Entertain yourself — Example: Find something you enjoy and look forward to it every week. This could be something like a favorite TV show, book, video game etc. This allows you to take the time to enjoy your life knowing you have nice things as a result of your hard work this will reduce stress.
With all that’s going on in our country, in our economy, in the world, and on social media, it feels like so many of us are under a great deal of stress. We know that chronic stress can be as unhealthy as smoking a quarter of a pack a day. For many of us, our work, our livelihood, is a particular cause of stress. Of course, a bit of stress is just fine, but what are stress management strategies that leaders use to become “Stress-Proof” at work? What are some great tweaks, hacks, and tips that help to reduce or even eliminate stress from work? As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Tim Connon.
Tim Connon grew up in Florida and began going to work with his father at an early age selling security systems. As he got older he learned the value of skills in sales and marketing. This led to him becoming a licensed life insurance agent and starting his own agency ParamountQuote.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory!
I began work in the security system industry for several years under my father and was very successful at it from an early age. As I got older I began looking into different sales industries and opportunities I could pursue. At that time my father moved on to the life insurance industry and I began to shadow him for in person sales in customers’ homes. I immediately saw the value in life insurance and got licensed within 6 months after my training. At that point I worked with several different agencies but I wanted to make something for myself so I went full independant and started my own agency ParamountQuote.
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that sales is all a numbers game and all you have to do is work the numbers and never give up this will guarantee success.
None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful because of the support they gave you to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for them?
My father is the person I am grateful for because all he did was support and encourage me throughout my security sales career and now my life insurance sales career. I am most grateful because he is the one who taught me that sales is a statistical numbers game and that all I had to do is keep working and I would be succesful.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?
Yes my agency is working on a burial planning guide for our clients. This will help them to understand their local burial costs so they can plan properly with the amount of insurance they need.
Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Let’s now talk about stress. How would you define stress?
Stress is an imaginary weight you feel on your shoulders. It can feel as if it is weighing you down and messing with your emotions.
In the Western world, humans typically have their shelter, food, and survival needs met. So what has led to this chronic stress? Why are so many of us always stressed out?
Stress is a result of uncertainty about the future this results in a lack of feeling secure which results in stress and anxiety. We are stressed out because of the state of the world, we may think the economy may not do well our jobs could be in jeopardy as a result. Everything we see on the news can cause us to feel insecure which is where a lot of stress comes from.
What are some of the physical manifestations of being under a lot of stress? How does the human body react to stress?
The most notable physical manifestation of stress is irritability. You become irritable over the smallest things that in reality are not a big deal. The human body reacts to stress by sudden weigh loss and increased hormones due to the stress.
Is stress necessarily a bad thing? Can stress ever be good for us?
Stress is not always necessarily bad it is also a good defense mechanism. Stress can be good for us because it reminds us to be vigilante for our own self preservation. When we are stressed we can take extra steps to increase our security around us.
Is there a difference between being in a short term stressful situation versus an ongoing stress? Are there long term ramifications to living in a constant state of stress?
Yes a short term stressful situation ends which means your hormone levels go back to normal and the problem is solved. Ongoing stress can cause problems such as weight loss and emotional distress.
Is it even possible to eliminate stress?
It is not possible to eliminate stress however you can control it and use it to your benefit by having faith that the future will work itself out.
In your opinion, is this something that we should be raising more awareness about, or is it a relatively small issue? Please explain what you mean.
There should be much more awareness around stress more so how to properly control it. Stress can help us plan better and work harder at a bright future if we can control it and not let it crush us under its weight.
Let’s talk about stress at work. Numerous studies show that job stress is the major source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. For you personally, if you are feeling that overall, work is going well, do you feel calm and peaceful, or is there always an underlying feeling of stress? Can you explain what you mean?
There is always an underlying feeling of stress because my goal is to build a legacy for my family as quickly as possible. When I am consumed in bills to pay all of the time and money goes back out it still causes stress as I would rather have more savings for my family in order to enjoy life more. When you are busy paying back bank loans and car payments the stress of not having as much money and the fear of someone taking your possessions away from you will always be there causing stress.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: Can you share with our readers your “5 stress management strategies that busy leaders can use to become “Stress-Proof” at Work?” Please share a story or example for each.
1. Mindset — Example: If I wake up to start my day of sales I have already trained my mind to understand that it is a numbers game. This means even if I get zero sales for the day statistically it will make up for itself the next day. This allows me to work feeling far less stress.
2. Get a pet of some kind — Story: I love my dogs and when I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed I get up and take a walk around my home and show my dogs love. It helps me take a step back and realize the blessings I have.
3. Breath — Example: Breathing has been proven to reduce stress so if you are feeling like you are going to panic or stressed take very deep breaths to bring your stress levels down within minutes you will feel much better.
4. Plan and secure yourself — Example: The best way to reduce stress is to not put yourself in stressful situations to begin with. If you are worried about making car payments try to buy a used car in cash to avoid any kind of loans hanging over your head. This will greatly reduce stress.
5. Entertain yourself — Example: Find something you enjoy and look forward to it every week. This could be something like a favorite TV show, book, video game etc. This allows you to take the time to enjoy your life knowing you have nice things as a result of your hard work this will reduce stress.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
Yes one of my favorite books that has done that for me is “Way of the Wolf” by Jordan Belfort.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would start a movement on mindset.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
They can visit our company website https://paramountquote.com/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.