Defining True Love, Living a V.I.P. Lifestyle, Creating a V.I.P Program for our Clients

"Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases somehow to be of importance."

— Viktor E. Frankl 

Good morning, it's time to get on a camel and take a ride. I woke up again on the top of a mountain; I don't get to wake here often, it's a gift and a blessing. About once a month depending on our schedules we sleep in, well sleep in until 6:30 a.m., today was that day and I would like to thank my friend Paul for giving us a wake-up call. Your timing was uncanny, the one day we choose to sleep in, and you call to spread your joy. I'll call you in a bit, my friend.

We had drinks with a friend yesterday afternoon, a fellow insurance agency owner, one of the good guys, we try and help him, he tries and help us, he's one of our favorite people in Colorado, he shared he recently had an epiphany, one that had him realize he was an absent father, after our meeting he was heading to coach a kids baseball game. One of the reasons we love this man so much is his organization of priorities.

As we were talking organizational charts, processing plans, growth goals, he shared his newly minted V.I.P. program. As he shared his program, it became something we likely will implement into our agency in 2q. As he was talking, the idea resonated with me, I choose to pay a little more to be a V.I.P. in all areas of my life, not everyone is fortunate enough to be in such a position, but let me try and explain my V.I.P. lifestyle.

The first example is our weekly flights to and from Denver to Indianapolis. When we first began our weekly commute, we looked online for the cheapest rate; we flew Frontier a couple of times, it was a nightmare, it cost per bag, etc. The people were not friendly, and the seats were woefully uncomfortable. We stumbled on the fact that Southwest flew direct daily multiple times, it would be a little more expensive, but the time savings of only using one airline would more than make up for the time savings of checking multiple airlines to get "that best deal."

Today, we rarely fly any other airline; there is a good chance if Southwest does not fly there, we pass on the trip. My Queen flies for free using their companion pass and we get priority boarding every time we fly, I'm usually first on the plan every trip, the people are very friendly, and the seats are comfortable.

When we first began flying west, we didn't have a home, we didn't have a car, and so I would rent a car for the week as we began developing this territory. I found Hertz had a nice program, I signed up, never looked at the price, it was competitive, but when I got off the plane, I would take a quick shuttle, I would get off the shuttle, and my name would be on a sign allowing me to simply get my car, show my I.D. and drive away. Today we have a couple of vehicles out here, I need not rent anymore, but if ever I need a rental car, I will use Hertz.

A few years ago we were introduced to a vacation club that allowed us to buy in for reduced rates and V.I.P. treatment, we invested and now travel at least two times a year to someplace tropical taking along a gang of friends and clients all paying a much-reduced rate for paradise.  The return on that investment has been tenfold.

In every community we live in, we have restaurants we visit frequently. We live Cheers style meaning that everyone knows who we are and takes care of us, allowing us to pass on lines, getting preferred seating, and amazing service. Yesterday I went to Racine's, one of our places in downtown Denver, as I walked in the owner acknowledged me by name and walked me to my teammate who had arrived a few moments before. We had a pleasant exchange, consistency and familiarity bring us joy and happiness.

My attitude in life is not to question the cost of things, having the attitude that I will be treated fairly, I don't try and get a deal, I'll pay more for quality, and that is the basis of our company. Cater to people that value you, your service, and build a deep strong relationship going over and above when they need you. It's worked for many years; I don't see us going after the low-cost buyer anytime soon.  I know my competitors that offer low cost and little or no service if a client is in search of "cheap" I know where to send them.

I think other companies could adopt this approach; my best example is Starbucks.  I visit often, and sometimes there is a line, I'm not a fan of lines. If I owned Starbucks I would add a line with a $5.00 fee or some other upcharge to allow my visitors to avoid the line and get immediate service, how much would it be worth to you to avoid a line at your favorite coffee shop?   

When creating our V.I.P. program, we will look at various criteria. Length of time with our firm, premiums paid, referrals given, we want to create a special experience and show our appreciation for those that have shown us the love. We are thinking of a concierge service, a single point of contact, direct dial numbers, and expansion of our 24/7/365 service model. 

Each member will get a specific card, with their specified human, special number, email, text-ability for changes and questions, and some other benefits I'll ask our team to establish.

As we hold our agency events, there will be no charge for our V.I.P.'s. But a cost for those that have yet to pass that barrier. We will collectively build this program and roll it out; I would encourage your company to mull this idea, thank you wise one for the idea.

Well, this soup got chunky and wordy, but I think that we are not alone in our quest to enjoy the finer things in life. Stop wasting time trying to save a little money here and there, and put a premium on your time and partner with firms that will know you, your preferences, and save you time in all areas of the buying process. I've got a lot of work to do, time to run and try and change the world. Please join me.

"Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases somehow to be of importance."

— Viktor E. Frankl