Did You Google It? Or...Did You Ask Chat GPT? Why Relationships Matter In Business

Did You Google It? Or...Did You Ask Chat GPT?

Why Relationships Matter In Business:

There was a time when every insurance agency had shelves lined with underwriting

manuals, rating books, and company binders. If a client called asking for a quote, there wasn't a computer screen waiting with all the answers. We reached for the appropriate binder, searched for the underwriting guidelines, and tried to determine whether the risk fits a particular company's appetite. If we still weren't sure, we picked up the telephone and called our underwriter.

Back then, conversations were simply part of doing business. I have watched our

industry change in ways I could never have imagined.

Early in my career, I worked for an insurance agency that became one of the early

testing agencies for the Applied Agency Management System. At the time, it was

groundbreaking, and none of us could have imagined how much technology would

change our industry. During that time, agency management systems were primarily about data entry and reporting. Today, they do almost everything. Documents are scanned and stored electronically. Emails become part of the client file. Policies, notes, activities, and communications are all connected in one place. Artificial intelligence helps us organize information, answer questions, and work even more efficiently.

Looking back, I couldn't help but laugh at another memory.

One of my producers was forever asking, "Francinee! Did you Google it?!" I'll admit; I rolled my eyes more than once. (And mind you, he never saw me roll my eyes, but I’m sure he knew!) Fast forward to today, I find myself smiling because the question has changed. "Did you ask Chat GPT?"

The tools have changed, but my curiosity never goes out of style.

These days, before I ever pick up the phone, I often review a client's website, browse

their Facebook page, research their business, Google information, and yes, sometimes I

ask Chat. Not because technology has replaced relationships, but because it helps me

prepare for better conversations and ultimately serve people more thoughtfully.

Emails are efficient. Text messages are convenient. Artificial intelligence is

remarkable. But none of them tell me what I can often hear in someone's voice…excitement, concern, uncertainty, or pride.

Sometimes a five-minute phone conversation accomplishes more than twenty emails

ever could. Technology has made us faster. Relationships make us better. And I believe

we need both.

Along the Way...

Every generation experiences change that feels overwhelming at first. From

underwriting binders and fax machines to Google, agency management systems, and

now artificial intelligence, I've learned that tools will continue to evolve.

What matters most isn't whether we keep up with every new technology. It's whether

we remain curious enough to keep learning and wise enough to remember why we're

using it in the first place.

The tools will continue to change, but my desire to keep learning never will.

Continue Down the Road with Me...

If today's story resonated with you, I invite you to continue down the road

with me by exploring more stories that have inspired Highway 50 Insurance

Resource and TuneStone Jewelry. Whether you're looking for helpful

resources, exploring your insurance options, or simply searching for a little

inspiration, I hope you'll find something of value along your own road.

www.hwy50ins.com

Until next time, thank you for traveling The Creative Road with me!

Warmly,

Francine

The Melody Along the Way

Every story has a melody and the song that inspired this month's story was

"Life Changes" by Thomas Rhett

Sometimes a song has a way of saying what words alone cannot.