With the last quarter of 2021 here, we took a few moments to reflect on not only this past year, but on the past 31 years, since the beginning of The Hatcher Agency. This year marks our 31st Anniversary, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about where we have come over the years and the exciting future that lies ahead.
Greg Hatcher, CEO, The Hatcher Agency
1. This year we celebrate The Hatcher Agency’s 31st Anniversary. What thoughts and emotions come to mind when you think about that?
I started the business when I was 28 years old. Now fast forward to age 59. It went by incredibly fast. We had a lot of changes over the years with insurance carriers, the government and technology, but jumped each hurdle and are still having a great time.
2. What made you start The Hatcher Agency? Where did you draw inspiration in order to start and build this incredible business?
I read Tom Peter’s book “In Search of Excellence” and got inspired to take insurance customer service levels to a new height. I also wanted to have all the options for my clients every time. The only way to do both was to start an agency where I had control over both.
3. What were your visions in 1990 and how have you met them or even surpassed those visions?
My original vision was to run a small agency with me and an assistant. By the end of the first year we had 7 employees. You are either doing a good job and growing, or a bad job and shrinking. It’s really hard to just stay in the same place. We simply hire people as we need them. Today we have over 75 employees, if you take all of our operations into consideration.
4. What do you see as the biggest accomplishments since your start in 1990 or even in the last 5-10 years?
Being able to able balance work and family and get to all my kids events while taking care of our clients, staff and insurance carriers.
5. What is one of your biggest mistakes and how did you learn and grow from it.
My kryptonite is sleep. In the early years I would stay up too late and get up too early to make sure I got everything done. This can make you irritable and not perform at your best. I go to bed on time, delegate more when needed and find other ways to win the ballgame without sacrificing my sleep or health. If you don’t take care of yourself, you cant take care of everyone else
6. What is your favorite part about your job? What excites you most?
I enjoy working with high quality people at my accounts and with my staff. I do all the hiring so we try to hire people who are positive , inspiring and fun to be with. The people we work with at our accounts are generally owners, CFOs or Human Resources and we learn a lot from these people
7. What is the hardest part of your job?
Getting things accomplished through people. Always the most rewarding and challenging.
8. What other CEO’s/coaches/mentors do you look up to and who has inspired you to have the work ethic that you do? Who is your business role model?
I look up to the CEOs who are good with people and to their staff. There are many great ones we work with. My work ethics come from sports. I do whatever it takes to win the ballgame within the rules. I really just do what’s needed to win or accomplish the goal.
Believe it or not I am most inspired by watching my son work as a college football quarterback. He is a CEO in his own right. He has to lead players, work with coaches, deal with coaching changes, lead and protect players and he handles whatever comes at him better than any adult I know.
9. What is the best piece of leadership advice you have received?
Staying calm and make the best decision possible
10. If you could back in time to when you started The Hatcher Agency, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Hire the best people and empower them. Get someone to run the day to day operations so that I can work on the projects I enjoy.
11. What is your favorite Quote. What is your favorite book?
Get Better Everyday. Best Book - "Many" by Zig Ziglar
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