Local El Paso Heroes

As the race for mayor heats up, another person has thrown their hat in the ring:  The bagel man, Robert Cormell has decided that he's got what it takes to take the reigns.  You can read about him here: http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/article_96fb6a2a-4226-11e2-bb45-0019bb30f31a.html

I'm thrilled that we now have a bonafide businessman that wants the title.  El Paso needs people who have skin in the game, and are directly tied to the reckless decisions that council makes.  I encourage you to read up on Mr. Cormell, and throw your support behind the person you feel fits best.   And vote!! 

Stay protected my friends!

El Paso

For the last 2 Sundays, I've been smoking a cigar at the plaza downtown.  Our plaza is a work of art.  The alligator sculpture, the benches, trees, people.....everything down there contributes to the plaza's beauty and uniqueness in some form or fashion.  There's a noticeable electricity in the air; a subtle feeling of excitement.  As much as I quietly opposed how the funding of the bonds and stadium were decided by a group of folks and not the community, I'm glad that they are coming.  It truly is El Paso's time to shine.  It's our time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  It's our time to EXPECT MORE. 

I've lived in Dallas and Austin, and spent a lot of time all over, but El Paso is my favorite city.  We have the friendliest community, safest community, and best food in Texas.  This is a city where you can be a "big fish" at a relatively young age.  This is a city that can prepare you for success in any other city.  I came back to it.  A lot of my peers came back.  It's like that "old reliable" that you can always count on.....ever constant, never changing. 

I sincerely believe that El Paso won't be the same in 5 years.  I believe that we've only just begun to shine.  I believe that El Paso is fed up with its cronyism and corruption, and will be purging itself of these folks. 

If you'd like to discuss any of this, grab a Churchill from Tobacco Tin and join me this Sunday at the Plaza.  Stay protected my friends!

5 tips are better than 1

It took everything I had to keep it clean here.....So, have a great day and enjoy the TIPS!

Top 5 Commercial Insurance Tips

 

Commercial insurance is insurance designed for your business. There are four main categories of coverage which include property insurance, general liability insurance, commercial automobile insurance, and umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance is additional liability-type insurance coverage in case a claim exceeds your liability insurance limits.

1. Shop and Evaluate Value
Just because you have always been able to get a great deal on your private auto or homeowner insurance policy from your neighbor doesn’t mean that particular insurer will be the best choice for your commercial coverage. Evaluate policy prices, but be sure your decision is based on value and price versus just price.

2. Do Your Homework
Commercial insurance is not one size fits all. Your insurance coverage requirements will depend on many variables. You should work 1 on 1 with your agent to tailor your policy for your needs. Let’s work together and do some homework before we enter into a business agreement. Ask yourself these questions.

• Do you own your own property?
• Do you have customers who come to your work site?
• How many employees do you have?
• Do you have vehicles to cover?
• How many vehicles are over the road?
• What is the total number of autos you use?
• What are these vehicles used for?
• What kind of inventory do you have to carry?
• Is there any special equipment you have to maintain?

Knowing what kind of coverage you need can help you keep the costs down on the policy you choose. Only obtain coverage that fits your business and industry. It’s the work you do to prepare that prevents unnecessary insurance or attaining a policy that doesn’t cover one of your major needs or risks.

3. Conduct a Risk Assessment Before You Shop
 Determine if changes can be made to lower your risks. Your work in this area alone may get you a lower premium because the insurer will see your efforts and your attention to the little things.

4. Get Credit For Having Great Credit
People with the best credit are proven to be lower risks which in turn provide the lowest premiums. The better your commercial credit, the lower your commercial insurance rates can be.
Pay your bills on time and monitor your total debt load that you carry.

5. Don’t Over Insure
Don’t pay for insurance when you don’t need it. If you are in a seasonal business, shop for a policy that will allow seasonal adjustments or coverage. Why spend money insuring your business in the off season when you can use the savings to invest in business growth. Most insurance carriers will not allow seasonal policies, but it can’t hurt to look.

So, call us today to discuss your insurance needs!  Nothing to lose, and everything to gain.  Stay protected my friends.

Keep your money local, loco!

I find it dumbfounding that business owners would knowingly do business with out of town insurance brokers!  With all the acquisitions taking place, El Pasoans are having a tougher time finding a local broker to do business with.  The 2 largest firms in town have been acquired by Wells Fargo and HUB, which leaves their clients having to deal with 800 numbers and administrators in another city. 

Enough about those guys: let's talk about my firm.  We most recently insured a Minnesotan who owns a shopping center in Georgia!  Business and property owners from all over the US call us for our service, speedy quotes, and commitment to getting the job done right.  Not to mention, we insure hundreds of strip centers, commercial properties, and businesses all in the sun city. 

The next time you renew or want to get a commercial policy, KEEP IT LOCAL, LOCO.    You'll get ME, not some 800 number on the east coast.   Stay protected my friends.

Mi Compa, Sir Winston Churchill

From his signature Churchill cigar, to his quick and clever quotes, I have a profound admiration for him.  In fact, I find inspiration in reading about him and his steadfast beliefs in capitalism, love of country, and love of life.   Here are some of my favorite quotes:

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

There is no such thing as a good tax.
 
Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot, others as a cow to be milked, but few are those who see it as a sturdy horse pulling the wagon.  

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.  

We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile—hoping it will eat him last.

 The problems of victory are more agreeable than the problems of defeat, but they are no less difficult.

From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I shall not put.

A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.

Bessie Braddock: “Sir, you are drunk.”
Churchill: “Madam, you are ugly. In the morning, I shall be sober.”

Nancy Astor: “Sir, if you were my husband, I would give you poison.”
Churchill: “If I were your husband I would take it.”

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened.

If you are going to go through hell, keep going.

It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.

You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.

If you have ten thousand regulations, you destroy all respect for the law.

You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else.

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.

I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.

Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.

Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.  

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.  

The whole history of the world is summed up in the fact that, when nations are strong, they are not always just, and when they wish to be just, they are no longer strong.

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.

-“The Sinews of Peace” speech, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, March 5, 1945

If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.

Those who can win a war well can rarely make a good peace and those who could make a good peace would never have won the war.

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others.

The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

You ask, What is our policy? I will say; “It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.” You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory—victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.  We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fall, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, “
This was their finest hour!”    

I know, I know.  That was a lot of Churchill to digest.  But if you think about the man's brilliance, it was quite astounding.  If he were around today, what would he think of our current situation and president?  Our voters?  Our society?  One can only imagine....

 

Alas, one can  only press forward with the hopes of a brighter tomorrow.  We are the masters of our fate, and the captains of our souls.  Stay protected my friends.

My GL is enough, RIGHT?? WRONG!!!

The difference between general liability and professional liability

One of the most misunderstood insurance products for many business and professionals is professional liability. More often than not when reviewing a potential new client I find the lack of professional liability and the false thinking that the general liability coverage they do have covers them adequately. This may be true for some businesses, but for some, like consultants and advisors, general liability does nothing to protect you from liability related to your professional expertise.

For some, general liability is thought to be the catchall for liability exposure and for others professional liability is thought to be 'over kill' and unnecessary. As long as they have general liability coverage they think they're covered. Doctors, lawyers and board directors can attest to the necessity of professional liability, but for those who aren't as exposed to liability associated to their profession as these examples it's hard (unless you have a good resource like your independent agent) to know when it's necessary to carry general and/or professional liability coverage.

