I know we are always looking for new ideas, yet most of thetime, we haven't put the most basic ideas intopractice.

Here's a reminder of some of those basic ideas and bestpractices we need to implement every week:

Quick reminder #1: Schedule your time

As a sales organization, we have two basic goals: to keep theclients we have and to get the ones we don't. This means we havetwo types of work: sales work and service work. And to predictablyachieve both goals, we have to schedule (yes, on the calendar) timefor both.

Related: Want more success in insurance sales? Dothis

Quick action — Get every producer to block out anappropriate number of hours on his/her calendar this week forprospecting/sales activities.

Quick reminder #2: Identify client needs

Your prospects and clients aren't different people who valuedifferent things; they are the same people who value the samethings. You're simply meeting them at different stages of arelationship. As a business/organization, what prospects/clientsvalue is having their needs met.

Quick action — At some point this week, have ateam conversation about what those client needs are and how you areable to address those needs.

Quick reminder #3: Know your valueproposition

Your value proposition (VP) answers the question of what yourclients get as a result of working with you. The VP must beextremely clear to everyone on your team and be discussed on aregular basis. If not, you will never be able to deliver on itsuccessfully.

Related: 6 things top-performing insurance agents do to stayrelevant

As an example, here's our VP: We enable agencies totake control of their business by helping them to take control ofwhat they deliver to their clients and control of how they get paidfor doing so.

Quick action — Ask each member of your team whatthey believe to be your VP.

Quick reminder #4: Build an onlinepresence

In today's online world, buyers are somewhere between 60% and90% of the way to a buying decision before they meet with asalesperson. What they learn about that salesperson during theironline research will largely influence whether or not aface-to-face meeting ever takes place.

Related: 2 ways social media renewed my faith in theindependent insurance agent

Sure, it takes time and consistent effort to truly build anonline brand, but this week is your next best opportunity to getstarted and/or take that next step.

Quick action — On your social medium of choice,find an article to share, comment on an article, or share anoriginal idea of your own.

Quick reminder #5: Focus on the mostimportant

We all know what we need to do in order to be more successful;the struggle is in the execution, in taking that first step.However, once we break through with the first step, the nextbecomes easier, and the one after that even easier.

Quick action — Write down the one most importantthing you need to accomplish. Now, write down the absolute simplestfirst step to move you forward and put it on your calendar.

What drives our success isn't rocket science guys; it's simplyabout consistent execution of the obvious.

Game on!

Kevin Trokey is founding partner and coach at St.Louis-based Q4intelligence, abusiness, sales and marketing consulting firm working withinsurance agencies. Contact him at (314) 436-7171 and check outhis LinkedInprofile and follow him on Twitter @kevintrokey.