A 90's Kid's Guide to Personal Branding

A 90's Kid's Guide to Personal Branding

Author: Heath Shearon July 9, 2026 Duration: 27:11

In this episode of Insurance Town, we've got a Mayor Solo episode. No guest this week, just me and my fellow citizens of Insurance Town.

Today, we're tackling a topic that I think has become way more complicated than it needs to be: personal branding.

I'm going to challenge some of the biggest buzzwords in business and marketing today. What if "personal branding" is really just your reputation? What if authenticity is simply being true to yourself? What if networking is nothing more than making genuine friends?


As a 90's kid, I don't think these ideas are new. I think we've spent the last twenty years creating new words for principles our parents were teaching us long before social media, LinkedIn, and personal branding became a thing.

In this episode, we'll talk about how to intentionally build a reputation people trust, how to protect that reputation, why "fake it till you make it" is a dangerous philosophy, how to discover who you're uniquely called to serve, and why the strongest personal brands aren't manufactured
they're built one promise, one relationship, and one act of integrity at a time.

If you've ever wondered how to become known, trusted, and remembered without pretending to be someone you're not, I think you're going to enjoy this conversation.
In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why your brand starts long before you ever have a "name brand"
  • The difference between reputation and personal branding—and why it matters
  • Why "fake it till you make it" may be holding you back
  • How being true to yourself is actually the easiest long-term branding strategy
  • How to identify the people you truly want to serve
  • Why trying to serve everyone weakens your reputation
  • How to define what you want to be known for
  • Why protecting your reputation sometimes means saying "no" to the wrong clients
  • How one bad-fit customer can impact your culture, your team, and your future business
  • Why networking is really about building genuine friendships, not collecting business cards
  • A simple way to talk about what you do without sounding like everyone else
  • How to build a reputation that creates trust, referrals, opportunities, and long-term influence

Sponsor Shout out:

1Fort
AI is changing the insurance industry, but the biggest opportunity isn't just automation, it's having proactive digital teammates that help your agency work smarter every day. Learn more at https://1fort.com.

Canopy Connect
Eliminate manual data entry and create a better client experience with Canopy Connect. Their technology allows prospects and clients to securely share insurance information in minutes. Learn more at https://usecanopy.com/heath.

VIVA Virtual Solutions
Looking to grow your agency without adding unnecessary overhead? VIVA Virtual Solutions connects insurance agencies with highly trained virtual professionals who can help you scale your operations while delivering exceptional service. Learn more at https://vivavs.com.


Heath Shearon has spent years navigating every corner of the insurance industry, and in Insurance Town, he acts as your guide through its often complex landscape. Think of each episode as a casual, informative conversation held on the front porch of a town built entirely on insurance knowledge. Heath, who jokingly refers to himself as the Mayor, doesn’t just lecture; he brings in the many friends and colleagues he’s met over his career for genuine discussions that break down real-world scenarios. You’ll hear practical advice, behind-the-scenes insights, and straightforward explanations designed for both industry newcomers and seasoned professionals. This isn't about dry theory-it's about the tangible how-to and the why behind common business and personal coverage questions. The tone is welcoming and grounded in experience, set to a bluesy soundtrack courtesy of Daddy Long Legs. Tune into this podcast for a unique blend of business education and relatable storytelling that makes the intricacies of insurance feel approachable and even engaging.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Insurance Town
Podcast Episodes
How do I grow my agency using Virtual Employees? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:36
in this weeks episode, Heath Shearon sits down with Rob Lopez, CEO of V!VA, for a wide-ranging conversation about insurance, outsourcing, virtual assistants, and AI. Rob shares how his path from broadcast journalism and…
Where do I even start when it comes to AI in my agency? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:54
In this weeks episode the Mayor talks with Dave Rose, an agency operator at Bolt and former Liberty Mutual and Travelers leader, about what independent agents can learn from captive carriers, how connected distribution w…
How do I close more prospects ? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:37
This week in insurance town Heath Shearon sits down with Martin Mashalov, co-founder of Gridpull, to unpack why buying more leads is not the same as getting more business. They dig into how appetite matching, renewal tim…
How Can I Maximize My Conference Experience? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:15
This week Drake Lawhead comes to visit us in Insurance Town to talk all things conference , and maximizing the conference experience. We get into what all goes into building a major industry event and how attendees can a…
Should I give my clients my personal cell number ? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:06
In this weeks Episode, I got the chance to talk to my brother, my homie, my main man, Casey Nelson of Agency X and Eclipse Insurance. We talked about a major career shift, returning to the agency side with Eclipse Insura…
Can Voice AI Transform the Insurance Customer Experience? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:01
This week in Insurance Town, I got to sit down with Francisco Lopes of Sonant.AI for a conversation about one of the fastest-growing technologies in the insurance industry: voice AI.Artificial intelligence has become one…
The Future of AI in Insurance with Christina Lucas {LIVE} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
There are some interviews you enjoy... and then there are conversations you genuinely don't want to end. This was one of those.Recorded live from the iconic Santa Monica Pier during InsuranceFest 2026, I had the opportun…
The Relay of information ! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:44
In this weeks episode i interview my new friend Jerry Ye, we explore how AI is transforming the insurance industry through the lens of Jerry Ye, in this engaging episode. Learn about the practical applications of AI in s…
How to scale a family owned insurance agency. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:21
In this weeks episde here in Insurance Town I got to interview my friend Jackson Rollo. In this episode Jackson, president of Rollo Insurance Group, shares how a second-generation family agency achieved remarkable growth…
Is your AI Reactive or Proactive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:42
Most insurance agencies are still using AI like a search engine.They open ChatGPT. They ask a question. They get an answer.That’s useful.But it’s also reactive.The next generation of AI doesn’t wait to be told what to do…