General Liability

First, let's start with General Liability. Pretty much every business should have general liability insurance because it will protect your business from a bodily injury, property damage, personal injury or advertising injury claim. It will kick in and protect your company, up to the limits you carry, from financial loss resulting from your, assuming unforeseen, negligence.

Okay, so what does that exactly mean? Let's say you're a toy manufacturer and the paint used for your toys contains a chemical that's causing kids who ingest the paint to get sick. Before you know it lawsuits start rolling in. The cost to defend your company and any possible pay outs, if found negligent, would, in most cases, be covered by a general liability policy.

Excess Liability - When Your Liability Limits Aren't Enough

However, a couple things to keep in mind. First, the liability is only good to the limit that you're covered. In most cases, a business will buy general liability coverage for 1 to 2 million (which is usually the limit on a standard policy) and then seek additional liability coverage in what's called an 'excess liability' or 'commercial umbrella' policy. An excess liability policy can extend the coverage as high as any insurance company is willing to go. The usual coverage on an excess liability or umbrella policy is between 5 and 10 million, but in certain cases can be bought at much higher levels.

Professional Liability

Now that we have an understanding of what general liability covers, let's talk about Professional Liability. Whether called Professional Liability, Malpractice Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, or Error's and Emissions Liability they all relatively provide the same coverage- give or take a few slight differences. Some profession, like the medical field get their own label for professional liability (medical malpractice), but in the end they all do the same thing- provide liability coverage from negligence, misrepresentation, violation of good faith and fair dealing, and inaccurate advice as a professional.

As a professional you're hired for your expertise of a certain field and clients depend on your particular knowledge and based on that knowledge. Unfortunately, sometimes advise or guidance you provide as a professional in your field could result in a financial loss to your client. Loss could be an actual financial loss, or damage to a reputation resulting in an indirect financial loss. If it is found that your guidance was the result of your client's negligence then you could be held responsible. Professional Liability would, in this example, protect you from possible negligence on your part.

In addition, as a professional you are expected to perform the agreed services for which you were hired. Failing to do so could also cause you to be held responsible for any harm caused to another person or business. A general example of this is the recent Gulf oil spill. Contractors hired by BP to do certain tasks might not have followed normal procedures, or agreed procedures in contracts with BP. The result was devastating to those who died in the accident, the environment, local communities and in the end a financial disaster for BP. Because the procedures may not have been followed as agreed some of these contractors could very well be held liable for loses BP incurred. Professional Liability would give these contracted companies some protection from financial lose. Then again, this is a good example for general liability as well. Bodily injury to anyone would be covered under the general liability coverage- assuming the contractor had it.

Professional Liability - Do I need it?

It depends on your profession and what you're doing. If you consult, or provide expert advise and services to client who, in turn, provides a product or service to several, or hundreds of other individuals or businesses you could be at a higher risk of any one of your clients customers suing you. One thing to remember, at any time and for reasons that might not be related to you, a dissatisfied individual, either directly yours or as a third party through a client can choose to bring a complaint against you. As a general rule, claimants sue as many individuals as possible — that includes you and your business. And lawsuits can drag on for several years and until you end up being exonerated or found negligent you will have to pay for the legal expense until some resolution is made. So, think about how much could be out of your hands when it comes to your clients actions and the possibility of getting dragged into a lawsuit, whether or not your liable or not, that could financially cripple your business.

Claims Made vs. Per Occurrence

One last thing I want to point out in this article is the difference between 'Claims Made' and 'Per Occurrence' liability coverage. In order to protect yourself correctly and effectively you must understand the difference.

Claims Made

A Claims Made policy is pretty simple; it will only cover a loss during the time the policy is in effect. One key important factor I always remind my clients is once the policy expires, any claims that have not been reported during the policy term will not be covered. If for some reason you're planning on letting your liability coverage expire (i.e. switching companies for a better price) you have an opportunity to purchase extended reporting time endorsements to give yourself a little more time in case a claim comes in after the policy expires. However, the lesson here is really to NEVER have your policy expire, or more importantly avoid any gaps in coverage.

Per Occurrence

Where a claims made policy won't let you file a claim after the expiration date, a Per Occurrence or occurrence policy will let you report a claim today on a policy that expired days, months even years ago. Though more expensive and not as common as a Claims Made policy they do serve a very important purpose for certain trades and industries that need to protect themselves from any future claims that may occur from something they did in the past. Then again, as long as maintain liability coverage you shouldn't need this type of coverage.

In then end, when shopping for liability insurance for you or your business it's vital to ask the right questions. A good insurance agent will ask those questions and guide you in finding the right liability coverage.

As always, stay protected my friends! 

Roll those dice baby! Ginger gives good luck :)

What's your favorite gambling movie of all time?  How bout mobster movie?  Mine is definitely Casino.  If fact, it's quite possibly my favorite movie of all time.  But why is that?  Because it's about so much for than gambling.  It's about business, respect, gentlemen's code, and has copious amounts of monologues and narration that I absolutely love.  Plus, you see "Niki Santoro" (Joe Pesci) stab a guy with a ball point pen.  I've always wanted to do that!!!  (Just kidding)  Well, maybe just the guys who have written me hot checks......

So, after watching Casino for the thousanth time, I decided to write this blog.  WE INSURE CASINOS and the entire hospitality industry.  (Sorry, mob crime may not be covered)

We focus on providing superior quality hospitality insurance products and innovative risk-related solutions. We understand the unique requirements for insuring hotels & resorts with the specific public exposures associated with premises, food and beverage.

We also understand our clients need for competitively priced hospitality insurance solutions that include coverage for direct losses to property, stock, lost income, and the timely replacement of assets.

We addresses the specific liability issues of the hospitality industry through a variety of programs specifically designed to provide protection against third party claims resulting from clients products or service. Additionally, we supports our clients needs in non-insurable areas such as risk management as it relates to loss prevention and safety.

As an employee owned, independent insurance brokerage, we are not tied to a single provider. Over the years, we access a group of highly respected, financially stable commercial insurance underwriters to offer our valued customers the best coverage at the lowest rates possible.

We also understand that our work isn't done once we write your policy. In fact, it’s just begun! We keep our finger on the pulse of the insurance industry and notify our clients of changes that could affect their coverage. In many cases, those changes create new opportunities for increasing their coverage without raising their premium costs.

Ergo, think of us when your casino comes up for renewal.  Joe Pesci said so!  And as always, stay protected my friends. 

5 frequently asked questions about biz insurance

Here are answers to five of the most frequently asked questions about business insurance to help you choose the best coverage and policies for you and your enterprise.

1. What Is Business Insurance?

The term "business insurance" encompasses all the different types of coverage available to protect business owners from losses. Through business insurance, you can cover your property and business vehicles, insure against legal claims against the business such as liability or workers' compensation, and also provide health insurance for your employees, among other things.

2. Why Do I Need Business Insurance?

Even if you don't think your business has enough assets to be sued, or if you believe because your business in incorporated, you're shielded from personal liability through the so-called "corporate veil," you still need business insurance. Why?

Because absolutely anyone can be sued, judgments can be collected through wage garnishments and bank account seizures, and even corporate veils can be pierced under certain circumstances; indeed, the smaller your business is, the more likely that you can be held personally liable for debts through your personal assets.

