December 18, 2024 • 22 mins
Diana Schmidt’s journey from Ironman volunteer to competitor is nothing short of inspiring. Witness the transformation as Diana, principal and consultant of Hausman Group, turns her fear of swimming into a strength with the help of professional coaching. Her story is fueled by a personal challenge and a heartwarming commitment to Blessings in a Backpack, an organization supporting food-insecure children. As Diana balances the demands of rigorous training with her professional and personal life, she reminds us all of the sheer joy and fulfillment that accompany achieving the unimaginable.
Shifting gears, we delve into the ever-evolving complexities of the insurance market, particularly for individuals with real estate portfolios. Explore the impact of natural disasters on insurance rates, repair costs, and labor shortages, while underscoring the vital role of strong industry connections. Join me in reflecting on a career in insurance influenced by an inspiring female figure and discover how dedication and perseverance, akin to endurance sports, fuel professional success. To round out our episode, learn how you can connect with Diana on various platforms, where she is eager to engage and share her insights for mutual growth.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown.
Today I have a special guestfor you.
Once again, I have DianaSchmidt with me.
She is the principal andconsultant of Hausman Group,
diana welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you, heather, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Well, I am ecstatic to have you on.
As you know, I love talkingcommercial real estate related
realms and, of course, endurancesports, of which, for all of
those that are watching, theyget to see your shirt, and for
those that are listening.
What is it?
The Ironman, Wisconsin baby.
(00:40):
All right, Congratulations toyou.
What an accomplishment, Thankyou.
So before we dive into all ofthe real estate stuff, let's
touch on the Ironman.
What brought you right?
I always say you have to have awhy.
What was your why in?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
that.
So I learned about the Ironmanafter signing up to volunteer in
2018.
And I just saw so manyincredible athletes and not just
, you know, professionalathletes, but just everyday,
normal people or people that hadchallenges.
You know, maybe they didn'thave their appendages, or maybe
(01:20):
they were a fireman wearing allof their you know equipment, and
I just thought it was just soinspiring to see all of these
people out there, for you know,hours upon hours um doing this
and I just made me want to, youknow, learn more, and it took a
couple of years to get there,but, um, I finally committed, um
, in January of this year, thatthis was going to be my year,
(01:43):
and I started training and neverreally was a bike rider, never
was a swimmer, so it was a lotfor one year, but it was
incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
That is amazing.
So, adding on to that, wasthere a particular conversation
with someone?
Was there something from yourpast that you wanted to change
here in the present?
Was it a future goal, Like whatwas kind of that pinnacle piece
, right, Because you hear aboutpeople that are achieving these
huge goals, which the Ironmanobviously is in my book.
(02:17):
That's a huge, high caliberevent.
Takes a ton of discipline,mindset physicality.
Takes a ton of discipline,mindset, physicality, everything
.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Was there one certain thing per se or was it kind of
like a lineup of different items?
It was a lineup, so I startedto just educate myself and learn
more about the race and there'sso many people in the business
community that do these racesand maybe it's not the Ironman,
but they do.
You know other triathlons ormarathons and it's just
(02:47):
incredible to see and meet thesepeople.
And so I just learned so muchabout it and I know that the
Ironman is, you know, it's like1% of the population or less.
You know, is our Ironman andI'm like I'm it, like that's me.
I want to be the best there isnow.
I'm not going to be a podiumfinisher.
(03:07):
You know I'm not.
It's not that never say never atit but I just thought I'm
constantly challenging myself tobe a better person and it's
really me against.
You know, it was my race to run.
I didn't.
I wasn't trying to be umanybody out there, I just wanted
to finish and do it for my kidsand my husband and um for
(03:31):
myself.
Really, um, I did.
I did tie it to a fundraiser,so I'm on the board for
blessings in a backpack and it'san incredible group and so I
just kind of made it a littlemore personal with with those
children we support, to be likeI'm.
I'm not just doing this for me,but I want to bring all of them
the 11,000 kids in WaukeshaCounty that have food insecurity
(03:55):
across the finish line with meand and just used it as a
platform to advocate.
So that was.
That was really meaningful too.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Oh, definitely.
Yeah, it's a completely anotherdimension to it.
So, again, taking a step back,what would you say was your
biggest fear?
Going into it and also, uponcompletion of crossing that
finish line and everything kindof distilling what would you say
was your greatest triumph?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
everything kind of distilling.
