January 27, 1923. WOMEN IN LIFE INSURANCE EDITION; INSURANCE ADVOCATE 9
CAN A GREATER OPPORTUNITY BE OFFERED WOMEN?
By J. Enola Hewitt of the Phoenix Mutual Life at Buffalo
There was nothing unique about my entrance into the life insurance business, just another story of an ambitious mother. First a large retail millinary business — overwork — health broken—an outside position advised and while selling Bibles coming in contact with an alert Phoenix Mutual
J. ENOLA HEWITT
Life Insurance agent, who asked to send my name to the manager in my home city. I protested—he sent it—a telephone call—an interview followee by many others and eventually by the signing of my contact five years ago.
A glimpse of the opportunities for service and the assurance of a substantial income were deciding factors at this time, but as the years have passed the first has been so accentuated that it has, to a great extent, eliminated thought of the second for I believe if we do our work well and unselfishly we need not worry about the renumeration.
Many opportunities have come to me during the past five years to connect myself with other lines of work, but I prefer life insurance because I believe it is the "Greatest Business" in the world.
No business offers such opportunities for real personal service. With all due respect to the minister and the doctor, we come first. If we are true to the trust given to us we may be-come advisors and councillers.
To whom has been given a greater opportunity to instill into the hearts of our fellow men, love and protection of home and dear ones, fair dealings with business associates and the actual appliance of the Golden Rule "love thv neighbor as thyself."
Right living is conducive to health —right living and health bring happiness.
Can a greater opportunity be given any one than to be gathered with the
family discussing their plans and hopes for the future, and ambitions for the little ones, and being allowed to advise and plan for them? These are opportunities which come to us. Every man and woman who has a true vision of life lives to build, as it were, a monument for themselves, something whose influence shall act and re-act upon the coming genera tions.
When we provide for that widow or mother, provide for the education of that child, provide a college course for a deserving boy or girl by a scholarship, provide a comfortable old age for that business man or woman and many other similar provisions, are we not building tor the future and who shall say how far reaching this influence shall be ?
The success I have attained has been due, not to unusual ability, but to the splendid co-operation of those at the home office and individual managers with whom I have been associated. The feeling that I really be-long, that my difficulty was their difficulty, my success their delight, has been a constant incentive to me to do my best.
The fact that I love my work and just love folks' may have contributed somewhat to my success also. I believe in people and trust them, and make every policyholder a friend.
Here is a case in point—one day last week I went into the office of one of the high schools to see a policy-holder, and after arranging her personal business she said to me, "We have a number of young teachers, you ought to have a list, ask the principal and I will give it to you." As he was a friend I had no difficulty in obtaining his consent and have in my possession a list of twenty young teachers, three of which I saw before leaving the building that (lay. My policy-holders work for me.
Having learned to be optimistic helps—a joyous, happy nature is al-ways welcome. I make it a point to spread sunshine and to leave every-one feeling better for my having been there, whether I have succeeded in doing business with them or not.
All down through the ages there has never been open to women s7 great an opportunity as life insurance offers at the present time. During the past few years the world has experienced a very marked change and never again will the influence of women be felt in the home alone. Many women are today holding positions of trust in various activities of the world.
Now, when the responsibility of women has increased as their opportunities have widened, their economic value has also increased. Those de-
pendent upon these values must be protected.
Heretofore it was the occasional woman who was approached upon the subject of life insurance. Under present and future conditions there will be thousands who will gladly consider it. Who is more able to under-stand and serve these women than a woman.
All over the civilized world life insurance is being discussed, studied and taught. Womens clubs are giving it especial attention and asking that each club have an insurance commit-tee and study the benefits of it.
This field is practically untouched and the immensity of it almost inconceivable. When we consider that twelve million woman are working at gainful occupations and that eighty-five per cent of them are working to provide for someone else, we can, perhaps, realize vaguely the task before us.
Again when we consider that ninety per cent of women after reaching age 60 are dependent upon relatives or friends, is there not a crying need for women in the life insurance business?
But women's efforts in life insurance need not be confined to women alone. Among my policyholders I find equally as many men and also cases of business insurance. Many times a woman may succeed in obtaining an interview with a man when a man would utterly fail. Then why should not women come into the field of life insurance?
It offers free use of initiative, freedom of time, income limited only by effort, health, happiness and best of all an opportunity to be of the greatest service.
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MY LIFE INSURANCE CAREER
By Rosalind G. Cohen, of New York
Life at Buffalo.
Arranging a silver shower for a bride-to-be, at one of our hotels, the proprietor was very much impressed
ROSALIND G. COHEN
with a few original ideas I carried
out, inasmuch as he offered me a po-
sition as designer for impromptu en-
