The independent agency system is ripe for transformation. Not incremental change, not baby steps or modest upgrades, but metamorphosis. All around us, from medicine to music, other fields have been transmuted by fresh thinking and new technology.

But in so many ways, independent agencies (and their carriers) look much the same as they did when I entered the business 30 years ago. Yes, agents have Web sites and laptops now, but our industry still holds tight to tradition–to the ways we've always done things.

We must find champions, paladins, men and women who can vault us to new ways of thinking, and original ways of communicating and delivering. We must catapult past the committees and task forces, past the dedicated and well-meaning technology veterans to find inspiration and innovation. We must secure epic change.

And that vanguard will not be found among my contemporaries, as wise, experienced and professional as they may be.

It will emerge from the class of 2006 or 2010–or even younger. It will come from a generation weaned on technology. From young men and women who are not limited by our sense of time and space and dimension. From an age that demands immediacy, speed and multisense experiences. From a generation uninhibited by race or creed or gender.

But these future leaders will come to us only if we seek them out.

Let's face it, insurance is not known as a sexy industry. It does not ignite passion in the hearts of America's youth. It is not the subject of films, TV shows or novels. And it is not the first pursuit of most high school and college students.

But it should be.

Insurance offers a wide array of energizing and challenging careers for a range of personalities and skill sets. There are cool, fun jobs in every segment of this business: sales, marketing, underwriting, education, creative, product development and, yes, technology. There are myriad opportunities for young people to earn big dollars, to travel, to meet interesting people and to make a difference.

Our challenge is to share this world–our world–with the next generation. To train and educate them about the potential opportunities this industry has to offer. To entice them to seek this hidden treasure of a career. To encourage their talent. To give them the tools to lead–to transform–the next 50 years. There a few things we can do:

o Meet with young people.

Not just you, but all the people in your agency or company–and especially the younger ones. Get out there and talk to high school and college students–at job shows, career days and in informal settings.

o Hire them.

In every office there is work that remains undone because we're all too busy. Bring in a student as an intern or part-time employee. But balance that grunt work with opportunities to do more interesting tasks, or at least to observe them. Create in these young minds a respect for and interest in insurance and financial services.

o Think about how you discuss your work.

We all gripe sometimes, but try putting a positive spin on your work, no matter who you're talking to. Focus on the best part of your job. Talk about the perks and the earnings potential, the people and the opportunities. Let's elevate the image of insurance on all fronts, and it eventually will trickle down to young people.

o Partner with a school.

Talk to a local high school or community college about the opportunity to teach an insurance-related business class or arrange internships in your organization. You could raise your organization's profile while also helping to train the next generation of insurance professionals.

We may not be able to convince everyone to seek a career in insurance, but by reaching out and educating the younger generation, we can at least try to create a different, more positive mindset about the industry not only among future employees, but consumers, claimants, jurors, regulators and legislators as well.

The champions we need are out there. Let's find them and teach them.