Your business needs business insurance because of the many risks and potential threats to its successful and continued operation; good, tailored business insurance policies can help protect you and your venture as much as possible.

3. What Types of Business Insurance Are Available?

The main types of business insurance you should consider include:

• Property and Casualty Insurance
  Property insurance covers the physical location of the business (even if it is rented or leased) and its contents from things like fire, theft, flood, and earthquakes—although read the terms carefully to make sure they include everything you need. Casualty insurance, on the other hand, covers the operation of the business, but the two are usually grouped together in policies.
  
• Commercial Auto Insurance
  Commercial auto insurance covers your business for loss or damage to vehicles used by your business and for damage to others caused by your business vehicles. Note that vehicles used for business are not covered under your personal auto insurance policy even if a vehicle is used for both business and personal purposes.
  
• Liability Insurance
  Liability insurance covers you in the event someone sues you for negligence, which can occur, for instance, if someone falls on your property.
  
• Product Liability Insurance
  Product liability insurance covers your business for damages caused by a product designed, supplied, or manufactured by your business.
  
• Business Interruption Insurance
  Business interruption insurance can make up for lost cash flow and profits incurred because of an event that has interrupted your normal business operations.
  
• Health Insurance
  Health insurance provides health coverage for you and your employees.
  
• Life and Disability Insurance
  Life and disability insurance covers your business in the event of the death or disability of key owners, partners, or employees.
  
• Workers' Compensation Insurance
  If you have employees, you must, by law, participate in workers' compensation programs; workers' compensation insurance covers employees if they are injured on the job.

4. Can I Get a Policy that Combines Different Types of Insurance?

Yes. A business owner's policy (BOP), often appropriate for small to medium-sized businesses, usually includes property, casualty, liability, and business interruption coverage; you're likely to pay less expensive premiums with a package deal instead of buying the policies separately.

Other choices are the home office policy, which combines homeowner's and business insurance, and a "business pursuits" endorsement to your homeowner's policy, which provides the least protection.

5. How Do I Buy Business Insurance?

In order to buy business insurance, you will go through an insurance professional, either a broker (usually for larger companies) or an agent—and you should choose carefully. Recommendations from your local chamber of commerce or other businesspeople you trust should certainly be welcome.

The best way for you to prepare to make an informed decision about choosing an insurance professional is to know exactly what your business does (and doesn't do) as well as its future direction; then find out a bit about the types of coverage you think might be helpful in your line of work before going and talking to your insurance professional.

Choose an insurance professional who is licensed and doesn't have a record of ethical or administrative discipline procedures, and make sure he or she understands your type of business and the risks it incurs. Then be ready to have an open and forthcoming dialogue about what you want insurance to cover.

And as always, stay protected my friends! 

I was thinking 'bout you and me

Man, I've seen so much happen in these last few weeks.  My biggest competitor was bought by a national conglomerate.  Folks have called me trying to get out of the business.  An insurance wholesaler friend of mine gave up a 6 figure income to chase his dream.   We lost our grandmother.  We also welcomed a new birth to the family.   It has definitely been a rollercoaster.

I was in a Neal Young kinda mood, and the song "You and Me" is on repeat in my head for some odd reason.  Don't know why.  It's a song laced with melancholy and a touch of happiness.   I think that's how a lot of people feel right now.  Times are tough, but they know they'll make it through.  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger and bigger. 

I'll leave you with this:  the struggle is a beautiful thing.  Embrace it, learn from it.  And reflect upon it when you make it. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO5lN2_D-PU

And as always, stay protected my friends.

Busted? Get your SR22 with us!

Hello my friends, we deal with this all the time so I thought I'd share some useful advice.  (Not that any of my friends have ever had license issues, of course)

The following was copied from http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/suspended-license.php#Obtain-a-Restricted-License

Obtain a Restricted License

When your license is suspended or revoked (for reasons other than medical issues or delinquent child support) you might be able to apply for an occupational license. It’s a special restricted license that allows you to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle in only three circumstances:

• For work

• For school

• For carrying out essential household duties

You can request one either from the county or district court in the county in which you reside (or to the court of original jurisdiction where you committed the offense that got your license suspended in the first place). You can find more info in the Texas Transportation Code Section 521.242, 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.7.

NOTE: If you are taking part in a special drug court program, you don’t need to file a petition. Your judge can grant you the occupational order.

1. Obtain certified copies of both the petition and the court order that grants the occupational license.
2. Obtain an SR-22 certificate of insurance; no other forms of proof of insurance will suffice. For insurance-related info, consult our Insurance Center. If necessary, you should be able to find a provider that suits your needs.
3. Be ready to pay an occupational license fee for a one-year license (or less). The DPS will issue up to a two-year license (max) as long as the court grants it.
4. Also be ready to pay a reinstatement fee if required for the following suspension programs:
   • Safety Responsibility
   • Driver Improvement
   • Administrative License Revocation (ALR)
5. Visit your nearest DPS office to submit the above paperwork and fees.

Don’t confuse the court order for your occupational license. You’ll have to follow through with the above steps to submit the court order and other required items to the Texas DPS. Only for 30 days from the day the judge signed the court order can you use it as a license until the state agency processes your occupational license.

Reinstate Your License

To reinstate your license, you might have to fulfill special requirements. It’s best to consult an attorney for specifics. Also, be aware that some situations could cause a change in your current insurance policy. Check our Insurance Center if you need to shop online for a lower insurance rate.

Generally, here is what you’ll need to do reinstate your driving privilege:

1. Have ready a check or money order to cover your fees (if applicable) made payable to TX DPS; don’t send cash.
2. Include your full name, date of birth and driver’s license number.
3. If fees are required, mail your reinstatement items and payment to:
   
   • Texas Department of Public Safety
   • Central Cash Receiving
   • P.O. Box 15999
   • Austin TX 78761-5999
4. If fees are NOT required, mail your reinstatement items to:
   • Texas Department of Public Safety
   • Driver Improvement and Compliance Bureau
   • P.O. Box 4087
   • Austin TX 78773-0001

Alcohol-Related Offenses

If you refused or failed a blood or breath test you could face suspension from driving for 90 days to two years. Before the DPS will reinstate your license, you must pay a reinstatement fee.

Those convicted of a DWI will face a suspension period ordered by the court for no more than two years. If you are younger than 21, your license will be automatically suspended for a year. To reinstate you must:

1. Pay a reinstatement fee.
2. Get and submit proof of insurance (form SR-22) to the DPS.
3. If the convicting court ordered you to complete a repeat offender’s DWI education program, forward the certificate of completion to the DPS before your suspension period expires.

NOTE: The state has removed the loophole that if you're charged with a major driving offense as a minor (such as DWI, you can no longer circumvent the penalties if you turn 21 before your court date.

Drug Offenses

Upon final conviction of a drug offense, your license will be automatically suspended for 180 days.

1. Pay a reinstatement fee.
2. Obtain and submit proof of insurance (form SR-22) to the DPS.
3. Forward to the DPS your certificate of completion for your required drug class.

Traffic Offenses

If you receive four or more violations in 12 months or seven or more in 24 months, it’s possible you’ll license will be suspended. For these habitual traffic violations you’ll have to pay a reinstatement fee.

If you get caught driving on a suspended or invalid license, you’ll have to pay a reinstatement fee and file proof of insurance (form SR-22).

