Breathe Out

The past three years have been filled with unprecedented events and their economic impacts - insurance costs included. In this episode, Heather is joined by Property Underwriter Todd Guilbeau. With 15+ years in the insurance industry, he explains how natural disasters, recessions, labor shortages, and so much more have caused individual's and company's insurance costs to skyrocket. This conversation gives key insight to importance of transparency during this hard market. Listen to learn how you can approach your policies' renewals with confidence and understand the influences behind the challenging premium increases. We know it's hard out there, both personally and corporately, and it's our mission to put our client's mind at ease and help you find real sustainable solutions.

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Heather Smyrl is the CEO of Highpoint Insurance Group located in Friendswood, TX. With 20+ years of experience, she strives to educate, coach, and champion those in the insurance industry to become the best that they can be.

Connect with Heather on Linkedin: Heather Smyrl

To learn more about Highpoint, visit our social media channels!

Facebook - @highpointinsurancegroup

Instagram - @highpointinsurancegroup

LinkedIn - @highpoint-insurance-group

Our Website - www.hpigrp.com

Heads up... this week's episode might leave you teary-eyed! 

Becky Khan speaks on servant leadership - one of Highpoint's core values. Becky has been a Highpoint team member since 2009 and has been a professional, spiritual, and personal leader to every single person on the staff. Besides insurance, she also has been leading ministry for over a decade and is an amazing wife and mother to 3 awesome kids. Their family created the Jane Around the World mission in 2019 and since then, has been making huge waves of change in the greater Houston area - and beyond - for those that are homeless and in the foster care system.

Her credit to their success is God's story, and the key is being obedient to the words of the Holy Spirit. Trusting in the unseen can be difficult, but God wants us to succeed - while make positive impact on people's lives. Listen and become inspired now!

Jane Around the World:
www.janearoundtheworld.org
Facebook: @janearoundtheworld12
Instagram: @janearoundtheworld12

Promotional Video: https://vimeo.com/518747978

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
- Proverbs 16:9

"Gratitude is one of the most underutilized and undervalued resources that we all have that we can actively live out every day."

Back and better than ever, it's the 50th episode of BREATHE OUT! Follow us wherever you stream podcasts to keep up with each new episode.

In today's episode, Parker Richardson of Highpoint Church in Friendswood, TX shares with us how gratitude is more than an emotion, and can be used as a tool and resource to navigate us through life. He takes the time to explain several points that we can apply in every day situations to transform our attitudes.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

In this episode, Heather is joined by University of Houston Professor Craig McAndrews! In addition to teaching at UH's Bauer College of Business and writing his book Soul Purpose Inc., he has been a mentor for our sales team at Highpoint and leader of our summer internship program. Throughout his experience in corporate America to academia, he has remained a firm believer in the power of prayer. Heather and him talk about the transformational change that happens in our careers when we turn off the noise of the world and obey the guidance of God. When we bring love into the workplace, we can impact the community, our coworkers, and everyone's families & friends. By centering our career path on these principles, our faith and desire to help one another becomes stronger. It motivates someone to work every day to make the world a better place. We highly recommend listening to this episode and reading his book for some powerful inspiration. You can get your own copy of Soul Purpose Inc. at major online retailers like Amazon and B&N or by visiting www.soulpurposeinc.com today!

In this episode of Breathe Out, Heather is joined by the Health and Safety Council's Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Operations, Thomas and Cami Hysler. Formerly known as the Houston Area Safety Council, the HASC's mission is to build safe workplaces by improving the quality and integrity of the workforce. Since 1990, they have been providing resources to industrial companies such as classroom courses, return to work programs, technical education, and leadership development to establish great safety training in their members' businesses. Tommy and Cami share their career journeys, the growth and development of the HASC, workers compensation insurance, most common injuries, and so much more valuable insight that any business owner can appreciate. To become a member of the HASC or learn more about the resources offered, visit www.hasc.com today!

