Tag Archives: high-tecc

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7 Reasons to Join me on the HIGH-TECC Caribbean Cruise

1) It is affordable! For less than the cost of a typical night’s stay in a hotel, you get deluxe accommodations, sumptuous food 24 hours a day, myriad amenities, and exotic ports of call.

2) It is tax deductible! The cruise will have pleasure time, for sure, but it really is about your business and features several conference sessions, so it is a deductible and truly is a genuine business expense.

3) It will give your business a formidable “edge up” on your competition. The theme of “Making the Most of your Internet Presence” will give your agency the extra life it needs to pull ahead of the crowded field of competitors.

4) It provides camaraderie with like-minded people. The participants at this year’s HIGH-TECC will be those people who, like you, want to make both strategic and tactical changes that impact their agencies and have true impact on their bottom line.

5) It is the perfect mini-conference. The HIGH-TECC cruise is a perfect place to combine the latest up to date information that will benefit your agency with travel and fun, all without taking too much time away from the office.

6) Great price. Steve Anderson routinely charges $2000 a day plus expenses for his consultation — and agents are happily paying that because of the real world impact this advice brings to their agency. For dramatically less than that, you get a world-class cruise AND get to spend quality time in a small, intimate setting working on your business with Steve as your personal guide.

7) Great activities! No matter if you prefer a wine tasting, swimming, or simply relaxing around the pool all day talking to fellow travelers, it is YOUR choice. There is an activity for any taste and any age! Now, join Steve on the HIGH-TECC 2011 cruise today!

In less than one month we will be together on the high seas enjoying sun, salt air, and extraordinary conversation on how your agency can be among the elite few who are making money by effectively (and strategically) leveraging their Internet presence.

I look forward to seeing you at HIGH-TECC!

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Announcing HIGH-TECC on the High Seas

HIGH-TECC on the High Seas

HIGH-TECC on the High Seas

Summer wasn’t quite the same for me this year. Something was missing: HIGH-TECC.

After hosting HIGH-TECC for the last nine years, I took a break this summer and reevaluated what we were offering at HIGH-TECC, along with the logistics associated with creating a great experience. The April 2010 editorial provides the full details.

As I said in that editorial, “The purpose of HIGH-TECC has always been to provide a forum for industry leaders and innovators to explore emerging technology and discover ways to use these advances to make selling and servicing more effective and more efficient-with the least amount of headache possible.”

Many of you have let me know that summer wasn’t the same for you either. Over the last several months you have told me that not having HIGH-TECC this year was a big disappointment. You missed being able to get up-to-the-minute information on emerging trends, new technology tools, what’s working, what’s not working, and what you need to know now to plan for the next two to five years.

You also told me you missed the camaraderie and mastermind opportunities of networking with other like-minded agents and industry people to hear what they were doing to improve and refine their businesses. And you appreciated having speakers and various vendors who you could meet with in a private setting to learn exactly what they had to offer your agency.

I have good news for you. I’m re-inventing HIGH-TECC to offer something with the same essence-but at the same time, totally different.

Announcing HIGH-TECC on the High Seas

Yes, you read it right! I am hosting a HIGH-TECC cruise to the Caribbean, and I invite you to join me.

We are still working out some of the details and final negotiations, but here is what I do know.

On the business side

During our time cruising at sea, we will have a private room to gather and hear from successful agencies about what they are doing to succeed. And, as in the past, I will explore emerging trends and technology that a few agencies are using now-and that most will use in the next two to five years.

I understand that going on a cruise is not for everyone. I anticipate a smaller group of people than have attended HIGH-TECC in the past. That’s OK. Due to a smaller size, those who do decide to come will receive more personal attention in this relaxed and intimate setting.

In fact, I will also make available a limited number of personal consulting times to help a select few with issues facing your organization.

Non-business benefits

The trip is all inclusive. Your cruise fee includes your lodging, all your meals, port taxes, and gratuities (drinks are extra, sorry!). It will also include a nominal conference fee per person. This may be the business trip your spouse will want to join you on.

So I encourage you to look at your calendar and reserve mid-March 2011. I will announce firm dates and full details shortly but I wanted you to be the first to know.

Just as I encourage you to listen to your clients and respond to their wants and needs, I have listened to you, and HIGH-TECC on the High Seas is my response.

I am very excited to bring this fresh and innovative approach to provide a forum for industry leaders and innovators to explore emerging technology and learn how to implement it within their organizations. I look forward to having you join me.

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know… What’s Happening with HIGH-TECC?

This is the time of year we traditionally start ramping up for our annual conference, HIGH-TECC. HIGH-TECC has been around for many years and is a highlight for many in the industry.

The purpose of HIGH-TECC has always been to provide a forum for industry leaders and innovators to explore emerging technology and discover ways to use these advances to make selling and servicing more effective and more efficient—with the least amount of headache possible.

HIGH-TECC 2009 was no exception. The week was packed with new, creative, “tried and true” techniques and strategies designed to help you work smarter, not harder.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that, because of a contract negotiated with the hotel several years ago when the economy was much different, we had to guarantee a minimum amount of food and beverage as well as room nights. And although HIGH-TECC 2009 was a huge success by anybody’s standard, fewer people than projected attended and many people needed to stay “off property” due to their own budget constraints. So, we ended up being responsible for the minimum guarantee. And to be quite frank, this past year “we lost our socks.”

That said, we, like many others in today’s business climate, are learning to take lemons and turn them into lemonade!

We are currently working on a new concept and design for HIGH-TECC, called HIGH-TECC 2.0. We are in the process of beta-testing our ideas now. HIGH-TECC 2.0 will look fairly different from HIGH-TECCs of the past. It will be more of a “hands on boot camp” where I, and other colleagues, will offer one- to two-day intensive training in various locations around the country.

