I have a good friend who is a police officer working the night shift and I asked him one time about what his average night consists of. I was thinking that his job resembled something on one of those action-packed police shows. I was surprised to hear him say that most of the time it was seven-and-a-half hours of boredom, followed by a half hour of excitement, and sometimes, absolute terror. I think his idea of boredom was completing accident reports, traffic tickets and various paperwork associated with street cops.

While I don't confess to be practicing insurance at the danger level of a trained police officer, I do think his comment parallels what I have seen recently in the insurance business. The summer activity level was at an all-time low for me, but right after Labor Day it ramped up to a level of excitement and sometimes even absolute terror, given what is happening in Washington.

Although glad to see my sales and activity increasing, I've also noticed the heightened intensity of people's feelings and emotions right now. Some individuals have taken the "crazy train to Nutsville" in their attempt to protect their health insurance benefits and premiums, and fight insurance reform. I've had clients cussing out underwriters and threatening lawsuits with their insurance companies like I've never seen in the past. I'm glad to know my clients still like me!