Alexandra Eidenberg has been a licensed insurance agent for over 9 years and educates people about their options and the market so they can make the best decisions for their families and businesses. She is founder of The Insurance People and during her free time helps run a non profit called Mom+Baby. Read our interview with the lovely Alexandra below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
My core genius has always been sales. I got sick of making other people millions of dollars. I knew that I wanted to have a direct relationship between how hard I work and how much money I could make that is how I became a business owner.
Tell us about your business.
I run 2 businesses. I am the President and Co-Founder of The Insurance People where we do all your favorite boring stuff. We do both property casualty and life and health. My personal speciality is employee benefits and individual health insurance. I like to think I make insurance fun and exciting. When I am not playing insurance, I run a Not For Profit called Mom+Baby that supports women and children online, in person and on the hill. We help women get involved in the legislative process and have passed several laws in the past few years including a pro vax, equal pay, tampon tax and pregnancy accommodation law.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
No. It is open enrollment season for health insurance though. We are in high demand.
Where is your business based?
5225 Old Orchard Rd, #8, Skokie IL 60077.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Being ready to fall. When you start a business you risk everything. You have to be ready to fall and pick yourself back up. It is a constant fight. You build the ladder, climb the ladder and hold people’s hands the whole way up. It is not easy but it sure can be fun.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Social media, media and being a great person. People are attracted to good hard working people. They want to surround themselves by fighters and advocates. My agency and not for profit do that and people want to come for the ride.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
I find the largest challenge is saying no to business that is not appropriate for your personality or business model. The save the world mentality is a battle. You have to say YES and NO at the right times. Sometimes that is challenging.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Life is a challenge where you constantly overcome. You do this by fighting and making sure your voice is heard. Never give up.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I am excessively motivated in general. We all have bad days though. Coffee, Beer, Repeat.
How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I am a petite white jewish girl that sells insurance for a living. Not many insurance agents are women let alone pistols backing a cause while fighting on the front lines for the rights of their clients and community.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Take time for you.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
When the going gets tough the tough get going! Where are you in that spectrum? Do you have it in you to fight and to earn a living off of your hard work?
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
Facebook. I get the majority of my referrals from Facebook. I get ideas for blog posts from Facebook. I stay in touch with clients on Facebook. FACEBOOK.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Twitter @ACeidenberg
Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraeidenberg
Website www.insuranceppl.com
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I read Family Circle religiously. The recipes, stories about family and coupon tips always keep me glued.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am always getting better and better at running events, working with the media and coordinating my team. I always love attending conferences and education programs about growing teams of people.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
It happens to be open enrollment season at The Insurance People so we are in major craze mode signing 20 or so clients a day. We hope to sign 700 new individual clients and 150 new groups. We are trending to make it too which is a real feel good.