Author: Chris Boggs

According to Billboard (magazine or website or whatever), the 10 best songs of all time are:

10. “Hey Jude" – The Beatles

9. "You Light Up My Life" - Debbie Boone

8. "Physical" - Olivia Newton-John

7. "Macarena" (Bayside Boys Mix) - Los Del Rio

6. "I Gotta Feeling" - The Black Eyed Peas

5. "Party Rock Anthem" - LMFAO

4. "How Do I Live" - LeAnn Rimes

3. "Mack The Knife" - Bobby Darin

2. "Smooth" - Santana Featuring Rob Thomas

1. "The Twist" - Chubby Checker

For insurance geeks, these songs just scream insurance. Don't believe me? Keep reading.

10. “Hey Jude"

Paul McCartney wrote this as a song of healing and growth. Bad things are going to happen, you can't be bitter about it, in fact you rather have to expect it. Know they are coming and make the choice ahead of time to move forward.

You are not going to win every account you pursue. You're going to fail to close some; and sometimes the door may be slammed in your face. Take a sad song and make it better. And you can't be afraid to fail because every no brings you closer to a yes. Producers were made as go getters – keep working for a better end. Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jude.

9. “You Light Up My Life"

This is the theme song of “producers" who wait for and live off call-in business rather than going out to find the clients themselves. Think about the words, “So many nights I'd sit by my window, waiting for someone to sing me his song. So many dreams I kept deep inside me, alone in the dark but now you've come along."

Once that call finally comes, these “producers" are ecstatic. These call-in clients light up their life and give them hope to carry on; lighting up their days and filling their nights with song because they have a new piece of business on which to work.

But since the “producer" is always sitting by the window and not out hunting, this joy is temporary – until the next call-in prospect lights up their life.

8. “Physical"

Yes, I know this song is about working out, or maybe it's more about some other physical activity; but when I hear it…. OK, there is nothing in this song that makes me think about insurance. And if you think about insurance when you hear it, you are weirder than me.

7. “Macarena"

As someone who does not speak Spanish, I don't understand most of this song; but I do think about insurance when I hear it because the song spawned a dance that required everyone to undertake certain actions – a process if you will. What is insurance but a process – a line dance of requirements.

To make the dance look good, everyone in the office must be in rhythm. Prospecting, following up, following up (you gotta do this multiple times), meeting with clients, proposing, closing, placing, checking, servicing, renewing…. Heeeeyyy, Macarena!

It's an enticing tune – I mean the rhythm of the office.

6. “I Gotta Feeling"

I hear the optimism of a producer in this song. They always have a feeling it's going to be a good day, a good, good day. They go out and find the party, earn the money and spend the money. Every day is a party for this producer. Party every day, p-p-p-party every day.

5. "Party Rock Anthem"

If you have ever seen the video for this song, it is appropriate. This may be the most “contagious" song in the top 10. It never seems to get old. Like “I Gotta Feeling," this is an unapologetic party song. We are out and having a good time.

This is the song you hear when you land that first account or the one you have been trying to land for five years. Just have a good time and do a little shufflin'. 

Never forget to celebrate the office victories, regardless who experiences them. Celebrate producer, CSR and any other victories with a little party. Party Rock is in the house.

4. "How Do I Live"

A warning to agency owners to cherish employees and clients. You can't live without either one of them. OK, so you don't need such sloppy, kissy-face feelings – but you need to ask yourself how you would live if your clients and good employees left you. Thinking this way makes you thankful they are there for you and with you.

Concentrate on taking care of your employees and they will help take care of your clients. Several months ago we released an article on the 11 steps to successfully managing employees. You can link to it here.

3. "Mack The Knife"

Bobby Darin gave us a very dark song about a dude that kills people for money. The song talks about victims bleeding out on the sidewalk and being tossed in the water, weighted down by sandbags. I'm hard-pressed to tie this song into insurance other than to equate Mack the Knife to performance bond claims adjusters – they don't like to pay claims. OK, I'm just kidding, don't show up at my door in your trench coat and fedora.

2. "Smooth"

An aptly name tune. Santana's guitar is as smooth as anyone I've ever heard. Combining Santana's style with the talent of Rob Thomas and it is no wonder this song is the number two song of all time.

This reminds me what happens when a great producer is combined with a great support team. Everything looks and runs so smooooth.

1. "The Twist"

Have you noticed how many of the top 10 songs are about celebrating and dancing? “The Twist" is no exception. This song MAKES you get up and move (even if the movement doesn't exactly look like the twist as Chubby Checker intended).

How does this remind me of insurance? Because insurance is fun. Yes, there are tough days, long days, frustrating days and even bad days; but in the end – this is an awesome business.

Remember, a free market economy exists only when there is a strong insurance market. Don't believe me, try to buy a house and not purchase insurance to protect it (see how the mortgagee reacts). Go to the car dealer to buy a car, or even to the department of motor vehicles to get a license – either way proof of insurance is required.

We have what we have, do what we do, can make the mistakes we make and have the opportunities we have because of insurance.

Insurance greases the wheels of the free market fruit cart. Jump up and celebrate because you work in the greatest and most important business in the US. Yeah, twist all night! (Round and round and round.)

Last Updated: April 27, 2018