What would you say was yourgreatest triumph.
So I my biggest fear initiallywas the swim and I had never
swam, you know just for fun,really, with my kids and never
swam laps or anything.
So I mean, it was reallystarting from scratch and I was
fearful of it, right Of actuallylike people die in the swim and
(04:43):
like things happen, and um, Iworked really hard at it.
I set a goal.
I knew I could do it, um, but Istarted swimming with a
professional coach, um a swimteam, um tri-faster, and they're
amazing and they just theyhelped me learn how to swim
efficiently and correctly and tohave confidence and I'd
(05:14):
actually turned into probably mybiggest strength in the whole
race, which I would have neverimagined that when I started.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Well, and to your point, Diana, that's one of the
really neat things I think aboutendurance sports or also when
we decide on that big goal, isthat you don't know what you're
capable of until you're reallythrown into it.
And kudos to you for gettingthe professional coach and
things of that nature.
Because you hear for somereason, with the Ironman
especially, that some of thepeople just go in of they're
going to do their own training,they're going to do their own
training.
And my heart goes out becausefor so many hours and you just
think of, you get one body andyou want to maximize it and also
try to have some fun along theway.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You know, as you're out there for all those hours
right, well, and I knew that Ihad to balance a lot right.
Some people say you know whatdid you have to give up for this
?
And I just looked at it as aninvestment in me.
I needed to know that I couldstill be the best wife, the best
mom, the best advisor to myclients, so I wanted to make
(06:15):
sure that I used my time wiselytoo, and trained to be able to
finish the race.
Oh definitely.
Yeah, it was really helpful tohave a coach that really knew
how to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And I agree, I think it's.
You know it's interesting andmarathons are a much shorter
training duration and also thecompetition itself.
But it's interesting and I'msure you heard this over and
over of when do you find thetime to train?
And to your point it is givingup certain things.
What are a few things that youhad to give up over the?
(06:50):
What was it?
A nine month training plan,eight, nine months?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
it was about.
I started in January of yepthis year.
Uh, I would say I mean I gaveup sleeping in and I wasn't.
I didn't sleep in, you know,late before, but it was, you
know, 4, 4, 30 am, wake up callsto go swimming and in January
and February in Wisconsin, right, like who wants to go do that.
(07:14):
But I just made sure that everyday I did what I was supposed
to do and I prioritized it inthe morning if I could, because
there's not a lot of people thatneed me at four in the morning.
You know it's kind of like timethat I could give to the
training.
So I did a lot of it as earlyas I could so that I didn't have
(07:34):
to give up stuff with thefamily or work and things like
that.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Yeah no, that's great .
So now that you've completedthis, how would you say it
translates into career?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I think that it just it opened my eyes.
I had no idea I thought I justwanted to finish the Ironman
when I started.
Right, I just wanted to do therace, but everything I learned
along the way about how strongmy mind is and how I can do hard
things just translates inbusiness.
(08:08):
It's just incredible.
So I feel amazing.
I've been the healthiest I'veprobably ever been in my whole
life, which is great, addinginto mid 40s and you know beyond
, because you know we start tokind of most people let
themselves go or they start to,you know not care.
And I want to be healthy.
(08:30):
I want I think it's helpful foryour mind I want to be healthy.
I think it's helpful for yourmind to be present and to be
able to talk and advise people.
So it connects to everything Ido for business.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I agree, and I think also, when you're active in
endurance sports whichever oneyou choose, pick your poison
right Is that it really becomesa lifestyle and what might feel
like certain things you'regiving up over time shift, where
you look back on some of thedifferent ways you used to live
(09:03):
and they're no longer asinteresting or beckoning, if you
want to say and I'm a firmbeliever with you that as we age
, it truly is a mindset and whatyou decide.
Because then I think, withthose clear, crystal decisions
and action, that you either stayphysically healthy or you don't
(09:27):
.
You're either stretching andflexible or you're not.
You're either eating clean oryou're not, and I think it's too
.
It's an evolution, it's not anovernight change.
When you see the overnightchanges, they might last for a
couple of weeks or to get you toa certain event, but I think
the lifelong choices are, as youhad mentioned, having a solid
why and then choosing why youwant it and deliberately moving
(09:51):
forward with that.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Right yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
I agree, and.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I think the biggest, the biggest thing I got out of
it, too, was I tried to, like Isay, advocate for blessings in a
backpack, but it had adifferent reach, and people were
reaching out to me not only onbehalf of blessings, but also on
behalf of their own inspiration, and they would say things like
(10:16):
I started working out againLike you're.
