Welcome to 2017! In my previous columns, I've given you straight talk about maximizing insurance and financial services businesses for fun and profit. I've shared proven strategies and the things we could and should be doing to reach agency goals.

That is, until now. I have a clear vision of how our business will evolve and how we should prepare for the future. This vision is based upon more than five decades of experience in the insurance and financial services arena as an agency founder, owner of a multi-line independent agency, bank director of a public company and CEO of a bank-owned agency.

Every organization, whether business, military or sports, needs three essential elements to win:

• Leadership: Leaders have the vision and responsibility to establish the mission, set and articulate the strategy, and build the teams.

• Teamwork: In order to accomplish the mission as a team, candidates with the best skills must be selected and trained to execute the tactics.

• Team leaders: These are the ones who lead the team to achieve its objectives and focus on team success.

Think about it. A sports team is made up of players with different skill sets selected by leadership (the GM) and team leaders (the coaches), to build the best team possible, aligning the skills of each individual to achieve success.