The Level Up Podcast with Paul Alex

Episode: Miami’s Insurance Queen: How Brianna Built #1 Office From the Ground Up
Date: September 21, 2025
Host: Paul Alex Espinoza
Guest: Brianna (Miami’s "Insurance Queen")

Episode Overview

This episode features Brianna, the dynamic founder of Miami's #1 health insurance office, who went from training agents in her living room to closing over $60 million in sales. Brianna opens up about building an office from scratch, her philosophy of leadership and service, personal setbacks including family tragedies, and her formulas for success in insurance and life. The conversation delves into work ethic, hiring practices, mindset, health, cultivating culture, and the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Brianna's Path to Insurance Success

• Accidental Entry into Insurance

  • Brianna initially planned to attend law school, fueled by her parents’ traditional ideals. She stumbled into insurance for a gap-year job and was captivated by the promise of residual income.
  • “I feel like God placed me in insurance. It wasn’t something I was seeking.” (02:21)

• Early Challenges & Breakthroughs

  • Started building an independent book by working out of a WeWork and her living room, aiming for a $4k/month residual income — ended up at $7.2k/month.
  • Friends started asking her to train them, organically creating an office.
  • Officially started her own office in March 2020—right as COVID hit—showing risk-taking amid uncertainty.

Principles for Building a Strong Team

• Hiring the Right People

  • Focuses on hiring for empathy, not just sales skills:
    “I hire people just based off if I look into their eyes and I feel like they’re a good person... If you put helping people first, you will make money.” (08:44)
  • Maintains high standards: Only brings on people willing to commit 100%.

• Top Traits of Successful Agents

  1. Coachable: Willing to follow proven systems.
     “Number one, coachable. You have to be coachable because our system is honestly flawless.” (10:01)
  2. Disciplined & Emotionally Consistent: Habits over motivation.
     “When motivation wears out, your habits have to continue to be routine.” (10:51)
  3. Self-Belief: Must truly want it for themselves.

• Training Culture & Systems

  • Early days: Invited trainees to her apartment, taught them by example, and even let others close deals elsewhere (for no commission) to stay true to the organization's hierarchy. (25:16-27:29)

Purpose-Driven Leadership & Overcoming Adversity

• Why Purpose Matters More Than Money

  • “If you go into the insurance business just to make money, you’re not going to make any... If you prioritize just helping people, it’s sustainable.” (30:58, 32:13)
  • Personal success defined as living in alignment with God-given purpose, not just wealth.
    “I define [success] by what I’m doing with it and how happy I am.” (14:29)

• Life By Design

  • Encourages agents to balance every aspect of life, not just work:
    “If you try to only be successful here, all of your eggs are in this one basket. So what happens if you have a bad day? You feel like you have a bad life.” (16:30)

• Vulnerability and Rebuilding After Loss

  • Lost her mother in 2023, which led to a period of severe depression, almost quitting leadership:
    “I went to my office and I told them, I’m done. I can’t do this. They turned to me and said, No, we’re not letting you leave.” (28:16)
  • Team rallied around her, supporting her as she recovered—transforming her approach to leadership.

Work Ethic, Habits, and Health

• Habits as the Foundation of Success

  • She emphasizes “atomic habits,” daily routines, health, sleep, and peer pressure for positive change.
  • “Your work ethic is not just about what you do in the office—it’s about what you do outside... All these little things add to energy.” (13:17)

• Paul’s Mental Health & Health Transformation

  • Candid discussion of depression, burnout, overweight, low testosterone, and eventually regaining health through lifestyle and medical attention.
  • “I was lost in the sauce... I was 40 pounds overweight... My T level was at 300, guys.” (17:36, 20:15)

Building Community and Company Culture

• Creating a Real Sense of Belonging

  • Focus for 2025 is building a team that acts as a unit, with a culture of accountability, support, and shared values—“not just about insurance.”
  • “A real community—that’s not just about insurance. In 2025, I’m going to make it happen.” (39:30)

• Positive Peer Pressure

  • Requires agents to commit to healthy routines (e.g., gym, diet); open to all faiths, encourages employees to practice beliefs and support each other’s growth.

• Social Media & Brand Plans

  • Aims to expand content showing both the client impact and the fun, meaningful side of their team and mission.
  • “We have a good time because of what we’re doing, which is helping people.” (41:10-41:39)

Impactful Client Stories

• Felicia’s Story

  • Helped a previously-misled client access quality health insurance, provided education, and support as she survived cancer. Felicia’s heartfelt testimony was:
    “She sent me the most beautiful testimony about how she feels I helped save her life.” (43:30–43:40)

• Critical Illness Payout Incident

  • Helped a 32-year-old entrepreneur receive a $90k payout after a stroke. (44:27–45:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You have to be coachable because our system is honestly flawless.” – Brianna (10:01)
• “Your habits either work for you or against you.” – Brianna (46:40)
• “If you go into the insurance business just to make money, you’re not going to make any.” – Brianna (30:58)
• “It’s going to work, or it’s going to work. We make it happen.” – Paul/Brianna and Team (15:36–15:38)
• “On my worst days, I’m notorious for no one will know. I’m very good at putting on that face to show up and be there for you.” – Brianna (35:31)
• “The people in my office made sure that I ate, went to church, got therapy... and that’s when I chose leadership for the first time.” – Brianna (28:16–29:26)
• Paul’s health transparency: “My T level was at 300, guys. I was just like, wow, why do I feel so, like, emotional?” (20:15)
• “Don’t wait to get started. If you wait to be perfect, you’ll never get started. Just start right now.” – Brianna (47:55)

Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Brianna’s Introduction (00:55–02:01)
• Brianna’s Background & Entry into Insurance (02:03–04:32)
• Building Her Office & Early Days (04:32–08:10)
• Hiring & Core Values in Training (08:10–12:43)
• Success, Work-Life Balance, and Defining Success (14:16–17:24)
• Overcoming Adversity & Leadership through Loss (25:16–29:26)
• Habits, Health, and Personal Development (13:17–20:15; 46:40)
• Insurance as Service vs. Sales (30:58–32:24)
• Mindset & Daily Habits for Success (33:00–39:09)
• Vision for the Future & Leadership Philosophy (39:19–40:37)
• Social Media and Brand Building (41:10–41:56)
• Client Success Stories (42:15–45:04)
• Final Motivation: Level Up Advice for Listeners (46:40–48:00)
• Where to Find Brianna (48:08–48:19)

Closing Words & Call to Action

Brianna (46:40):
“Your habits either work for you or against you... If you work on yourself and your mind and your body... you will become 1% better every single day. And at the end of this year, you won’t even recognize who you were today. Don’t wait to get started. If you wait to be perfect, you’ll never get started. Just start right now.”

Where to Find Brianna:

• Instagram: @brimathiesen
• Business IG: @usha_miami

Actionable Takeaways:

• Pursue service over sales—money follows purpose.
• Daily habits shape long-term results—track and reflect.
• Surround yourself with positive, growth-oriented community.
• Invest in health and self-improvement for sustained high performance.
• Start now; don’t wait for the “perfect” moment to pursue your goals.