With his Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), dedication, loyalty and knack for storytelling, Senior Vice President Office of the President, Chico Dennis, links Combined’s rich past to our future. He has worked at Combined for over 65 years, and he enjoyed a deep friendship with Combined’s founder, W. Clement Stone. As we near our 100th anniversary, we honor Chico and thank him for his passion and commitment to Combined and our shared traits service, accountability, professionalism and embracing PMA.  

Chico started selling insurance for Combined Insurance on February 20, 1957.

He became close to Combined Insurance’s founder, W. Clement Stone, and he always has an encouraging comment or a word of wisdom to share.

From cake baker to successful insurance salesman

After emigrating from Cuba, Chico did not have the funds to go to college, so he started working in a bakery on the east coast. He baked cakes for several years, but he decided he wanted more out of his career.  He thought sales may be just what he was looking for. His wife found a Combined recruiting sales ad, and Chico didn’t hesitate to seek the opportunity. He got the job, and while he still loves baking cakes, he has never looked back.

Chico realized what a great opportunity he was being given to sell supplemental insurance at Combined as a W2 employee.To ensure success, he learned as much as he could about the industry and about selling. One of the first books he read was W. Clement Stone’s Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, co-authored by Napoleon Hill.  One of Chico’s biggest claims to fame is that he hired the famous author and motivational speaker, Augustine “Og” Mandino II to sell insurance at Combined. Og went on to write The Greatest Salesman in the World, a favorite among many sales professionals.

Chico also had to work hard to learn and perfect his English. He did so by memorizing presentations and sales pitches and responses, and today his English is perfect.

Secret to success

Chico made the deliberate decision to embrace what he learned in Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude book, and he says, “It was one of the most important books I had ever read.  I applied the principles to my professional and personal life. I believe positive mental attitude (PMA) applied to business and personal situations works, and the successes in my life show I’m right!”

The secret to Chico’s success really is no secret at all, and while it’s pretty straight forward, it’s not always easy to follow: Having a positive attitude. One of Chico’s favorite quotes by W. Clement Stone is, “Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those with PMA.”

Chico credits his success with hard work and never giving up and always having PMA.

For him, success in his career and in his personal life are linked, and his positive attitude is what helps him in both.

“Be the master of your fate,” he advises, “Begin your success journey by putting one foot in front of the other.  PMA requires cultivation of habits and thoughts.”

A chance for a better future

Combined recently changed from working with predominantly W2 sales employees to working with Independent Agents who choose us because they want to maximize their income and grow their brand. Independent Agents also support their local communities by offering supplemental insurance both to individuals and in the workplace.

When asked if this would be a good fit for bilingual agents, Chico comments, “As a Latino, I have found this to be a great fit for me, and I believe it could be a great fit for other Latinos in my community. We love the opportunity to connect with and help other Latinos in our communities. Combined makes it easy by offering materials and training in both Spanish and English. Combined is an opportunity for those seeking a better future.”

Customers can choose to communicate with the company through the phone, internet, or through the mail in English or Spanish.  Some business forms are also available in Spanish, and the website goes from English to Spanish with the toggle of a button.

Final thoughts

Chico has a few final thoughts for people who are looking for a brighter future and who are willing to work hard: “For those who are looking for a future look no further than Combined Insurance. This is a company that will back you up 100%. They care for you as a person, and they have the PMA philosophy/culture-that is very unique among companies.”