I saw what you did on Saturdayyou rode your bike for five
hours Like I.
I didn't do that but, I, youknow, but I went for a walk and
I you don't know who you'rereaching sometimes, and until
they tell you and they don'talways tell you, so I I that
made me feel good when peoplewould reach out and say things
(10:37):
like that definitely no, I agreeit's.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
It's like you hold that dear to your heart and it's
also a a special memory, notonly during training and the
event, but also it's somethingthat carries with you you know,
far beyond that.
I think people don't realizewhat an impact we do have on
each other through thesedifferent types of physical,
sports, careers, relationships,otherwise.
(11:01):
So it is neat to hear thatfeedback and realize the
positive impact that you'remaking, not only now, but it
ripples forward.
So, jumping into real estate,how do you see things shifting
with insurance in the realestate?
I know different propertyowners that I represent.
They're all like God, thisinsurance.
(11:26):
I'm sure you're tired of hearingthat you know kind of like
lenders with interest rates andthings like that.
But what are you noticing?
Any thoughts also to what wemight experience as we come into
the cusp of 2025?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, no, definitely Real estate and insurance.
It's a tough market.
It's been a hard market,meaning that it's not a buyer's
world.
So if you're buying insuranceand you have a real estate
portfolio, most of the timeyou're probably getting rate
increases, you're gettingdeductible increases and maybe
coverage reductions.
(12:01):
A lot of the insurancecompanies have paid a lot of
hail damage claims because ofall the storm activity and they
don't want to pay to repair, youknow, a roof that maybe just
had cosmetic damage.
So the landscape is shiftingand changing.
Um, and it's been, you know,year over year over year.
(12:22):
Now it's been several years ina row.
So it's not like we have a good.
Hey, it's almost over, it's not.
And the what's happening withthe hurricanes impacts w
Wisconsin, whether or not wethink it should or shouldn't, it
will.
And it impacts the cost ofrepairing materials, timing for
(12:45):
labor, I mean, it's justeverything.
So, yeah, it's, it's a toughmarket right now.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yeah.
I agree and I think that'sgoing to continue that way.
But I think on the positiveside is that through
collaboration and also thestrength of your network and
people's networks in general isreally going to be a
differentiating point for it.
So, speaking of that, how doyou see relationships tying into
(13:13):
insurance and real estate tyinginto insurance and real estate.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Relationships are always important in insurance
and in real estate and withcontractors, right Like it, just
everybody can work together totry to make improvements and get
things done.
If you don't have relationships, I mean it's sure you can
(13:43):
probably succeed, but I justthink it's important that you're
in different groups, differentindustry, you know groups and
involved, because you hear aboutthings, you learn about new
solutions that other people aretrying and having success with
and having success with Right.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So, speaking of success, what got you into the
insurance realm?
Was there a pivotal person or,again, maybe just learning about
different people's experiences?
Was there a particular thing,or kind of like your Ironman,
where there was a series ofgetting to know different
factors and it kind of drew youin in that sense?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
to know different factors and it kind of drew you
in in that sense.
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I mean I've been in theindustry for about 24 years, so
it's been a little while it'sbeen a little while.
But I just I got into it rightafter college and I interviewed
with a, with a woman at aninsurance company and I just saw
myself and her that she wassuccessful and she liked it and
(14:41):
loved it, and so I gave it ashot and just found a career.
There's so much opportunity ininsurance, you know, for anybody
really.
But I just really took to it.
I didn't know much about itwhen I started, so I really
dedicated my time to learningand I did insurance designations
to get you know up and runningquicker, because you have to,
(15:05):
you have to have somecredibility and when you start
out in any job if you don't haveany experience or the knowledge
, right Right, and you're young,right, and you're young.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
The underpinning of like you better work hard and do
it well.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Right, and at the time, as an underwriter, you're
trying to advise agents,insurance agents like myself
today and most of the time evenback 20 plus years ago.
They were mostly older men andyou know what were they going to
?
Listen to?
Die 22 year old, you know diewho just to listen to, die 22
year old, you know die, who justgraduated from college and
didn't know anything yet.
