It's an experience I wouldn't have had otherwise, had I had not decided it was in NU's best interest to bolster our coverage in the insurance tech space, to place some editorial focus back on that sector. There's a desire for more content in that channel on PropertyCasualty360.com, and some of the best content comes from thought leaders. How does one connect with thought leaders? You go out and find them. In this case, I was attending the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA)'s annual conference in Las Vegas, where I met many similarly talented and insightful experts who will be sharing their thoughts with our readers.

I've been traveling a lot lately, in fact, and that is a very good thing.

Truth be told, I really don't mind business travel. That's not to say I'm huge fan of cramped seats in coach, delayed or cancelled flights, or the occasional disappearing luggage, but like many in the insurance industry with something to sell, I like getting out in the world and meeting people.

Incidentally, I have to ask: What is it with airline passengers who insist on leaping out of their seats and standing in the aisle with their bag, the second the seat belt sign is turned off? I find those folks at once amusing and annoying. It's not like you're getting off the plane any faster than the rest of us, bub. Sit down.

Anyway, as ambassador for the brand, I enjoy representing NU in our continued effort to cover the P&C industry as best we can, and a large part of that process is building relationships at all levels of the business. What my team and I do is in reality not vastly different from the work of agents and brokers: going out, meeting and talking with industry figures and learning about the issues that matter most to them, and then—if we do our jobs right—providing them solutions.

The thing is, you don't forge relationships by sitting behind a desk. You have to get out among the other humans and make yourself available.

It's fascinating to me that once you meet someone in person these days—not just exchanging e-mails with them or even talking to them on the phone—a stronger bond is forged in which you both become far more receptive to the other's reach-out. Once you've met that person and shared some time with them, you'll take their call a lot faster—and in a lot of cases, they'll do the same.

In May I had the opportunity to attend one of Lloyd's of London's "Meet the Market" events (this one in Atlanta), an invitation-only gathering hosted to introduce more American insurance professionals to the London insurance market and educate them in the market expertise afforded by its coverholders, some of whom are leading experts in their respective lines.

Having the chance to share perspective and exchange ideas on issues in various P&C insurance markets with some very intelligent people from some top carriers was invaluable. At the end of the day, I'm a journalist, and I can't do my job in a bubble. Again, the same could be said for people who make a living selling insurance.

At the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation's Women in Insurance Global Conference in New York City last month, I had a similarly enlightening experience among a comparatively small number of men in a ballroom full of female insurance professionals. One new contact I made that day—one that put me on the trail of a great claims-fraud story in the Sunshine State—sat down to lunch with my colleague Rosalie Donlon and me and joked, "There's a maaaaaan here?"

"Yes, I feel like a spy," I told her. But all jokes aside, the perspective I gained extended far beyond the usual acquisition of interview notes. I felt very glad to have attended.

Ask yourself: Am I really "out there"? Do I make myself available? Not just to clients, but to prospects? Even the ones I haven't yet identified?

It's an important question worth asking, regardless of your station in this business. I'm a firm believer that you can learn something of value from every single person you meet.

While you're at it, take a second, relax and take a breath when the plane lands. You'll be back in the race soon enough.