I live in a town of four thousand people.

Remember that, because it matters. At the tail end of Covid, my agency was growing faster than my team could handle. Pattie — my best — was drowning. So I went looking for another Pattie.

There is no other Pattie in Vidalia, Louisiana. I did all the things you do to hire someone. Reviewed dozens of resumes. Interviewed the few worth interviewing. Insurance experience? Forget it. Someone who knew my AMS — EZLynx? Not a chance.

Then a friend asked if I’d considered a virtual assistant.

I almost said no. Not because of the work — because of the town. My clients know me. They know where I live, where I go to church. I was sure they’d hate it. I was sure my staff would think I’d lost my mind.

I hired her anyway. Her name is Hannah.

She had a college degree, real insurance experience, and a work ethic I hadn’t seen in years. Within weeks we built a renewal department around her. Personal and commercial lines. She ran it by herself.

Pattie and Sue got their days back — and doubled their sales volume.

My clients? Never skipped a beat. My staff? They embraced her. She took the work they dreaded and gave them back the work they love.

Here’s what I learned. Most agencies aren’t understaffed. They’re mis-staffed. Great people trapped in busywork instead of the work that drives revenue.

Look at your own office this week. Who’s doing $15-an-hour tasks on a licensed salary? Who got into this business to talk to people and now stares at a screen all day?

That’s not a hiring problem. That’s a work-placement problem. And it’s fixable.

Hannah, by the way, leads my entire VA team now. The hire I was afraid to make leads all the others.

Sometimes the thing you’re afraid of is the smartest decision on the table.

Get the Delegation Focus Matrix — www.iablueprint.com/dream