(15:41):
So, um, I joined every insurance, you know association, I could.
I got all of the credentials,got a master's degree, I did
whatever I thought could help,um, and now it's just paying
dividends.
I I mean all that time investedback then.
You know I was single, I didn'thave children.
Now it's, you know, it's reallyhelpful in how I advise my
(16:06):
clients because I know insurance, I know everything about it, I
know what the policy should haveon it, I know how to help them
control their claims and youknow what the underwriter is
going to ask you know whatproblems are going to arise
before the underwriter even saysit, because I was the
underwriter so, and now it'sjust fun.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, definitely, and I think that's the thing right.
And again, here's that commonthread between endurance, sports
and whether it's real estate orinsurance of you just go into
it with a clear decision thatyou're going to be successful
and you find the ways and theresources and you put in the
(16:50):
sweat, equity and the labor andyou invest in yourself and
career and other things, investin yourself and career and other
things.
And then it's the overnightsuccess, 10, 15 years later,
when everything has really beencemented in in a beautiful way
and you, you have expertise andso many happy clients and the
understanding of the differentfacets and how they feed
(17:12):
together which is integral notonly for identifying possible
problems that you can avoid them.
So you don't even get to thatpoint, which is huge for clients
.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Right, yeah.
And going back to relationshipshaving relationships both ways.
So with the clients, right,it's really important but also
with the underwriters.
And having that rapport and thecredibility of being an
underwriter and having friendsall over the carrier side is is
helpful too.
(17:44):
You just there's instantcredibility and they want to
help me to succeed, so, which isgreat, it all works out.
But but I do my part for themtoo.
I make sure that you know I'mgetting them what they need and
making sure the client getsexactly what they need.
That's perfect, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It seems like a simple recipe, right?
But yet you notice that whenyou look out into the
marketplace, not everyonefollows it, and that is what it
is.
But we hear a lot about roboticsright, ai, all of this and you
know, I think sometimes of kindof like scare tactics for
industries that they're going tocome in and wipe out your you
(18:24):
know your arena.
I personally don't have thatconcern in commercial.
I think it will help withpulling reports, you know
different things of that naturealso assisting, but I think,
because of the importance ofrelationships and also some of
those different conversations,that it's not going to eliminate
us.
What are your thoughts forrobotics AI in the insurance
(18:47):
realm?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think you're right, there's going to be.
We have to learn how to use itbecause I think it could be
really helpful if you're tryingto aggregate loss data or, you
know, predict some loss modeling.
You know what's going to happennext year if they grow.
You know their revenues are up,their payrolls are up, their
claims are doing this.
Absolutely room for improvementthere.
(19:11):
But I don't think in the largercommercial space those
businesses are complex and thebusiness owners are going to
want somebody to talk to abouttheir risk and how to mitigate
it and what to do after a claimhappens.
So I don't anticipate.
You know, maybe in the smallercommercial space there might be
(19:32):
some automation that kind oftakes up.
You know somebody doesn't want,they want more of a
transactional deal and they'recomfortable with that.
But I don't see, you know, ourclients moving in that direction
at all Right.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
No, I agree.
So I have two final questionsfor you.
One is do you anticipate therewill be an Ironman 2?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
you one is do you anticipate there will be an iron
man too?
Uh, not, not in the near futurefor sure.
I do think triathlon willcontinue in my future, but
probably at a lesser distanceand only because you know my 13
year old boy is a great career,like I.
You know there's other thingsthat I want to accomplish, but
I'll try at the one.
We'll still be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Definitely that's great.
And my final question for you,diana, is what does living fully
mean to you?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Oh, that's a great question.
Um, I think living fully means,you know, to me it's I want a
full life with my family, myfaith, career and life on my own
terms.
So I just try to wake up everyday and decide you know what?
(20:50):
What does today look like?
What do I want to accomplishand how do I, how do I show up
and be that the best version ofmyself for all of those people?
And that means somethingdifferent to everybody, right,
like the kids need to be abeautiful thing, yeah, so I just
I love it, I love what I do.
(21:10):
I love being an owner atHouseman Group.
You know I love being involvedin our church, um, volunteering
for blessings, like all of thosethings are are me and what I,
what I, what I want to do andwhat's important.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
So to me, living fully is being able to do all of
those things, which is perfectbecause, at the end of the day,
when your heart is full rightand you're doing something that
you love, you have fulfillment,family, loved ones and are
contributing.
