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The '12 days of Chaos'

Posted On: Dec. 24, 2006 12:00 AM CST

In past years, I have summarized my thoughts about the property/casualty industry via rhymes and letters. This year, it was again time for a rhyme, and the "12 Days of Christmas" popped out—except it emerged as the "12 Days of Chaos!"
On the first day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
An industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the second day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the third day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the fourth day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the fifth day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the sixth day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Six actuaries who'll defend finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus who
will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson to fill Hank's shoes.
On the seventh day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the eighth day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Eight progressive underwriters,
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the ninth day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Nine regulators to discuss regulation,
Eight progressive underwriters,
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the 10th day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Ten consultants worth their services,
Nine regulators to discuss regulation,
Eight progressive underwriters,
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the 11th day of Chaos,
this would be great news:
Eleven directors discussing term limits,
Ten consultants worth their services,
Nine regulators to discuss regulation,
Eight progressive underwriters,
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.
On the 12th day of Chaos,
it would be great news:
A dozen CFOs reviewing
risk transfer rules,
Eleven directors discussing term limits,
Ten consultants worth their services,
Nine regulators to discuss regulation,
Eight progressive underwriters,
Seven risk managers
who'll stand up to brokers,
Six actuaries who'll defend
finite contracts,
Five savvy CEOs,
Four technology gurus
who will advocate change,
Three analysts building earnings
models from scratch,
Two customer service reps with a clue,
And an industry spokesperson
to fill Hank's shoes.


Myron M. Picoult is an independent insurance consultant. An archive of Mr. Picoult's columns is available online at www.BusinessInsurance.com. He can be reached at mpicoult@aol.com.