If you violate a driver’s license restriction you’ll have to pay a reinstatement fee.

No Insurance

If your insurance has been cancelled or if you receive a second or subsequent ticket for no liability insurance you must pay a reinstatement fee and get proof of insurance (form SR-22) to submit to the DPS.

Ain't got no money vato

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, I'd be in Hawaii with my toes in the sand and not writing this blog! 

Here are 5 ways to lower your insurance premiums. 

1. Shop around.
Rates differ from carrier to carrier; therefore it makes sense to shop around. Obtain the names of insurance companies or agents who are experts in your kind of business. Call a few so that you could evaluate rates and get an understanding for the types of solutions they can offer.
It is as well crucial to choose a company that is financially steady. Examine the financial wellness of insurance companies with rating companies.

2. Pick a higher insurance deductible.
Insurance deductibles represent how much money you have to pay prior to your insurance coverage takes over. The greater the deductible, the less you may pay for the insurance coverage.

3. Purchase a bundle policy.
It can often be less expensive to get a bundle policy, say for example a Businessowners Insurance Policy, as opposed to individual insurance coverages. A bundle policy gives standard coverage and limits of liability which are suitable for standard small to medium sized businesses.

4. Always work with your insurance broker or agent.
Your insurance broker or agent can put forward crucial suggestions to help guard your business from unforeseen catastrophes. However, you have to keep him or her well informed about important improvements in your company. This includes important acquisitions, expansions or shifts in hiring, or the dynamics of your operations. Additionally, get your agent’s guidance with regards to catastrophe planning. Inquire about what you can do to both lessen risks such as fire or work related incidents, as well as the methods that ought to be in place in an event your business does experience a huge disaster.

Obtaining the proper insurance coverage and a well-planned disaster plan can help you save money in the long term. It might even save your business from sinking.

5. Inquire about strategies to avoid losses.
You might be able to lower your premium for particular coverages by following your insurer’s tips. These may consist of work environment safety, disaster planning, and human resource involvement.

Have a great day my friends, and stay protected!! 

SSSSSHECK IT OUT all my friends in Real Estate

If you've never seen comedian Angel Salazar, you need to.  He's also known as Chi Chi from the movie Scarface.  Funny guy.  Great show.  One of his famous catch phrases is "Sheck it out".  (Check it out)

As I was thinking about things to write about this morning, that phrase popped in to my head when I stumbled upon http://postyourpropertieshere.com/.  It's like Loopnet, but FREE!  If you're in involved in real estate in any aspect, you need to sheck it out!

As always, stay protected my friends!!!

Healthcare and the great debate

In case you didn't know, health insurance will become mandatory under the current administration in 2014.  Here's a link to read a little about it:

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2012/09/24/264067.htm

And if you thought that you were going to get a free lunch, think again.   As always, stay protected my friends and visit my website to quote your own health policy.  www.abeinsureselpaso.com

OKTOBERFEST!

Sam Adam's Oktoberfest hits shelves today!  Nothing like a sip of the seasonal brew to wind down...

Any how, on an equally important topic, we have officially launched our TOTALLY UNIQUE SECURITY GUARD PROGRAM WITH A 12 PAY FINANCE PROGRAM!

What could get better??  How about a $1100 premium policy for "Unarmed Guards" with a 12 pay program too!!   You probably just spilled your Oktoberfest all over yourself.  I know, it's amazing. 

To get your security guard quote in process, give us a call today!  Or email me at abe@abeinsureselpaso.com.  Stay protected my friends!!

Commercial Real Estate Investing Tips!

This seems to be the growing trend amongst the folks I know.   Check out this informative link for some common  sense for the would be investor.

http://urbanlinguist.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-tips-for-commercial-real-estate.html

As always, stay protected my friends!

I want to start a business! Great!!....but now what?

I stumbled upon this great and informative website called:
http://www.good-company.info/how-to-find-best-business-insurance-policies.php

Visit their site to determine appropriate business structure, ideas, etc for starting and operating your business. 

When you click on the insurance tab, give me a call!  As always, stay protected my friends.

Got apts?

Owners of multifamily properties have a lot to juggle.  Don't let insurance be a another pin in your juggling act!  Not only does insurance protect the investors, it can also help to indemnify tenants or protect tenants from other tenants or other parties. 

 

Multiple-unit residential operations have special insurance needs. Property Insurance can be a challenge because the heightened risk of fires arising from habitational occupancy and because of vulnerability to severe damage from wind and hail. Liability Protection is critical, because there can be serious injuries or even loss of life on apartment premises, and substantial lawsuits are common – high-limit Umbrella Liability policies should always be considered as an essential component of any complex’s insurance program.

Finding the best underwriting company for an apartment operation can be a real challenge, especially for insurance agents who don’t work in this area every day. To work effectively with underwriters and the few good companies that do insure apartments, an agent has to know the apartment industry and has to be able to speak knowledgably about apartment complex clients and prospects.

The size of an apartment business makes a big difference in which insurers will be the best match, and size also affects the insurance program’s design. We have the required expertise and the access to insurance markets required to handle all classes of apartment clients – from single duplexes to multi-location multi-state apartment giants. Multiple-location accounts will frequently benefit by adopting a “loss limit” approach on Property insurance (this can be much more cost effective than a simple “Blanket Limit” approach, while still providing adequate insurance protection). Similarly, we can produce Liability programs that meet the needs of multiple-entity / multiple activity / multiple location clients.

 

Give me a call today to discuss your unique needs.   And as always, stay protected my friends.

So I've got a business. What could go wrong??

The following was taken from : http://www.businessinsurance.org/what-is-business-insurance/

The term “business insurance” pertains to protecting against operational losses by a business. What type of loss is covered by a business insurance policy depends on the insurance company, the policy wording, and local limitations.

Common Coverage Types

There are several types of business insurance, each limiting coverage stipulations and restrictions. The most common types are:

1. Key Person Insurance: A business Key Person is considered so important to the company that loss the person could cause considerable damage to the company’s financial future. Benefits are paid if the Key Person covered experiences a disability that prevents working or if the Key Person dies. The remaining partners or owners can use the benefits only for legitimate business expenses, such as buying the disabled person’s stake in the business or hiring and training expenses for a replacement. Key Person Insurance is sometimes also called a Buy/Sell Agreement.

2. General Liability Insurance: This coverage protects the business against liability claims, negligence, manufacturing or personnel error, bodily injury, or even property damage. Liability insurance often covers the policy holders’ legal fees if the liability or event is covered under the policy.

3. Product Liability: Coverage protects against faulty products and damage, injury, or death from use of the faulty product.

Calculating Rates

Insurance companies use actuary tables configured from data using historical information and projected risks regarding similar businesses who have suffered covered losses and the costs incurred and quote an applicable rate per unit of coverage. The number of insurance companies who issue business insurance can influence business insurance rates as can the size and type of business, to name a few.

There are several categories of risk identification factors that combine into determining coverage approval and policy rates. Among them are business experience, operational hazards, and even location. Obtaining financing for business start-ups can sometimes rest on the business plan requiring purchasing viable business insurance.

Because business insurance spreads the risk costs among all businesses with coverage policies, a business may experience rate increases when no claim was filed against that business. However, the replacement costs for the individual business are generally considerably higher, making purchasing business insurance a wise decision for many business owners, whether involving a large, established business or a small business just starting.