I would say that is a rich life, right?
Yeah, I agree, yeah.
Last but not least, diana, howcan people connect with you?
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Um, you know what I?
I'm on LinkedIn, I'm onFacebook.
People could reach out that way, um, or, happy to you know,
chat on the phone emails workstoo, and all of that contact
information are on both of thosesites.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Perfect.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Well, thank you so much for joining me today and I
look forward to connecting withyou soon.
Thank you so much Bye.
Welcome to Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown.
Today I have a special guestfor you.
Once again, I have DianaSchmidt with me.
She is the principal andconsultant of Hausman Group,
diana welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you, heather, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Well, I am ecstatic to have you on.
As you know, I love talkingcommercial real estate related
realms and, of course, endurancesports, of which, for all of
those that are watching, theyget to see your shirt, and for
those that are listening.
What is it?
The Ironman, Wisconsin baby.
(00:40):
All right, Congratulations toyou.
What an accomplishment, Thankyou.
So before we dive into all ofthe real estate stuff, let's
touch on the Ironman.
What brought you right?
I always say you have to have awhy.
What was your why in?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
that.
So I learned about the Ironmanafter signing up to volunteer in
2018.
And I just saw so manyincredible athletes and not just
, you know, professionalathletes, but just everyday,
normal people or people that hadchallenges.
You know, maybe they didn'thave their appendages, or maybe
(01:20):
they were a fireman wearing allof their you know equipment, and
I just thought it was just soinspiring to see all of these
people out there, for you know,hours upon hours um doing this
and I just made me want to, youknow, learn more, and it took a
couple of years to get there,but, um, I finally committed, um
, in January of this year, thatthis was going to be my year,
(01:43):
and I started training and neverreally was a bike rider, never
was a swimmer, so it was a lotfor one year, but it was
incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
That is amazing.
So, adding on to that, wasthere a particular conversation
with someone?
Was there something from yourpast that you wanted to change
here in the present?
Was it a future goal, Like whatwas kind of that pinnacle piece
, right, Because you hear aboutpeople that are achieving these
huge goals, which the Ironmanobviously is in my book.
(02:17):
That's a huge, high caliberevent.
Takes a ton of discipline,mindset physicality.
Takes a ton of discipline,mindset, physicality, everything
.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Was there one certain thing per se or was it kind of
like a lineup of different items?
It was a lineup, so I startedto just educate myself and learn
more about the race and there'sso many people in the business
community that do these racesand maybe it's not the Ironman,
but they do.
You know other triathlons ormarathons and it's just
(02:47):
incredible to see and meet thesepeople.
And so I just learned so muchabout it and I know that the
Ironman is, you know, it's like1% of the population or less.
You know, is our Ironman andI'm like I'm it, like that's me.
I want to be the best there isnow.
I'm not going to be a podiumfinisher.
(03:07):
You know I'm not.
It's not that never say never atit but I just thought I'm
constantly challenging myself tobe a better person and it's
really me against.
You know, it was my race to run.
I didn't.
I wasn't trying to be umanybody out there, I just wanted
to finish and do it for my kidsand my husband and um for
(03:31):
myself.
Really, um, I did.
I did tie it to a fundraiser,so I'm on the board for
blessings in a backpack and it'san incredible group and so I
just kind of made it a littlemore personal with with those
children we support, to be likeI'm.
I'm not just doing this for me,but I want to bring all of them
the 11,000 kids in WaukeshaCounty that have food insecurity
(03:55):
across the finish line with meand and just used it as a
platform to advocate.
So that was.
That was really meaningful too.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Oh, definitely.
Yeah, it's a completely anotherdimension to it.
So, again, taking a step back,what would you say was your
biggest fear?
Going into it and also, uponcompletion of crossing that
finish line and everything kindof distilling what would you say
was your greatest triumph?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
everything kind of distilling.
What would you say was yourgreatest triumph.
So I my biggest fear initiallywas the swim and I had never
swam, you know just for fun,really, with my kids and never
swam laps or anything.
So I mean, it was reallystarting from scratch and I was
fearful of it, right Of actuallylike people die in the swim and
(04:43):
like things happen, and um, Iworked really hard at it.
I set a goal.
