Businessman finds his true calling at work
Businessman finds his true calling at work

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By Debbie Blossom

Published: March 30, 2008

When businessman Braden Garrett returned to Oklahoma City last year, the insurance professional found a different community from the one he left in 1999.

The Casady High School graduate first followed in his insurance industry father's footsteps; including a job at the Oklahoma insurance department, were they both worked.

Yet Garrett's innovative nature drew him to join a San Francisco-based dot-com venture offering online auto insurance. "I just wanted to take my shot,” he said. But when funding dried up, he headed back to the Midwest for a job with a Kansas City bank.

But he still hadn't found his true calling.

"I wanted to do something on my own, I wanted to make my own mark,” Garrett said. A Kansas City friend suggested he check out Brooke Insurance Services, a California-based company that franchises its insurance and financial services to independent agent owners across the country.

For Garrett, the role of owner/agent was the niche that fulfilled those entrepreneurial yearnings.

"I started with Brooke in Kansas City, and built the business from scratch,” he said.

But when the opportunity to take over two Brooke offices in Oklahoma City came along, Garrett said he jumped at the chance to return.

He now owns and operates six Brooke Insurance and Financial Services locations in the metro that offer an array of insurance plans. "I like to call us a large small business,” he said.

It was the right move at the right time, Garrett said, and it's been exciting to rediscover his hometown enjoying a rebounding economy and a positive business climate.

"Oklahoma is home, that's really what it is,” he said. "Oklahoma is doing great, and it's fantastic to be part of it.”

Now settled back into the city where he grew up and still has family, Garrett recently visited with The Oklahoman about his new venture.

Q: Your father was also in the insurance business. Growing up is that what you also envisioned for yourself?

A: I did not grow up thinking I would be in the insurance business. However, I always thought I wanted to own a business or work for myself in some way. Taking that plunge just took some time and experience.

Q: What do you like about helping people with their insurance needs?

A: This is the best part of the business. First, every customer has an individual story to tell; and, just like me, they need insurance. Providing a needed service and hearing my customer's story makes me feel good that we were able to respond to their needs on a personal level.

Q: You mentioned that your entrepreneurial spirit really surfaced while studying at Oklahoma City University. Could you explain?

A: The OCU MBA program at the Meinders School of Business really got me thinking about the ‘risk-reward' aspect of business. In order to have rewards in business, you must take risk.

The MBA program just made me realize that you really need to just get out there in this world, take smart risk, and make it happen. I use the techniques from the OCU program every day, whether I am reviewing financial reports or evaluating marketing plans.

Q: What's the biggest challenge of running your own business — and in your case, managing six separate locations?

A: My biggest challenge is shifting gears from owner/manager to sales person. I love to talk with clients, hear their story, and help getting the right insurance plan in place.

However, it seems the proverbial toilet paper is always running out somewhere. You have to turn from insurance expert to supply expert and back to insurance expert several times a day. Thanks to my team, we get these handled well.

Q: Besides seeing your business succeed, what are some personal goals?

A: I have one personal goal. That is to make sure my children have the best opportunity to do whatever they want to do in life. Beyond that, I want to continue to get up every day and say, ‘What a great day, let's get to work!'

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