Meet Ruffin Consulting Services

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ruffin Consulting Services a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ruffin Consulting , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
A life of purpose is essential for understanding who I am, why I matter and the impact I have in life. Prior to purpose, life was filled with goals, tasks and worldly measurements of success. But once my purpose was identified, I knew my identify, impact and why was beyond temporary measures of success but more eternal. Purpose yields clarity, grace, direction and is in no rush to check off accomplishments. Purpose does not function in competition, haste or people pleasing. Living with purpose sounds like a life of positivity at all times; however, it’s just the opposite. A purpose driven life requires hard decisions, letting people down that may have expectations on your life and time and not always being in alignment with what is popular. This statement is not intended to say that purpose means to be defiant but is intended to communicate that purpose may require one to answer these five questions when making decisions. 1. Does this decision align with what is at the center or core of life?
2. Does this decision represent my character?
3. Does this decision align with the mission of my life?
4. Does this decision support/promote community?
5. How does this decision contribute to my life?
One essential resource to honing in on your purpose is the CliftonStrengths®️ Assessment by Gallup.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Life insurance consulting has been an integral component of my journey since early childhood. Indirectly I learned the importance of life insurance by observing meetings with the life insurance agent and my grandmother. At the time, it was not clear how being a child and observing this interaction would show up in my future as a life insurance and finance professional. Fast forward, as I prepared for my undergraduate studies at Auburn University, one step in the process was ensuring I had life insurance. Here again, life insurance is showing up in my life through teachings from my family. After graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Mercer University, I pursued a career in finance and accounting where I became a Director of Finance for a law firm. One component of my position was the renewal of the key man life insurance for key attorneys at the law firm. At this point, I knew life insurance was more than a death benefit but a wealth benefit. I wanted to learn more and share with others the importance of life insurance. I became a licensed and appointed life insurance agent and started the journey of sharing educational information on life insurance. Hard work, dedication, mentors and having a true calling for changing the narrative of life insurance from a death benefit to a wealth benefit has led Ruffin Consulting Services to being named one of the key players in life insurance consulting.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are as follows: understanding my natural skills and strengths, sharpening those skills and strengths through education, training or certifications and asking myself would I still be excited and driven to make positive impact if no pay was involved.

The advice I have for leaders early in their journey is to not look to the left and right to what others are doing but to go within and become the best version of self and invest in growing knowledge, skills and abilities. Gain an understanding of who you are and your natural talent. How can your talent solve a problem for someone else? Be consistent and dedicated to your craft and build a following that relies on what you offer. Enroll in courses, programs and enlist the leadership of a mentor to improve. Each person has a unique purpose. What is your unique purpose?

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I have become a subject matter expert in life insurance and a reliable and trustworthy name in the industry. However, life insurance is one component of risk management and financial planning. The big question is now what in business? How do I grow and further my knowledge and skills to offer my clients more? To address this obstacle I have been studying for the Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam and enrolled in a CFP®️ Certification program. Pivoting in business is challenging but when aligned with purpose, the concept becomes a no brainer. Often times we do not see our own blind spots but thanks to my mentors, I was shown paths to pivot.

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