Admitting Mistakes Sucks
Yeah, it sucks to screw up, and it sucks even worse having to admit it and talk about it. Who really wants to admit that they’re wrong? The thing is though, that it can really improve your relationships when you learn to make that admission. And make it sincerely.
I saw this Tweet from Steve Keating, aka @LeadToday:
Failing to admit a mistake is often a bigger mistake than the mistake you're failing to admit.
These words totally resonated with me, and here I am writing about it. It’s amazing how 100 characters can be so inspirational.
When you own up to a mistake, you’re accepting responsibility for your actions and not just merely apologizing away bad behavior. I have been known to tell people that I’m really not interested in an apology – what I’m really interested in is a change of behavior to negate any need for future apologies.
If you’ve messed up with a client and you try to just ignore it, it sits there really big and heavy. Everyone knows it’s there and no one wants to take the on the risk of bringing it up. If the one who messed up isn’t talking about, what do you think that person will say when confronted? Deny it? Try to skirt around it? By not just fessing up immediately, the damage has been done. Now dealing with the mess up, plus having to deal with a credibility issue is a much larger problem.
When a partner contacts me to admit a mistake, it immediately diffuses about 50% of the gut-anger reaction that I had. Now, instead of getting mad for the poor behavior of avoidance, we can focus on a solution.
And then go back and deal with the process issues that caused the problem in the first place – when we’re both calm and not flustered. And the issue has, hopefully, been resolved.
After a situation like this, I often become a fiercely loyal supporter because I know that I can count on this person/company to try their best, possibly screw up as we all do, but I also know they’re going to tell me about it and fix it. They’ve put it all on the table, and I know what I’m getting. Honesty, trust, and credibility. Amazing traits in a business partner.
Photo by Sister72.
Benefits Growth Network and Catalyst Rx Offer Pharmacy Benefit Management
Benefits Growth Network has selected Catalyst Rx to offer a pharmacy benefits program for their member agencies.
October 11, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected Total Script, A Catalyst Rx Company, to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage. The program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients.
Total Script administers and manages pharmacy benefits for self-insured clients in conjunction with their current third party administrator or carrier. They offer aggressive pricing discounts and work with clients to find solutions that specifically target improving generic and over-the-counter dispense rates to deliver lower costs. Using their plan design ‘what if’ financial analysis, they are able to help clients accurately evaluate pricing options and determine the real dollar savings.
Carl Patrick, Total Script president, says, “With drug expenditures nearing 25% of total medical costs on average, it is imperative that brokers and their clients fully understand all aspects of the pharmacy benefit plan and recognize they have options when it comes to selecting their pharmacy benefit manager.”
Total Script focuses on helping the independent brokerage community deliver pharmacy benefit management services that will compete against larger benefits agencies with in-house resources.
About Catalyst Health Solutions
Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. is built on strong, innovative principles in the management of prescription drug benefits and provides an unbiased, client-centered philosophy resulting in industry-leading client retention rates. The Company's subsidiaries include Catalyst Rx, a full-service pharmacy benefit manager serving more than 6 million lives in the United States and Puerto Rico; HospiScript Services, LLC, one of the largest providers of pharmacy benefit management services to the hospice industry; and Immediate Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., a fully-integrated prescription mail service facility in Avon Lake, Ohio. The Company's clients include self-insured employers including state and local governments, managed care organizations, unions, hospices, third-party administrators and individuals. For more information, visit www.totalscript.com, or contact Shawn Thacker at 843.971.6107 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently owned employee benefits agencies and brokerages. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
Benefits Growth Network and ebackup, Inc. Partner to Offer Data Backup Services
Benefits Growth Network has selected ebackup, Inc. to provide data backup services through its partner program. September 22, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected ebackup, Inc. to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage. The BGNAdvantage program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients. The services in the program are focused on the long-term reduction of costs, reduced claims and absenteeism, and increased employee engagement and productivity. ebackup offers a secure and automated offsite data backup solution that is like replacement insurance for client data. This solution allows BGN members and their clients to securely protect, and easily recover any, or all, of their data assets quickly and cost effectively. Rowland Perkins, ebackup president and CEO, feels that it is a great solution for many businesses. “Our simple solution does not require initial capital expenditures; it can be an affordable monthly budget item for any business.” By eliminating the time to manage daily backup tasks and instead move to merely monitoring an automated process, staff is freed up to concentrate on other more productive activities. “An essential focus for BGN is helping member agencies find solutions which will increase client productivity, and we feel that is a key factor of the ebackup service,” explains Kevin Trokey, BGN president & coach. About ebackup Inc. About Benefits Growth Network
ebackup Inc., based in Calgary, AB, provides a simple, cost effective, yet robust and secure data protection solution; supporting clients from small businesses to enterprise scale corporations. As a privately held corporation it is very agile in reacting to market demands, client requirements and meeting the needs of an ever-changing Internet mosaic.