We're back with a brand new episode featuring our inspiration manager, Jamie Eubanks! In this episode, Coach Jamie and Heather discuss the Wellness Challenge that Jamie organized for our agency. By considering our mental, spiritual, emotional, nutritional, and professional wellbeing, we can see which areas need the most focus to create balance and peace. Running on adrenaline and ignoring our needs leads to burnout and actually depletes our productivity and positive energy. We believe that with small steps of dedication and gratitude, you can create better healthy habits to get out of that negative mindset. Check out our Choose Wellness blog and download your own Daily Habit Tracker by visiting our website at www.hpigrp.com today!

Happy Monday! This month we are focusing on mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. In this episode we listen on a conversation between Heather and Kelly Niemeier of HighPoint Church in Friendswood, Texas. Listen in as we hear about what has inspired her throughout her journey in life and what keeps her motivated. She believes that leadership is nothing more than influence, and shares how we can lift others up to their best potential through our service. To learn more about her ministry, visit myhighpointchurch.com today!

As a businessowner, you probably know that your employee's benefits are in the top 5 administrative costs. Healthcare is something we all need, so shouldn't you be spending that money wisely? In this week's episode of Breathe Out, Heather is joined by Senior Risk Architect Erika Ensign - who most people know as The Insurance Lady. Erika has a passion for helping people and exposing the truth of insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays and so much more in the world of health insurance. She believes that insurance was intended to give us peace of mind, and crippling costs have turned it into a pain. Just as Dorothy goes behind the curtain to find the Wizard of Oz is a bunch of bells & whistles, Erika gives us valuable industry insight and how we can put ourselves in a position to use our benefits and save money. Listen and learn!

At Highpoint, we believe that strategy without execution is just an idea. So in this week's episode, we want to tell you all about our favorite tool in our toolkit - the IQRM. Exclusive through our membership with the Beyond Insurance Global Network, it's a risk assessment scorecard that benchmarks your company's performance and best practices. By taking intelligent proactive measures, you're ultimately driving your premiums down and improving your business! Check this out under Client Tools on our website, www.hpigrp.com and let us help elevate your success!

The past year seems like it has been a constant state of uncertainty. It's frustrating to look back and think how much of it has been a blur. How do you make sure you're still progressing when nothing goes according to plan? On this week's episode of Breathe Out, Heather reminds us that we live in a world of progress and not perfection. A lot of people avoid creating a weekly schedule for fear it won't work out. That is why we reflect on the failures, give ourselves credit, and adapt in order to be resilient in the hard times. Ask yourself what's working and what gets in the way. Whether it's a proposal, zoom meeting, date night, or workout, it's important to map out what you want to accomplish for yourself and for your family. Face the challenges. Be intentional ♡

Back in Episode 13, we discussed the hard market and why it matters to everyone. After all, 2020 brought its fair share of changes and we're going to feel the growing pains for years to come. In this week's episode of Breathe Out, Heather focuses on the auto industry and how the past couple of years have led to premium increases across the board. Record-setting auto claims and medical bills, distracted driving from technology, sleep-deprivation, and stress, delivery demands and deteriorating road infrastructure - these are all variables that have affected the supply & demand of auto coverage. At Highpoint, we encourage you focusing on what YOU can control, despite the uncontrollable and unpredictable. Getting an assessment of your preparedness and making wise choices will ultimately pay off. Let us help you get the most out of your investment and visit us at www.hpigrp.com or send an inquiry to info@hpigrp.com today! 

In this week's episode of Breathe Out, Heather is joined by our awesome Sales Coach, Adam Outland! With 15+ years of experience, Adam is a Partner, Executive Coach, and Team Lead for Southwestern Consulting. He has been working with the Highpoint sales team for a few months, and the impact has been incredible. Listen as they talk through Adam's journey from seminars to consultations and take notes on a few secrets and skills to help your business business grow and thrive. When it comes to the client, it's important to tell them what they NEED to hear, not just what they WANT to hear. To learn more about Adam, check out his own podcast "Inside Great Minds" on all streaming services or visit www.southwesternconsulting.com today! 

