We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paul Scalone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission of my business PAUL. & Dignified. – is to “Procure. Protect. Represent.” I came up with the moniker as a way to encapsulate everything I set out to accomplish in 3 neat little words that are quickly understood, it conveys my journey of purpose and responsibility. This mission revolves around three key objectives: Procurement, Protection, and Representation, each of which plays a crucial role in achieving a greater goal for each of my clients, their families and our community as a whole. Procure: The first part of the mission involves procurement. This refers to acquiring the essential resources, knowledge, or tools needed to accomplish my clients goals or address a pressing issue within the Real Estate or Insurance space. Procurement signifies the initial step in preparing for the challenges ahead. It often involves careful planning, negotiation, and resource allocation to ensure that everything necessary is in place. By ensuring we have properly procured the resources we need, we are able to ensure that clients needs are being met at each opportunity.

Protect: The second element of the mission emphasizes the importance of safeguarding what has been procured. This can extend to safeguarding not only physical assets through a variety of insurance products, coverage’s and options, but also ideas, values, or individuals who are vulnerable or in need of protection or professional advisement. Another example of this would be a home buyer or seller looking to me for guidance and protection when purchasing or selling one of their most valuable assets, their home. It reflects a combination of my commitment to preserving what has been acquired and preventing harm or loss through actual insurance or professional expertise during a real estate transaction.

Represent: The final component of the mission is representation. This phase involves standing up for a cause, advocating for a group, or serving as a voice for those who may not have one. This component may be pretty obvious to most, however the amount of detail that I pay when it comes to properly representing my clients is unmatched. It signifies my responsibility to ensure that the interests and rights of my clients are properly conveyed and protected.

“Mission to Procure, Protect, Represent” is a story that showcases the power of what a customer centric experience should look and feel like, and the impact that we are able to offer for our clients, their families and the communities that we serve. It serves as a reminder that in our pursuit of service, growth, or progress, we must first procure the necessary resources, protect what we value, and represent those who depend on us each day.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a licensed Real Estate and Insurance professional with a deep-rooted connection to San Diego. With my wealth of experience and expertise, I am dedicated to serving the needs of individuals and families seeking to procure and protect their most valuable assets.

Drawing from 15 years of healthcare management and extensive experience in the insurance space, I am able to offer a distinctive perspective to the real estate and insurance industry. My background has fostered a deep understanding of the importance of privacy, discretion, and collaboration, skills that are paramount when advocating for clients. With an attentive ear and a talent for building strong relationships, I effectively navigate complex situations and ensure clients’ needs are met with peace of mind.

I have a passion for culture, conversation, and the arts, this is infused with my professional endeavors, adding a unique touch to my approach. Outside of my professional commitments, I am a devoted father, caring son, and supportive brother who finds the human condition fascinating.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I used to be knee-deep in the world of operations and leadership in the healthcare industry. I’m talking about the guy who could schedule nurses & caregivers in his sleep while ensuring the agency’s operations, recruiting and payroll were all running to task. But one day, I had a revelation that hit me: nothing was ever going to change for me in that field.

Now, before you think I woke up one day with an epiphany, let me assure you that it was more like a series of eye-opening moments that had me throw in the healthcare towel. You see, I’d worked for small startups where I wore all the hats, and I’d even navigated the bureaucracy of the third-largest hospice provider in the United States. But no matter where I went, it felt like I was stuck in a never-ending episode of “Groundhog Day.”

First, there were the endless meetings, it was like a perpetual game of corporate Tetris, and I was the square block trying to fit into a world of circles and zigzags. And let’s not forget the late-night and early morning calls. It was as if my career had a personal vendetta against my sleep schedule..

The healthcare industry was a bit like the Hotel California—you could check out any time you like, but you could never leave. The same problems, the same challenges, and the same frustrations seemed to follow me wherever I went.

So, there I was, between opportunities pondering my life choices, when I came across a job opportunity for an “Outside Business Development Rep ” for an Allstate office here in San Diego. The position required one to get out into the local real estate community and build relationships with Realtors, Loan Officers and other Real estate professionals in order to unlock opportunities for those who needed to purchase home insurance for their Real Estate assets.

