Unlocking Success in Insurance: The Power of Mindset with Mitch Weisbergh

On episode 82 of the Insurance Business Babes podcast, host Kathe Kline welcomed mindset expert Mitch Weisbergh for an insightful discussion on the transformative power of mind shifting, particularly as it applies to professionals in the insurance industry. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways and practical strategies shared during their conversation.

The Role of Mindset in Insurance

Kathe set the stage by highlighting that Medicare insurance agents are, by nature, educators. Most clients aren’t “sold” on Medicare—it’s a necessity—so the true service comes in guiding and educating clients through complex decisions. Mitch Weisbergh, known for teaching educators (and now professionals of all backgrounds) how to change their mindsets and approach challenges creatively, emphasized how improving one’s mindset isn’t just helpful, but critical for success and satisfaction.

Handling High-Stress Seasons

A major challenge for insurance agents, especially during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), is managing overwhelming workloads and stress. Mitch clarified that stress arises from our brain’s limbic system, impairing creativity and critical thinking. To counteract this, he offered three evidence-based strategies:

1. Self-Awareness: Recognize when stress is mounting. Sometimes simple awareness can spark change.

2. Positive Self-Talk: Replace “I can’t” with “Perhaps I can” to reframe challenges into opportunities.

3. Mindfulness and Distraction: Take breaks, meditate, listen to music, or enjoy quick walks. These reset the brain, enhancing executive function and decision-making.

Embracing Meditation for Wellbeing

Despite skepticism in some circles, meditation has scientific backing—even being practiced by elite athletes for focus. Mitch recommends both a morning meditation session and short mindfulness breaks during the day to reduce stress and improve performance. Simple techniques like focusing on breath or tactile sensations can help even the busiest agents reclaim calm and clarity.

Breaking Out of Limiting Loops

Mitch urged listeners to recognize self-limiting beliefs—often just outdated responses from our “survival brain.” By questioning rigid thinking and staying open to alternative solutions, agents can unlock new levels of growth, resilience, and service quality.

Final Thoughts and Resources

To dive deeper, Mitch recommends his book, Mind Shifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success, and his website mindshiftingwithmitch.com, offering practical tips for changing the way we think, work, and thrive.

Listen to the full episode for more actionable insights!

This episode is sponsored by ⁠CertifiedMedicareAgents.com⁠. Use the coupon code BABES2024 for a free lifetime BRONZE membership.

How to Successfully Hire and Manage a Virtual Assistant for Your Insurance Business

Running an insurance practice means juggling countless tasks, and as your client roster grows, so does the need for reliable support. In this week’s episode of the Insurance Business Babes podcast, hosts Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff dive deep into hiring virtual assistants (VAs)—sharing years of hands-on wisdom from building their own teams. Here are the best nuggets from their conversation, expanded for our blog readers.

Why and When to Hire a Virtual Assistant

Most insurance agents hit a breaking point as their client base approaches 300 or more. When that happens, administrative work starts eating into sales time, client service suffers, and time off becomes a dream. As Joanna says, “We girl boss a little too hard to the sun and you start getting overwhelmed.” If you’re constantly frazzled or avoiding your ringing phone, it’s time to bring on support—before burnout sets in.

Where to Find Qualified Virtual Assistants

Both hosts swear by onlinejobs.ph, a popular platform for hiring VAs from the Philippines. Filipino VAs are known for excellent English, polite customer service, and strong work ethic. Kathe recommends paying a little extra for the six-month support/transition package, giving the VA a local contact to help them adjust and ensuring smoother onboarding for you.

Other options include Upwork (especially if you need part-time help), or hiring services like Hire Heroes, which pre-screen and prepare candidates for the insurance industry.

Screening and Selecting the Right Candidate

To avoid sifting through hundreds of resumes, Joanna suggests:

• Requesting a video introduction to gauge English proficiency, personality, and customer-facing skills.

• Asking for a portfolio if you’re hiring for specialized skills (like marketing).

• Giving clear, specific application instructions to spot high attention to detail.

Kathe is a fan of assigning paid trial tasks to top candidates. This hands-on approach shows who’s truly capable and reliable.

Training & Managing Your Virtual Assistant

Before hiring, spend time recording your processes using screen capture tools. This library of “how-to” videos becomes a training goldmine for your VA—and any future hires. Kathe reminds us never to do one-on-one trainings without recording: “Chances are, you’re going to have to hire another virtual assistant someday.”

Embrace cultural differences—be explicit with expectations, offer positive feedback, and always have clear agreements regarding pay, 13th month bonuses, and holidays. Tools like Hubstaff or TimeProof help with accountability by capturing regular screen shots of your VA’s work.

Compensation & Retention

Pay competitively, offer regular bonuses, and recognize holidays. Both Kathe and Joanna emphasize generosity—helping your VA feel valued pays dividends in loyalty and performance. Clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and regular check-ins keep everyone on the same page.

Final Thoughts

The sooner you invest in hiring and training a VA, the sooner you’ll reclaim your time for sales, strategy, and some well-deserved balance. As Kathe says, “Your life will change for the better from that point forward.”

Ready to take your insurance business to the next level? Don’t wait—start your hiring journey today!

This episode is sponsored by ⁠CertifiedMedicareAgents.com⁠. Use the coupon code BABES2024 for a free lifetime BRONZE membership.

Breaking Down Fixed and Indexed Annuities for Medicare Agents

In episode 80 of the Insurance Business Babes podcast, host Kathe Kline is joined by Tiffany Washington, whose unique journey from optometry to Medicare insurance provides valuable lessons for insurance professionals at every stage.

Tiffany began her insurance career as a Licensed Only Agent (LOA), not fully understanding the differences between being an LOA and an independent agent. Her turning point arrived after three years with the same company, when she realized a new contract would leave her without ownership of her existing book of business. Despite having 627 clients, Tiffany made the tough decision to start over as an independent agent, underscoring the importance of contract transparency and owning your clientele from the onset.

A central focus of this episode is the prospect of cross-selling fixed annuities. Kathe highlights both the opportunities and risks: while annuities can offer clients principal protection and guaranteed income—serving almost like a self-made pension—they come with complexities in terms of product types (like fixed and indexed annuities) and beneficiary options.

New agents are urged to master the basics and prioritize clear client communication, especially when discussing accumulation versus annuitization phases or navigating beneficiary selections.

Both Kathe and Tiffany agree on the significance of protecting your reputation and client base. Kathe advises agents to stay client-focused, never sell products with high surrender charges unless they're genuinely in the client’s best interest, and ensure Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance is properly updated before offering annuities.

Tiffany’s takeaway: always put yourself in the client’s position and document everything.

Whether you’re considering adding annuities to your offerings or deciding between meeting clients in-person versus virtually, keep your business model flexible and your ethics at the forefront. As Kathe concludes, focusing on clients’ needs—and not just the commission—builds both trust and long-term success in the insurance world.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠CertifiedMedicareAgents.com⁠. Use the coupon code BABES2024 for a free lifetime BRONZE membership.