When you are intentional about showing appreciation for another person, it's important to understand what is actually effective. Author Gary Chapman wrote The Five Love Languages and The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace - two books that provide great understanding to treating people the way they want to be treated - what we at Highpoint call "The Platinum Rule." In this week's episode, Heather sits down with our very own Chief Heart Officer Jackie Keys to discuss each expression - 1) Quality Time 2) Acts of Service 3) Words of Affirmation 4) Physical Touch and 5) Giving Gifts. They provide examples of how the love languages can be applied both personally and professionally to make every one of your relationships more compatible. To learn more, we highly recommend Gary Chapman's books which can be found online and any popular bookstore! Lead with love 💕

Accidents happen, and the insurance industry was created to protect us from unforeseen events and losses. We serve our clients to ensure their businesses are covered by great policies. But we also believe that value must always exceed price, and that coverage is more than a document. In this week's episode of Breathe Out, meet George Canavan! George has 25 years of experience as a client advocate, claims adjuster, and a regular person like you & me. Heather knew that his skills and wisdom were needed at Highpoint to level-up our customer service. We believe by treating people the way you want to be treated, being organized, and remaining persistent, you create a stronger sense of trust with your client while also holding the insurance companies accountable. Listen in on their conversation for some ideas how you and your business can handle claims smarter and improve loss prevention strategies to ultimately lower your expenses. To learn more, visit our website at www.hpigrp.com today!

Happy Monday! In this week's episode, we're talking about discipline. We're four weeks into the new year... have you kept your resolutions? Listen as Heather gives some tips and tricks on how she stays on track to accomplish ambitious goals. Good habits are easy to make but hard to keep. It's important to be self-aware of your weaknesses and find support in those areas to hold yourself accountable. Consistency compounds and at Highpoint, WE BELIEVE that success is in the follow-through! After all, strategy without execution is just an idea. To learn more about our awesome team, visit our site www.hpigrp.com today! 

Marketplace Chaplains is a faith based non-profit serving Christ and the community through their chaplains. In this week's episode, Heather and Jamie are joined by Brian Horner, Executive Director of Operations in Southeast Houston. This organization is far more than an employee assistance program for Highpoint. It has had impact on our staff's wellness - for both mental and spiritual health. We've even used their services to reach out to our clients when we know they need support. The chaplains that Highpoint has had for a little over two years now are just as much a part of our family as anyone else. They're welcome in our office anytime and are always here to listen and pray over anyone at their request. That's the beauty of this program - it is entirely voluntary and works by reaching into your heart rather than hesitating to reach out. As Brian says, "it's not rocket science - it's a thousand little things that make all the difference." We put forth the highest recommendation on their services, and if you want to learn more you can visit www.mchapusa.com or call (972) 941-4400 to discuss the ways your business could benefit. 

Everyone needs support to overcome their personal battles - inside and out - but getting stronger for yourself is the greatest achievement of all. From September 8 to November 21, two incredibly inspirational women took on Andy Frisella's "75 HARD - A Tactical Guide to Winning the War with Yourself." This 11 week challenge involves transforming your physical state BY transforming your mental state. It doesn't cost anything, but requires a ton of discipline. Listen as Heather and Jamie discuss how they got through all 75 days of committed and intentional self-care. Whether it was scheduling their workouts, daily reading time, or meal plans, they talk about how no other challenge is like 75 Hard and how they PURSUED DISCOMFORT to overcome every trial and temptation. To learn more about this tool you can visit andyfrisella.com and possibly dare to try it out! 

In this week's episode of Breathe Out, the Wonder Women join forces again to discuss the importance of relaxation and connection. In our fast-paced work environment - especially when Heather is your boss - it can become difficult to slow down and give yourself permission to rest. Listen as they discuss the importance of recharging and how it goes hand-in-hand with reconnecting with your loved ones and your truest self.  To learn more about how Highpoint focuses on wellness, visit www.hpigrp.com or follow us on your favorite social channels :)