Framework To Deal With The “Wait And Be Patient” Conundrum

Lately, I’ve been speaking with a lot of young and successful insurance pros who complain about the same frustration. Generally, they have been at the same company for a while and have grown into middle-level independent contributor roles and have been in their current role between two and four years.

They’ve already followed my usual entry-level prescriptions and they’ve successfully grown to more interesting and better-paid roles. They’re doing well in their position and want to grow to the next level, whether that’s a manager-type role or a more senior-level independent-contributor role.

But when they meet with their leadership and ask what else they should be doing to remain on the growth path they get the same dreaded answer time after time: “Keep doing what you’re doing. Wait and be patient.”

Previous generations were playing a different game where lifetime employment was pretty much guaranteed and putting in your time was simply a necessary part of the process. The company would take care of you and manage your career.

But Millennials and the younger half of the Gen Xers are playing a different game. Lifetime employment is dead and managing your own career is up to you.