This article was taken from : http://www.businessinsurance.org/what-is-business-insurance/

Dire Straits Part 2

Well, at least the good news out there is that we're still in business and we can still save you a ton on your commercial insurance policy!!!

As always, stay protected my friends!

ON GUARD!

Your little old insurance agency from El Paso, TX will be one of the first insurance agencies in the US to introduce a 0 down payment insurance policy for security guards!!!  Some of the program highlights include:

A rated paper
12 equal payments
Endorsements added as needed

We're extremely happy about this development, and will be developing a website solely for security guards and their businesses.  Stay protected my friends!!

The world's best salesmen

After being in Cancun with my wife for the last week, you quickly come to realize who the best salesmen in the world are: The vendors on the streets.  NO joke.  These guys speak many languages, are ultra aggressive, and break the ice very quickly. They even resort to emotional selling tactics or use pity.  One guy even told me that he would rip us off less than the others!!  After a good laugh, we went in to his store to check out his wares.   Being there also brings you a dose of humility, and a tug back to reality.  We really are super fortunate to be Americans and have the opportunity to go from rags to riches with hard work, focused effort, and more hard work.

Being there also made me think about insurance and the selling techniques of insurance companies.  When you buy insurance, do you feel like the tourist and the insurance companies are the vendors?  You inevitably go for the one that you think will rip you off less than the others, right?  Unfortunately, many buying experiences are like that.   It's horrible when you have buyers remorse, or you feel that you were sold something.

In my office, my agents don't sell: they present options and the customer decides what option fits their needs best.   After all, we want you for life.

So give us a call for your next insurance need.  You'll be glad you did.

No license, but need insurance?

Tough spot.  I was talking to a guy yesterday, and he said that he hasn't had a license in 5 years due to tickets. 

Whatever the case may be, you're in luck.  As long as you have a pulse and can sign your name, you can get insurance for your vehicle....cheap.  We quoted this gentleman and his wife for 2 vehicles and no licenses at 54 a month! 

So now you know, there's absolutely no reason not to have insurance.   Give Christina a call today at 915-313-5100 to get your policy going.  You'll be glad you did.

I'm going to jail

Believe it or not, I'm going to jail and I need your help. While it's not a real jail, it's even more important as I'm raising bail to help children and adults with muscle disease in my community who are supported by the vital work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). I might not be able to rely on good behavior to get out so that's why I need your help - I need you to donate to my bail! Just click on the donation button to make a secure donation - I know that together we'll Make a Muscle and Make a Difference in the fight against muscle disease.

Plus, when you donate to me, I'll send you a free gift! (For reallies, and not something chafa either)

Please click here to make a donation!  Break out of the slammer

Thank you so much for your help, and please send me an email with your mailing address so that I can send you your gift!  abe@abeinsureselpaso.com


Stay protected my friends!

Whatchu talking bout, Willis

Save 40% with us!  Save 587 over them!  Save 25% by bundling!  Save, save, save!!!!!!!!

All those crazy FALSE claims wear me out.  The truth is, when you call a company like a Geico, Allstate, Farmers, Fred Loya, etc, they only represent themselves.  How can a company truly offer you options or a better deal when they only represent themselves?  You don't go to a restaurant that has only one item on the menu, so why go to an insurance company with only one brand to sell??  Think about it the next time you pay your insurance bill.  If you're not with an independent agent, most likely you're not getting the best deal.

That's it.  Tan tan.  Stay protected my friends.

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

George Thorogood recorded "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"  after the singer had lost his job. Unable to pay his rent, he tried to get accommodations with a friend, but fails. Lying to his landlady that he has obtained a new job, he gets access to his room and removes all his belongings. He then goes down to a tavern and orders the three alcoholic drinks to help him forget his sorrows.

Man, today feels like a bourbon, scotch, and beer day.  Sometimes a nice single malt helps turn that frown upside down...

On to the next subject....LRO's.  LRO (Lessors Risk Only) insurance is for land lords.  Lessor's Risk Only (LRO) provides liability and property coverage for building owners who lease out their entire building or occupy less than 75% of the building and lease out the remainder.

Let's take the case of George Thorogood.  Let's say he was mad at the landlord and torched the place.  It would have been covered if there was a LRO in force.   OR, let's say that George slips and falls down the stairs and sues his landlord for not having adequate lighting or railing.  The LRO would fight the suit for the landlord. 

Like I say in most of my posts, it's very important to protect yourself with insurance.  Especially if your business deals with people.  We just insured a 30 tenant strip center that had suffered from some major losses, for under 12k for the year.  The value of the property was over 1 million. 

If you or someone you know lease to tenants, give us a call today.  You'll be glad you did.  Stay protected my friends. 

A la carte? Piece meal or program?

Having all of your properties on separate policies is like having a fleet of vehicles comprised of Chevy's, Fords, Fiats, and Ferrari's.  Yeah, it sounds cool and might be fancy......but wouldn't you rather have a fleet comprised of all the same or similar vehicles?  Not to mention the service, parts, labor, technical skills, and costs of maintaining all said vehicles would be astronomical.  If you have your properties on separate policies, you're doing the same thing.  Very rarely have I been able to piece something together that will save someone money over having it in a program. 

We specialize in helping those with “large properties and multiple properties” by providing cost-effective insurance and risk management solutions. Because we specialize in this area, we have access to programs many other agencies may not. We take the time to understand your unique needs and design a program specifically tailored to meet those needs. We have programs to insure buildings, personal property and also time element exposures.   Coastal property?  NO PROBLEM.

Regardless of the type of industry you are in, our professional team is prepared to help you. Some of the industries we serve include:

• Amusement parks
• Apartment complexes
• Banks
• Educational institutions
• Churches and Synagogues
• Contractors
• Food processors
• Hospitals
• Hotels and motels
• Industrial parks
• Manufacturing
• Public entities
• Restaurants
• Retirement and extended care facilities
• Retail space
• Schools
• Self-storage
• Theaters
• Warehouses

Contact us to find out how we can take the worry out of your “large property” risk.  Stay protected my friends.

People are psychic!.....or just crazy.

The following is an actual account of an insurance agent's interaction with several clients over the last year.  (Not me of course)

Agent:  So Mr. K, here is your quote and here is what it covers.  When would you like for the policy to start?

Mr. K:  Everything looks good.  I'm just going to run it by my wife first.  (Classic excuse for shifting blame to wife)

Agent follows up a day later......

Agent:  Mr. K, let's get this policy going. 

Mr. K:  Well my friend, my wife said no.  She said that I've been in business for 20 years without insurance and don't need it now.

Agent:  Well, then you just call me right before you have a claim then.  Have a nice day!

OR THIS IS ANOTHER CLASSIC MISCONCEPTION THAT'S FLOATING AROUND

"I don't need insurance because I'm a corporation, not a sole prop, so my personal assets are protected.  THAT'S HILARIOUS!  I don't know who started that rumor, but they deserve to be slapped.  YES, YOU ARE LIABLE FOR ANY THIRD PARTY YOU DO BUSINESS WITH.  IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOUR BUSINESS IS FORMED OR TITLED. 


