Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Tait.
Bill, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
A little over three years ago, I came home and told my wife that I was no longer happy going to work. I had been working for the same company for 20 years. I wanted to stay in the same industry but wanted to have the freedom to make my own decisions. I met with my current State Farm agent at the time to learn more about the opportunity. Based on my meeting I decided to move forward with State Farm. There wasn’t anything in Memphis, TN except my job so I figured if I was going to leave my current employer we might as well choose somewhere else for us to move to. My current agent told me that Texas was a great area for State Farm. Neither I or my wife had ever been to Texas so we drove out and spent a week in the Dallas area visiting different cities that there was an opportunity to have an office. We decided that Southlake was going to offer everything we were looking for. So, here we were packing everything we owned and moving to Texas.
Needless to say, there are several insurance agencies in Southlake so once I opened my office I realized I needed to get ingrained in the community. The first client I wrote asked me if I wanted to be the number one agent in Southlake and I responded with no, I just wanted to be top of mind when people thought about insurance. He advised me to join the local chamber of commerce. I took his advice and joined the Southlake Chamber of Commerce. I knew I had to do more than just join I had to become active. I started going to everything the put on and then became an ambassador for them, this allowed me to meet lots of people and get to know business owners in the community. I only missed one ribbon-cutting my first year and ended up winning ambassador of the year.
As I finished out my first year in business, I wanted to do more and give back to the community. As a child, my dad taught me to always give back so I started to do a lot of volunteering. I completed the citizen’s academy with the Southlake DPS and am currently enrolled in CLASS (Carroll Leadership Academy for Supporting Success). I helped in a water bottle drive for the local fire department, I helped raise peanut and jelly for Christmas is for Children, I helped raise stuffed bunnies and bears for the Joy Project, I volunteered for the Metroport Meals on Wheels. I became active in the local Kiwanis chapter. I also helped form a men’s social club called the Distilled Gentleman which raised $26,000 for the Metroport Meals on Wheels at our Christmas party. I also chaired the Southlake Chamber of Commerce’s ambassador program.
I just finished my second year in business this past June and have been elected to the board for the Southlake Chamber of Commerce and the Metroport Meals on Wheels.
As I look back on the last two years, I can say I love coming to work every day and being apart of the Southlake community and being a Texan
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It wasn’t always smooth. We didn’t know anyone and had not owned a business before. I found that I was spending money on things that weren’t yielding any success. The biggest struggle was just trying to run my own business for the first time and have limited people to help navigate.
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
My office specializes in all types of personal and commercial insurance. We are known for walking clients and prospects through their current insurance plans so they have a full understanding of what they are covered for and what they are not covered for.
I’m most proud of my company for continuing to give back as I have. What sets me apart from my other competitors is that I truly am in the community giving back to all those who have helped me along the way.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, success isn’t defined by how much money you make but how much you help others. I look to people who are always there when you need them and never ask for anything in return, someone that has a servants heart.
Contact Info:
- Address: 503 W Southlake Blvd
Southlake, TX 76092 - Website: www.billtaitsf.com
- Phone: 817-251-8900
- Email: bill@billtaitsf.com
- Instagram: bill_tait_state-farm
- Facebook: Bill Tait – State Farm Insurance Agent
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