Today we’d like to introduce you to Ark Rusak.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
At my orientation at DePaul University, my counselor that helped me pick my classes asked me what I wanted to do for a career. (does anyone really know at 18?) I said not sure exactly, but something in business. She said I had to take 2 accounting classes for business anyway and I qualified for Honors Accounting program- might as well take those–would look good on a resume (she was the teacher for that class actually).
I ended up staying with that major and took 4 years of accounting. During my college years, I sought out an internship at Arthur Anderson (my sophomore year) where I worked full time while going to school full time while also holding various leadership positions in my fraternity. Even though my parents wanted to help pay, working at Arthur Anderson alleviated financial stress from my parents and I was able to pay my own 4-year college tuition.
After graduation, I realized that I did not want to do what I was doing for the rest of my life because, first, I would get the same salary no matter if I worked 100 hours a week or 40 hours a week and secondly, I really did not feel I was doing anything meaningful. I left Arthur Anderson in 2001 right before 9/11 to do recruiting for an accounting and finance employment company. I loved being able to help people find opportunities that would positively impact their lives. Although the timing was tough, in my first 2 weeks I had a position that I filled with this great candidate. My candidate was recently laid off with a wife and 2 young children at home – I was so excited! After the candidate verbally accepted over the phone, the candidate stopped communication. He did not return my phone calls or emails. Being determined and wondering maybe if something happened, I decided to drive out 100 miles to his house. When I arrived, he told me that he was at the hospital because he fell off his roof putting up Christmas decorations. The candidate apologized and proceeded to sign and fill out the new hire paperwork. The company set him up on a payroll, laptop, etc and he never showed up to work. He ended up never returning my calls or emails- I am guessing he took another position.
The job market was getting harder–more companies were laying off– so I left because the timing was not right after only 4 months. That person not taking the job was frustrating, but I feel like it was fate because things could have turned out differently and maybe I would have never come to what I feel I was meant to do!
I left this recruiting job without even having a clue on what I was going to do for the rest of my life.
I was 24, and scoured the employment boards, and considered everything from a teacher, police officer, Aldi store manager– but I came across an ad to start my own business with Farmers Insurance. I remember the conversation vividly when I first called over 15 years ago, Nancy Alexander (who was a District Manager in training at the time-now is my District Manager) – said, “You realize this is not a job with a salary-but starting your own business.” I replied, “Yes, I do. This is exactly what I am looking for.”
I was 24, with really limited sales experience, did not know much about insurance- but every bit of experience from before would help me along the way. Having learned an unmatched work ethic from parents who came to America from Poland, with nothing but a suitcase, who raised 3 kids, sending us to private schools–I had a belief that no matter what, I can make this work and become successful if I worked hard. My accounting background helped with learning about retirement planning. My desire to help people, try to do the right thing, and believe in Karma- laid the foundation for how I would market and treat our customers. As the team grew, I would make sure that the same core set of beliefs is instilled with the people on my team.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The last 15 years have been an adventure where I have encountered both the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I would not trade any of the events in for the world- everything builds on each other and happens for a reason.
My first month, I brought in $30 (but probably spent over $1,000). I made 3 trips to someone’s house to sell a renter’s policy because of my lack of experience. But I dedicated myself to learning every day to be better than the day before. Things have not changed 15 years later for myself personally or for my team.
In my first 3 years, after I started to figure things out, I really excelled and my business took off. I was really good at insurance, but a not a good business owner. I did not dedicate time to invest in new employees and build a team. For a while, I took on a very negative attitude and surrounded myself with other agents with the same mindset. I started to play poker in the big boom back in 2004- I even won a tournament and played in the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas in 2006. I was not really all in on my practice, as a result, my business plateaued.
The turning point, was when we started to have kids. My wife and I decided that she would stay home with our young children. It was time to buckle down, I dedicated myself to looking at everything with a positive attitude and surrounding myself with people of the same mindset. I now really had the “WHY?” (wife and now 3 kids to work for)- that drives me every day and a lot of days are 10 to 14 hour days to make sure our family is taken care of. The past 8 years, the business has been on an upward trajectory.
We always work hard to building the best customer experience for our clients. I am very excited for the future because I do not think we are even remotely close to our full potential. The team we have in place right now truly cares for our clients and continues to have the same work ethic, mission as I had when I started this by myself in 2002.
Ark Rusak Agency– what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We do more than just sell you a policy, we sell you a promise. A promise to “get you back where you belong” should the unexpected happen. Our regular practice is to reach out once a year to schedule a review of your policies to make sure your coverage keeps up with the changes in your life and you are getting all the discounts you deserve. It’s funny, that even before the professor Burke commercials came out, the way we interact with our clients is to educate them on what they have, make recommendations, and decide together where it makes sense to pay for protection. At the end of the day, you can probably spend your whole paycheck on every insurance solution out there, we help decide with the client which ones are most important to them.
My personal role and passion are helping our clients to make sure their family is protected with life insurance if the unthinkable happens and working together with them on their retirement. The rest of my team specializes in other very important solutions, such as auto, home, renters, condo, umbrella, and business insurance.
What I am most proud of is the ability to give back and to make a difference in the community with both monetary donations and through volunteering of time. The most recent example is joining efforts with my Farmers’ Agent colleagues in donating money towards those who suffered devastating losses from our recent Hurricane in Texas.
Farmers agents in our area put together fundraising that goes towards our Southern Farmers colleagues who are working relentlessly after Hurricane Harvey to bring supplies to the people that need it. Having the ability to help and working together with others to make an impact is a great feeling.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment is attaining President’s Council (awarded to only 100 Farmers Insurance Agencies out of 15.000 throughout the country). We achieve this prestigious honor through continuous training, expertise in all products lines, highest level of customer satisfaction, and giving back to the community. Our second year given this honor came after we had overc0me some significant obstacles. We had only 3 people in the office, which included Rob, Cammie, and myself.
Cammie, who is our fully licensed account executive, had gotten a rare eye infection in the beginning of the year which was very challenging to work with. Cammie showed great resilience and unbelievable strength to keep on moving with a positive attitude. Rob and I filled in the gaps as needed during the year when she needed time off to see doctors and specialists. A true test. Our office systems were in place, we kept a positive attitude and we powered through. Our office of 3 accomplished similar successes to top agencies in the country who had 10-20 employees. We did it during tough times and that is one of the years I am most proud. We respect each other as co-workers while also caring for each other like family.
Contact Info:
- Address: 945 W Huron, Chicago, IL 60642
- Website: https://agents.farmers.com/il/chicago/ark-rusak
- Phone: 312-492-6588
- Email: arusak@farmersagent.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkrusakagency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkRusakAgency/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/farmers-insurance-ark-rusak-chicago
Image Credit:
Allison Pool
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