We were lucky to catch up with Apryl Handy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Apryl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I’m happy as a business owner who doesn’t answer to anyone but myself. I enjoy being in control of my schedule and look forward to growing my agency in the very near future, as soon as November. I see myself as being the boss that I’d always wanted for myself- someone who will encourage me to push my limits yet also someone who understands where my priorities should lie at the end of the day, which many times is not going to mean making one more phone call. I’m always going to appreciate someone who is hustling and not stopping till they get the result they are shooting for, but I’m also going to strive to help them to keep that balance. I’ve personally taken myself past limits, in so many things that I do, so I’m going to make it a point to help that person to understand how to walk that fine line. I’m sure it’s going to be a very individualized experience for them, but I look forward to being their guide through it. I’ve had people in my life who’ve done the same for me- who’ve seen my tendencies and patterns which is to strive to push past any limits I’ve found. I’m just going to do my best to be the very best boss to anyone I have the honor of working alongside, who desires to drive my agency in a positive direction. I’ll look to build them up as much as I possibly can and make sure I create a working environment for them that they never want to leave.

Apryl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into the insurance industry by chance. I had been with the same company for 12 years and was a multi-time president club winner. But, towards the last few years of that career, social marketing started taking such precedence and that just wasn’t something I wanted to be a part of growing, in addition to the fact that our compensation plans started changing multiple times per year and I was never going to own or be able to sell anything that I ever created with that company. I realized that after experiencing losing all of my clients when I moved to a different state, having to start over and the work I’d created just going into someone else’s hands.

I was a website form fill lead for Goosehead funny enough, knowing nothing about being a franchise owner or insurance broker for that matter. And after a couple conversations, I was finally understanding that this could be something special. I’m about 5 years in now and continuing to build the book of business in the way that I’ve been taught to, via targeting lenders and realtors, in addition to receiving referrals of course. We’ve got a great, universal business model that anyone can copycat and do super well at. It helps to take the guesswork out of wondering what I should be doing- I always know what the game plan is, I know ways to be more efficient such as always going for the most low hanging fruit, always striving to take each person from start to finish, leaving the ball in their court since that’s only best for everyone, and just moving through the conversation smoothly, I enjoy the challenge of seeing what someone is being faced with and helping them to overcome it as easily as possible. I love helping them to feel informed, empowered and satisfied, thankful that they came across me. So I went from zero experience in the insurance field to becoming a broker and agency owner from day 1- and I was taught by the best!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Going after situations that either have the most urgency or the highest level of loyalty- and that’s going to be realtors or lender who have a client under contract and need the insurance thoroughly shopped and decided on in order to finish the transaction, to give their client and themselves the best experience possible. The latter being existing clients, because if you’re speaking from personal experience, that goes far beyond any other external source. Sure you’ve got to have great reviews online and thankfully I’ve got that thanks to the method I was taught by my awesome trainers and fellow colleagues, but when someone that you know cares very much about you recommends you speak to someone, many times there is no hesitation, not a second thought in mind. It makes the transition over to me that much easier, the guard is already down, I’m more than halfway there in building trust with that person on my own. Half the battle is won. So I’d say just working hard at delivering that consistent, positive, stress-free, hands-off on their end experience is what I strive to do.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to make a large life pivot shortly after becoming an agency owner. I was not happy in my personal home life any longer and was feeling unsafe in a couple ways that to me were not making it possible for me to be able to move forward. I had to venture out on my own and take on even more responsibility than I already had been taking on in order to grow in a way that I could feel most proud of. I proved I had guts and an ability to persevere and be resourceful, through even the toughest of times. I don’t recommend doing what I did to anyone, but I’m glad I’ve come out on the other side.

I’m not exactly where I want to be yet, but I know I’m getting closer to my dream every day I decide to step forward, one step at a time, one breath after the next. I’m refusing to give up, and I’m even finding those around me refusing to allow me to fail. I’m finding myself surrounded by people who love and care about me. So far, that’s been the key to my ability to progress. And it’s almost as if I’m attracting these people who love and care about me naturally. It’s like I’m emitting light, positive energy, and hope out, and receiving these same qualities in, to replenish what I’ve lost/given out.

Sometimes I’m not being loved and cared for in the ways I feel I deserve and even need, but that’s when I push harder inside of myself- knowing I can only control my own actions. I guess that external struggle in not getting what I want sometimes is what pushes me to dig deeper within myself. I just don’t quit.

I can name one time when I did choose to stop doing something I started, even though it made me so very angry to have to do it, but I was about to go hypothermic and had a heart rate of 208 occurring, so after much fighting both internally and externally/physically with the conditions I’d been dealt that day and my lack of preparation, I had eventually come to the decision to throw the towel in against my wishes in order to survive. It was a race that I’ll never forget. The following year, I was nervous that the unexpected super cold temperatures and extreme fog would hit again, so I was ultra prepared. And thankfully I had an incredible victory, not only due to my preparation but also due to my sheer bravery to continue past those points that had caused so much fear inside of myself, feeling like I was in certain danger. I was able to get past all that and not only did I complete the course but also had a fantastic race, losing only to a professional cyclist that day, coming in 2nd overall female. That race was called Tour de Georgia, and it’s in April every year.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goosehead.com/agents/ms/gulfport/apryl-handy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apryl-handy
• Other: https://strava.app.link/AH1zuNlc6Wb
  https://www.mscoastbikeclub.com/club-details
  https://youtube.com/@bodyandbeastbyapryl

Image Credits

Self!