Who sets your limit? Who says you can’t?

I have been an MDRT member for 19 consecutive years, including six Court of the Table and three Top of the Table. It took me 12 years to qualify for Court of the Table. There was a huge wall preventing me from qualifying, but a simple conversation with my mentor helped me break through.

Before qualifying for Court of the Table, I was a member for 12 consecutive years. I was doing well, having a good life, and I was somewhat satisfied. However, during a casual conversation with my mentor, I found out that his renewal commissions were more than my first-year commission. That was the wake-up call.

Until then, I thought Court of the Table was too far and too high to reach. But, from that moment, I decided to triple my goals. Having a clear goal and determination, I was able to reach that much higher goal of Court of the Table by the end of that year.

It took me through the end of the year, and I barely qualified, so I was not sure if I could continue it the next year.

At that time, I had the honor of being invited to a private dinner with a legend and a Past President of MDRT who was visiting Japan. During the dinner, a member asked the Past President, “How do you qualify for Top of the Table year after year?”

We all wanted to know the secret.

Before answering the question, the Past President asked, “When do you qualify for Top of the Table this year? Which month?”

The member answered, “December.”

The Past President said, “Then why don’t you qualify in November next year? And in October the next year and then September the year after? Set your goal to qualify one month earlier every year and continue it. While you are doing so, qualification for Top of the Table will become a prerequisite.”

At the end of that dinner, I was thinking, I will qualify for Court of the Table by September next year, and then by April the year after. And if I could qualify for Court of the Table by April, it may give me the courage to reach for Top of the Table.

And last year I was able to qualify for Top of the Table for the very first time.

That was a light bulb moment. My goals and commitment to reach those goals were different from what they were four years ago. Back then, qualifying for MDRT was my goal, and I was happy with it. Then, my goal was changed to reach for Court of the Table, and then Court of the Table became my minimum requirement. And now I was able to set higher goals to reach for Top of the Table.

So, whom should I blame to have put a lid on my performance? I want to thank our Past President and legend Tony Gordon for removing that lid. Perhaps it was a small conversation he had, and he often has and may not remember, but it was a magical moment for me. Thank you, Tony, for the inspirational comment! It was MDRT magic.

Your potential is much higher than what you may think, and it is your responsibility to remove that lid preventing you from reaching higher goals. I hope you will find a clue to remove your lid at this MDRT Meeting.

Set higher goals at the Annual Meeting and/or the Global Conference!

Izumi Osada provides financial planning to business owners, offering employee retirement programs and estate planning options. Within the last few years, Osada added other insurance planning needs as well to improve his clients’ financial literacy.

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MDRT magic

MDRT magic