Suggesting an Actuary Appreciation Day

While writing an article for the Academy of Actuaries the other day, I saw the wind whip the leaves around outside and it reminded me of my marching band days in high school. As a freshman clarinetist, I was the unexpected recipient of a hug on “Hug a Band Member Day.”

My thoughts turned back to actuaries. I smiled at the idea of a “Hug an Actuary Day.” But since even a handshake can be sometimes considered sexual harassment these days, I propose there at least be an Actuary Appreciation Day.

In fact, I’m making today my personal Actuary Appreciation Day. I want to express my appreciation for the actuaries who have supported me professionally and personally. Really, how can you not be blessed by a profession that attracts such intelligent and highly-principled people?

The actuarial mind is a mystery. Having enjoyed the opportunity to work as a layperson with actuaries, or “translator” as I affectionately call myself, I can honestly say that the profession that drives forward by looking in the rearview mirror is full of the most forward-thinking possibilities. (See my article on the future of the actuarial profession at http://www.contingenciesonline.com/contingenciesonline/20110708?pg=5#pg31.

To the general public and even the business community, the actuary is misunderstood. The best actuarial minds are not as linear as their mathematics and statistical backgrounds imply. Their brilliance is not to be found in number crunching or ranges of probability.

Actuaries possess that rare combination of right- and left-brain qualities that allow them to see possibilities from other angles (or should I say, “Triangles?”) They are creative. They see new worlds of risk and reward, finding paradigms in statistics that anticipate new ways to consider future events and how to cover for them.

Before naming my favorite actuaries, I should be clear that I do not see the profession through a rose-colored rearview mirror: I have known a thankfully small few who do respect numbers more than human beings. But they pale in significance to the stars of the profession.

I have worked with several wonderful actuaries. Twenty years ago, Paul Whittaker, then the actuarial director of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, first explained actuarial concepts so I could “translate” them into everyday English.

_______________

They see new worlds of risk and reward, finding paradigms in statistics that anticipate new ways to consider future events and how to cover for them.

_______________

Later, as the lead reporter for BNA’s Workers’ Compensation Report, I often quoted actuarial maverick Richard Hofmann, who risked his reputation and business to encourage the public availability of workers’ compensation data. Rich moved my career even closer to actuaries when he asked me to work for him part-time, just minutes after I quit my full-time reporting job to be a stay-at-home mom.

Rich later introduced me to Claus Metzner, who in turn introduced me to Steve Lehmann. Claus and Steve, who are among the field’s best gentlemen, encouraged my creativity and supported my career growth. I thoroughly enjoyed the years I worked with Steve, who is the former president of the Casualty Actuary Society and the American Academy of Actuaries and now serves the profession as the general secretary of the International Association of Actuaries.

Finally, I tip my hat to Barry Llewellyn of the National Council on  Compensation Insurance, Inc. Professionally I had known him for years, but when I was working with him on a project, my nearly-four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. His support touched my heart.

These are just a few of the actuaries who have made a lasting impression on me.

So whether your premiums go up or down, I say, thank an actuary!

Business Lessons from Making Thanksgiving Dinner

Since it is Thanksgiving, I want to express my appreciation to my clients and those who support my career. There are many reasons for being thankful.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is a great excuse to make a huge dinner of comfort food and then enjoy it for the weekend. Add in friends and family and what is not to love?

Since my mind is on turkey dinner and business at the same time, I thought it would be fun to share business lessons that can be gleaned from preparing thanksgiving dinner.

1) Look at the big picture and plan accordingly. Thanksgiving dinner requires a lot of thought to have all the dishes ready at the same time. It’s a killer to make thanksgiving dinner in one day, so stagger the work. For projects, start backwards with the desired goals and make a schedule.

2) Know Your Audience. Just like it is important to know the preferences of guests, make sure you know those of your customers.

3) Turkey, like great content, should not be wasted but re-purposed. When investing in a large editorial project, thought piece or a series of brochures and web text, think of other vehicles to feed content. In the same way, instead of trying to eat a bunch of turkey in a couple days, cube some and freeze in one cup portions for future meals. I have used cubed turkey for burritos, stews and any dish that calls for chicken. Don’t forget to have some onion, carrot and celery available to boil the carcass to make a freezable soup base.

The same is true for repurposing content. Don’t throw away the editorial content that ends up on the cutting room floor because it might be useable for future projects. Another tip: brine the turkey overnight for moistness and better flavor.

_______________

Making thanksgiving dinner is a creative process just like making business plans, marketing plans and value propositions.

_______________

4) Know where it is worth it to cut corners. Why serve a can of cranberry sauce when you can easily make it by boiling cranberries, water and sugar and even add your own special touch of orange zest? It does not take long and the results are worth it.

5) Know where to cut corners. Making homemade pie crust is a pain. When I am making the dinner, I buy pre-made refrigerated crust for pie.

6) Be flexible. Some customers want material online and others in print. Some of my crowd wants sweet potatoes with marshmallows and others, candied walnuts. My dish will have half of each.

7) Don’t be afraid to try something new. This year, I am making shredded brussels sprouts and red swiss chard. It’s healthy and has that holiday look of green and red. In the same way, challenge yourself to try something new, like initiating or optimizing your social media opportunities.

