🔥 TOMORROW’S THE DAY. 🔥 The wait is over. Season 3 contestants are about to experience what it’s like to learn directly from the original Protege himself, Derek Hayden. 👊 Winner of Season 1, Derek didn’t just compete. He set the standard. He turned the opportunity of a lifetime into a launching pad for massive success, and tomorrow he’s back to show this year’s contestants exactly what it takes to win. 🏆 💡 From mindset to execution, Derek is proof that when you combine work ethic, humility, and grit, anything is possible. 🎥 Watch the reel, get fired up, and get ready for our first Guest Mentor Call of Season 3! This is where the real game begins. #TheProtege #KillingCommercial #Mentorship #SalesTraining #MiddleMarketInsurance #InsuranceProducers #Leadership #ProducerDevelopment #DerekHayden #Season3 #GameOn

🔥 THE LINEUP JUST GOT EVEN HOTTER. 🔥 We said Season 3 of The Protégé was going to raise the bar… and now we’ve torched it. 💥 Three new powerhouse mentors have joined the roster — bringing even more specialized expertise to help our contestants dominate the middle market and build careers that last. Introducing our newest Guest Mentors 👇 🚀 Cary Weston – Founder & President, CM Weston — ChatGPT Expert 💼 Warren Cleveland – Founder, Captive Coalition — Captive Insurance Expert ⚙️ Kevin Ring – Lead Analyst, Institute of Work Comp Professionals — Workers’ Compensation Insurance Expert And they join one of the strongest mentor lineups this industry has ever seen: 🔥 Derek Hayden – Season 1 Protégé Winner 🔥 Charles Specht – CEO & Founder, Permission Network — Micro Niche Building Expert 🔥 Bob Paskins – President, Bob Paskins Enterprises — Producer Development Expert 🔥 Ciara Gravier – CEO, The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management — Branding Expert 🔥 Daniel Wakefield – CEO, Top-Tier Headshots — LinkedIn & Branding Expert 🔥 Colby Allen – VP of Consulting & Valuations, Agency Brokerage — Financials for Producers Expert 🔥 Ryan Hanley – President, Linqura — Content Marketing Expert 🔥 Nicholas Ayers – CMO, Glovebox — Buyer Psychology & Positioning Expert 🔥 Zane Goldthorp – Director of Broker Development, ProWriters — Cyber Insurance Expert 🔥 Dylan Jordan – SVP, Healthcare, Social Services & Life Sciences, Amwins — Niche Market Expert 🔥 Chris Langille – CEO, Advisor Evolved & Local Traffic Marketing — Online Presence Expert 💣 Access to this level of mentorship, coaching, and real-world knowledge is absolutely game-changing for our contestants — and it gives these mentors the platform to showcase their brands to thousands of ambitious producers across the country. 🎥 Season 3 of The Protégé More expertise. More mentorship. More competition. 👉 Subscribe now to the Killing Commercial YouTube Channel so you don’t miss the premiere: youtube.com/killingcommercia… #TheProtege #KillingCommercial #InsuranceProducers #SalesTraining #MiddleMarketInsurance #Mentorship #InsuranceIndustry #CaptiveInsurance #WorkersCompensation #ChatGPT #ContentMarketing #Branding #SalesCoaching #RiskManagement #ProducerDevelopment

🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨 If you're an insurance agency owner thinking about succession, retention, or creating a meaningful legacy—this is the episode you can’t afford to miss. I sat down with Brian Baughman, VP of Sales at The Hartwell Corporation, to talk about the single most powerful tool you’re probably not using: ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans). We covered: ✅ Why employee ownership creates life-changing wealth ✅ How ESOPs give you a serious edge in recruiting and retention ✅ The real story on tax incentives and compliance ✅ Why the balance sheet matters more than the paycheck ✅ How to future-proof your agency without selling your soul to private equity This isn’t theory. Brian is living it—and his insights are 🔥 for any agency leader who wants to grow without giving up control. 🎧 Tune in now to learn how employee ownership can transform your agency's culture, stability, and long-term success. This episode is live on the Killing Commercial Insurance YouTube channel and hits all your favorite podcast channels this Wednesday morning. #InsuranceLeadership #ESOP #AgencyGrowth #EmployeeOwnership #SuccessionPlanning #InsuranceRecruiting #PowerProducers #MiddleMarketInsurance #FutureProofYourAgency

They Thought I Was the Prospect… Turns Out, They Are. 💥 This morning, I got a cold text from a tree service company offering a free estimate. They pulled my number from a lead gen list and assumed I had trees that needed trimming. I don’t. The storms already took care of that. 🌪️🌳 But instead of brushing it off or blocking the number, I flipped the script: “I don’t need tree work — but I do own an independent insurance agency that specializes in helping tree services like yours with insurance and risk management.” Now they’re the prospect. Not me. Too often, we treat cold messages as an annoyance. But think about it… If someone’s cold texting you, they’re: •Running a business •Investing in marketing •Looking for growth That’s not spam — that’s a lead. ⚡ Producers: Stop dodging solicitations. 🔥 Start recognizing opportunity in disguise. You never know when your next client is hiding in your inbox. #SalesMindset #FlipTheScript #InsuranceSales #ProspectingTips #InboundLeads #RiskManagement #TreeServiceInsurance #MiddleMarketInsurance