it Like shake it off.

Speaker 2: 16:50

Later you shake your booty.

Speaker 1: 16:51

Shake it off, shake it Whatever you want. Shake it up.

Speaker 2: 16:54

Shake it. You know all the things. If you're going crazy, like shake your head too, in craziness Like just shake it.

Speaker 1: 17:02

No, and it's different.

Speaker 2: 17:03

So sometimes it's like not because I'm going to look pointed if I say that. So I'm not. But everybody says awesome things, but I like that shake it is different, like just shake it.

Speaker 1: 17:14

Shake it with Christine, y'all.

Speaker 2: 17:23

So if you're looking for car insurance, pet insurance, home insurance home renter's insurance hit up Christine and her team. She's going to take care of you guys and look out for you and probably she'll tell you about, like stuff that you don't even know or we didn't talk about, like umbrellas type of stuff. You'll learn so much things that maybe you didn't even know you needed and you need to be prepared for the future.

Speaker 1: 17:35

Exactly, yeah, no, we're happy to help.

Speaker 2: 17:37

Yeah, thank you so much for being on.