Surprising wins from slow growth

About a year and a half ago, I bought two pineapples from the market. On a whim, I cut off the crowns and decided to try growing them at home. I soaked them in water indoors for two weeks to let the roots grow, then planted each in a separate pot, Pot A and Pot B.

Over time, the plant in Pot B grew faster. It looked healthier, bushier and had bigger leaves. Both plants received the same care, but naturally, I expected Pot B to bear fruit first.

To my surprise, it was Pot A that fruited first. Pot B, despite its promising appearance, hasn’t flowered to this day.

This experience reminded me of our journey as financial advisors. Sometimes, we pour our time and effort into nurturing Prospect A, someone we’ve built a relationship with, educated and followed up with consistently. Yet, it’s Prospect B, the one we had only a brief interaction with, who decides to take action and become a client.

Our role is to sow the seeds of financial literacy and keep nurturing them, regardless of how long or short the interaction. We may not know which prospect will “bear fruit,” but we can trust that every bit of effort counts.

Keep educating. Keep planting. Even if you think someone isn’t ready or likely to buy insurance now, the seeds you sow today may surprise you in the future, just like that unexpected pineapple.

Kennedy Sumarlie is an eight-year MDRT member.

For more ideas about finding new clients

• Read “Social prospecting: Meet people without looking desperate for a sale”
• Watch “Grow faster by group prospecting” (MDRT member-exclusive content)