I knew I could do it, um, but Istarted swimming with a
professional coach, um a swimteam, um tri-faster, and they're
amazing and they just theyhelped me learn how to swim
efficiently and correctly and tohave confidence and I'd
(05:14):
actually turned into probably mybiggest strength in the whole
race, which I would have neverimagined that when I started.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Well, and to your point, Diana, that's one of the
really neat things I think aboutendurance sports or also when
we decide on that big goal, isthat you don't know what you're
capable of until you're reallythrown into it.
And kudos to you for gettingthe professional coach and
things of that nature.
Because you hear for somereason, with the Ironman
especially, that some of thepeople just go in of they're
going to do their own training,they're going to do their own
training.
And my heart goes out becausefor so many hours and you just
think of, you get one body andyou want to maximize it and also
try to have some fun along theway.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You know, as you're out there for all those hours
right, well, and I knew that Ihad to balance a lot right.
Some people say you know whatdid you have to give up for this
?
And I just looked at it as aninvestment in me.
I needed to know that I couldstill be the best wife, the best
mom, the best advisor to myclients, so I wanted to make
(06:15):
sure that I used my time wiselytoo, and trained to be able to
finish the race.
Oh definitely.
Yeah, it was really helpful tohave a coach that really knew
how to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And I agree, I think it's.
You know it's interesting andmarathons are a much shorter
training duration and also thecompetition itself.
But it's interesting and I'msure you heard this over and
over of when do you find thetime to train?
And to your point it is givingup certain things.
What are a few things that youhad to give up over the?
(06:50):
What was it?
A nine month training plan,eight, nine months?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
it was about.
I started in January of yepthis year.
Uh, I would say I mean I gaveup sleeping in and I wasn't.
I didn't sleep in, you know,late before, but it was, you
know, 4, 4, 30 am, wake up callsto go swimming and in January
and February in Wisconsin, right, like who wants to go do that.
(07:14):
But I just made sure that everyday I did what I was supposed
to do and I prioritized it inthe morning if I could, because
there's not a lot of people thatneed me at four in the morning.
You know it's kind of like timethat I could give to the
training.
So I did a lot of it as earlyas I could so that I didn't have
(07:34):
to give up stuff with thefamily or work and things like
that.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Yeah no, that's great .
So now that you've completedthis, how would you say it
translates into career?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I think that it just it opened my eyes.
I had no idea I thought I justwanted to finish the Ironman
when I started.
Right, I just wanted to do therace, but everything I learned
along the way about how strongmy mind is and how I can do hard
things just translates inbusiness.
(08:08):
It's just incredible.
So I feel amazing.
I've been the healthiest I'veprobably ever been in my whole
life, which is great, addinginto mid 40s and you know beyond
, because you know we start tokind of most people let
themselves go or they start to,you know not care.
And I want to be healthy.
(08:30):
I want I think it's helpful foryour mind I want to be healthy.
I think it's helpful for yourmind to be present and to be
able to talk and advise people.
So it connects to everything Ido for business.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I agree, and I think also, when you're active in
endurance sports whichever oneyou choose, pick your poison
right Is that it really becomesa lifestyle and what might feel
like certain things you'regiving up over time shift, where
you look back on some of thedifferent ways you used to live
(09:03):
and they're no longer asinteresting or beckoning, if you
want to say and I'm a firmbeliever with you that as we age
, it truly is a mindset and whatyou decide.
Because then I think, withthose clear, crystal decisions
and action, that you either stayphysically healthy or you don't
(09:27):
.
You're either stretching andflexible or you're not.
You're either eating clean oryou're not, and I think it's too
.
It's an evolution, it's not anovernight change.
When you see the overnightchanges, they might last for a
couple of weeks or to get you toa certain event, but I think
the lifelong choices are, as youhad mentioned, having a solid
why and then choosing why youwant it and deliberately moving
(09:51):
forward with that.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Right yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
I agree, and.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I think the biggest, the biggest thing I got out of
it, too, was I tried to, like Isay, advocate for blessings in a
backpack, but it had adifferent reach, and people were
reaching out to me not only onbehalf of blessings, but also on
behalf of their own inspiration, and they would say things like
(10:16):
I started working out againLike you're.
I saw what you did on Saturdayyou rode your bike for five
hours Like I.
