Business Insurance Group

Business and Jobs First…Then, Insurance

President Obama’s State of the Union Address last night addressed a number of topics from education, the environment, the future, jobs, banking, business. There was one other topic. Now, what was it? Yes, health insurance reform.

The President acknowledged that taking on health insurance reform was not “good politics.” And, while the President addressed health insurance reform, that topic took a back seat to economic issues. Particularly, the president laid out ideas to help out the middle class.

Now, does this mean that fundamental changes–affecting our businesses–to America’s health care system are no longer a priority of this President or that those efforts are “dead” as some predicted after the recent election in Massachusetts?

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Become Flo’s Friend!

Love the commercial or hate the commercial, Progressive Insurance’s “Flo,” the quirky girl selling insurance at the “Insurance Superstore,” is a very successful marketing campaign for Progressive.

Now you can be a part of the campaign!

Progressive is running a contest to find a helper for Flo. The winner gets to appear in a commercial and gets a free trip to Los Angeles, CA, for a live audition with Flo. Details can be found at helpflo.com. There you can upload your video entry.

Or, you can attend public auditions at:

• The Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on Jan.

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Want to buy a Plane? “Sully’s” Airbus is for Sale.

When you make an insurance property damage claim, the insurer typically takes title to the damaged property. The insurer sells it and attempts to minimize the loss by recouping some cash at the auction.

On January 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, landed the airplane under his command on the Hudson River. And, in a scene that makes me pay attention to those pre-flight directions by flight attendants, his passengers and crew safely exited the plane after a water landing.

The plane, an Airbus A320-214, was destroyed in the landing. But, it was salvaged! It can be yours if the price is right.

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Bar Insurance

Find Bar Insurance for taverns, night clubs and any other businesses that serve liquor.  Bar Insurance should start with a business owners policy to cover property and general liability.  When you speak with your bar insurance agent make sure that they understand the risks in your establishment.  Some of the key points to discuss include the use of bouncers, deep fat fryers on premise, dance floors and the types of recreational equipment in use.  Recreational equipment includes but is not limited to pool tables, dart boards, mechanical bulls and foam machines.  Call a bar insurance agent today at Commercial Insurance.NET to find a competitive quote.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Many Americans–and many of my readers–are off of work today in commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I hope they enjoy being with family and taking a moment to consider the ideals King embodied.

Richard Eskow has written an excellent piece for the Huffington Post today entitled: “What Would Dr. King Thought of Health Reform?” It is a thoughtful piece exploring some of King’s thoughts on social equality. It is a must read.

Keeping in mind the ideals of building a community, Allstate Insurance is sponsoring its Second Annual “Give Back Day.” Visitors to beyondfebruary.com can search for volunteer opportunities within their neighborhoods.

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Tips for Teamwork in the Workplace

As a manager, one of the most important parts of your job is fostering teamwork in the workplace. While certainly teamwork comes naturally to a great many people, it still pays to know how to bring it out. Also, there are some people who are not naturally inclined to use teamwork. Knowing how to get the best out of these people can mean the difference between a good and great job done. Here are some tips for teamwork in the workplace that any manager can use:

Teamwork in the workplace starts with getting your team to buy in to the idea. Showing them the benefits of using teamwork can be eye opening.

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Five Traits of a Leader

Leaders are usually quite a bit different than the people around them. They have certain traits that make them stand out above the crowd. Often, these traits may go unnoticed by many. The true leader is able to lead without carrying a heavy stick. Here are five traits of a leader, in no particular order.

Good Leaders Listen

The perfect leader spends a great deal of time listening to those around them. Many bad leaders try to run the show alone, and are unwilling to listen to the ideas of others. A good leader knows when to be quiet and just listen.

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Wednesday fun for Insurance Professionals

Your intrepid Guide, always looking for material and relevant news about business insurance, came across something that only true insurance gurus and geeks (ahem, professionals) would enjoy. It is mid-week, after the holidays, and seems to be a good time to post about something entertaining.

Hulu.com posted a movie made in 1936 called “Lloyd’s of London.” Yes, it is a movie about the founding of Lloyd’s. Tyrone Power plays Jonathan Blake and through war and romance he helps establish Lloyd’s. As a history buff, I can tell you that the movie is only loosely based on real events.

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