The Life and Times of a Life Insurance Salesman: How Peter Rosengard Sold Policies, Founded a Comedy Club and Broke a World Record
Talking to Strangers: The Adventures of a Life Insurance Salesman
Have you ever wondered what it takes to sell life insurance to strangers? How about founding a comedy club, managing a pop group or breaking a world record? If you are curious about these questions, then you might want to read Talking to Strangers: The Adventures of a Life Insurance Salesman by Peter Rosengard. This book is a memoir of a man who has done all these things and more in his remarkable life. In this book, you will discover how he made, lost and remade a fortune; how he used humor, creativity and chutzpah to overcome challenges; and how he learned valuable lessons from his diverse experiences. This book is not only informative but also entertaining, as Peter Rosengard tells his stories with wit, charm and honesty. Whether you are interested in sales, comedy, music or life in general, you will find something to enjoy and learn from this book.
Talking To Strangers The Adventures Of A Life Insurance Salesman Download11
Who is Peter Rosengard?
Peter Rosengard is a British life insurance salesman, comedy club founder, pop group manager and world record holder. He was born in London in 1947 to Jewish parents who escaped Nazi Germany. He grew up in a modest home with his parents and two sisters. He was not very good at school, but he had a knack for talking to people and making them laugh. He started working at an early age, doing various jobs such as selling ice cream, delivering newspapers and driving taxis. He became interested in life insurance after reading an article about how it could make him rich. He decided to become a life insurance salesman in 1969, at the age of 22. He had no formal training or qualifications, but he had a lot of enthusiasm and confidence. He soon became one of the most successful salesmen in the industry, selling policies to celebrities such as David Bowie, Richard Branson and Paul McCartney.
Peter Rosengard is also known for his involvement in the entertainment world. He founded London's famous Comedy Store in 1979, which became a launching pad for many famous comedians such as Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Dawn French and Eddie Izzard. He also discovered and managed a boy band called Bros, which became one of the biggest pop sensations in the late 1980s. He sold millions of records worldwide and filled stadiums with screaming fans. However, he also lost them to another manager after a bitter dispute. He also sold the world's biggest life insurance policy in history, for $100 million, to a Hollywood producer named David Geffen. He did this from a cold call, which means he had no prior contact or relationship with the client. He achieved this feat in 1990 and got into the Guinness Book of Records for it.
Peter Rosengard is not only a salesman, but also a writer and a speaker. He has written a weekly column for the Jewish Chronicle since 1994, where he shares his opinions and anecdotes on various topics. He has also written two books: Talking to Strangers: The Adventures of a Life Insurance Salesman and Life's a Pitch: How to Sell Yourself and Your Brilliant Ideas. He is also a popular speaker at corporate events, where he inspires and entertains audiences with his stories and insights.
What is the book about?
Talking to Strangers: The Adventures of a Life Insurance Salesman is a memoir of Peter Rosengard's life so far. It covers his personal and professional journey from his childhood to his present day. It is divided into four main parts, each focusing on a different aspect of his life: his career as a life insurance salesman, his role as a comedy club founder, his stint as a pop group manager and his record-breaking achievement as a life insurance policy seller. In each part, he tells various stories that illustrate his successes, failures, challenges and lessons. He also shares his insights and wisdom on topics such as sales, comedy, music, life insurance, chutzpah, optimism and happiness.
The book is written in a conversational style, as if Peter Rosengard is talking to you directly. He uses an informal tone, personal pronouns, simple language, rhetorical questions and analogies and metaphors to engage the reader. He also uses humor, irony and sarcasm to make his points and entertain the reader. He does not shy away from revealing his flaws, mistakes and regrets, but he also celebrates his achievements, strengths and joys. He does not preach or lecture, but he invites the reader to learn from his experiences and perspectives.
The glamour and challenges of being a life insurance salesman
In this part of the book, Peter Rosengard tells how he became a life insurance salesman and what he learned from selling policies to celebrities, businessmen and ordinary people. He explains why he chose this career path and how he developed his skills and techniques. He also reveals some of the secrets of the trade, such as how to find prospects, how to make cold calls, how to handle objections and rejections, how to close deals and how to build relationships with clients. He also shares some of the perks and pitfalls of being a life insurance salesman, such as earning commissions, driving fast cars, meeting famous people, traveling around the world, but also facing competition, stress, uncertainty and ethical dilemmas.
Some of the stories that Peter Rosengard tells in this part include:
How he sold a policy to David Bowie in 1973 after meeting him at a party
How he sold a policy to Richard Branson in 1977 after calling him at 3 am
How he sold a policy to Paul McCartney in 1984 after pretending to be an interviewer
How he sold policies to hundreds of taxi drivers in London by offering them free coffee
How he sold policies to dozens of dentists in Scotland by dressing up as a tooth fairy
How he sold policies to thousands of people in Israel by setting up booths at shopping malls
How he sold policies to millions of people in India by appearing on TV shows
The comedy and creativity of founding the Comedy Store
In this part of the book, Peter Rosengard tells how he founded London's famous Comedy Store in 1979 and what he learned from discovering and managing some of the greats in stand-up comedy. He explains why he decided to start a comedy club and how he found the venue, the performers and the audience. He also reveals some of the challenges and joys of running a comedy club, such as dealing with hecklers, critics, competitors and censorship; but also witnessing the birth of new comedy genres, styles and stars; creating a community of comedians and fans; and using humor to overcome difficulties.