I didn't do that but, I, youknow, but I went for a walk and
I you don't know who you'rereaching sometimes, and until
they tell you and they don'talways tell you, so I I that
made me feel good when peoplewould reach out and say things
(10:37):
like that definitely no, I agreeit's.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
It's like you hold that dear to your heart and it's
also a a special memory, notonly during training and the
event, but also it's somethingthat carries with you you know,
far beyond that.
I think people don't realizewhat an impact we do have on
each other through thesedifferent types of physical,
sports, careers, relationships,otherwise.
(11:01):
So it is neat to hear thatfeedback and realize the
positive impact that you'remaking, not only now, but it
ripples forward.
So, jumping into real estate,how do you see things shifting
with insurance in the realestate?
I know different propertyowners that I represent.
They're all like God, thisinsurance.
(11:26):
I'm sure you're tired of hearingthat you know kind of like
lenders with interest rates andthings like that.
But what are you noticing?
Any thoughts also to what wemight experience as we come into
the cusp of 2025?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, no, definitely Real estate and insurance.
It's a tough market.
It's been a hard market,meaning that it's not a buyer's
world.
So if you're buying insuranceand you have a real estate
portfolio, most of the timeyou're probably getting rate
increases, you're gettingdeductible increases and maybe
coverage reductions.
(12:01):
A lot of the insurancecompanies have paid a lot of
hail damage claims because ofall the storm activity and they
don't want to pay to repair, youknow, a roof that maybe just
had cosmetic damage.
So the landscape is shiftingand changing.
Um, and it's been, you know,year over year over year.
(12:22):
Now it's been several years ina row.
So it's not like we have a good.
Hey, it's almost over, it's not.
And the what's happening withthe hurricanes impacts w
Wisconsin, whether or not wethink it should or shouldn't, it
will.
And it impacts the cost ofrepairing materials, timing for
(12:45):
labor, I mean, it's justeverything.
So, yeah, it's, it's a toughmarket right now.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Yeah.
I agree and I think that'sgoing to continue that way.
But I think on the positiveside is that through
collaboration and also thestrength of your network and
people's networks in general isreally going to be a
differentiating point for it.
So, speaking of that, how doyou see relationships tying into
(13:13):
insurance and real estate tyinginto insurance and real estate.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Relationships are always important in insurance
and in real estate and withcontractors, right Like it, just
everybody can work together totry to make improvements and get
things done.
If you don't have relationships, I mean it's sure you can
(13:43):
probably succeed, but I justthink it's important that you're
in different groups, differentindustry, you know groups and
involved, because you hear aboutthings, you learn about new
solutions that other people aretrying and having success with
and having success with Right.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So, speaking of success, what got you into the
insurance realm?
Was there a pivotal person or,again, maybe just learning about
different people's experiences?
Was there a particular thing,or kind of like your Ironman,
where there was a series ofgetting to know different
factors and it kind of drew youin in that sense?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
to know different factors and it kind of drew you
in in that sense.
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I mean I've been in theindustry for about 24 years, so
it's been a little while it'sbeen a little while.
But I just I got into it rightafter college and I interviewed
with a, with a woman at aninsurance company and I just saw
myself and her that she wassuccessful and she liked it and
(14:41):
loved it, and so I gave it ashot and just found a career.
There's so much opportunity ininsurance, you know, for anybody
really.
But I just really took to it.
I didn't know much about itwhen I started, so I really
dedicated my time to learningand I did insurance designations
to get you know up and runningquicker, because you have to,
(15:05):
you have to have somecredibility and when you start
out in any job if you don't haveany experience or the knowledge
, right Right, and you're young,right, and you're young.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
The underpinning of like you better work hard and do
it well.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Right, and at the time, as an underwriter, you're
trying to advise agents,insurance agents like myself
today and most of the time evenback 20 plus years ago.
They were mostly older men andyou know what were they going to
?
Listen to?
Die 22 year old, you know diewho just to listen to, die 22
year old, you know die, who justgraduated from college and
didn't know anything yet.
(15:41):
So, um, I joined every insurance, you know association, I could.
I got all of the credentials,got a master's degree, I did
whatever I thought could help,um, and now it's just paying
dividends.
I I mean all that time investedback then.
You know I was single, I didn'thave children.
Now it's, you know, it's reallyhelpful in how I advise my
(16:06):
clients because I know insurance, I know everything about it, I
know what the policy should haveon it, I know how to help them
control their claims and youknow what the underwriter is
going to ask you know whatproblems are going to arise
before the underwriter even saysit, because I was the
underwriter so, and now it'sjust fun.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, definitely, and I think that's the thing right.