I started researching the insurance and real estate industries, and it didn’t take long for me to see the potential for a fresh start. Sure, they had their own quirks and challenges, but they were different quirks and challenges. It was like a breath of fresh air after spending years in the stuffy healthcare space.

I decided to take the plunge, I went and took the classes and tests needed to obtain my insurance licenses, both Property and Casualty along with my Life & Health License. After a couple months in the community building relationships and helping people secure insurance for their real estate assets it became obvious to me that there is no reason I should not hold my Real Estate license as well, this came through a rather candid conversation with my current team lead Todd Armstrong from Armstrong & Associate at Compass as he encouraged me to obtain my Real Estate license. Todd has been in the Real Estate community for 20+ years and is well respected in the communities, so when he talks people listen.

Since then I left Allstate and opened my own independent insurance brokerage Dignified. – Insurance Services and currently am working with Compass for the residential real estate arm of my business. I have come to the realization that I am much happier juggling policies and property listings and the only meetings I have to worry about are with clients who want to find their dream home or secure their future.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

If at any time in your life you decide to make a major pivot, you need to be prepared to bring along all the resilience that you can muster up and then some. I know this for a fact, as the story of when I decided to pivot from healthcare to the world of insurance and real estate has been a personal journey filled with sacrifice, uncertainty, and a dash of COVID-19 for extra flavor.

My daughter was entering High School as a freshman, a pivotal time in her life. But as fate would have it, COVID-19 decided to throw a wrench in everyone’s plans. I had just started in my Insurance sales role and the world economy hit the brakes faster than anyone could have possibly imagined. And there I was, in a new job, in a new industry facing a conundrum that nobody was prepared for: how to navigate these uncharted turbulent waters while ensuring my daughter’s future remained bright?

So, I made a decision that would test the limits of my pride and independence. I packed my bags and moved back in with my parents. Yes, you heard me right. I, a grown adult with a successful career under my belt, was once again sharing a roof with my mom and dad. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have your mother inquire about your dinner plans every night, let me tell you, it’s an experience. But it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I had a vision, a plan, and the determination to pivot into the insurance and real estate industry.

So, there I was, in my late 30’s, embarking on a career change that had me working on a commission-only basis. It was like starting from scratch in a foreign land where I barely spoke the language. Gone were the days of steady paychecks and job perks. Instead, I had to hustle like a street vendor trying to sell ice cream in the middle of winter.

But you know what? Resilience…ah healthy dose of it to be exact. I educated myself about insurance and real estate learning as much as I could as fast as possible. . I networked, I cold-called, and I knocked on doors (figuratively, of course, because who wants to be that annoying neighbor?). I was determined to make this pivot work, not just for me but for my daughter’s future.

And slowly, and I mean slowly, things began to click. I started closing deals, helping families secure their homes and protect their most valuable assets & generational wealth. The commission-only model that had initially seemed like a daunting challenge turned into an opportunity to earn as much as my determination allowed. It’s not easy or for the faint of heart, it’s still not easy by any means. There are still moments when doubt creeps in like a black cloud making me question everything. I keep pushing forward, drawing strength knowing that patience, knowledge, and resilience is the key to success. It’s the ability to adapt, the willingness to make sacrifices, and the unapologetic commitment to my goals.

So, here I stand today, a living testament to the power of resilience. I made the pivot from healthcare to insurance and real estate, weathered the storm of COVID-19, and am still in the process of turning my pivot into a thriving career. And through it all, my daughter’s future remained bright, she graduated form Steele Canyon High School this past June and is attending Grossmont & Cuyamaca community college where she’s studying to enter the nursing program.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.paulscalone.com
• Instagram: paulscalone
• Facebook: paulscalone
• Linkedin: paulscalone
• Twitter: paulscalone
• Youtube: #BetterCallPaul
• Other: www.dignifiedinsurance.com

Image Credits
Headshot – Brand.You.Photo – Valeria @Bran.you.photo