The Koch Insurance Group

Years ago, I was working the check-in table at Reveille when a business owner I knew came through. She had a fairly new business, and I hadn’t seen her in a while, so I asked how things were going. She said, “They’re going okay.” I could see in her eyes there was more to that answer, so I asked again, “No, how are things really going?” I saw a tear well up in her eye and knew we needed to step away and talk.

She told me she never imagined owning a business would be as hard as it had been. They were about a year in, revenue was nowhere near where they expected it to be, and she was struggling. I told her, “You’re right. It is hard. But I want you to know you’re not alone in this.”

I think business owners need to hear that more often. There’s comfort in knowing someone else has walked a similar road and understands what those hard seasons actually feel like. We’re all pretty good at answering “How’s business?” with “Good” or “Okay,” even when it’s anything but.

Pay attention to the people around you and ask the second question. Give them room to give you the real answer. You may not be able to fix what they’re going through, but taking the time to listen can mean more than you realize.

A couple of years ago, I went to the Chairman’s Ball for Jim Carman at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. It was Texas-themed, and they were having a Best Dressed contest. I knew about the contest, but I genuinely didn’t think I was going to win.

Apparently, all those sparkling jackets in my closet finally paid off because I ended up taking home the award. The funny part is, everyone else may have been dressed for the theme, but I wasn’t wearing a costume. This was pretty much a typical Saturday night for me.

So here’s your reminder to show up looking sharp. You never know when it might pay off!

There are some parts of being a business owner that nobody prepares you for.

In December of 2015, we lost Ginny, who had been part of our team for years. She was one of those people who just ran the show around here, and we loved her.

That was the absolute worst day I’ve experienced as a business owner, and one of the hardest parts was knowing that the business didn’t stop just because we were grieving.

The same day Ginny passed away, I had to put out a help wanted ad. I hated doing it, but she ran our office and I needed someone to fill that role. Our clients still needed us, our team still needed to work, and somehow we had to figure out how to keep moving while dealing with the fact that someone we cared about was gone.

That experience has stayed with me. After Ginny passed away, her family let me keep the nameplate she had carried with her through every job, along with a few of the decorations from her desk. They still have a place in our office today.

Business ownership will teach you plenty about making money, managing people, and keeping the doors open, but some of the hardest lessons have nothing to do with business at all.

We remember September 11, 2001!

Twenty four years ago, we lost nearly 3,000 lives. First responders ran toward danger while others tried to escape it. Families lost parents, spouses, and children in a single morning.

We take a moment today to honor the victims, the first responders, and every family who carries that loss.

Never forget.

There's a reason a giant rock sits on a pedestal in my office.

Years ago, someone launched this thing through our window and buried it in the Sheetrock. I still don't know exactly how they did it. My best guess involves a slingshot and some questionable decision making.

I wasn't even mad. I was impressed. When we pulled it out of the wall, it still had Sheetrock dust all over it. So I bought it a stand and put it on display.

Most offices have awards.. mine has evidence. 😅

Apparently, putting my face on things has gotten a little out of hand.

Need to relieve some stress? There's an Adam for that.

Want your car to smell better? There's an Adam for that too.

Insurance? I can actually help with that one.

I can't decide if this is great branding or if my team needs to be stopped. 😂

Did you know a liability claim can outlive the policy that started it?

Some liability claims are resolved fairly quickly. Others can take years.

Once attorneys get involved, there can be investigations, multiple parties, questions about who's responsible, and a lot of back and forth before anything is resolved.

That's why I tell business owners to look at more than whether they have liability insurance. Your limits matter too!

If something happens, you're not just dealing with the incident itself. You could also be dealing with a long process of defending your business afterward.

Know where you stand before you're in the middle of it!