Exclusive Ideamensch Interview

Originally published on ideamensch.com

Matthew Bussard is a financial services broker offering support to Medicare users in Rhode Island. He is passionate about creating a difference in his clients’ lives by helping them enroll in Medicare with professionalism and care. Mr. Bussard volunteers with Medicare recipients at his local health clinic, providing efficient, continual guidance to clients every step of the way. Matthew also participates in various charitable activities, including The Hunger Project, the MDRT Foundation, local clean-ups, and little league coaching. He donates to local charities and makes a difference in his community in every way possible.
 

Where did the idea for your career come from?

I started working in financial services fresh out of college at age 21. I soon realized working with the 65+ population how confusing and exhausting Medicare can be to do with. I knew that if I specialized in Medicare help, I would be able to greatly assist my community.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I start early: usually open the laptop around 7 am, meet with clients all day, helping them with any problems they may have. Coffee is the only way I can stay productive!

How do you bring ideas to life?

Usually, if I have an idea, I don’t think twice about it. I guess I would say I’m impulsive but in a good way.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The amount of people looking for Medicare help. Usually, the people who try to manage Medicare on their own dig themselves into a hole by picking the wrong plan or paying more than they have to pay. I come across this every day.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Working Saturdays. I started doing this at 21, and it has made all the difference in the world. Anything you can get done on a Monday morning, I try to get done on a Saturday — so Monday I can go right into meetings.

What advice would you give your younger self?

What goes around comes around. Help others and do right by them and everything will work out for you.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Coldplay is one of the top 5 greatest bands of all time!

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I’m constantly surrounding myself with people I look up to — other brokers, business owners — anyone that I want to be like. I take bits and pieces of their expertise and tips, and I apply them to my own life. Some work for me, some don’t. But the ones that do pay, pay off big time.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Putting customer service as my top priority. Once I realized how important it is to have satisfied clients, I started to grow my business exponentially.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Finding the right business partner. It took years of trying, but Tony and I are on the exact same page as to how we want to treat our clients and how we want to be viewed in the community.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Try to figure out one thing you can do better than anyone else. Invest a ton of time into that one thing.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I spent $100 taking the boys out to eat. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I could pay for my friends, and recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to live that way.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I love Excel. I can keep track of my bottom line with ease using Excel. I also really like Google Drive. It’s very simple to use, and it allows me to access all of my important documents quickly.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. This book teaches individuals about the most important steps to become financially independent.

What is your favorite quote?

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
– Robert Frost

Key Learnings:

• If you want to be an entrepreneur, try to learn as much as you can from others;
• Nothing is more important than customer satisfaction;
• Really try to differentiate yourself from the field; you need to find that one thing you can do better than most.