These boot camps will be, by design, smaller and more focused. So, for example, we may do a HIGH-TECC in Nashville highlighting the steps you need to get started on the Social Web.

Or we may do a HIGH-TECC in Seattle that is driven by how to use the Internet and marketing systems to take back personal lines from direct writers.

Or we may do a HIGH-TECC in Texas that showcases new agency management systems and how you can make sure you pick the very best one for your agency.

Due to these more focused settings, you will be able to walk away with specific, practical, tested ways to implement the latest cutting-edge techniques and strategies that will benefit your agency—right now, when times are tight.

Have we worked out all the details? Not quite. But, really, that’s good news too when you think about it… we know that challenging times like these cause us to rethink what we’re doing, create new and innovative solutions, and come up with the unexpected “diamond in the rough.”

So, I beg your indulgence as we work to come up with new ways to continue to serve you and your agency. I know that ambiguity wreaks havoc on budgets and scheduling, so we are committed to getting you information as soon as possible. I promise.

Like you, we’re in this for the long haul. So stay tuned.

In the meantime, we want to be responsive to your needs. If you want HIGH-TECC in a location near you, just let us know. If there’s a topic you think we should concentrate on, we’re all ears. Our goal is to help you do what’s best for your agency. Simply drop me an e-mail at Steve@TAAReport.com.

Looking forward to seeing you at HIGH-TECC 2.0!

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Top 10 Reasons You Need to Attend This Year’s HIGH-TECC Summit

I could give a hundred reasons why it’s worth your time and your money to attend HIGH-TECC 2009. But, let me point out the top 10 reasons you should be at this year’s Summit.

  1. Yes, budgets are tight. Yes, the economic forecast looks grim. But that’s precisely why now is not the time to retreat. In fact, the more proactive and entrepreneurial you are with the changes in the industry and your organization, the better positioned you’ll be when the market snaps back. Let us help you get there.
  2. Budgets are smaller than ever. Cost-cutting is driving you to be more creative with your technology investment. You’ll see how the experts are innovating and thriving.
  3. Technology can provide the tools you need to achieve your business goals. HIGH-TECC addresses how emerging trends are impacting your organization and your job and what you can do about it.
  4. Web-centric community building has become a key strategy for growth. From SEO to the social web to analytics, our session topics will show you how to make rapid, measured progress.
  5. Yet, the social web as the latest “wow” and “gee whiz” tool is almost at an end. HIGH-TECC will also help you understand how to integrate the “tools” of the social web into your overall business strategy to build long lasting relationships.
  6. This year’s challenges are unpredictable. Our trend-oriented content will take the guesswork out of creating your near-term strategy.
  7. Traditional tactics need a fresh approach. We’ll provide a host of case studies that feature new-and highly successful-twists on familiar marketing and customer service tactics.
  8. There’s something here for everyone. No matter where you are in the insurance industry — agency, insurance company, vendor — we have sessions dedicated to your most urgent needs. View our Agenda-at-a-Glance today.
  9. Meet, interact, ask questions. HIGH-TECC’s controlled size allows you to develop relationships that will be important to you in the future.
  10. And finally, Vail is a great place to travel to in the summer. There is nothing like being in the mountains to help you gain a new perspective.

Don’t miss out, sign up now. The conference is less than 8 weeks away.

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HIGH-TECC 2008

Approximately 80 people gathered in Vail, Colo. in July to spend 2½ days exploring how the insurance industry can bridge the many gaps that stand in the way of continued success. I always return home from HIGH-TECC amazed and humbled.

I am amazed by the creativity, passion, and willingness to explore new ideas that is demonstrated by the people who attend. I’m also humbled by the knowledge and breadth of experience that is represented in such a unique group of people. I received the following from one attendee. It’s just one example of the creativity and open-mindedness I saw.

HIGH-TECC to-do list

I am looking forward to setting up my iGoogle and Facebook pages, using GoToMeetings, and uploading a Flip video to YouTube. Or, maybe I’ll use Silverlight for the HD and agree to work on my “Pillow Talk” blog. Hmmm, I wonder what actress to “walk onto” that page, as I contact Greenleaf with a Jott. I’m sure that name will get plenty of hits, but will West Bend approve?

I better actually accomplish some business before the week goes by! So, I will definitely iDictate, order DYMO Stamps, and follow up with Postful and FlyDoc to get certificates automatically rolling out. Now, if I could just stop Twirling and Twittering with my wiki…

To get all of this done before Friday, I may need to hit Provide Support to Get Satisfaction. Ahhh, maybe in a Second Life. Where did I put that Amazon Kindle?

— Jim Tuisl, “Satisfied HIGH-TECC customer”

That letter may seem a little weird—but every bolded word is a product, Web site, or service that we discussed during HIGH-TECC.

This year, I opened HIGH-TECC with a general session titled Communicate, Collaborate, Connect. It is my belief that the insurance industry as a whole needs to embrace new communication technologies that are already being used by younger generations. During the session, I highlighted several reasons for my belief and delved into specific technology and ways it is being used by others to create relationships in an electronic world.

I explored social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I talked about how wikis can be used to facilitate conversation and collaboration. I ended the session by showing AVIVA insurance company’s Second Life Island. (Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents.)

Agencies and companies need to explore and experiment with these types of communication options to determine how these technologies can and should be used to further customer interaction and enhance business.

The conversations ranged from “this seems really stupid” to “if college graduates are using these tools, we should learn how to use them—especially if we want to hire the younger generations.”

That’s what HIGH-TECC is all about: helping the industry explore what tools are on the horizon and how to use them to make your organization more effective. Make sure you don’t miss out next year. Mark your calendar now for HIGH-TECC 2009, July 19 to 22 in Vail, Colo.