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We all know this famous Albert Einstein quote, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Well, about a year ago I started to work out with a personal trainer. One reason is because my wife was doing it. The second reason is that I came to the realization that wanting to be a healthy person but doing nothing about it was insane. 

As I look back over the past year, it surprises me how proud I am that I've kept going with my workouts and how much I trust my trainer! I show up three times a week and she always has a plan for our hour together. There are days when I really hate what she has me doing - it is work and it's hard! But I always trust that she knows my abilities and she focuses on our shared goal for me to have a healthy life. To that end and with her help, I have managed to stay engaged and enthusiastic.

That has me thinking a lot (between reps of course) about the relationship between trust and engagement. Engagement has been a 'hot' button topic in our office conversations lately. The meaning and application is so broad. The Tuscano Agency participates in the Top Workplaces in Pittsburgh annual survey and it considers engagement as a factor in the health of an organization. We loosely define it as responsiveness and empathy with customers as well as being an organization where staff feels they are able to contribute to our mission in a meaningful way. 

Every organization has a mission and purpose, and in order to be engaged, your customers and your employees need to trust you. In other words, they believe you'll do what is right [for them]. And when this happens, you will find yourself becoming purpose-driven, not task-driven. Which makes doing that last rep of 'squats' just a little more bearable! 

There is definitely an issue of trust when it comes to protecting an individual's data. As an insurance professional, I urge you make Data Breach coverage an important part of every client's insurance portfolio. We can pretend for only so long that small to medium sized business can fly under the hacker and extortionist's radar. If your client has customers or employees, uses email, and is connected to the internet, they are vulnerable.

I wholeheartedly believe that a stand-alone policy with adequate limits is the way to go as opposed to throwing in coverage offered by most BOPs. Don't you agree that an insuring agreement that has emergency response protocols including an onsite forensic computer team that comes to your policyholder's business is much better than $50,000 of limited coverage with limited services provided at the time of a loss? I have found that for the potential loss and disruption, the cost of this coverage is very reasonable. This is not the movies people! We are talking about real people and real costs for an easily insurable exposure. 

The Tuscano Agency offers just the products and services I am talking about. We have access to many of the same top insurers in this field as other so-called 'specialists'. Our Casualty Team is well-versed in this product line and they are on a mission to deliver excellent service in the process. Give Cindy, Debbie, Dina, Karen or Sandy a call and together we'll deliver the financial protection your clients rely on you for - trust and engagement in one policy! 

Well, I think I have made it through the entire election year cycle without writing one newsletter about the Presidential candidates or their campaigns (of course Jinny threatened me if I did)! This was almost as hard as doing walking lunges. Consequently, I've had quite a running commentary going on in my head all year long! One thing I will encourage you to do is get out and vote on Tuesday, November 8th. Nothing is as sacred or as important to our democracy. 

Love your country, be kind, and be engaged!