A disaster can bring new focus to your company.
Every June, I get scared. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina I still shiver when hurricane season begins. During this week I often reflect on the events of that storm from 8 years ago.
Each year when hurricane season hits, the level of fear from my client base really goes up, and anytime you see a hurricane icon on the Weather Channel move into the Gulf of Mexico, you can bet my phone is ringing more.
As you may know, I was on a spiritual retreat when Katrina hit my office (and home) in August 2005. The office was flooded with 12 feet of water and had "tornado activity" on the roof. On top of that, my house shared the adjacent property line with a broken levy.
Needless to say, my home and office were destroyed. My wife and I evacuated north to a relative's home (which was not much better; they were cut off from electricity and, more importantly, air conditioning).
My employees and clients were displaced as well. Cellphones weren't working very well, but clients were able to send text messages many of them frantic pleas for help. After the storm we realized it was going to be a long road back. As the cleanup began, I found myself working 20-hour days, six days a week for 18 months. You may wonder why I had to do this.
Sixty-eight percent of my income was lost in the first 100 days after the storm. The insurance department in the state of Louisiana mandated all insurance companies not send out premium notices. Premiums were waived.
If you're a full-commission salesperson and people are not paying their bills, you're
not getting income.
In addition to the decrease in income I also had lost nearly all of my employees. I had to figure out how to serve my customers with limited information and no staff. We were not prepared for this disaster and that ma
de the aftermath even more difficult.
I sure did learn the hard way about how to be prepared for a disaster: Backing up records, keeping bottled water and nonperishable food in the office and keeping a working generator on site is critical, for instance.
As time went on and I rebuilt my business I was asked to speak about my experience -- first at local groups, conferences and nonprofits, but the speaking events always led to another larger event, and now I have the privilege to speak all over the country.
Back then I didn't have a fee; I was just telling my story.
Friends and acquaintances were also encouraging me to write a book, a process that was so emotional that I didn't start until two years later. My book Come Hell or High Water (Life Lessons from Hurricane Katrina) was published in 2011 and became an Amazon Best Seller.
I learned countless lessons from Katrina. In addition to realizing I could create an entire second stream of income for myself through speaking engagements and writing, I am now a better prepared as a business owner for disasters.
In 2004, before Katrina, I was feeling insurance business burnout and becoming disengaged from my practice. I no longer felt needed. I no longer felt like I could make a difference. When the storm hit, my customers needed me like never before. I made a decision to re-engage even while dealing with my own hardships.
Seven years later, I am still running my insurance agency (albeit from another office), as well as getting more speaking engagements than ever.
Do you have a story about a disaster? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. If you are looking to motivate your group please contact me to see how I can help.
Peace, Love and Gumbo,
Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF,CNP
