ElevateYourSmallBusiness.com

In this issue of the "Entrepreneur's Corner", we are proud to bring you EYSB’s exclusive interview of Mr. Scott G. Hauge, President and owner of CAL Insurance & Associates, Inc. It reveals some of the challenges, struggles and mistakes he’s made as an entrepreneur, and some of the secrets that have helped him and his team build a highly successful business.

Note: As with every other interview, the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of ElevateYourSmallBusiness.com or Merchant Support Network, Inc.

EYSB: Hello Scott. Thank you for your time and for allowing us and our subscribers to get to know about you and about your business.

Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about you and how you got started in business?

Scott: I am the owner of CAL Insurance & Associates in San Francisco (www.cal-insure.com).

I have owned CAL since 1977 and, prior to that, I worked for Fireman’s Fund and Aetna.

I became an entrepreneur because I was not comfortable working for corporate America. I need more flexibility and the ability to be creative.

Having my own business has given me the opportunity to be judged based on results and my success or failure is controlled by what I do.

It has also given me the opportunity to get involved in advocating for small businesses in San Francisco, Sacramento and Washington D.C.

EYSB: That’s great, Scott. We appreciate and respect not only what you’ve done for yourself and your company, but also what you’re doing on behalf of other small business owners.

Please give our readers a description of your business.

Scott: We employ 30 people and write all lines of insurance including business insurance, workers compensation, liability and property coverages, personal insurance (homeowners and automobile), employee benefits, group health, as well as life and disability.

CAL does a great job in servicing our clients. My average employee has been here 14 years and about one third have never worked anywhere else in their life.

But CAL does more. I founded Small Business California which advocates for small businesses at all levels of government. It is why our motto is” Always Looking Out for You.” We provide more than an insurance policy.

EYSB: Please tell us your biggest obstacles that were overcome in the past to "elevate your business"?

Scott: The biggest obstacle for me has been time allocation. I have so many interests both of business nature, political nature and other volunteer activities that sometimes I try to do too much and lose focus.

EYSB: (Smile). We can certainly relate. Please tell us about your target market or your ideal client.

Scott: My ideal client is a business with 10 or more employees who values the services CAL insurance provides. The other requirement of an ideal client is someone we like as a person and to do business with.

EYSB: Thank you, Scott. Can you tell us how you currently attract your potential clients?

Scott: To a large degree our clients come from referrals and networking. Some of our sales people also cold call.

EYSB: What is the biggest challenge you’re facing right now to take your business to new heights?

Scott: My biggest challenge is to find motivated sales people. Being a person that enjoys insurance and business I am not a good people manager and it is hard for me to manage people that are not as motivated as I am.

EYSB: How do you balance your personal life with your business life?

Scott: Balancing my personal life with my business advocacy and volunteer activities is a challenge. My wife puts up with my being away many nights and traveling. My balance is my wife.

EYSB: What do you attribute your business success to?

Scott: Perseverance and my unwillingness to accept no for an answer. I always have the best employees of any business I know. They care about CAL and even about me.

EYSB: And, on that note, what advice would you offer other business owners to take their business to the next level?

Scott: Don’t accept no for an answer and surround yourself with positive people.

EYSB: What is your most important lesson learned?

Scott: Don’t look for the quick solution and don’t assume everyone thinks like you do.

CAL Insurance vision statement is:

“CAL insurance is in the business of protecting our clients’ financial assets and corporate well being. CAL Insurance is a dynamic sales organization that recognizes above all else that growth and profitability are critical to its ability to meet all its other goals.

"It is understood that we are going to be successful only if we adhere to the highest set of ethics and integrity in all our business endeavors so that our customers and companies and employees feel good about being associated with us.

"By ensuring our long-term existence, we will be able to provide our clients’ financial security, our employees’ professional opportunities and the community a good corporate citizen.”

EYSB: What has been your best business decision?

Scott: To make Cal Insurance more than an insurance agency and providing valuable services to our clients beyond insurance. We now tell our clients if you have any business need we have a vetted referral.

EYSB: What has been your worst business decision?

Scott: Looking for quick fixes and not doing proper due diligence before expending resources.

EYSB: What is one thing you are very proud of?

Scott: My proudest achievement is my involvement in Volunteers in Medicine (www.VolunteersInMedicine.org) and Clinic by the Bay (www.ClinicByTheBay.org).

EYSB: Who are your heroes today and who were your heroes when you were growing up?

Scott: My hero is Dr. Jack McConnell, the founder of Volunteers in Medicine. My father and mother have been heroes all my life. Both have encouraged me to take risks.

EYSB: When you look back on your past experiences, what one experience do you say “changed” your life and why?

Scott: Meeting Dr. Jack . McConnell. I think the credo of VIM says it all: “May we have eyes to see those who are rendered invisible and excluded, open arms and hearts to reach out and include them, healing hands to touch their lives with love, and in the process heal ourselves.”

EYSB: On our behalf and on behalf of our subscribers, thanks again for your time, Scott. We know that our readers got plenty of gold nuggets to help them to elevate their businesses, just like we did. We wish you continued success in everything you do.

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