chutzpah

Webster’s defines chutzpah as Yiddish for supreme self-confidence, nerve, gall. Take pride in your chutzpah. Don’t apologize for it, and care what others say. Your action must come from a place of truth. If it doesn’t, your chutzpah will go amiss. Chutzpah should not mean letting go of your principles or dignity. Chutzpah should always be expressed in moderation, much like everything in life. it’s true—some people seem to come by it naturally but, in fact, it was developed by the sum of their experiences. You, too, can develop chutzpah, but it takes supreme confidence and a huge dose of discipline. Confidence comes when you know—to the core of your being—that what you have to offer, your value, will put your prospects in superior positions compared to where they are now. Whether it is making the prospect more profitable by lowering the overall cost of risk (that doesn’t mean the cheapest premium, but that’s another article), properly aligning coverage with exposure, or conveying genuine concern for the prospect’s well-being, you have to believe it before you can convey it. Confidence is only the first step to developing chutzpah. The second step is discipline. You have to decide to put yourself in a position to meet new people and develop relationships on a regular basis—in person or on the phone. Sure, you can begin these relationships through social media, e-mail marketing, or any number of other marketing techniques, but eventually it becomes personal. It’s difficult at first, but discipline will get you started and confidence will keep you going. Once you realize you are truly helping people, it becomes an addiction—that’s chutzpah.