ebackup Inc. manages its own data center, infrastructure, email and web hosting for clients located across North America, the UK and in the Middle East. For more information about ebackup Inc and its service offerings, visit www.ebackupinc.com.
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently owned employee benefits agencies and brokerages. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visitwww.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
Benefits Growth Network and SuiteCommute Offer Remote Work Strategy Development and Training
Benefits Growth Network introduces remote work program development for their employee benefits agency solutions program.
St. Louis, MO – May 3, 2010 – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected SuiteCommute to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage.
The BGNAdvantage program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients. The services in the program are focused on long-term reduction of costs, reduced claims and absenteeism, and increased employee engagement.
SuiteCommute works with companies to develop effective remote work programs focused on bottom line productivity. Whether an organization’s motivation to begin offering remote work options is disaster prep, expense reduction or retention and engagement incentives, SuiteCommute creates a program to address the specific business needs of the client. They help manage the process with comprehensive training for both management and employees around the developed policies and procedures.
There are many opportunities for potential exposure which companies often overlook when considering remote work options for their employees. “Understanding how to manage remote workers and maintain productivity can be a completely new area for many companies,” explains Kevin Trokey, president of Benefits Growth Network. “Working with SuiteCommute to develop a program and uncover those areas of risk is not only good business practice, but imperative for a successful remote-work solution.”
Brandon Dempsey, president of SuiteCommute explains, “Ad hoc telecommuting programs are a recipe for disaster. We work closely with our clients to ensure that they are legally compliant, and we also want to be sure they are able to reap all the incredible benefits telecommuting and remote work can offer to both the employer and the employee.”
Both BGN and SuiteCommute are dedicated to helping businesses succeed through improved operational efficiencies and overall profitability, making the partnership between the two organizations a natural fit.
“Having worked with H & H Health Associates as an employer and understanding the impact they are able to have on an organization, they were a natural choice to be our wellness partner in the BGNAdvantage program,” says Kevin Trokey, BGN President.
About SuiteCommute
SuiteCommute is a telecommuting and remote work consulting firm. Formed in 2005, the company spent two years researching, interviewing, and gathering data on what it took to successfully implement, train, and run a remote work program. Their focus is on the human aspect of management practices, effective policies and procedures, and necessary training. For information about SuiteCommute, visit www.suitecommute.com or contact Brandon Dempsey at 314-494-9415 or
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For more information about the Benefits Growth Network program offerings, please visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently-owned employee benefits agencies and departments. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com
For information:
Ph: 314.436.7171
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Benefits Growth Network and H & H Health Associates Offer Client-Focused Health & Wellness Programs
Benefits Growth Network introduces comprehensive EAP and wellness services to their employee benefits solution program.
St. Louis, MO – April 26, 2010 – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected H & H Health Associates to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage.
The BGNAdvantage program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients. The services in the program are focused on the long-term reduction of costs, reduced claims and absenteeism, and increased employee engagement.
Providing nationwide in-office EAP and wellness services focused on the early detection and prevention of health and wellness issues makes H & H Health Associates a great match for the BGN membership. Benefits programs have traditionally been focused on health care expenses which are based on the cost of reactionary treatment. Companies who choose to invest in identifying the cost drivers and participate in preventative programs, consistently see lower claims costs and increased employee productivity.
Tim Hobart, CEO of H & H Health Associates, explains, “The outdated model of focusing resources exclusively on treating those who are already sick or disabled can no longer be supported in an era of shrinking margins, global outsourcing and the rapidly escalating cost of treatment.”
Kevin Trokey, president and coach, says, “We’re helping agencies build better businesses that are able to withstand the strategic risks we all face. I get to see the proof everyday that the BGN System works, and it’s as motivating for me as it is for our members.”
