Based on your posts , I know that there are a lot of you who share much of the same passion for catastrophe claim work as I do. Dedication to detail in this ever changing industry has proven time and again to be the greatest asset to success for both me and my circle of IA friends. The combined efforts of independents alone from the new to the experienced “old salts” is larger and has more control over the future of the storm claims profession than any other group within the parameters of its operational existence. I know that many if not all insurance carriers have conducted their own studies on the subject of just how cost effective the use of independents are compared to training and maintaining their own staff. The results of these studies that I have learned about have always been quite close by giving a slight advantage to either one group or another. I believe that the future of this industry is ours if we want it. I say that we take the next opportunity we have to collectively stand, deliver and make it ours.
I AM IA
I was born on a promise to put life as I knew it on indefinite hold,
to trust in that chaos brings opportunity and opportunity perpetuates opportunity.
An understanding that all of my personal endeavors would now stand second
to the expectations of the catastrophe claims industry.
I have no control over the destinations I must travel
but am amazed to look back at all the places I have been.
I have no control of the files that I am assigned
and long for the return of zip plus two.
My inventory of claims is staggering,
and the demands to contact and inspect those claims are unrealistic
yet this is this is my opportunity to routinely demonstrate
that even unrealistic goals can be surpassed.
My office is made up of six windows, four tires and a seat,
in it I carry all the tools of my trade, some company issue but most of my own devise.
Combined these tools represent everything that I need to shut down a claim
with the greatest probability that it will never have to be revisited.
In my vehicle I am a warrior and in my quest to settle claims
no one has more control over my office than me.
My theatre of operation is the street and as I advance on my claims I do battle
with those who seek the confines of an office building or the comforts of their own homes.
I walk on areas not designed to accommodate the human foot,
crawl into spaces that challenge my flexibility
and climb onto structures that consistently test and expand my levels of comfort.
I have disagreed w/many roofers while standing on the ridge of a 12/12
and I am not afraid.
Delivering the best in customer service is not an optionand at times will prove to be my greatest challenge.
The improprieties of policy holders and contractors are many and ever present.
Some choose to view their actions as merely an unpleasant aspect of the job, I cherish there actions as my most valued tool,
for this is the stone that I use to sharpen my claims handling skills to a razor sharp edge for pinpoint accuracy.
There have been others who have walked down this path before,
those who have helped define what this job is still about, but I am still here.
Still rising to the uncertainty of where I will work tomorrow,
still accepting the unforeseen changes that each new day presents.
I will never settle for being just the best that this business has to offer,
I am the very best of what the catastrophe claim’s industry is.
I AM IA.
Wrote this for my cat brothers and sisters back when I was a staff adjusters for State Farm. Hope that summer and fall 07 provides us another opportunity to demonstrate just how valuable we are.