When two industry veterans with over 65+ years of combined experience join forces to write a book, you can expect something remarkable. That’s exactly what happened when Chip Merlin, founder of the Merlin Law Group and one of the nation’s foremost authorities on property insurance law, and I (Lynette Young, co-founder of ClaimWizard and business coach for public adjusting firms,) decided to collaborate on “Claim Your Success: The Ultimate Guide to Starting and Running a Public Insurance Adjusting Business.” This comprehensive guide represents the first complete business blueprint specifically designed for public adjusters – professionals who advocate for policyholders when insurance claims go sideways.
We knew whatever we created had to deliver tremendous value to the public adjusting industry, both now and in the future. So began our journey to write “Claim Your Success: The Ultimate Guide to Starting and Running a Public Insurance Adjusting Business.”
The Birth of a Book
My contribution started with an outline – a 38-page beast that covered literally everything a person starting or running a public adjusting business could ever possibly need, with the exception of ACTUALLY being a public adjuster. We were happy to leave that secret sauce to professionals with authentic experience.
The biggest challenge? Chip and I simply had too much content. Truth be told, we could have easily published a 1,000-page book! Deciding what to keep and what to save for potential future editions was a continuous balancing act.
For me, the collaboration provided a much deeper understanding of what drives Chip professionally (and quite frankly, personally), which was a happy learned lesson. While we’d known each other professionally for years, working closely on a creative project reveals dimensions of a person you might never see in other contexts.
Creating Something Meaningful
There were topics, such as the history of property insurance, that we both knew were vital for anyone reading – whether they were new public adjuster business owners, aspiring owners, or even readers with no prior experience in the industry who simply wanted a more rounded idea of what it takes to start and grow a public adjusting company.
From my years coaching public adjusting companies, I felt it necessary to not only highlight the history and why this industry exists but to fill in any gaps when it came to running and growing a company in this specialized field.
Research came naturally. With Chip’s 40 years and my 28 years of experience serving the public adjusting industry, it was relatively easy to tap into our vast network of contacts for insights and information. Our combined experience gave us a unique perspective on what would truly help readers succeed.
Making Insurance Not Boring (Really!)
Listen, I know that insurance (and the business around insurance) is often considered “boring” – but not for us! To make the content more palatable, we invented “Rich,” a fictional public adjuster whose journey illustrates the book’s principles. Interestingly, Rich is what I get the most comments about. “Rich is ME!” typically shows up in my DMs from readers who see themselves in his story.
There were topics and chapters that Chip and I both had strong experience with and opinions on, so blending thoughts from two very anchored professionals was tough. That’s why we needed a developmental editor. Sometimes a neutral third party is the best route to harmony!
Personal Growth Through Collaboration
The inner workings of the legal aspects of not just running a public adjusting company but the day-to-day legalities of the art and science of public adjusting was eye-opening to me. Despite my years in the industry, working with Chip deepened my understanding of these crucial elements.
If you ever thought writing is hard, writing with another person is a magnitude more difficult! We both really needed to explain and articulate our experience and ideas not just for the readers but for each other. This forced a clarity of thought that ultimately benefited the final product.
Watching Chip lead from a distance (we are not affiliated with each others companies, despite us both having “magical” company names – him Merlin and me Wizard) taught me more solidly how to mentor teams. I’ve heard him say numerous times to his staff, “Watch what I do, then come back and let’s discuss why this works, how it can work for you, and how to apply it in the future.” It’s the loopback of mentorship that really impresses me. It’s never just “watch what I do” but rather “let’s come back and have a discussion about it so you can learn.”
Making an Industry Impact
In my work with public adjusting company founders or aspiring owners, I’ve seen too many “simple” mistakes that could have been easily avoided with a little bit of knowledge. There is a real possibility of amazing public adjusters not surviving in business because of a lack of business mentorship and guidance. Our book aims to fill that gap.
The feedback has been gratifying. Everyone seems to love Rich! I also hear from established business owners who picked up the book “because Chip and I wrote it,” even though they felt they already had a solid handle on their business. When they come back and say, “I learned a LOT,” it makes all the hard work worth it!
Chip and I both hope this book becomes a resource for generations of public adjusting business owners to develop a playbook for creating a thriving business. I personally hope the book introduces the field of public adjusting to as many “outsiders” as possible.
When it comes down to it, a public adjusting business is a business like any other. Learning solid business practices is universally beneficial. Don’t think of it as a business wrapped around a public adjusting license, but as a business that happens to serve as public insurance adjusters.
Looking to the Future
This collaboration has already sparked ideas for workshops! While the workshops won’t follow the book exactly (that’s why people should read the book!), they will offer deeper dives into some of the more popular and needed aspects covered in the pages.
We’re already talking about an update or an expanded version. There’s so much we left out due to space constraints, but each chapter could easily be expanded into a mini-book of its own!
For anyone considering co-authoring a project with industry leaders, my advice is simple: get yourself a project manager and a developmental editor! Besides that, make sure you and your co-author are in true harmony with the topic and approach of your book.
This experience has given my coaching clients a framework from which to start. The book serves as a roadmap, allowing me to guide clients through specific challenges while always having a comprehensive resource to refer back to.
Co-authoring “Claim Your Success” with Chip Merlin wasn’t just about creating a guide for public adjusters – it was a journey of professional growth, deepened understanding, and meaningful collaboration that will continue to impact the industry for years to come.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Chip for his willingness to embark on this project with me and for so generously sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. His dedication to the public adjusting profession goes far beyond this book, and I’ve been fortunate to witness firsthand his unwavering commitment to helping others succeed.
I’m equally grateful to the entire public insurance adjusting industry – a community of professionals who work tirelessly to advocate for policyholders in their most challenging moments. Your passion, resilience, and commitment to doing what’s right have inspired both this book and my career. It’s been an honor to serve this industry for nearly three decades, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.