By taking a personal, hands-on approach to working with clients and proactively identifying areas of need within their employee group, H & H Health Associates is able to help employers find solutions to these needs. The results enhance the overall performance of the company through increased productivity and reduced expenses.
“Having worked with H & H Health Associates as an employer and understanding the impact they are able to have on an organization, they were a natural choice to be our wellness partner in the BGNAdvantage program,” says Kevin Trokey, BGN President.
About H & H Health Associates
Since 1989, H & H Health Associates has been providing EAP and Wellness Services that can foster workplace performance through increased productivity and reduced expenses. For more information about H & H Health Associates, visit www.hhhealthassociates.com or contact Tim Hobart at 800.832.8302 or
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For more information about the Benefits Growth Network program offerings, please visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently-owned employee benefits agencies and departments. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com
Employee Benefits Agencies Help Clients Manage Productivity and Profitability
Benefits Growth Network brings together a robust collection of third-party solutions providers to help employee benefits agencies meet the changing needs of their clients.
St. Louis, MO – March 3, 2010 – Employee benefits agencies need to do a lot more these days than just bring a good medical and dental plan to their clients. Agencies need to bring value to their clients through business solutions that go beyond these traditional benefits programs.
Now, more than ever before, it is critical to get every bit of value from every investment made into a business. The investment that companies make into their employees is substantial and making sure there is a profitable return on that investment is the new role of an employee benefits agency.
It is often necessary to bring in outside experts to help achieve the results the client wants or needs. These requirements can be quite varied, and it is a tremendous amount of work to search for solution providers, interview them and compare programs. Sometimes the costs involved to engage or maintain these relationships can be prohibitive to many agencies. Often the result is that an agency offers no additional services or only has a couple to offer and hopes that these few options will meet the needs of their clients.
“We were in the early stages of building our own platform of client services. Finding access to best-of-breed solutions in a comprehensive, ready-to-use system through BGN has saved us countless hours and untold dollars. It has also resulted in a more robust platform than we could have ever built on our own.”
As a core part of their offering, Benefits Growth Network searches, reviews and selects best-practice solutions providers for the BGNAdvantage program, available to all members. Leveraging the strength of the network, they are able to negotiate lower rates or additional services that agencies would be unable to get on their own. Agencies are able to review the partner offerings and select which ones are good business solutions for each client individually. This creates a powerful set of readily-available tools without the requirement to engage them until there is a client need.
The offering is a strong draw for many members. Rich Hecker, Vice President of EHL Insurance, says, “We were in the early stages of building our own platform of client services. Finding access to best-of-breed solutions in a comprehensive, ready-to-use system through BGN has saved us countless hours and untold dollars. It has also resulted in a more robust platform than we could have ever built on our own.”
There are many common employee-related challenges that businesses face, and turning to their employee benefits agency for help is a natural evolution. Resources and solutions available in the BGNAdvantage program include:
- HR materials such as employee handbooks, hiring practices, performance management, discipline and firing guidelines. Effective employment practices are a critical foundation for all companies to have in place for mitigating risk.
- Remote work policies. An evolving business climate has made this a requirement for many businesses and avoiding common problems that arise is an imperative risk management strategy.
- EAP programs to help address employee absenteeism and presenteeism issues which can be drastically reducing productivity and squeezing profit margins. Often employees are concerned about personal issues such as child care, aging parents, legal issues and chronic health issues and are distracted during the workday.
- Training for supervisors and managers. Without proper management training, it’s common for businesses to see an increase in HR and management workload and decreased productivity from employees, again adding to the pressures on profitability.
See a sample of solutions offered through the BGNAdvantage program, and learn more about the ways Benefits Growth Network might be able to help your agency at www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently owned employee benefits agencies and brokerages. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
For information:
Ph: 314.436.7171
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Benefits Growth Network and ICR Bridge Offer Identity Theft Protection for Clients
Benefits Growth Network introduces risk reduction options for businesses & their employees through their employee benefits agency solutions program.
May 17, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected ICR Bridge to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage.
The BGNAdvantage program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients. The services in the program are focused on the long-term reduction of costs, reduced claims and absenteeism, and increased employee engagement.
