In today’s post we discuss Bastille Day and explain why insurance agencies must always stay true to their roots
France was a hub of activity on July 14, 2015 as it celebrated its famous national holiday. It is akin to St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and 4th of July in the U.S. It is a special day for the French people as it commemorates two important events in France that happened centuries ago. The first one is the storming of the Bastille that occurred on July 14, 1789. The Bastille was a fortress-prison in Paris that was known for holding political prisoners who opposed the royal government. The attack was the culmination of a violent revolution against the monarchy that had begun two days earlier. The second is the Fête de la Fédération, which celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14, 1790. Both of these events are significant as they led to the abolishment of feudalism and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen being proclaimed. Nations around the world have since modelled France’s famous bill of rights.
There is no better place to celebrate this momentous occasion than in the country’s capital where celebrations start in the morning with Alpha Jets of La Patrouille de France (a division of France’s air force). These powerful jets thunder past Paris trailing smoke in red, white, and blue of the national flag. The traditional military parade, which is the oldest and arguably the largest in Europe, begins at 11a.m. and features some 4,000 soldiers, police officers and fire-fighters who move on close-order drills from place de l’Etoile to place de la Concorde. The parade attracts huge crowds and never disappoints. In the afternoon, everyone busily prepares for the fire department balls that are commonly held in almost every neighborhood in Paris. The highlight of the festivities for the majority of people is the free concert on the Champs-de-Mars followed by the spectacular fireworks display at the nation’s most beloved monument, the Eiffel Tower. More than 500,000 spectators gather to watch in awe as fireworks light up the Parisian skyline for 35 minutes.
Why is this day so important to all of us? Bastille Day is known throughout the world as it led to a significant transformation in the way that countries govern. France’s national holiday is a tremendous way of honoring the past, celebrating the present and embracing the future. This is also important for your insurance agency. It is easy to forget about your agency’s roots when you are focused on today’s results and tomorrow’s prospects. However, understanding your brand’s core position and sticking to it is critical to your insurance agency’s success. Your goal should never be to fit in with the rest of other insurance agencies. It should always be to stay true to your company’s roots and its unique mission, and to celebrate all of the things that differentiate it from its competitors. In this way, you will ensure that your insurance agency will thrive for many years to come.
