Part 1 was meant to draw out emotion. I wanted tomake you a little uncomfortable. I wanted to make youthink. I wanted us all, as an industry, to start talking abouttechnology and social media and relationships and insurance andProjectCAP and the future.

Part 1 was a call-to-arms for young insurance agents tostand up and be heard in the marketplace. Not because youngagents know better than veteran agents but rather as young agentswe have a unique perspective that needs to be part of theconversation.

In that regard I would consider Part 1 a huge success. Somany insurance professionals contacted me with their owninspirational stories of taking the independent agency message tothe Inter-web… I've personally been blessed to connect with so manyamazing people.

The ball is rolling… Believe that.

However, I must address an unintended consequence to Part 1that will also lead me into the point of this article, PartII. InPart 1 of Social Media Unites Young Agents, I asked oldtimers to “Get out of the way” and let young agents harness thetools given to us by technology. When I submitted this article toAmerican Agent & Broker, I knew this phrasing would elicitemotion. What I didn't realize was some members of our industrywould view it as a divisive fence built between the more veteranmembers of our Industry and our younger professionals.

When I said “get out of the way” what I meant was“unshackle us.” Old timer as it relates toage, was not my intention. Old timer as I intended, is a mentality.Old timer to me is the narrow mindset that hinders so many of ourindependent agencies across the country. And believe me thereare old timers who can be considered young agents as well.

Divided We Fail

I receive emails from insurance professionals askingquestions about breaking the shackles of traditional agencymarketing. It is the outcry of these individuals that I wasaddressing in the nGInsights blog.

Here is one example: How to Convince Your Internet Hating Boss an OnlinePresence is Important. If you've read anything I've everwritten other than that one article you'd see that I promote thesame relationship driven independent agency that the forbearers ofour industry built their success upon. What we need now is forevery generation of insurance professional to combine bestpractices, experiences and ideas to form like an insurance voltron(A fictional defender of the independent insurance agency system)to defend the value-based selling we believe in.

If the words I used in the nGInsights blog offended you becauseyou thought I was age bashing, than Iapologize—but I must admit that I am not sorryfor writing the article. It was meant to be a bellringer… a war cry… not to pin baby boomer against Millennial butrather independent insurance agents and our carrier brethrenagainst the competitors that threaten our livelihood.

Look at ACT. An amazing group of which I am a proudmember, which is made up of insurance professionals from everygeneration that have dedicated themselves to discussing the cuttingedge tools, techniques and technology that will grow the insuranceindustry.

Do you think I was talking to the more experienced members ofthat group, the people pushing social media in circles of influenceI have no access to, the people able to shift our industry? Do youthink I was talking to these people, whom I have the utmost respectand admiration, when I used the words “old timer”?

No, no I wasn't.

Part 1 was meant to rattle your cage. It was meant to spurdiscussion. It was meant to bring technology believers off thesidelines and into the battle for our longevityand legacy.

Read on for Ryan's challenge to the industry

We Carry the Torch Together

The independent insurance agency is falling behind in thetechnology and marketing chess match. But all hope is notlost, not by a long shot. We have plenty of Bobby Fischers outthere doing amazing things.

What we need is for everyone to wake up to see what ishappening. That was the purpose of thePart 1. Instead of “Get out of the way”, maybe I shouldhave said: “Unshackle us. Let us be yourmentees, but respect our opinions and enthusiasm. Let young agentsbe part of the growth and strengthening of the industry welove. Teach us how to sell and then let us help apply thatknowledge to the Internet—so we all cansucceed.”

I have no intention of being a divisive force within ourindustry. If anything, my passion is the exact opposite. Yes,young agents can be brash, bold and a little crass. Butthat is why we need each other. That is why as an industry, workingtogether, only amazing things are possible.

That is why I see so much potential moving forward. That iswhy I'm writing THIS article.

Today I challenge myself to do ONE thing that helps topromote the independent insurance agency system.

What will you do?

I hope to see you on the Internet battlefield.