Karen Montgomery of Masterly Mutual on developing accountability partners

Describe your business in a few words:

Masterly Mutual provides relatable insight into understanding life insurance better so prospects can feel confident and at ease when considering a decision to purchase protection.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was a captive agent working for corporate agencies.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No, but I've always been an overachiever, and had a desire to push harder/further and a work ethic that supports the nature of entrepreneurs.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I've always desired growing the confidence of interacting on social media, however the life insurance industry had many restrictions toward online selling until the pandemic meant learning how to reach and sell to customers virtually.  In 2020, I started Masterly Mutual Insurance Services online and I'm growing my social media ability each day.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Developing accountability in my work and personal life reminds me of the importance of working together to move toward goals faster.  I can't recommend accountability enough when you feel stuck and afraid.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

There's work and there's life!  I've found my best balance tip is remembering sometimes I'm going to be great at work which means I may have to sacrifice personal and family time.  Also, having the courage to let others help allows flexibility when demands can seem overwhelming.

What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

As of July 2021, I've joined The Abolitionist Pledge as Lead of Business Development.  The TAP mission is to 'unite people with an agenda to abolish the impacts of racism & racial inequality."   TAPs first initiative is tapentrepreneurs.com, a multi-vendor website for minority, women and ally owned businesses.  The website has a $0 subscription cost and only 7.77% admin fee per order which offers a great place for independent sellers nationwide who don't have a web presence or want additional exposure to grow their brand.  I've enlisted 17 vendors to date and hope to add more vendors who are willing to support the mission of TAP.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

I'm starting fresh and hope to establish my credibility across the U.S. with millennials and influencers who may not be thinking about the importance of life insurance while pursuing their careers and accumulating wealth.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

The energy of the Entreprenista League is inviting and refreshing where I feel safe seeking answers and/or solutions to move my business forward.