Top producers have an entrepreneurial attitude and a vision for the future. They have a career plan and know how to achieve their goals. Here are some tips for improving producer performance.

1. It's about what you can do for the company. Producers are just that—producers! Their focus should be on new revenues, expanding the revenue stream of current clients and creating new revenue sources. They should have targeted monthly profit goals and long-term benchmarks that extend five to seven years.

2. Tenure is out the window. It doesn't matter how long you've been there. You are your own profit center and need to position your thinking from that regard. Selling and growing is your primary responsibility within the agency—period.

3. Be on the lookout for the next opportunity. You will change careers several times. Have a vision and a plan for what you want to accomplish. Think of your production role for the long term—it's not just a job, it's a career.

4. Companies have fewer available funds to hire managers to look backward. Agencies don't want managers who can only say what was done wrong in the past; they want managers with ideas and visions for the future. Most agencies will make room for talented leadership with a vision.

5. If you truly want to be successful, forget life/work balance. Being a producer is not a 40-hour per week job. It calls for study, on-the-job training, mirroring the hours of prospects and being available at their convenience. This could mean a 7:00 a.m. meeting or an after-hours call. Give 100%.

6. Your personal brand includes everything about you relative to appearance, reputation and performance. With social media, there are no secrets, so make good decisions. It may not matter to you what you look like, how you're dressed and the way you present your personal brand, but it sure does matter to those who sign your check and pay you hard-earned commission dollars.

7. Build networks of friends and business associates that reciprocate value. Spend your “down time” in a smart way—do more than hang out with buddies or play sports. Spend time with people you can learn from. Expand your professional network, gain deeper relationships and open more doors to opportunity.

8. Stay in “permanent beta mode.” Make a list of what you learned, then make a list of what you need to improve. Personal growth and professional development never stop. Your ability to continue to improve keeps you ahead of the competition vying for your position. Beat the other agents by being the expert.

9. Success is usually the last few steps of a long trip with many surprises. Your future will be more predictable the more prepared you are regarding your learning and development, spending time with the right people, and giving long hours to study and preparation.

10. Understand your value-added services. Google presents yet another efficient and convenient option for insurance buyers. Buyers have strongly voiced their desire to move to a channel convenient to them. Until independent agents make their operations 24/7/365, they will continue to lose market share. The insurance buyer has financial risk and responsibility and, therefore, the need for advice will continue.