Aflac Voices — Andy Glaub: We Will

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Last year, I stood onstage in Atlanta in front of 1,000 producers and talked about the mindset I had locked in for the year: “We will.”

And while it was meant to be a sort of rally cry as we marched toward success, it’s also a mantra I’ve carried with me throughout my career.

As I look back over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to walk through the door with an attitude of “I will” — from every sales call to the moment I was approached about an Assistant Director of Sales role that, more quickly than expected, turned into a Director of Sales position — that meant going from a $40 million sales quota to more than $1 billion. Plus, I was prepared for a personal six-month evolution, not a 16-day revolution. No pressure.

I could have easily said no and stayed within my own comfort zone. After all, I had found success where I was, and I was happy. But I wanted to do more and, instead of retreating back into the space I knew so well, I stepped into a new unknown. It helped to know that I wasn’t alone. I had three incredible leaders — Dan Amos, Teresa White, Mike Tomlinson — as well as my wife who believed in me probably more than I believed in myself. With them by my side and an incredible team to work with, I didn’t give in to the fear of a new environment; I stepped into my role with an attitude of “We will,” and it has served me well.

Having a positive outlook is a choice. So, with whatever decision you may be facing, here are my tips for turning “I’m not sure” into an attitude that screams out, “We will”:

1. Reframe your thinking. Instead of giving in to thoughts that suggest you may not have what it takes to succeed or finding comfort by retreating to what feels safe — which is completely natural — flip that into an affirmative statement with your definition of success: “I will achieve _____.” Another effective thing to do when the doubts start to creep in is to pause and jot down three things that you’re grateful for — gratitude is the enemy of negative thoughts. Do this every day.
2. Take action. Don’t let fear prevent you from giving something a go. Challenge that instinct, take that first step, and keep going. You’ll be amazed how just taking action — large or small — can open up possibilities for personal and professional growth.
3. Don’t be afraid to try again (and again, and again). Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things still don’t play out how we envision. If this happens, take time to debrief the situation, learn from it and, if you think it can work, make adjustments and give it another go. Coming up short does not have to equal failure. By trying again (and again), you’re signaling that you’re tenacious and refuse to quit.
4. Build a personal board of directors. With a strong support system — or, as some call it, a personal board of directors — you’ll have a team of friends and colleagues you can lean on when things get rocky. I know I can count on mine to always be honest and give me sound counsel.
5. Commit to giving back. There are so many ways to make a difference, and our most recent Aflac WorkForces Report shows that giving back is an important part of the employee experience. It’s easy to say that there aren’t enough resources or hours in the day, but giving your time and talents for a cause that you’re passionate about can be an excellent way to refuel and recharge for other work ahead of you. For me, being involved with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

These are just a few of the many important lessons I’ve learned throughout my career, but they aren’t lessons that have helped just me. From my first day at Aflac, I’ve seen these in action; I’ve witnessed the incredible volume of strength and tenacity across the enterprise. In the 40 years since I joined the company, we’ve weathered unforeseen storms, ridden the many waves of a changing ecosystem, stared down obstacles, and turned them into successes time and time again — together, as one Aflac.

It’s more than camaraderie. It’s more than working with an army of high achievers. It’s about putting fear aside when faced with challenges and walking into these situations with a collective roar of “We will.”

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