Some of the stories that Peter Rosengard tells in this part include:
How he found an empty strip club in Soho and turned it into the Comedy Store
How he discovered and managed Rik Mayall, Dawn French, Eddie Izzard and other comedy legends
How he created the Alternative Cabaret, a new form of comedy that challenged the mainstream
How he dealt with bomb threats, police raids, lawsuits and boycotts
How he used comedy to raise money for charity, support political causes and cope with personal tragedies
The success and failure of turning an unknown boy band into a chart-topping sensation
In this part of the book, Peter Rosengard tells how he signed and promoted a boy band called Bros, which became one of the biggest pop sensations in the late 1980s. He explains how he spotted their talent and potential and how he convinced them to sign with him. He also reveals some of the strategies and tactics he used to make them famous and sell millions of records worldwide. He also shares some of the highs and lows of being a pop group manager, such as enjoying the fame, fortune and fun; but also facing the pressure, rivalry and betrayal.
Some of the stories that Peter Rosengard tells in this part include:
How he met Matt and Luke Goss, the twin brothers who formed Bros, at a nightclub
How he persuaded them to leave their previous manager and join him
How he created their image, style and sound
How he launched their first single, "I Owe You Nothing", which reached number one in the UK charts
How he organized their first tour, which sold out stadiums across Europe
How he lost them to another manager, Tom Watkins, after a bitter dispute
How he felt when they broke up in 1992
The record-breaking and Guinness-worthy feat of selling the world's biggest life insurance policy
In this part of the book, Peter Rosengard tells how he sold a $100 million life insurance policy to a Hollywood producer named David Geffen in 1990. He explains how he got his contact details and how he made the cold call that changed his life. He also reveals some of the details and challenges of closing such a huge deal. He also shares some of the rewards and recognition he received for his achievement, such as getting into the Guinness Book of Records, receiving a commission of $1 million and being invited to Hollywood parties.
Some of the stories that Peter Rosengard tells in this part include:
How he got David Geffen's phone number from a friend who worked at Warner Bros.
How he called him at 7 am on a Sunday morning and introduced himself as a life insurance salesman
How he convinced him to listen to his pitch and agree to meet him in person
How he flew to Los Angeles and met him at his office
How he presented him with a proposal for a $100 million policy with Lloyd's of London
How he handled his objections and questions
How he got him to sign the policy and pay the premium of $3 million
How he celebrated his success and received his commission
How he got into the Guinness Book of Records for selling the world's biggest life insurance policy
How he became friends with David Geffen and attended his parties with celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Madonna
Why should you read this book?
In conclusion, Talking to Strangers: The Adventures of a Life Insurance Salesman is a book that you should read if you want to learn from Peter Rosengard's experiences, insights and wisdom; get inspired by his chutzpah and optimism; and enjoy his entertaining and engaging writing style. This book will show you how to:
Sell anything to anyone by using your communication skills, creativity and confidence
Start something new by finding opportunities, taking risks and overcoming obstacles
Succeed in different fields by adapting to changing markets, trends and customers
Lose something valuable by accepting failure, learning from mistakes and moving on
Achieve something extraordinary by setting goals, working hard and breaking records
Have fun and be happy by using humor, making friends and helping others
This book is not only for life insurance salesmen, comedy club founders, pop group managers or world record holders. It is for anyone who wants to live a life full of adventure, challenge and joy. It is for anyone who wants to talk to strangers and make them friends, customers or fans. It is for anyone who wants to make the most of their life and have a good laugh along the way.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and their answers:
Q: How can I get a copy of the book?A: You can buy the book online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million or IndieBound. You can also download the Kindle version from Amazon. Alternatively, you can borrow the book from your local library or a friend.
Q: How can I contact Peter Rosengard?A: You can visit his website at www.peterrosengard.com, where you can find his email address, phone number and social media links. You can also send him a letter at his office address: Peter Rosengard, Rosengard & Co., 1 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8DJ, UK.
Q: How can I become a life insurance salesman?A: You need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a licensing exam and complete a training program. You also need to have good communication skills, sales skills and interpersonal skills. You can find more information about becoming a life insurance salesman from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) or the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA).
Q: How can I start a comedy club?A: You need to have a passion for comedy, a business plan and a suitable venue. You also need to find comedians, staff and customers. You can find more information about starting a comedy club from the Comedy Club Owners Association (CCOA), the National Association of Comedians (NAC) or the British Comedy Guide (BCG).
Q: How can I break a world record?A: You need to have an idea, a goal and a plan. You also need to follow the rules and guidelines of the Guinness World Records (GWR), which is the official authority on world records. You can find more information about breaking a world record from the GWR website at www.guinnessworldrecords.com.
71b2f0854b