We were lucky to catch up with Ruffin Consulting Services recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ruffin Consulting, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?
Important lessons I learned during my undergraduate studies at Auburn University, beyond my studies, are lessons of leadership, resilience, good character personally and professionally, the power of pivoting and cultivating positive authentic relationships. Many of the lessons were through organizations like Executive Society and an independent study course that required me to read Good to Great by Jim Collins.
I was assigned to read this book by Dr. Waters at Auburn University as part of an independent study course. If you read “Good to Great” one time, your perception of leadership and business success will FOREVER be impacted by two very important concepts. The first concept is Level 5 Leadership. A Level 5 Leader encompasses: humility, asks for help, takes responsibility, has self-discipline, finds the right people and leads with passion. The second concept is the Hedgehog Concept. After reading about the Hedgehog Concept, I realized this was taught to me in childhood and reinforced throughout life in my home. The Hedgehog Concept says organizations will succeed once they identify the one thing they do best and focus on being the very best at that one thing. The Hedgehog Concept can be applied to an individual or corporation. It’s all-encompassing of three intertwined components: 1) identify your deepest passion, 2) what will your passion makes you the best at, and 3) what drives the economic engine behind your passion.
Ruffin Consulting, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Life insurance consulting has been an integral component of my journey since early childhood. Indirectly I learned the importance of life insurance by observing meetings with the life insurance agent and my grandmother. At the time, it was not clear how being a child and observing this interaction would show up in my future as a life insurance and finance professional. Fast forward, as I prepared for my undergraduate studies at Auburn University, one step in the process was ensuring I had life insurance. Here again, life insurance is showing up in my life through teachings from my family. After graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Mercer University, I pursued a career in finance and accounting where I became a Director of Finance for a law firm. One component of my position was the renewal of the key man life insurance for key attorneys at the law firm. At this point, I knew life insurance was more than a death benefit but a wealth benefit. I wanted to learn more and share with others the importance of life insurance. I became a licensed and appointed life insurance agent and started the journey of sharing educational information on life insurance. Hard work, dedication, mentors and having a true calling for changing the narrative of life insurance from a death benefit to a wealth benefit has led Ruffin Consulting Services to being named one of the key players in life insurance consulting.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have become a subject matter expert in life insurance and a reliable and trustworthy name in the industry. However, life insurance is one component of risk management and financial planning. The big question is now what in business? How do I grow and further my knowledge and skills to offer my clients more? To address this obstacle I have been studying for the Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam and enrolled in a CFP®️ Certification program. Pivoting in business is challenging but when aligned with purpose, the concept becomes a no brainer. Often times we do not see our own blind spots but thanks to my mentors, I was shown paths to pivot.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
I authentically keep in touch with my clients and foster brand loyalty through the following. 1. Wish my clients a happy birthday
2. Timely and efficiently respond to my clients
3. Ensure their inquiries are answered and problems are solved with little no effort from the clients
4. Maintain professionalism
5. Confidentiality
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ruffinconsultingservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruffinconsultingservices/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruffinconsultingservices
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ruffinconsultingservices/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcs3YRKbbzA
- Other: Free life insurance course: https://ruffinconsultingservices.com/product/life-insurance-e-course/