And again, here's that commonthread between endurance, sports
and whether it's real estate orinsurance of you just go into
it with a clear decision thatyou're going to be successful
and you find the ways and theresources and you put in the
(16:50):
sweat, equity and the labor andyou invest in yourself and
career and other things, investin yourself and career and other
things.
And then it's the overnightsuccess, 10, 15 years later,
when everything has really beencemented in in a beautiful way
and you, you have expertise andso many happy clients and the
understanding of the differentfacets and how they feed
(17:12):
together which is integral notonly for identifying possible
problems that you can avoid them.
So you don't even get to thatpoint, which is huge for clients
.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Right, yeah.
And going back to relationshipshaving relationships both ways.
So with the clients, right,it's really important but also
with the underwriters.
And having that rapport and thecredibility of being an
underwriter and having friendsall over the carrier side is is
helpful too.
(17:44):
You just there's instantcredibility and they want to
help me to succeed, so, which isgreat, it all works out.
But but I do my part for themtoo.
I make sure that you know I'mgetting them what they need and
making sure the client getsexactly what they need.
That's perfect, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It seems like a simple recipe, right?
But yet you notice that whenyou look out into the
marketplace, not everyonefollows it, and that is what it
is.
But we hear a lot about roboticsright, ai, all of this and you
know, I think sometimes of kindof like scare tactics for
industries that they're going tocome in and wipe out your you
(18:24):
know your arena.
I personally don't have thatconcern in commercial.
I think it will help withpulling reports, you know
different things of that naturealso assisting, but I think,
because of the importance ofrelationships and also some of
those different conversations,that it's not going to eliminate
us.
What are your thoughts forrobotics AI in the insurance
(18:47):
realm?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think you're right, there's going to be.
We have to learn how to use itbecause I think it could be
really helpful if you're tryingto aggregate loss data or, you
know, predict some loss modeling.
You know what's going to happennext year if they grow.
You know their revenues are up,their payrolls are up, their
claims are doing this.
Absolutely room for improvementthere.
(19:11):
But I don't think in the largercommercial space those
businesses are complex and thebusiness owners are going to
want somebody to talk to abouttheir risk and how to mitigate
it and what to do after a claimhappens.
So I don't anticipate.
You know, maybe in the smallercommercial space there might be
(19:32):
some automation that kind oftakes up.
You know somebody doesn't want,they want more of a
transactional deal and they'recomfortable with that.
But I don't see, you know, ourclients moving in that direction
at all Right.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
No, I agree.
So I have two final questionsfor you.
One is do you anticipate therewill be an Ironman 2?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
you one is do you anticipate there will be an iron
man too?
Uh, not, not in the near futurefor sure.
I do think triathlon willcontinue in my future, but
probably at a lesser distanceand only because you know my 13
year old boy is a great career,like I.
You know there's other thingsthat I want to accomplish, but
I'll try at the one.
We'll still be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Definitely that's great.
And my final question for you,diana, is what does living fully
mean to you?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Oh, that's a great question.
Um, I think living fully means,you know, to me it's I want a
full life with my family, myfaith, career and life on my own
terms.
So I just try to wake up everyday and decide you know what?
(20:50):
What does today look like?
What do I want to accomplishand how do I, how do I show up
and be that the best version ofmyself for all of those people?
And that means somethingdifferent to everybody, right,
like the kids need to be abeautiful thing, yeah, so I just
I love it, I love what I do.
(21:10):
I love being an owner atHouseman Group.
You know I love being involvedin our church, um, volunteering
for blessings, like all of thosethings are are me and what I,
what I, what I want to do andwhat's important.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
So to me, living fully is being able to do all of
those things, which is perfectbecause, at the end of the day,
when your heart is full rightand you're doing something that
you love, you have fulfillment,family, loved ones and are
contributing.
I would say that is a rich life, right?
Yeah, I agree, yeah.
Last but not least, diana, howcan people connect with you?
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Um, you know what I?
I'm on LinkedIn, I'm onFacebook.
People could reach out that way, um, or, happy to you know,
chat on the phone emails workstoo, and all of that contact
information are on both of thosesites.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Perfect.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Well, thank you so much for joining me today and I
look forward to connecting withyou soon.
Thank you so much Bye.
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