ICR Bridge is an identity theft protection company offering a unique, proactive approach to the marketplace. As insurance brokers seeing the first-hand impact that ID theft was having on their clients, they recognized the need to work directly with employers to sponsor plans for their employees. Beyond the consequences that the victims themselves experience, ID theft presents risks for employers, as well. Employers see an average productivity loss of 150 - 250 hours each time an employee suffers an ID theft crisis.
Mark Patrick, CEO of ICR Bridge explains, “On average, the victim will lose $3,800 before they get control of the damage. Thieves will write 57 false checks, and open 8 new credit cards. Worse, victims will feel the effects of vulnerability and lack of closure for months, if not years, to come.”
ICR Bridge products include a package of services plus an insurance policy to both proactively monitor and restore credit in the event of a theft. Their package suite includes:
• Resolution and restitution
• Single and tri-bureau credit monitoring
• Public database monitoring
Employees spend work hours trying to resolve the theft issues which can be a drain on company resources. Kevin Trokey, President of Benefits Growth Network feels that offering a solution for ID theft is not only a good benefit, but it makes good business sense. “We help businesses avoid and mitigate risks that they may or may not even be aware are potential issues for their company. Offering an ID theft solution for employees can be a good return on investment.” The direct, measurable costs average $7,000 per incident which excludes the costs of lost productivity, presenteeism issues, and resulting company profit.
About ICR Bridge
ICR Bridge is an identity theft protection company formed in Spokane in 2006. ICR comes from the Latin words Impedio, Cavi, Renovo (Protect, Secure, Restore) and was designed by insurance experts who wanted to develop solutions for companies of all size and industries, while also supporting individuals and families. ICR Bridge has four distinct service platforms to offer their clients that include: Cyber-risk insurance, IT security audit tools, HR on-line training and employee support/protection. For more information about ICR Bridge, visit www.icrbridge.com or contact Tami Carter at 509-343-9528.
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently owned employee benefits agencies and brokerages. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
Benefits Growth Network & Compliance Advisor Help Reduce Risk Exposure through Regulation Compliance
Benefits Growth Network introduces comprehensive legislative expertise to their solutions program for employee benefits agencies.
May 10, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – Benefits Growth Network, a consulting firm specializing in growth and implementation strategies for employee benefits agencies, today announced that they have selected Compliance Advisor to join their partnership solutions program, BGNAdvantage.
The BGNAdvantage program is a select group of service partners for BGN member agencies to use as solution providers for their clients. The services in the program are focused on the long-term reduction of costs, reduced claims and absenteeism, and increased employee engagement.
“Staying compliant is a challenge nearly every employer faces,” says Tony Sorrentino, Compliance Advisor Managing Editor. “For companies without in-house expertise, interpreting the massive volume of legislative changes and regulatory updates can be costly and time consuming for HR personnel.”
Compliance Advisor uses its regulatory expertise to provide a solution for these companies. They offer a set of tools written specifically for the business owner and HR professional. The Compliance Advisor suite includes an ongoing series of newsletters, bulletins, guides and webinars designed help businesses interpret, understand and take action on the changes in legislation which govern employment practices.
Benefits Growth Network sees compliance as one of the biggest challenges that employers face, and health care reform is now increasing that burden. The legislation is voluminous and wide-ranging, and it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest interpretations for strict compliance planning.
“Bringing expertise to clients in the area of compliance is an important role for a benefits broker to fill. There are many areas of potential exposure, and we need to help businesses reduce those possible risks,” says Kevin Trokey, president of Benefits Growth Network.
About Compliance Advisor
Compliance Advisor helps brokers and their clients navigate the complexities of legislative regulations. Tony Sorrentino, Managing Editor, has written and lectured extensively on Section 125 plan compliance, wellness initiatives, consumer-driven health plans, HIPAA privacy and security, COBRA interpretation and ERISA fiduciary responsibilities. His extensive knowledge of Section 125 led to him co-authoring a Certified Flexible Compensation Instructor course on plan administrative guidelines. For more information about Compliance Advisor, visit www.compliance-advisor.com or call Tony Sorrentino at 877.823.6636.
About Benefits Growth Network
Benefits Growth Network, based out of St. Louis, MO, is an international membership-based consulting firm specializing in growth strategies for independently owned employee benefits agencies and brokerages. Through the exclusive Benefits Growth System™, members get individualized planning, coaching, training, use of proprietary systems and access to a network of thriving benefits agencies. For more information about Benefits Growth Network, visit www.benefitsgrowthnetwork.com.
