Episode 307: The UPPOnyx Agency Operating System
Sat Jan 24 2026
Most agency owners don’t struggle because they lack effort. They struggle because they lack a system that scales with them. Hosted by Daniel Metcalf with Mike Stromsoe, this episode breaks down the UPP Onyx Agency Operating System and explains why growth stalls when operations, accountability, and leadership aren’t aligned. Together, they unpack the real structure behind consistent production, team ownership, and predictable profitability inside modern insurance agencies.
You’ll learn how to move from reactive management to operational control, why clarity beats hustle at every stage of growth, and how a defined operating system creates freedom without sacrificing performance. This conversation gives you a practical framework to simplify decisions, strengthen leadership, and build an agency that runs without constant firefighting.
Highlights:
Why most agencies plateau when growth outpaces structure, and how an operating system restores control.
How clarity in roles and expectations eliminates friction and raises team accountability.
Why leadership breakdowns usually show up as operational problems first.
How to stop managing personalities and start managing processes.
What it takes to build consistency without becoming the bottleneck.
How systems create freedom instead of bureaucracy when built correctly.
About the Host – Daniel Metcalf:
Daniel Metcalf is a serial entrepreneur, AI strategist, and cybersecurity authority who operates at the intersection of technology, automation, and real-world business execution.
For more than 15 years, Daniel has helped small and mid-sized businesses protect what they’ve built while scaling with confidence in an increasingly complex digital world. His expertise isn’t academic—it’s operational.
Before co-founding CyberFin.ai, Daniel spent eight years applying AI and machine learning inside insurance distribution, driving performance and efficiency for dental and vision insurance programs at the MGA/VGA level. He understands insurance workflows, compliance pressures, and the operational friction that quietly limits growth.
Co-Founder and leader of CyberFin.ai, Daniel delivers Fortune-100-level AI adoption, automation, and cybersecurity solutions specifically engineered for independent insurance agencies. His work focuses on eliminating wasted time, reducing human error, strengthening security, and turning technology into a competitive advantage—not an expense.
Daniel is known for his high-energy, no-nonsense communication style. He has a rare ability to take complex topics like AI, automation, and cybersecurity—and make them practical, clear, and immediately actionable for agency owners and leadership teams.
He doesn’t sell tools.
He builds systems that execute.
When Daniel isn’t helping agencies outpace cyber threats or reclaim hours through automation, you’ll likely find him on the curling rink—where strategy, precision, and execution matter just as much as they do in business.
About Mike Stromsoe:
Mike Stromsoe is one of the most respected and trusted voices in the independent insurance industry—and a relentless advocate for agency owners who want more than just incremental growth.
With nearly four decades in the business, Mike began his career in 1986, learning the agency business from the ground up inside his family’s firm. He didn’t just inherit perspective—he earned it. Mike went on to build, scale, and operate his own multi-million-dollar independent agency for more than 35 years, alongside his wife, while simultaneously running additional successful businesses.
What separates Mike is not theory—it’s battle-tested execution.
He is the creator of the Proven 3-Step Blueprint built on the legendary Three P’s: People, Processes, and Promotion—a framework refined over decades of real-world agency ownership and leadership. Thousands of independent insurance agents across North America have implemented Mike’s systems to grow profitably, strengthen culture, and reclaim their time.
Mike is widely recognized as America’s leading authority on independent agency business success, leadership development, and owner mindset transformation. His work focuses on the critical identity shift from operator to owner, helping agency principals build businesses that scale without burning them out.
As a dynamic speaker, author, mentor, and executive coach, Mike has been featured at major industry conferences and publications, delivering direct, practical guidance that produces results—not hype.
At his core, Mike’s purpose is simple and unwavering:
To impact people’s lives personally and professionally—and to help agency owners build wealth, freedom, and legacy on their own terms.
Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets!
Mike Stromsoe
The Unstoppable Profit Producer
Call 800-770-9984
Email: vip@upplife.com
Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/
Live Events: http://uppmastermind.com/
Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com
If you want to learn more about our Coaching & Mastermind Programs and how they can help you grow your agency business, schedule your private Agency Growth Session with Mike Stromsoe Now (click here)!
