When Holding On Costs More Than You Think
In my years advising Texans on health insurance, one pattern keeps showing up: the harder folks try to control every detail, the more they miss what matters. That’s not just true in business—it’s true in life, in health, and in how we choose coverage.
That’s why my conversation with Liam Naden on the Health, Wealth & Power Hour podcast hit home. Liam’s story isn’t about insurance. It’s about how letting go—of stress, fear, and overthinking—unlocked his brain and his future. And for business owners and professionals here in Texas, it’s a lesson worth applying.
Who Is Liam Naden, and Why Should Texans Listen?
Liam isn’t a licensed agent or benefits consultant. He’s something different: a researcher who discovered how our brains work best when we stop forcing solutions. He went from homeless to thriving, not by grinding harder, but by shifting his brain from fear mode (what he calls the survival brain) into what he calls the “creative brain.”
The secret? Letting go. Of panic. Of micromanagement. Of the myth that worrying is problem-solving.
Sound familiar?
Texas Business Owners: Are You Driving with the Brakes On?
Let’s localize this. If you’re a business owner in Houston, Dallas, or anywhere across Texas, chances are you’ve felt the weight of control. You stress over premiums, deadlines, renewals. Maybe you’ve stayed in a plan that doesn’t work because the idea of switching feels overwhelming.
But when you’re caught in reactive mode—trying to outguess the market or your competitors—you’re not leading. You’re surviving.
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means trusting smarter systems, better partnerships, and clearer thinking.
What Letting Go Looks Like in Insurance
Here’s what I see with clients who embrace this mindset:
- They stop chasing the cheapest plan and start evaluating total cost of care.
- They stop fearing renewal season and start working with brokers year-round.
- They stop assuming one-size-fits-all and start designing plans that match their team and goals.
And here’s the deal: letting go often leads to better health too. Why? Because stress kills—not just morale, but immune systems.
Texas Regulations: What You Can and Can’t Control
Here’s what’s within your control in Texas:
- Choosing a broker who works for you, not the carrier.
- Exploring self-funded options, level funding, or Direct Primary Care models.
- Reviewing your plan before the fourth quarter crunch.
Here’s what’s not:
- Carrier rate filings (regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance)
- National mandates (Affordable Care Act compliance still applies)
Learn more from the Texas Department of Insurance.
A Texas Client Story: When Letting Go Led to Better Benefits
One of our clients, a mid-sized construction company in East Texas, had been with the same carrier for 12 years. Every year, they braced for premium hikes and accepted them as the cost of doing business.
But after a conversation—not unlike the one with Liam—they decided to let go of their assumptions. We reviewed the plan, introduced a level-funded alternative, and paired it with Direct Primary Care access.
The result? Better coverage. Lower costs. Healthier employees. And a business owner who finally felt in control—by releasing control.
Checklist: How to Let Go and Lead Smarter in Texas
- Re-evaluate your health plan outside of renewal season
- Ask your broker about self-funded and level-funded options
- Educate your employees proactively (not just at open enrollment)
- Focus on value, not just premium
- Recognize where fear is making your decisions
Ready to Let Go? We’ll Take It From Here.
At Harlon Pickett Insurance Broker, we don’t just sell policies—we help Texans make clarity-driven decisions about their health coverage.
If you’re ready to lead your team—and your life—from a place of strength instead of stress, let’s talk.
Contact us to schedule a review.
This blog post is based on the Sep 12, 2024 episode of the Health, Wealth & Power Hour podcast featuring Liam Naden. Harlon Pickett is President of Eagle Care Health Solutions and founder of Harlon Pickett Insurance Broker, serving Texans with experience, trust, and straight talk.