b"Jan wondered who was going to pay him and was surprised when he confidently responded, nobody. She looked hard at Brian for a moment and said,Well, you must know what youre doing. Brians confidence and patience had always served him well. He could sit for hours with a client going through the minutiae of a policy and rarely get flustered or annoyed. These skills would prove invaluable during what became one of the toughest years of his career. Brian and NZI reached an exit agreement: he LIFE VERSUS GENERAL12 would first rewrite every single one of his clients policiesan immense task considering he wasBrians first job in the insurance industrysimultaneously setting up Mid North Insurance was selling life insurance, but he was happyServices with John George.to switch to general insurance. I didnt like working in life insurance. The companies were I had to go and see all these people. Filled out newtoo pushy about selling stuff to people who proposals for cars, houses, caravans, boats. It took didnt need it. In general insurance, people me twelve months, and I was working twenty hoursa day. I hardly saw my family for a year, Brian recalls.come looking for you. They have a house, car, boat or whatever, and they need that insured. Despite the gruelling schedule, Brian knew teaming That sat easier with me.up with John was the right decision. John had big plans, but he was savvy enough to turn ambition into reality. Brians experience, knowledge and contacts deepened Johns reach into the Mid North, while Johns innovation and forward thinking gave Briana competitive edge.Above right Brian and JanRight Brian McInerney, 1962.McInerney's wedding, 1966."