Unless you're Grace the Psychic Lady or Walter Mercado, you're not going to know when a claim will be filed.   In fact, chances are you'll never have one.  But, there's still a chance.  And do you want to risk everything you've worked hard for because you weren't protected?   Take my office for example:  About a year ago, I had a client who wrote me a hot check almost start a fight with me because I wouldn't do business with him!!!!  WITH ME!  I don't know what's crazier:  The fact that he was surprised that I wouldn't do business with him or the fact that he wanted to go toe to toe.  And guess what?  If I would have unleashed, then it would have been a claim on my business policy.  That't right.  I would have a claim to file for medical expenses and any lawsuit that idiot would have brought.   The world is a crazy place.

So, here's my bit of unsolicited advice for today:  Get insurance.   You never know what the day might bring, especially if your business involves people. 

Stay protected my friends.

General Liab vs Professional Liab......FIGHT!

Think you're covered with that General liability policy??  Maybe not.  Read this great article below on the differences, and why you may not be covered with that GL you have.

The following was taken from:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Professional-Liability-Insurance-Vs-General-Liability-Insurance&id=1421574

Intrinsically, insurance is based on the principles of protecting a person or business from particular risks. This can include anything from natural disasters to theft to property damage.
Yet, when it comes to business, the kinds of risk can be far more significant, as well as far more costly. Not only are you responsible for what happens to your own property and employees, but you're also responsible to the people with whom your business comes in contact. General liability insurance covers these risks and protects your company from possible adverse financial situations. Professional liability insurance also covers those same risks, but is more specific to certain professional fields.

The Concern of Liability

Liability is a concern for businesses because a business is responsible not only for harm and damages done as a direct consequence of doing business, but also as an indirect consequence of doing business.

This, unfortunately, entails a wide selection of possibilities. A mistake made months or years ago by you or your employees could have caused harm to someone by a third party using your product or service. Regrettably, it's nearly impossible to predict everything that may happen as a result of your business services or products. Professional liability insurance and general liability insurance are thus critical in protecting your interests and the interests of your company. Otherwise, the risks of putting yourself and your business in serious financial jeopardy are limitless.

The Differences

General liability insurance and professional liability insurance are like two sides of a coin. Whether it's personal, business, or corporate insurance, insurance packages and providers envelop a range of different facets for individuals and groups of individuals. Though the boundary is sometimes blurred between the diverse insurance coverage provided by either general liability or professional liability insurance, there are surely differences between the two.

Ultimately, the differences between general liability insurance and professional liability insurance put them in different categories, which include business insurance, and general insurance. Knowing the disparities and acquiring the most suitable insurance is a critical move for your company. Insurance should always be an integral part of your business.

Policies considered general liability insurance typically address claims of bodily injury or property damage liability. Most companies are already familiar with general liability coverage including: injury, environmental impact, casualty, and more of the like.

Professional liability insurance differs in that it pertains to negligence associated with your professional services. The damage is typically financial, rather than physical. Accordingly, a professional such as an accountant would be expected to perform in a certain manner and abide by a set code of conduct. Violating those principles could hold the accountant responsible for harm or damages done to others. A management consultant may have a different set of professional expectations to abide by. Both professionals must stand by their particular professional standards, or could be subject to liability suits and resulting damages.

As with general liability insurance, professional liability insurance is crucial because it covers the indirect consequences of your conduct. Even a phone conversation with a third party advising them on how to deal with one of their own clients can leave you liable for your conduct. Consequently, professionals always need to practice the utmost care when carrying out their duties. In order to be vigilantly careful, it's important to have the appropriate general liability insurance, and the proper professional liability insurance that may save you from financial harm.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1421574


Please give us a call to discuss your professional liability needs.....Everything from medical malpractice to Law Firm Professional Liability.  Stay protected my friends!!

Makin' it rain

Well, if you were a client, you could be making it rain too with all that cash you would be saving.  Wanna hear some recent success stories? 

• Saved a local restaurant 4k and provided better coverage
• Got numerous contractors approved for a blanket bond so now they can DO WORK
• Saved numerous HVAC contractors a few thousand with BETTER coverage
• Insured a NEW VENTURE trucking operation, so they can supply the paper to make it rain

These are REAL success stories from a REAL, LOCAL, ATTENTIVE, and PROFESSIONAL insurance broker.  The days of having to do business with out of towners is over.  Give us a try and see why we have clients all over TX and NM.  Stay protected my friends. 

Alameda, botas el malcreado, and car lots

Dealer Open Lot Insurance

Dealer Open Lot insurance provides physical damage coverage protection to a dealer’s covered autos and equipment. Covered Autos are typically private passenger vehicles (autos, pickups, minivans, SUV’s, etc.), RV units and other autos that are in the dealer’s inventory and held for sale. The vehicles may be used, new, demonstrators or service vehicles. Most insurance companies who write dealer open lot coverage require that the total value of the inventory be insured to 100% of their value.

Maximum Dealer’s Open Lot limits vary by state and range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 or more. The Per Vehicle limit available is $150,000.

Beyond inventory coverage, dealers may choose coverage that addresses specific needs. Have the piece of mind of knowing exactly what your dealership's policy covers. Listed below are additional dealer coverages you may choose.

Open Lot Coverage

What coverage do you have? We have found that many used car dealers purchased a state minimum garage liability policy when starting out in the car business. Although these policies meet the dealer license requirement, many dealers have outgrown these policies.

Beyond the state required minimums many dealers may consider additional coverage to protect their assets.

• Vehicle Inventory
• Business Property
• Workers Comp
• Specified Causes (Fire, Hail, Vandalism, Transport)
• False Pretense
• Tow Trucks
• Errors and Omissions (Titles, Odometer, Truth in Lending)
• Uninsured Motorists
• Fire and Theft

Surprisingly, MANY dealerships in El Paso don't even carry Garage Liability, the bare minimum required by law.   If you know a car dealer, send them my way!   I'll throw in a pair of picudas from El Malcreado to sweeten the deal.  Stay protected my friends!!!

Give me one reason why...

          Need a reason why to get life insurance?  Here are 26. 

1. They do not want to pass on their financial obligations or their funeral costs to their families.

2. They want to supplement their Social Security benefits so that during their retirement years, their standard of living will not be drastically lowered.

3. They don't want to die and leave only enough life insurance and other assets to pay off their last expenses, so that their families will not have enough money to last through the financial -adjustment period that follows the death of the breadwinner.

4. They want to supplement their Social Security death benefits so that their surviving families will continue to maintain their standard of living.

5. They know that life insurance can guarantee a fixed income for a surviving parent who must remain at home to care for children.

6. They need an adequate guaranteed retirement income.

7. They need a plan with a definite goal, one that does not depend on speculation and self-control.

8. They have purchased a home and want to be sure that it will remain in their family even if they are not there to meet the monthly mortgage payments.

9. They want to see their children go to college.

10. They want to start protection and thrift programs for their children while the children are young, because they have learned that age provides the only bargain in life insurance.

11. They want to solve the basic needs of protection for members of their family.

12. They know that a mother's death can be as financially disabling as a father's death.

13. They want to leave resources for special reasons: giving gifts and bequests, contributing to a son's or daughter's wedding, funding for a son's or daughter's own business, or providing for a disabled or disadvantaged child.

14. They have recently married.

15. They have become new parents.

16. They have a new job or received a promotion, which has increased their financial value and their ability to afford adequate insurance protection.

17. They are recent college graduates-marking the beginning of their financial independence.

18. They are business owners who need to protect key employees.

19. They need to enhance their business credit standings.

20. They are sole proprietors who need to protect their business for their survivors.

2 1. They are involved in a partnership that needs to be protected from being shared by a partner's disinterested survivor.

