Q: In your journey of demystifying insurance through fairy tales, what was the most surprising feedback or reaction you received from a reader? How did it impact your perspective or approach?
A: One of the most unexpected pieces of feedback I received was more commercial in nature. While some appreciated the novelty of the concept, they expressed skepticism about the book’s potential for commercial success. The reasoning was that the everyday consumer might not be inclined to buy a book to learn about insurance and the claim process, no matter how engagingly it’s presented.
This individual then proposed a different approach: selling the book in bulk to insurance agencies and carriers. On paper, this sounded like a fantastic idea. After all, who better to understand and appreciate the intricacies of insurance tales than those in the industry? However, there was a hitch. As I researched this avenue, I realized that the majority of carriers have been shifting their approach to employee education. Many are now allowing their employees the discretion to pursue further insurance education on their own, rather than investing in structured training.
This feedback, though initially disheartening, also fueled my determination. It reinforced my belief that Once Upon A Claim is not just for industry professionals, but for anyone looking to navigate the insurance world with a little more insight and a lot more confidence.
Q: With the vast array of fairy tales available from cultures around the world, how did you decide which ones to include in your book? Were there stories you wanted to use but couldn’t fit into the narrative?
A: Selecting the right tales for Once Upon A Claim was a journey in itself. With a treasure trove of stories from various cultures, the challenge was aligning them with the insurance morals I aimed to convey. For instance, "Cinderella" proved to be a goldmine. Its varied renditions, from Indian and Chinese versions, offered a wealth of insights. The process became so engrossing that I even toyed with the idea of a spin-off book centered around it!
There were also tales I initially considered, like "The Emperor's New Clothes", but they didn’t make the final cut. Instead, other stories, like "Rock-A-Bye Baby", resonated more with certain insurance principles.
Diversifying the tales was of paramount importance to me. I felt that by exploring different versions of a fairy tale, the book would be more inclusive. Even if the primary audience isn't children, I wanted adults to relate to stories from various cultural backgrounds.
However, the journey wasn’t without its regrets. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t incorporate tales from some cultures like Native American, South American, or African. But the quest continues, and who knows? They might find their way into a sequel.
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Q: Insurance is often seen as a complex and sometimes dry subject. What challenges did you face in making it both engaging and educational for readers, and how did you overcome them?
A: The primary challenge was making a subject as intricate as insurance not just comprehensible, but engaging. My solution was to employ a multi-sensory approach, immersing readers into the world of claims through multiple facets.
Using tales as the backdrop, I took the opportunity to go a step further by experimenting with the format and presentation of the stories. The goal wasn’t merely to tell; it was to show and guide the reader on a journey. For instance, “Jack and the Beanstalk” morphed into a police report, showcasing the significance of filing such reports in theft scenarios and highlighting policy sublimits. This gave readers a hands-on experience, helping them grasp the importance of documentation and the nuances of how claims are filed.
“Sleeping Beauty” presented a unique challenge and opportunity. I styled it as an actual claim file, which might throw off readers at first due to its reverse chronological order. But that’s precisely how a claim file is structured. While this could initially be puzzling, it offers readers an authentic peek into the claim process, building their understanding from the ground up.
Ultimately, the aim was to make Once Upon A Claim not just a book, but an experience. One where readers not only learn about insurance but feel the processes, challenges, and resolutions, almost as if they were part of the narrative.
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