Welcome to the March Insurance Is Fun "Fun Times" Newsletter! We hope you enjoy this month's offerings. We are trying something new this issue. Sometimes we find stories that we feel are well worth your attention, but which run a bit long for a single email. So rather than ignore such stories, we are going to include only an introductory paragraph. Then, if you are intrigued, simply click on the provided link to read the full story in our online edition.

We appreciate your interest, constructive criticism and eagerly accept your ideas for improving this newsletter, our products and other offerings. Just drop us an e-mail at newsletterfeedback@insuranceisfun.com.

Now, on to the the fun!

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, we present you with (drum roll with snare drum) the First Annual Insurance Is Fun! Awards!!!We’ll be celebrating the industry’s funniest genres, and we’re calling on you to help. The following awards will be presented to those who exemplify excellence in each category:

? Best Independent Agency Slogan ? Ad That Induced Chuckling ? Funniest Quote To Appear in Trade Press ? Wittiest Trade Show Speech ? Absolutely Amusing Trade Show Giveaway ? Most Comical News Story ? Knee-Slapping News Release of the Year

You’re submitted entries will help us determine the winners. For more information on the categories, or to submit an entry, e-mail awards@insuranceisfun.com.

Please submit all entries by March 24, 2006, so we can print the winners in our April IIF Newsletter. We look forward to publishing the results for your reading pleasure!

Let me tell you all a story of a man named Ted. A middle-class Houston businessman who loved his house and bed.

Then one day while he was drinking something cold, his nose started running and he thought, “I bet it’s mold!”

Black mold, thick as could be.

Well, the next thing you know, old Ted’s a millionaire. Seems they opened up his wall and that mold was everywhere. He sued his insurer, paid his lawyer a fat fee, burned down the house and moved to Beverly.

Hills, that is: movie stars; trial lawyers.

-Yancey Cravat, portrayed by the infamous Richard Dix in the Western silver-screen classic Cimarron.

This quote isn’t just authentic frontier gibberish; it’s also a simple reminder that complacency isn’t an option in the insurance industry. Rather than settle for mediocrity, strive for excellence.

(A) ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

(B) Whichever ones they want

(C) However many IIF will tell me in ‘D’

(D) 8-10

We hate quizzes (they remind us too much of school), so here’s a hint: It’s D.

This month, create more sales opportunities by “rounding out” your personal and commercial lines accounts. Send an IIF postcard with a simple “What else can we do for you?” message and enjoy the results! Or sweeten your cross-selling endeavors with any of our “Will Cross-Sell for Chocolate” products available exclusively at insuranceisfun.com!

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Hail the Size of Ice Cubes!

In efforts to silence the squawking of inconsiderate cell-phone users, more businesses have begun a shift reminiscent to the smoking nay-sayers of previous decades by designating sections of the premises where cell phone use is prohibited. Cell-phone restrictions are gaining ground in the public arena, too: gyms, restaurants, nightclubs and golf courses are putting up a fight.

And because the phones never will be banned, these “no cell” sections seem to be a proactive approach to keeping the oh-so-important yakkers and their under raps. Perhaps an Arlington, Texas- based dental-office manager said it best when he quipped, “We thought it might be a good idea to enforce something when patients were actually attempting to answer their cell phones while having dental work performed!”

Source: “Businesses Putting Lid on Cell Phone Chatterboxes,” USA Today, February 6, 2006.

What was their discovery, you ask?

Click the link below to read "the rest of the story" in our online edition!

Profit from the Score - the rest of the story!

For some integral ways to better the customer experience at your firm, click that link!

CSRs Are Your Agency’s Brand!

Bing dissects the ancient strategies documented by Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu and how they relate to business. For principals, Bing describes common acts and attributes of corporate wannabes crusading up the ladder. For wannabes, Bing provides a process by which they can achieve victory.

This book offers uncommon insight and suggestions, and should be read because it is absolutely hysterical!

Bing excites self-helpers by encouraging them to embrace the repressed cynicism that it is essential to business success. His humorous observations of the actions of historically “great” egomaniacs will make the whole staff watch how much they drink at the next corporate outing. Only the schmoozed shall perish. Beware!

IIF Rating: 9 1/2*

*Rating is based on a compilation of scores from a respected international panel of judges. In a feat never before seen to us at IIF, Bing’s book received a perfect 10 from every judge except the one from China, who gave it a 4.5. He couldn’t be reached for comment.

Brighten up those April showers with a cool gift from insuranceisfun.com, using coupon code MARCH4 to take $4 off $40 spent. It’s good through March 14!

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We want you to enjoy our newsletter so much that you can’t help but send it to everyone you know with hopes of spreading our mantra to all in our industry. If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please let us know by sending your comments to feedback@insuranceisfun.com.