Benoit: What I’ve learned

 Photo by Daymon Gardner

Warren Benoit was one of the first brokers featured on the cover of Benefits Selling and the first keynote speaker at the inaugural Benefits Selling Expo eight years ago in Orlando. His journey since that cover story has been anything but boring.

Based in New Orleans, Benoit knows first-hand how devastating a natural disaster can have on a city and its business. When Hurricane Katrina hit, his home became a sanctuary for dozens of people who had no other place to go. While his house suffered damage, the storm wiped out his office. For nearly a year, Benoit and his staff had to find creative ways to help those in need as lives literally fell apart around them.

Benoit is in some ways like his hometown—he and his business have recovered remarkably from Katrina and its aftermath. He’s an active member of his community, chairs the board of Goodwill Industries of SE Louisiana, serves on the committee for Loyola University Business College, the board for the Workplace Benefits Association and the Benefits Selling editorial board.

• Build relationships. Networking is vital to success, but networking isn’t just meeting someone in the hope they can further your career. It’s about building a relationship and ultimately has to be mutually beneficial.
• Don’t be afraid to walk. If a deal is not a win for everyone involved, it’s better just to walk away. Treating each person or organization fairly is the best and most effective way to not only make money and increase revenue, but doing the right thing solidifies relationships and creates the trust necessary to continue to do business.
• Communication is key. It’s a cliché, but it’s so very true: Effective communication is a must in any business relationship. Every party within an agreement must know their responsibilities and have realistic expectations to how it will work and what they will receive.
• Perserverance, adaptation. Perseverance and adaptation are two handy assets. Even the best plans can go awry. When Katrina came through, and the roof to our office caved in, we had clients and employees relying on us more than ever so we had to adapt quickly and keep going to help people when they needed us most.
• Close the deal. Close something. All the networking and planning and communication that goes into a deal is great and necessary, but if you don’t actually close the deal, it’s all gone to waste. Today, we all have to juggle multiple opportunities at once, but before moving to the next big thing it would be a good idea to make sure the big thing you’re working on now is completed.
• Show your appreciation. Appreciate those who work with you. If you had help in accomplishing something (and I certainly have), show those who helped you how much you appreciate their help and hard work.
• Helping hand. Don’t be afraid to help and accept to help from others.