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I thought we’d switch up the blog today and do a Q&A with one of the founders of Insurance Soup. If you’re in Soup with us, you know Michael McCormick as one of the creators, crafter of fine content and head moderators in the group. His constant quest to give real-life, helpful advice on how to do insurance is something I get to see behind the scenes every day, but today, we’re giving you a peek behind the curtain. Enjoy!
- STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE PEOPLES. - MICHAEL JOSEPH MCCORMICK
- WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY? - I got licensed in 2006 in Life and Health to aid the financial advisor in retirement planning cases for the branch that I managed at JP Morgan Chase.
- WHAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW THAT BROKE YOUR CAPTIVE BACK? - I never really felt like a business owner. I was having restrictions placed on what types of business I could write. I was being told how I could and couldn’t market. I didn’t actually own the business and there was nothing to sell at the end. And I was too young and too ambitious to settle for that bullshit.
- HOW MUCH YA BENCH? - 37 lbs.
- HOW DID YOU AND TAYLOR MEET? - We met in a marketing course in 2014.
- WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO TACO BELL ORDER? - I really try to stay with street tacos from the local joint but IF I’m going to Taco Bell there's always a Nacho BellGrande or Mexican Pizza in the mix. I also really like a steak soft taco with the lime sauce and the Double Decker tacos too, but I’m in mourning because they’re gone now. And I like to order “cheesy fiesta potatoes” because it’s just fun to say “cheesy fiesta potatoes”.
- WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA TO START SOUP? - Taylor and I came up with the idea to start Soup because there was nowhere for the industry to come together to talk about what was going on. We wanted an environment where everyone could share the good, the bad and the ugly, regardless of their carrier and whether they were captive or independent. But really, it was a self-serving intent to learn more from others.
- “REPEAT AFTER ME, “ALMOND MILK’” - (Ok, this was for the writer so I could share a story. This morning Mike called me to see if I wanted a coffee because he was stopping to grab one for himself on the way in to work. The answer was obviously YES. When he asked how I wanted it and I told him 'with almond milk', his response was, "You're really going to make me say almond milk in front of people?" I'm happy to report that he was able to say the words almond milk in front of people successfully, although with maybe some mild emotional trauma. But hey, that's the theme of 2020.)
- WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF CREATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR AGENTS in CAC? - My favorite thing about CAC is when a newer agent has that first campaign that really blows up and it’s like they can’t believe it actually worked even though 4000 people were telling them it would. I love when someone says they blew a TON of money on ads before CAC and then were shocked that CAC actually did what we said it would. That epiphany moment is cool for me.
- WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A KLONDIKE BAR? - I’d murder a crackhead under a bridge. Don’t write that. I’ve done plenty of things for less so I’m sure there’s a lot I’d do for one.
- WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF MODERATING SOUP? - There’s a lot of agents that don’t realize, recognize or respect the fact that this is our business and they take offense to our booting them for being jackasses. Then they’re bad behavior makes us the enemy.
- WHY ARE YOU SO EASILY UNTETHERED BY PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA? - A. I don’t believe that pineapple on pizza is pzza. If you want to put pineapple on pizza, go ahead, but call it something else. B. I just like to go back and forth with people about it in Soup. C. It’s something that a crackhead under a bridge would eat.
- WHO WOULD WIN IN A FIGHT, YOU OR BRIAN BLAIR? - What kind of fight? A tickle fight? (Writer, "Sure.") Brian would win.
- WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SOUP? - There’s so much coming that the audience is unaware of and it’s so much bigger than just a product or service. It will shift the way business is being done and that will provide opportunity on such a large scale to people who don't have it right now. Knowing what’s coming and knowing that the agents don’t even realize what kind of cool shit is on the horizon and how it’s going to change their lives and how excited they’re going to be with the solutions that are coming. That's exciting.
There you have it folks! I hope you enjoyed a deeper look at what goes on in one of the minds behind the scenes of Insurance Soup. If you, or agents you know, are looking for a community of insurance professionals, happy helpers and goofballs to share your experiences in the industry with, we’d love to have you with us in Insurance Soup!