22. They need a method to liquidate stockholder's interests.

23. They need a method to fund buy-sell agreements.

24. They need a method to fund pension plans.

25. They want to prepare for retirement by combining guaranteed income and growth possibilities of equities.

26. They have certain tax problems that need to be solved.

Give me a call today to get protected.  You can afford to protect your family, business, or whatever else you need to fund.  You can't afford not to.  915-313-4469

Look'em in the eye

Does it bug you when people don't look you in the eye?  It bugs the absolute HELL out of me.    The following is from the website: http://artofmanliness.com/2012/02/05/look-em-in-the-eye-part-i-the-importance-of-eye-contact/

If you've never visited this website, I encourage you to do so.  And, look'em in the eye.



How often have you talked with another guy who never looked you in the eye during the entire length of the conversation? Or perhaps he did meet your gaze a few times, but then his eyes shifted back to his shoes or to some point off in the distance.
I’d like to say that the ability to make good eye contact is one of the social skills a lot of young men seem to be struggling with these days, which would be true, but I’ve encountered enough gaze-averting middle-aged men to know that it’s a multi-generational problem. And actually, it’s probably something men have always struggled with—females are on average better at making and holding eye contact than males, and in fact, it’s been found that the higher the levels of testosterone a fetus is exposed to in utero, the less eye contact they make as infants—across genders. Interestingly, the exception to this rule are male babies who have the very highest levels of T; they end up being as adept at eye contact as their female counterparts—alpha babies aren’t afraid to look you in the eye!
But just because making eye contact doesn’t come naturally to us men, doesn’t mean you should just shrug your shoulders and accept this predisposition. The ability to make high-level eye contact is a skill every man should work on, as it has been shown to create some incredible benefits for the gazer. Numerous studies have shown that people who make higher-levels of eye contact with others are perceived as being:

• More dominant and powerful
• More warm and personable
• More attractive and likeable
• More qualified, skilled, competent, and valuable
• More trustworthy, honest, and sincere
• More confident and emotionally stable

And not only does increased eye contact make you seem more appealing in pretty much every way to those you interact with, it also improves the quality of that interaction. Eye contact imparts a sense of intimacy to your exchanges, and leaves the receiver of your gaze feeling more positive about your interaction and connected to you.
In short, making greater eye contact with others can increase the quality of all of your face-to-face interactions; there’s no area of your life where being seen as more attractive, confident, and trustworthy wouldn’t be a boon. Being able to look people in the eye and hold their gaze can help you better network with others, land a job, pitch an idea, make a moving speech, woo the ladies, and intimidate your enemies. It can help a lawyer win over a jury, a boxer psych out his opponent, and a minister connect with his congregants. It can even aid a musician in winning over new fans; studies have shown that the more eye contact a musician makes with his audience, the more they enjoy his music—take note ye members of struggling bands!
And the best part of all this is that improving your eye contact is something you can do relatively quickly and easily. Next week in the second article of this two-part series, we’ll cover all the practical nuts and bolts on how to do that, and offer some really helpful eye contact tips for both general conversational situations as well as specific scenarios.
But today we’d like to begin with an exploration of why making eye contact is so important in forming relationships with other people, and why it can be so hard to do.

Why Eye Contact Is Vitally Important for Creating Positive Connections with Others

Why does making eye contact with people have such a dramatic effect in improving their perception of you? There are four main reasons:
1. Our eyes were made to connect. It’s easy to see why the eyes of others capture our gaze: they’re free-moving orbs lodged in an otherwise stationary face; eyeballs are really kind of weird when you think about them, aren’t they? But they also grab our attention for a reason that is distinctly human. While our irises and pupils float on a bright white canvas, none of the other 220 species of primates have white in their eyes at all, or at least whites that can readily be seen.

Image source

The whites of our eyes make it very easy for others to see exactly what we’re looking at and notice when our focus changes direction. While primates will typically turn their gaze in the direction a person points his whole head towards, a human infant is more likely to follow the person’s eyes, regardless of which way the person’s head is tilted. Anthropologists think our uniquely human eyes evolved to help us achieve a greater level of cooperation with others, which is helpful in survival and building a civilization. All of which is to say: your eyes were made to communicate with the eyes of other people.
2. Our eyes reveal our thoughts and feelings. You’ve probably heard the old expression: “The eyes are the window to the soul.” While that may not be literally true, they do reveal a great deal about what we’re really thinking and feeling from moment to moment.
Think of all the eye-related expressions we have in our language. We’re seduced by “bedroom eyes,” wary of “shifty eyes,” and afraid of getting the “evil eye.” We’re attracted to people who have “kind eyes” and eyes that “sparkle,” “glow,” or “twinkle,” while we’re repelled by those who are “dead behind the eyes.” When someone is eager and peppy we say they’re “bright-eyed;” when they’re bored we describe their eyes as “glazed over.” Love stories in both fiction and real life very often begin with two pairs of eyes meeting across a room. And Bryan Adams says you can gauge your love for a woman from your ability to see your unborn children in her eyes! Kind of romantic, kind of creepy.
That we give so much credence to the idea that we can read someone from what’s in their eyes is due to the fact that even when we hide what we’re really thinking and feeling in our body language and facial expressions, it’s often still revealed in our eyes. “The eyes don’t lie” as people say (although good liars can, in reality, get their eyes to fib for them). This is why poker players often wear sunglasses in order to disguise their reactions to the hands they’re dealt.
The human propensity to look to someone’s eyes in order to decipher what they’re thinking starts very early in life. Around 9-18 months, infants will begin to look to their parents’ eyes to figure out what they’re trying to convey when their face is otherwise ambiguous. And we continue to do this for the rest of our lives.
Finally, we lend a lot of weight to eye contact in our interactions because it’s a form of simultaneous communication. You don’t have to take turns expressing yourselves as you do with talking. If you’ve ever had a whole mini conversation across the room with your spouse, using only your eyes, you know how this works.
3. Eye contact shows attention. Sociologists tell us that people are starved for attention these days. Despite the fact that we’re more “connected” than ever, folks are hungry for face-to-face interactions and someone to really, sincerely listen to them. This hunger for attention can manifest itself in things like “conversational narcissism.” And if you read our discussion about that social malady from awhile back, you’ll remember that we talked about how you show your attention to someone with whom you are talking by using “support-responses,” such as nodding your head and offering “background acknowledgments” like “mmm’s” and “yeah’s.” Well, eye contact is another form of background acknowledgement—and a very important one at that. It shows the speaker that you’re tuned in to what he’s saying. Think of how crappy you feel when you’re talking with someone and he’s looking all around the room for someone else to ditch you for.
The ability to give eye contact to someone as they speak is an especially powerful tool these days; it has become so common for people to break their gaze to check their phone during a conversation, that giving someone your complete and undivided attention can truly win them over.
4. Eye contact creates an intimate bond. When I am performing a task or feeling an emotion, and you are observing me do so, the same neurons that are being lit up in my brain by actually having the experience, are the ones that light up in your brain just from watching me. This is made possible by the presence of “mirror neurons” in our craniums. And the activation of these mirror neurons is especially sensitive to facial expressions, and, you guessed it, eye contact. Have you ever been hit hard with an emotion after looking into the eyes of someone who was experiencing it? Eye contact creates moments where you are able to really feel what someone else is feeling. It links together your emotional states and creates empathy and an intimate bond.
This is why when we’re interacting as disembodied selves on the internet, it can be very easy to be angry and hateful to people, but when you see someone face-to-face, and look into their eyes, you often can get a sense of their humanity and your anger greatly dissipates.
Getting in-sync with others, sharing our feelings, showing attention, creating a bond: eye contact is truly a powerful tool for connecting with others.

