Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ilaya Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ilaya, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
Looking back from right now in my career I would have started selling insurance when it was 1st presented to me in 2018. March of 2020 my contracting job with the federal government stopped abruptly due to COVID. We didn’t know if we would be eligible for unemployment or what the world would look like while we quarantined. The uncertainty of what the world would be had everyone on edge.I did have to shut down And Amazed. My clothing store is closed due to COVID. I started my insurance career in 2021. Though insurance is an intangible product those who lost loved ones in this time knows how insurance saved the family home, budget and eased the grieving process. The same weight was felt for those who had to set up go-fund-me campaigns to get family funeral expenses taken care of. That stress in an already horrific time of living reinforced the need for insurance.
My mentor in the industry didn’t miss a beat and was transitioning easily when we were able to go outdoors. This time helped me to focus on what mattered most to me and that was family and watching my daughter grow. Insurance checked all my boxes in allowing me to live the life I envisioned.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I became an author in 2010. “The Turn That Floozy Series” was completed by 2014 and by 2018 I had four books under my belt. I’ve written poetry and short stories for as long as I can remember but it wasn’t until I received some encouragement from my literature professor in 2009 that I should try writing as a career. Author is my part time title which in the near future will need a little more of my time because the first book of the series, “You Reap What You Sow,” will be a screen play. My writing is the work I’m most proud of. As a virtual insurance agent I can work from anywhere! Yes, there are times when clients and I have to have face to face appointments but that’s rare. My experience over the past twenty years helps me to be relatable and understanding. Listening to peoples needs and not just selling something to meet a quota is what I love the most. I’ve worked in sales where we had to sell certain products no matter the need of the person we were talking to. It was unnatural and forced. I feel good knowing I’ve helped a family not just because I met a sales goal.
This business is always in demand. Unlike my clothing store I will never have a lack of suppliers. There is a sense of security taking this career path. I sell all insurances and over half of what I sell is required by law so there’s always a need for this business.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Oh goodness! The 20’s is all about the pivot. I’ve had to pivot life after divorce and moving back to my home town as a single mother. Starting over and still keeping sight of, and achieving, my goals makes me proud. I was hurt but I didn’t bat an eye when I had to close my 1st stand alone business in 2020 because I believe any day you breathe is a day you can use to do what you love to do. I’d set up businesses before. I’ve helped other companies make money before. It wasn’t the end all but a new beginning. Call me crazy, and maybe those who had to start with nothing can relate, but once you start over with nothing and notice day by day you get better and better it creates a drive that’s unstoppable. It’s no longer saying “one day I will do such and such.” You now say, “When I do xyz I want it to look like…” and fill in the blanks using effort not just your words. You no longer allow darkness to kill your optimism. Starting an insurance agency was birthed when everything was in breakdown. It is allowing me the time and energy to put toward other ideas and desires I have.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
Unlike my clothing store, which was funded by my family, writing a book and starting an insurance agency wasn’t unbearable. I paid for the copy rights, editing and publishing for the books for less than $1,500 collectively. The insurance agency cost me about $1000 from taking the course, getting licensed, contracted and legally set up in two states. The clothing store taught me to look into starting businesses with little start up cost but maximum return on your investment.
Contact Info:
- Website: idbinsuranceagency.com
- Instagram: idb_insurance
- Facebook: IDB Insurance Agency
- Youtube: IDB Me
- Other: For my author pages on IG authorIDB and FB Author Ilaya Brown.