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Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

We should all strive to encourage each other, regardless of the experience level we have attained. Respect and integrity go a long way, along with common sense. Knowledge is power, so attain as much as possible. That's an old cliche, but very true, particularily in this business. Never say no, because yes is very possible.

I think it is important to always tell the truth no matter which way it cuts. If you made a mistake, then own up to it. 

By the way, in reference to truth-telling, is anyone getting tired of CAT vendors trying to get you on their ready list by promising daily claims? I am! 

It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

This is absolute genius. Watch the video to the end. It is great.

http://www.chilloutzone.de/files/pl...CejXnHAS/c

The Professional Catastrophe Adjuster

The Professional Catastrophe Adjuster is someone who is always ready and waiting for that call that says many people are in trouble. Within days or hours of being notified, they are ready to deploy to the site of a disaster.  They put themselves in harm's way over and over, visiting devastated sites right along with the victims.  They climb and crawl through mud, ash, polluted water, broken buildings and homes, broken people and dreams, offering assistance in finding temporary shelter and money to get them through the terrible days and months ahead.  

Catastrophe Adjusters work in some of the most extraordinary circumstances.  They are away from home for weeks, sometimes months at a time while their families go on without them. 
They willingly endure the lack of housing, food, electricity, and accept whatever restrictions or curfews are in the local area.  Their work day is usually 16-20 hours of inspecting damages in the cruelest weather conditions.  They enter many dangerous situations; climbing on roofs, working around houses that could potentially collapse, walking in and out of the debris left from the storm.  They suffer from exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration, sunburn, windburn, cuts, bruises, falls, and a host of other maladies that would send the average person running for home.  And after a long and strenuous day of inspections is over, they go back to hotels or RVs or wherever they've been able to find lodging and write up estimates of the damages.  Generally, its well beyond midnight before they lay their heads down for some much needed rest.

They get up at the crack of dawn and ready themselves to start the process all over again.  There will be endless inspections and interviews with the insured homeowners who, by then, are over the initial shock and have become anxious, irritable, scared, angry, sometimes violent and confused.  They possess the patience of a saint while attempting to explain to the insured why a particular item isn’t covered under the policy, or why their losses can’t somehow be fixed yesterday.  They listen to the complaints and the stories of the insured with kindness and empathy while still maintaining a professional and competent role.  They are yelled at, stood up for appointments, and blamed for the disaster and all the associated problems.

Their managers yell if their files aren't turned in quickly enough.  Their managers don't care that the Internet isn't working, the electricity isn't turned on, or the fax machine won't work.  They are constantly under pressure from both their managers and the insured to turn the file in immediately.  They wait for documentation from an insured only to have the insured turn around and yell because their file isn't turned in.  They get put off by contractors who won't return calls or keep appointments. 

Catastrophe Adjusters are those who care enough to risk danger and discomfort to assist during a crisis.  They are kind, sympathetic, and compassionate people.  They have a vast understanding of construction methods and cost; masonry, metallurgy, heating and air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing to name a few.  They are above average in English, Grammar, Mathematics, Communication Skills, Computer Programs and Time Management as well as a plethora of other skills too numerous to list. 
The Professional Catastrophe Adjuster is someone who is intelligent, kind and capable.  They are willing to put themselves in harm's way in order to assist an insured during and after a disaster.  They could be your neighbor, family member, the person who attends your club or church, or the person who lives down the street.  They are just human.  But they are also everyday heroes.
 

Thank you, Meg, for so eloquently reminding us of the ideal to which we should strive. 

Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

Meg, that is a wonderful explanation of what an adjuster is and what is required of him. We, unfortunately, do not get the good recognition we actually deserve. If you ever read about an adjuster or see a television broadcast about one, it is one that has gone bad or has done something bad. I wish people would recognize what strains, stresses, and demands are placed upon us during a catastrophe, including the vendors and companies. Good job Meg.

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals.   I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

Circumstances do not make the person, they reveal the person.

The integrity and honor we hope to build, is not for my generation but for yours.  It is your future that matters.  And I hope that when you are my age, you will be able to say, as I have been able to say - We lived in freedom and honor.  We lived lives that were a statement, not an apology.

Happy 4th of July.

No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future.

A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.

To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it. To become and maintain the status of an excellent adjuster, knowledge must be fed to the brain. You cannot become what you wish to become if you don't feed your mind. So, oil it up and boogey.

Emptiness is a symptom that you are not living creatively.  You either have no goal that is important enough to you, or you are not using your talents and efforts in a striving toward an important goal.

Is perfect spelling really necessary?

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The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a
wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be
in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed
it wouthit a porbelm Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey
lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Things are not happening to you. Things are happening because of you.