Why Is It So Hard to Make Eye Contact?

But on the other hand…getting in-sync with others, sharing our feelings, showing attention, creating a bond…these things aren’t easy—especially for men!
While people like to see our eyes so they can get a handle on what we’re really thinking and feeling, from our side of things, revealing what’s going on inside our heads can make us feel very vulnerable. We avoid eye contact when we don’t want people to take a closer look at us and see more of who we are. This reticence can be rooted in several causes:
Hiding deceit. If you’re purposefully hiding the truth from someone, you may hesitate to look them in the eye because you’re worried that your eyes will give away the truth, and because creating the kind of intimate bond described above when you’re knowingly duping someone makes you feel especially ashamed. This is why people will sometimes, although not always, avoid your gaze when they’re lying to you, why people say things like: “Look me in the eye when you tell me that!” and why people who do make solid eye contact are considered more trustworthy.
Masking emotions. There are times when you’re not trying to disguise a lie outright, but simply wish to conceal your true feelings from others, such as when you do not think your reaction to something will be received favorably by them. Anger, fear, and surprise are the emotions that register most through our eyes, and are hardest to hide. And they’re also the emotions we most often want to keep from others.
Insecurity. Finally, one of the most common reasons that people avoid eye contact is from simple insecurity. Eye contact invites more interaction, and you might not want people to take a closer look at you because of how you feel about yourself.
People with higher-status make more eye contact when they’re speaking to others, while those who feel they are of lower-status will make less eye contact and be the first to avert their gaze. When a guy can’t look anyone in the eye when he’s speaking to them, it’s often because he doesn’t feel like he comes up to anyone’s level; he doesn’t believe he can hold his own with other people.
This lack of confidence can be rooted in insecurity over one’s physical appearance, or the state of one’s mind. A study was done where college students were shown faces which looked at the participants with different kinds of gazes—averted or direct. The students then ranked the faces on whether they seemed approachable or avoidable. Then a survey was given to the participants that evaluated their mental health. The students who ranked the faces that had a direct gaze as approachable were found to be more emotionally stable than those who found the direct gaze faces avoidable. Another study specifically showed that people who suffer from depression—which can do a number on a person’s self-confidence–are less likely to make eye contact with people.
People will also avoid eye contact when saying a sarcastic, as opposed to a sincere, comment, as sarcasm is often used by those who are too insecure to show aggression or state their opinion directly.

The Best Way to Improve the Quality of Your Eye Contact

The common denominator in all three of the above reasons for avoiding eye contact is the fear of rejection. If eyes are the portals to our feelings and thoughts, eye contact acts as an intimacy regulator. The more eye contact you make, the more you put yourself out there. Thus the more confidence you have in what people will find once they get a closer look at you and peer into the chamber of your heart, the more comfortable you feel with looking them in the eye. And conversely, the more shame you feel about what others will discover when you open up to them, the more likely you are to avert your gaze.
As I mentioned, next week we’ll get into the practical nuts and bolts of how to make eye contact in the right way. But it should be obvious from this introduction that no amount of external fine tuning of your gaze can compensate for unresolved internal issues that need fixing. You can force yourself to make eye contact with people even when you don’t feel like it, but good eye contact is not just about quantity, it’s about quality. While it may not be true that the eyes are the window of the soul, in my opinion there really is something almost metaphysical about the way in which our character becomes etched upon them. People with kind eyes are almost invariably kind people. People with a twinkle in their eyes are almost always possessed with an enviable vitality. And those with dead eyes on the outside, tend to be dead on the inside, too.
Thus the foundation of good eye contact truly comes from within (changing your outer appearance by doing things like losing weight and dressing your best helps too, but even these things typically require a change of inner attitude). The more you live a life of integrity, the easier it will be to look everyone you meet in the eye, and do it with confidence and a real smile.
Note: The principles in this series are written for men who live in Western countries. The importance of eye contact and how to make it can vary from culture to culture.
Sources:
The Power of Eye Contact: Your Secret for Success in Business, Love, and Life by Michael EllsbergThe Persuasion Handbook: Developments in Theory and Practice by James Price Dillard, Michael PfauApplied Organizational Communication: Theory and Practice by Thomas E. Harris, Thomas E. Harris, and Mark D. NelsonNonverbal Communication by Albert MehrabianStatus and Groups by Melissa Thomas-Hunt

 

RECYCLERS, This one's for you! Stay protected my friends.

Recycling Centers

Recycling centers are excellent modern business opportunities. Some centers travel around to pick up recyclable materials through a municipality contract. Other recycling centers simply process materials that are brought to them by consumers, groups and individuals. Regardless of which approach you use for your business, carrying the right types of business insurance protection is critical to its success.

General Liability

General liability is a broad level of business insurance that helps protect your customers at the same time it protects your recycling centers. This insurance is designed to help prevent your company from suffering massive financial losses when accidents happen or lawsuits arise. General liability grows with your company so that when you add new recycling center locations they’re automatically covered from the start.

General Liability Insurance Includes:

• Premises Liability - Premises liability coverage is particularly important for recycling centers that allow drop offs by customers. If a customer or other person is injured while they’re on your business premises, they may sue your company for the medical and recovery bills they incur because of the accident. Premises liability can pay those bills so that your company does not have to.

• Products Liability - Products liability protects your recycling center when you sell products to your customers. If you sell a specialized collection bin for recycling materials for example, and that product is later found to be defective and harmful to your customers, those customers may sue your company for selling them the product. Products liability can help pay your legal defense fee and the customers medical bills or award claims.

• Completed Operations - If your recycling company picks up customers recyclable materials, they may sue your company after you have completed the services. If your customers feel that your completed operations caused them harm in the form of bodily injuries or property damages, they may sue your company. Completed operations coverage can pay for your litigation expenses as well as the customers medical bills or property damage repairs.

Business Owners Policy

General liability insurance is automatically included in another type of small business insurance known as a business owners policy, or BOP. A BOP provides you with direct protection for your business assets.

• Buildings and Contents
• Business Income and Extra Expense
• Electronic Data
• Newly Acquired or Constructed Buildings
• Employee Dishonesty Coverage

Business Auto

Business auto insurance protects your company when auto accidents happen. This is particularly important coverage if your recycling center provides pick up services to its customers. Business auto insurance pays for physical injuries and property damages caused in an accident. Additional levels of coverage can protect your vehicles from losses due to theft or damages caused by natural events.

Workers Comp

Workers comp insurance provides protection to your recycling center employees. If they are injured while performing their work duties, workers comp coverage pays for their medical bills.

Commercial Umbrella

Umbrella insurance can give your company extra protection. If your other business insurance policies reach their maximum limitations on a claim, your umbrella policy can take care of the difference.



When you're ready to talk about your recycling center insurance needs, give me a call.  We already insure some of the biggest in town, and we'd be happy to discuss your business insurance needs!  Give us a call at 915-313-4469.