For Agents, There’s No Time for Recreation & Leisure

When asked to pen a piece to end this issue, I asked myself, “what is the best way to end an issue focused on recreation and leisure?” I truly have no idea; agents have no time for such frivolity. Our time is invested in protecting persons, plants and production. After all, the welfare of our clients is primary in our lives; if we take a break, the whole world will fall apart, uh, uh … Whoa, I really do need a vacation. I guess that’s the point the editor-in-chief was trying to make.

Well, how should I relax? Maybe I’ll take a cue from other insurance professionals I know.

Golf: Many of my professional insurance friends choose golf for relaxation; I played with one of these guys a few months ago. His chip shot didn’t land as close to the cup as he wanted (just landing on the green would have been nice). I have never seen a club thrown so perfectly (landing far closer to the pin than his shot). Now that’s what I call relaxing. Golf, according to Mark Twain, is just a good walk ruined.

The last time I played golf was just that – the last time; until I get the itch again. Golf is a sickness, but no way to relax.

Running: I know many insurance professionals swear running is a good way to relax. Our CEO, Mitch Dunford, is a runner; in fact, he’ll even run a marathon from time to time. He equates running a marathon to a man’s understanding of childbirth – you forget the pain and run another – remembering about 15 miles into the run. My dad was a runner, running five miles a day for about 10 years until injury and intelligence required him to quit.

When I was playing ball in school (baseball and soccer), running was the punishment incurred if the coach thought you messed up or weren’t giving your best effort. For me, it will always be a punishment so it is not my idea of “relaxing;” only a generator of flashbacks. For sake of comparison, I feel the same way about biking.

Working out, weightlifting, etc.: I used to work out quite a bit, at least four days a week. One day I was in the midst of my workout and I experienced “total consciousness” (kind of like Bill Murray’s character described in the movie “Caddyshack”). Reality became clear in that moment – to stay in that shape, I would have to do this for the rest of my life. Last time I did any serious training.

Drinking: Bill Cosby, back in the early 1980s, described what “having a good time” looked like. It ended with a guy on the floor of the bathroom hugging the porcelain god and thanking it for being so cool (temperature wise). I fail to see the relaxation or leisure factor.

Boating: Two phrases encompass why I don’t own a boat. Break Out Another Thousand (BOAT); and a boat is defined as a hole in the water into which you pour money. Spending money only ups the blood pressure and I already have two daughters that cost me money.

Vacationing anywhere: I just said I have two daughters, how’s that a vacation?

Taking a cruise: I love them, my wife gets sea sick.

Playing with the kids: To not say this is NOT relaxing would be to infer my kids can get on my last, frail overexposed nerve. So, we have a great time together and they really bring calm into my life.

Reading: Now we are getting somewhere. While many prefer to read mysteries, adventures, romance or biographies, my preferred genre is business and finance. I can totally relax to books detailing the history of probability theory (i.e., “Against the Gods” by Peter Bernstein) or focused on risk management. When no one is looking, I’ll even read an insurance policy.

Writing: This may be the most fun to me. I love to write, which is why I do it for a living. In fact, my most recent adventure in writing, “Business Income Insurance Demystified: Time Element Coverages Simplified” will be available for purchase later this month on InsuranceJournal.com.

Insurance geeks are boring people.

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