“Once I understood the lifestyle and freedom, everything changed.”
KEY TAKEAWAY
Meron Degafu came to the United States alone from Ethiopia, built a career in engineering, and then lost it. After grinding through 60–70 hour weeks in sales, she discovered something unexpected: ownership. Today she is an agency owner who built a business through discipline, mentorship, and community. Proving that success is not defined by where you start, but by who you become and the people you choose to grow with.
Watch Meron share her full story below.
WHEN THE PLAN FALLS APART
Meron did not plan to work in insurance.
Her plan was engineering.
After immigrating to the United States from Ethiopia, she studied civil engineering and geophysics, eventually working on projects across different states.
But life changed quickly.
She was laid off.
At the time, she was tired of constant travel and wanted stability. What followed was two years in door-to-door business sales with AT&T.
The hours were intense.
60 to 70 hours every week.
And despite the effort, something still felt off.
THE DOUBT EVERYONE FEELS
Meron already knew about the insurance industry.
She just did not believe it.
I was one of those stubborn people that didn’t believe insurance could change your life.”
Her mentor Kip introduced her to the opportunity, but she hesitated.
For an entire year.
Eventually curiosity turned into action. Four and a half years later, that decision became the foundation of her business.
But the early days were not easy.
There were moments she wanted to quit.
There were days I texted my mentor because people cursed me out or I had no-shows.”
During her first month in the business, something even more tempting happened.
Engineering companies started calling.
Job offers appeared.
Suddenly she faced a real decision.
Return to what felt safe.
Or keep building something uncertain.
THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED
The turning point came during a company trip.
Before that moment, Meron was focused on income.
After the trip, she saw something bigger.
Lifestyle.
Freedom.
Community.
It was not about the money that you make. It was about the lifestyle and the freedom you can create here.”
For the first time, she saw people building lives they actually enjoyed living.
Present with their families.
Leading teams.
Creating time freedom.
That perspective shift changed everything.
What once felt like a risky opportunity became a long-term vision.
FROM EMPLOYEE THINKING TO OWNER THINKING
One of the biggest mindset shifts Meron had to make was learning how to think like a business owner.
Stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like a business owner.”
Like many people entering entrepreneurship for the first time, she initially treated the opportunity like a traditional job.
Clock in.
Clock out.
But ownership works differently.
Discipline replaces supervision.
Structure replaces micromanagement.
Results replace excuses.
During her first two weeks in the industry, Meron wrote zero policies.
No families served.
No sales.
The opportunity was there.
The problem was the mindset.
She thought freedom meant doing whatever she wanted.
Instead, she discovered that freedom requires discipline.
Once she built structure into her schedule, everything began to change.
THE STORY PEOPLE DON’T SEE
People often see the results.
Leaderboards.
Recognition.
Agency ownership.
But most people never see the earlier chapters.
Meron arrived in the United States at just eighteen years old.
Alone.
No family nearby.
Learning a new culture.
Building a life from scratch.
There were lonely nights. There were times I cried by myself.”
She questioned whether the sacrifice was worth it.
She even wondered if she should return to Ethiopia to be closer to the people she loved.
But one lesson stayed with her:
If you want to grow, you have to leave the place that you know.”
Growth rarely happens in comfort.
That decision shaped the person she became.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Looking back, Meron believes one factor accelerated her success more than anything else.
Community.
The people around you can either make you or break you.”
Before joining the business, the people she spent time with had different goals, expectations, and standards.
Inside this environment, she found something different.
Mentorship.
Accountability.
Leadership.
People who expected growth.
People who believed in possibility.
People who refused to let each other stay small.
If you want to understand the leadership philosophy behind this environment, explore the Mission & Values of the Delaney Agency.
LEADERSHIP THAT BELIEVES IN YOU
One moment that stayed with Meron happened after she became an agency owner.
She asked a simple question.
I hit agency owner. Now what?”
The answer came from Brian Delaney.
Tell your story.
Brian challenged her to share the experiences that shaped her and use those lessons to help others grow.
Later, he made another promise.
If Meron opened an office in Houston with at least forty people, he would personally come to support the launch.
Meron accepted the challenge.
They exceeded the goal.
More than fifty people showed up.
Brian flew in.
That moment reinforced something powerful.
Real leadership shows up.
Leadership believes in people before they believe in themselves.
If mentorship and growth matter to you, learn more about the step-by-step training and mentorship system available to new agents.
WORK HARD. HAVE FUN.
Success here is not only about numbers.
It is about relationships.
Trips.
Events.
Moments that create lifelong friendships.
Meron remembers driving high-performance BMWs at a company event and traveling to the Bahamas with other leaders.
When you do it with people who want to elevate, it doesn’t feel like work.”
Because at the core of it all is impact.
Helping families.
Helping teammates grow.
Building something bigger together.
A MESSAGE TO WOMEN BUILDING THEIR FUTURE
Meron often speaks directly to women who are considering this industry but questioning whether they belong here.
Watch her message below.
Meron’s message is simple but powerful.
You are enough. You are powerful.”
Many industries remain male-dominated.
But the reality here looks different.
More than sixty percent of agents in this organization are women.
Women building businesses.
Women creating financial freedom.
Women leading teams.
Her encouragement is direct.
Step into your faith and do this for you and your family.”
When women believe in their potential, the impact goes far beyond income.
It changes families.
It changes futures.
It changes communities.
WHAT THIS STORY PROVES
Meron’s journey shows something important.
Success here does not depend on:
Your background
Your degree
Your starting point
It depends on:
Discipline
Mentorship
Community
And the willingness to grow
If you want to see more journeys like Meron’s, explore our Agent Success Stories.
A FINAL WORD
Many people are searching for something more.
More control.
More purpose.
More time with the people they love.
Meron’s advice is simple.
Take the step.
Trust yourself and believe in yourself.”
Because the opportunity alone does not change your life.
The decision does.
If you are exploring what your next chapter could look like, start by reviewing the Get Hired page and the four-step path to becoming an agent:
Apply online
Interview and introduction call
Training and licensing support
Start selling and building your business
Because the real question is not whether opportunity exists.
The real question is whether you are ready to step into it.
CONNECT WITH MERON
Follow Meron’s journey and connect directly:
