Chip Ervin - How to Make Your Image Work for You as a Broker

Chip Ervin is an insurance broker, a poker player, and a DJ. He knows how important it is to have an image in a professional career.

                                       
To be perceived as a successful broker you need to convey the image of a successful broker. Individual appearances should be subject to the same image concerns as your location of business and advertising.

Some insurance brokers brag about coming to work in flip flops and shorts but then are surprised that affluent clients and corporate customers are not treating them seriously. 

The difference between shorts, jeans, and a suit does matter. 

Is it fair? Of course, it is not fair at all. However, this is how life works. The saying “do not judge a book by its cover” exists because we all judge books all the time by their covers, people by their appearances, and places of business by their marketing. 

Do you want to be right, or do you want to be successful?

This is a defining question not just for insurance brokers, but for business people in any field. Answering this question is a challenge that requires total pragmatism, a realistic worldview, and giving up excuses. 

Notice that the above question does not suggest playing a game of being a political chameleon, changing what you say or do, minute by minute, client by client, and audience by audience. There has to be congruency to how you conduct business. There has to be a collection of beliefs and principles that do not change. At the same time there are many things that can be easily tweaked that will take you to success faster. 

Getting impressive results in sales is possible, and Chip Ervin is a great example of that.

Chip Ervin - Using Free Gifts to Increase Your Sales

Chip Ervin has been playing poker professionally since 2007. He is one of Alabama’s top poker players. He is also an insurance broker and a DJ. This vast experience gives him unique insights into the psychology of sales and human interactions.

Every sane, reasonable person knows that there is no such thing as a free lunch. However, we are all hoping for it and looking for it. This is why you want to use free gifts, or premiums in your selling.

A premium is something the customer gets for free when buying something else. A premium can be everything and anything. Some expensive homes even come with a Rolls Royce that a buyer gets as a free gift.

Chip Ervin

You want to choose a premium that is different from what you sell. Simply giving away products or services similar to yours devaluates your core business.

The best premiums are premiums that people want for themselves, but usually wouldn’t buy.

There can be plenty of reasons why someone may be able to afford an item, but never buy it. It may be that they will feel guilty about the purchase or others seeing them making the purchase. It may be that their household members wouldn’t approve of the purchase.

Figuring out what your prospects want and then giving it away free as a free gift with a purchase can be a very powerful strategy. In this scenario you will have prospects buying from you not just for your core offer, but also because you are fundamentally giving them a way out by using your gift without feeling guilty about it.

As a DJ, Chip Ervin witnessed nightclubs use this strategy very effectively when selling expensive tables and packages to affluent customers.

Chip Ervin - How to DJ On A Budget

Chip Ervin has been a DJ since the age of fourteen, when he established himself as DJ Chip Hop at Super Skate. He eventually moved onto the underground rave scene, spinning discs with the likes of Evol Intent and Knick Bro Safari, even spending a period of his life working as a DJ in Atlanta. He is always interested in seeing new DJs ply their trade, with the following tips proving useful to those who are trying to do so on a budget.

Buy Second Hand
Having flash new equipment is all well and good, but it may restrict your purchasing options if you are working to a tight budget. Don’t be afraid to speak to other DJs to see if they have any older equipment that they are trying to sell. This will allow you the chance to work more dates, thus building the reputation and earning the money you need to improve your kit over time.

Use Good Music Sources
The likes of Spotify and Soundcloud are going to prove important to any DJs who have little to spend, as they offer you access to a huge variety of music at a low cost. This means that you get to spend less of your budget on building a collection of records, allowing you to funnel your money into buying new kit.

Take Lots of Gigs
While you may see yourself as a specific sort of DJ, Chip Ervin notes that all gigs give you the chance to earn money. Consider all opportunities that come your way and take as many paying gigs as possible.

Chip Ervin - How To Putt Properly

When he is not busy working as an insurance broker or honing his skills as a professional poker player, Chip Ervin likes to unwind by playing a few rounds of golf at his local course. In order to develop into a good player, you need to focus on your short game as much as your long game. This means developing your putting skills by making good use of the following advice.

  Read The Green

With wind becoming less of a factor with the ball on the ground, you need to spend more time reading the green and understanding how it will affect your putt. You need to be able to manipulate the contours of the green properly to ensure you are accurate and use the right amount of power. This takes a lot of practice, especially as many new players are guilty of under-reading their putts, resulting in wasted shots.

Constantly Assess

Each missed putt is a learning opportunity so you need to treat it as such. If you don’t assess the way you putt, you are unlikely to make any long-lasting improvements. It is crucial that you fully understand your reasoning behind the shots that you make, as this will allow you to pick out flaws in your decision making that you can correct on later putts.

Keep Practicing

It may seem like a simple tip, but Chip Ervin understands the importance of regular practice. Try to get out on the greens as often as possible so that you can apply what you learn. Even your local crazy golf facility can prove useful in this endeavor.