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Walking Ahead

Acceptance Insurance is sponsoring a walk to increase breast cancer awareness and an industry expert shares tips for building a stronger networking group.
  • Lori Chordas
  • September 2019
  • print this page

Walking for a Cause

Next month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and people across the world are coming together to support the millions of individuals impacted by the disease.

ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE is once again showing its support as the presenting sponsor of the Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk. The national rally and 3K walk is designed to heighten awareness about the issues of breast cancer in African American women, as well as provide information on community resources.

Acceptance Insurance, a subsidiary of First Acceptance Corp. in Nashville, has been sponsoring the event since 2016.

This year's walk kicked off in March in Nashville. Upcoming events will be held in Macon, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama and Chicago. During each walk event, Acceptance Insurance staff members hand out pink leis to participants. They also set up a large pink inflatable chair for selfie opportunities.

This year in the United States, more than 33,800 black women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies show that African American females are more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age and have a higher incidence of death than Caucasian women of the same age.

Sista Strut was organized nearly 20 years ago to highlight the disparities in breast cancer among black women, promote early detection and recognize the strength of survivors and their families.


Tim Von Ebers, CLU, ChFC, vice president, South Central Division Ohio National Financial Services

Tim Von Ebers
CLU, ChFC,
vice president,
South Central Division
Ohio National Financial Services

Top 5 Tips for Building a Networking Group

1. Do it yourself.

Spending money to join a prepackaged networking group can lead to business, but it can be expensive. Build your own group of like-minded professionals in complementary fields of business, including property/casualty agents, stockbrokers, certified public accountants, estate planning attorneys, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and bankers.

2. Be selective.

Include people you want to see succeed in business, and they should feel the same about you. Ask yourself: Could I see myself doing business with this person and would I enjoy spending time with them outside of the group?

3. It's more give than take.

Like any good relationship, if each member contributes more than they expect to receive, everyone wins.

4. Ditch the referrals.

Too many people have exploited relationships and “referral” has become a dirty word. Instead, consider asking for a personal recommendation. A handwritten note of introduction is the easiest and most profitable form of client acquisition. Your group has to be about more than just sharing names or swapping business cards.

5. Do for others.

Get involved in a community service organization such as the Rotary or Kiwanis clubs. Having an outward focus can enrich the lives of your group members and the community. Your motive should be purely altruistic, but additional client relationships will occur naturally.


Lori Chordas is a senior associate editor. She can be reached at lori.chordas@ambest.com.



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