Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Groome.
Hi Mike, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My life has been defined by one word – serendipity. I grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia and went to WVU for journalism. When I graduated, the economy was not doing well. I took the first job I could find – as an automotive photographer, taking pictures at the place where I bought my first car. That place happened to be in Indianapolis, Indiana. I had always wanted to live in a bigger city, and Indy was it. Two years later, the place I bought the car from – now my employer – sent me to the state Capitol building to file some paperwork. When I was there, I met a very nice young lady who had painted her staple removers to look like little dragons. I found that endearing (photo included). I asked her out on a date. She ended up being my wife.
A year or so later, we had a terrible snow storm that solidified into over a foot of thick ice. “We should live somewhere warmer,” we thought as we got engaged. So on a whim, we moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and got married there (by a ship’s captain – on a boat, on the water no less). We lived there for five years – when Florida was still cheap, and Covid hadn’t hit yet. The entire time we were trying to have children, but to no avail. We finally got the answer that we needed some medical help. Finally, after years, we were expecting our first child.
When our daughter was born, she was beautiful. But she cried – a lot. Hours a day. We needed some grandparent help, and our families lived in West Virginia and Virginia, respectively. We decided to head to Virginia to live closer to my wife’s parents. We happened to move at the right time – before the interest rates went crazy. So here we are now, five years later, living in Purcellville. And by some miracle – our second child came naturally. A boy. A family of four (five if you count our betta fish, Rosie Raspberry – photo included).
Had I never bought that car, I never would have gotten the job in automotive photography. Had I never done that, I never would have met my wife. Had we never had that terrible snow storm, we may have never moved to Florida. And had we not moved to Florida, we may have never found the help we needed to have our daughter. Had we had an easy, stress-free baby, we likely would have never moved closer to grandparents in Virginia. So – clearly – the purchase of a gray 2004 Mazda3 in Indianapolis is the reason I live ! Serendipity at its best.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle was mainly that both our children are very spirited. They’re very smart, and they’re both wonderfully behaved now, but both cried a lot during the first years of their lives. Some people have calm, stoic babies. We were not those people. On the plus side – we couldn’t wait for them to be toddlers! They’re both about the happiest kids you could imagine. I guess they just didn’t like being babies.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in the insurance industry – focusing on home, auto, and especially life insurance. Life insurance is something a lot of people don’t like to think about. I also like to think I make insurance a bit more fun than the average agent. Our business model is built on an ongoing relationship – not just transactions. Truly hearing someone’s situation and making the recommendations to guard against the risks of life. Saving them money is the icing on the cake.
What matters most to you?
It’s cliche, but my children matter a great deal to me. Their little personalities. The way they run up to me when I get home from work. Their little jokes. We love to laugh – when both my children are laughing, there’s nothing else in the world that exists to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.comparioninsurance.com/insurance-agent/virginia/fairfax-0382/michael-groome
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-groome2/