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Most agency owners don’t struggle because they lack effort. They struggle because they lack a system that scales with them. Hosted by Daniel Metcalf with Mike Stromsoe, this episode breaks down the UPP Onyx Agency Operating System and explains why growth stalls when operations, accountability, and leadership aren’t aligned. Together, they unpack the real structure behind consistent production, team ownership, and predictable profitability inside modern insurance agencies. You’ll learn how to move from reactive management to operational control, why clarity beats hustle at every stage of growth, and how a defined operating system creates freedom without sacrificing performance. This conversation gives you a practical framework to simplify decisions, strengthen leadership, and build an agency that runs without constant firefighting. Highlights: Why most agencies plateau when growth outpaces structure, and how an operating system restores control. How clarity in roles and expectations eliminates friction and raises team accountability. Why leadership breakdowns usually show up as operational problems first. How to stop managing personalities and start managing processes. What it takes to build consistency without becoming the bottleneck. How systems create freedom instead of bureaucracy when built correctly. About the Host – Daniel Metcalf: Daniel Metcalf is a serial entrepreneur, AI strategist, and cybersecurity authority who operates at the intersection of technology, automation, and real-world business execution. For more than 15 years, Daniel has helped small and mid-sized businesses protect what they’ve built while scaling with confidence in an increasingly complex digital world. His expertise isn’t academic—it’s operational. Before co-founding CyberFin.ai, Daniel spent eight years applying AI and machine learning inside insurance distribution, driving performance and efficiency for dental and vision insurance programs at the MGA/VGA level. He understands insurance workflows, compliance pressures, and the operational friction that quietly limits growth. Co-Founder and leader of CyberFin.ai, Daniel delivers Fortune-100-level AI adoption, automation, and cybersecurity solutions specifically engineered for independent insurance agencies. His work focuses on eliminating wasted time, reducing human error, strengthening security, and turning technology into a competitive advantage—not an expense. Daniel is known for his high-energy, no-nonsense communication style. He has a rare ability to take complex topics like AI, automation, and cybersecurity—and make them practical, clear, and immediately actionable for agency owners and leadership teams. He doesn’t sell tools. He builds systems that execute. When Daniel isn’t helping agencies outpace cyber threats or reclaim hours through automation, you’ll likely find him on the curling rink—where strategy, precision, and execution matter just as much as they do in business. About Mike Stromsoe: Mike Stromsoe is one of the most respected and trusted voices in the independent insurance industry—and a relentless advocate for agency owners who want more than just incremental growth. With nearly four decades in the business, Mike began his career in 1986, learning the agency business from the ground up inside his family’s firm. He didn’t just inherit perspective—he earned it. Mike went on to build, scale, and operate his own multi-million-dollar independent agency for more than 35 years, alongside his wife, while simultaneously running additional successful businesses. What separates Mike is not theory—it’s battle-tested execution. He is the creator of the Proven 3-Step Blueprint built on the legendary Three P’s: People, Processes, and Promotion—a framework refined over decades of real-world agency ownership and leadership. Thousands of independent insurance agents across North America have implemented Mike’s systems to grow profitably, strengthen culture, and reclaim their time. Mike is widely recognized as America’s leading authority on independent agency business success, leadership development, and owner mindset transformation. His work focuses on the critical identity shift from operator to owner, helping agency principals build businesses that scale without burning them out. As a dynamic speaker, author, mentor, and executive coach, Mike has been featured at major industry conferences and publications, delivering direct, practical guidance that produces results—not hype. At his core, Mike’s purpose is simple and unwavering: To impact people’s lives personally and professionally—and to help agency owners build wealth, freedom, and legacy on their own terms. Until next time, get out there and make a difference, be unstoppable, and leave no regrets! Mike Stromsoe The Unstoppable Profit Producer Call 800-770-9984 Email: vip@upplife.com Website: http://unstoppableprofitproducer.com/ Live Events: http://uppmastermind.com/ Podcast: http://unstoppableprofitpodcast.com If you want to learn more about our Coaching & Mastermind Programs and how they can help you grow your agency business, schedule your private Agency Growth Session with Mike Stromsoe Now (click here)!