8) Be smart with stuffing or it can turn deadly. Chances are less so when you’ve done your homework. And, yes, you can still stuff a turkey without worries of semolina poisoning. Make your stuffing of choice the night before so it will be stuffed in the turkey at refridgerator temperature.

9) Get by with a little help from your friends. Accept dishes from guests, but make sure they are not essential to the meal in case plans fall through.

10) Have fun and enjoy! Making thanksgiving dinner is a creative process just like making business plans, marketing plans and value propositions. Make sure everyone has a seat at the table and brainstorm away!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Why I Never Miss Election Day

The following is an editorial I wrote during my freshman year at Ohio University when I was a staff writer for The Post, Ohio University’s independent student newspaper. I wrote this during the Cold War, just before President Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, to tear down the Berlin Wall.

I hope you enjoy this and that it encourages you to vote.--Annmarie

Headline: Maybe Next Year

By Annmarie L. Geddes, Staff Writer

I wanted to vote.

Really, I did.

Ever since I was old enough to know the difference between a Democrat and a Republican, daddy would peer up at me as he cut his steak and say, “It’s your American right. It’s what sets us apart from the communists.”

Wonderful.

So here I am, 18; legally old enough to vote. I registered. I was psyched. I studied the issues, decided on my candidates, and walked into Nelson Commons. I was ready.

I proudly proclaimed my name, expecting verification.

I didn’t get it.

“What’s your name again?” “Annmarie Geddes,” I told her. I could not believe this was happening to me. “I don’t see your name Miss Geddes,” she said.

I stood there as three people went through files and register cards. But no dice. She smiled and asked me to come back.

Well, I wanted to vote, so I came back.

They remembered me this time. “Would it make you feel any better if I told you you’re not the only one?” some guy asked me.

“No,” I told him, “I want to vote.”

“Well, if you are not registered, you can’t.”

“But I did register.” I said.

“Where?”

“In front of Bentley (Hall), on the way to my political science class.”

There was silence. The lady appeared apologetic, “I’ll call the board of elections and see what we can do. I am sorry, but that’s all we can do.” I walked away disappointed.

See, I know the importance of voting. Not because of the “See how your vote counts, Andrew (Johnson) missed impeachment by one vote” propaganda. But back home, I worked in city government. I have even helped with campaigning. I should have had the right to vote because I took time investigating the issues.

So now I am supposed to wait for a letter from the board of elections. But the election is over. I suppose they will let me vote twice next year.

Maybe that’s not so bad because that way I can vote on both sides. And my voice won’t count.

Just like this year.

Why Eminence Building is a Must

So you’re reading an article or web surfing. You notice a competitor being quoted or published and wonder who died and made him or her the big expert. After all, you know at least as much as that bozo does.

You wonder why your name or firm does not come up higher on web searches like your competitors do.

The biggest reason, chances are, is because they have been building eminence for their brand while you wait around being discovered. “Oh,” you say, “I am not one to toot my own horn.”

Well, if you are not going to do it, who will?

Thanks to the Internet, for better or worse, what comes up on a search engine when someone types in your name gives people an impression of you. Googling someone is now second nature for finding potential employees or learning more about them, screening suitable mates and discovering sometimes amazing personal information people actually volunteer to the world.

With eminence building, you and your reputation are in the driver’s seat. For it is you (with a little help) who can position yourself as important, influential or distinguished.

Building eminence means learning the secrets of publishing. Really, what is the Internet but an endless publishing vehicle?

I have published more than 500 articles over than two decades under my name and hundreds of pages on behalf of others. I know how publishing works. I know why a piece is published and why hundreds of queries end up in the recycle bin.

I guide clients to write meaningful content written in a journalistic style that busy editors find irresistible. That’s because I honor editors by knowing and understanding their needs and sending them quality content free of propaganda. Material is presented pre-edited in journalistic style to increase chances of publishing.

I usually start with the trade press because material picked up by another source has higher credibility. Either way, the material can be re-purposed for print and electronic media on the web, in enewsletters, blogs and more!

As a result, my clients have successfully attracted and retained clients. They continue to reap the benefits of material published nearly a decade ago. They are often seen at seminars or quoted in the trade press and have made hundreds of thousands of dollars as a direct result of our efforts.

And, believe it or not, my approach is much less expensive than advertising -- and it gets better and more meaningful results.

_______________

Thanks to the Internet, for better or worse, what comes up on a search engine when someone types in your name gives people an impression of you.

_______________

How to build eminence? For starters, consider your audience. Consider their pain points, which I discussed in my blog dated October 25, 2010. Contemplate how your expertise can rock their worlds. Then offer them your brilliance: expertise, innovative ideas and/or solutions in the written word.

Yes, this approach can take a lot of work and time, but the benefits of producing awesome content is worth the investment. Here are my top 10 reasons to build eminence with publishing (with apologies to David Letterman):

1) Having something to talk about during cocktail hour.

2) Making your mother proud.

3) Fine-tuning your critical thinking and communications skills.

4) Justifying your existence to maintain employment.

5) Gaining credibility as a thought leader and/or expert.

6) Getting more “hits” on search engines.

7) Garnering speaking engagements.

8) Helping your kids, or that person you want to impress, think you are famous, important and deserving of respect.

9) Being highly regarded by potential clients, management and colleagues.

10) Providing your co-workers with something to tease you about.

Got a question or need a solution? Write me at annnmarie@lipoldcommunications.com.