Stephen O. Rothschild, CLU, ChFC Tuesday, November 29, 2005
It is MDRT’s goal to use technology to improve member communications for you. One way MDRT is doing so is via our new Weblog (Blog).It is with great pleasure that I post this first entry into the new members-only MDRT Blog.
Around the world, blogs are transforming communications by offering easy access to a wealth of information, ideas and perspectives from individuals, businesses and organizations. We’ve seen, for example, how MDRT’s Hurricane Katrina Blog brought members together by providing a forum for communicating about an important issue.
This new MDRT Blog is an interactive tool designed to enhance our members’ professional and personal growth by stimulating discussion about a variety of important topics. Be sure to check in each week to view the latest posting.
I strongly encourage you to participate in the discussion by offering insight and questions, and reading what other members have to say throughout the week.
With that in mind, please use the “comments” link below to share your perspective on the MDRT Blog:
What can we do to make this a valuable tool?
What topics are of interest to you?
What questions do you have about it?
What other blogs can members use to gain competitive advantage?
I look forward to your insight and questions, and to many productive conversations via this new member benefit.
surajit das Thursday, January 6, 2011It's great. Actually what I feel, everything is in ourselves.
We can do anything and everything, if we believe in ourselves!
READER COMMENTS
Logan Naidu Tuesday, May 2, 2006I compliment MDRT on offering members this additional benefit. This 'blog ' is indeed an innovative way of maintaining effective communication among members. This is further evidence of technology "shrinking" the world.
My special area of interest is 'personal development'. I'd like to offer two quotes relating to goals that I use often in my talks:
1. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it'. Michaelangelo (1475 - 1564)
2. 'When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds;
Your mind transcends limititations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.
Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.' Patanjali (+- 200 B.C.)
The first quote by Michaelangelo implores us to 'aim high'. Don't listen to people who point out your limitations. Remember, here is advice from one of the most outstanding figures in the history of the visual arts, who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by lying on his back and working every day for four years between 1508 and 1512. In this regard, the words of Albert Einstein are relevant, 'Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.'
The second quote dating over 2,200 years, offers timeless advice from one of the world's greatest sages. When you are inspired in the manner Patanjali speaks of, your mind simply cannot conceive of the idea of limitation. You are 'on purpose,' in a state of 'flow' or 'peak experience.' The secret is to become inspired from within, not from without; otherwise the word would be outspired!
READER COMMENTS
Christopher Lim Monday, December 5, 2005The Blog can be very useful for members who may wish to learn from other members.
Different topics like retirement planning, investment planning, practice management, healthcare insurance, Keyman Insurance, etc. can be discussed.
MDRT can appoint a coach to each subject. He/she will be the moderator.
READER COMMENTS
Christopher Lim Monday, December 5, 2005Thank you, Mr. President, Stephen O. Rothschild, CLU, ChFC, for taking the lead on using the blog as a tool for open communication for members.
Few years ago, I used our members' Bulletin Board frequently. On one occasion, someone by the name of Allan T. Mandel was looking for a roommate and had not booked a room yet for the Annual Meeting. I volunteered to invite him to share my room since I had booked a twin bed room. We have been roommates since then.
Imagine - I am from Singapore and Allan is from New York. Allan has been a blessing to me. With the BB, we have made a meaningful encounter.
This blog is definitely useful.
READER COMMENTS
Philip Harriman Monday, December 5, 2005Bruce,
Our document scanning system is a separate stand alone operation so as to keep pure from attack so to speak. There is a separate file storage system to retrieve from.
We destroy the original documents with permission from compliance because we can recall files specific to dates and investment accounts (other client activity is not recalled when we seek investment related information.)
The document retrieval is done through a VPN connection which is password protected.
All information is on a separate back up each night and taken off site.
Hope this helps.
My best,
Phil
READER COMMENTS
Bruce Peckover Friday, December 2, 2005Hi Lorne,
The single most effective technology I have used for the twenty years I have had a computer on or near my desk is a data base management program, and the most important feature of that program is the bring-forward feature.
Too often with a paper-based system, we forget to call clients at important dates. With a computer-based system, nothing is forgotten.
As for a recommendation on which is the "best" database management program, it's like insurance and cars, there isn't one. Whatever you are comfortable using is the best one. A mediocre program in the hands of an experienced operator will provide greater utility and benefit than the most powerful program in the hands of a neophite.
I live in my database. I have to-do dates going forward for the next twenty years - about 2,000 entries.
READER COMMENTS
Bruce Peckover Friday, December 2, 2005Some questions for you, Phil, about your document scanning:
- Do you then discard the original paper document to keep files slender?
- If you do discard, how does your compliance officer feel about the matter, or do you have to keep some paper around for that requirement?
- What backup procedures do you follow, both in office and off site?
- From an electronic file perspective, are all scanned documents stored in one large folder on your "My Documents" folder under Windows, or do you set up a separate folder for each client and the client's documents?
READER COMMENTS
Sandi Saksena Thursday, December 1, 2005Another communication tool to keep us connected. This is what makes MDRT special! Goes to prove that the leadership thinks young!
This is going to be a big place for the exchange of valuable and quality information among us on trends and perceptions in our home countries on retirement, financial independence for women, health issues, etc.
READER COMMENTS
L.C.Maharaj Wednesday, November 30, 2005This is my first exposure to a blog. What a fantastic way of sharing thoughts and ideas. MDRT has truly shrunk the world. MDRT members are truly one big family(32 000 of us), sitting in the same room. This is made possible by the MDRT Blog. Let us use it to communicate in the true MDRT spirit of sharing and caring. Well done MDRT.
I agree that the link should be made easier to access.
READER COMMENTS
Philip Harriman Tuesday, November 29, 2005The single most effective technology tool we use is a document scanning system. It allows all documents to be accessed by keywords-no filing and retreiving-and can be printed, e-mailed or faxed to the client before our phone call is over.
READER COMMENTS
James R. Denny, III Tuesday, November 29, 2005This is my first time reading a blog. My suggestion would be to make it easier to find on the MDRT Site. It took me a while to find it.
READER COMMENTS
Lorne Marr Tuesday, November 29, 2005I would really like to hear from fellow MDRT members on the different ways they are using technology to increase their sales
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