Using the term "To The Mattresses" is perfect segway to this series on ways to re-evaluate or reposition your risk programs to fight for the coverage and level of service your organization deserves. Here I'll explain why "To The Mattresses", a phrase used in the movies The Godfather and You've Got Mail. Both refer to a fight, a struggle, using ruthless tactics, or taking a war-like stance.
There are two old-world meanings to the phrase "To The Mattresses", both of which can apply to tough risk management issues. Both I found on the internet, so this is my attempt at consolidating a few hours of research.
To understand the phrase "To The Mattresses", consider these two tales:
#1: In 1530 the combined troops of Charles V and Medici Pope Clement VII lay siege to Florence. The bell tower of San Miniato al Monte was part of the defences. Michelangelo Buonarroti was put in charge of defending the city. He used the ploy of hanging mattresses on the outside of the tower to minimize damage from cannon fire.
#2: In times of war or siege, Italian families would vacate their homes and flee to safer areas. The family would need to bring in mattresses to their new location while their original homes were considered dangerous.
Today, defending a castle with mattresses or relocating your family to an unequipped place seems silly. What we can apply though is the concept of preparation. Tactical actions that strategically accomplish the objective.
Applying To The Mattresses to Risk Management:
It's honestly a struggle for tough to place risks to obtain the proper insurance coverage, with the pricing and servicing they need. Plastics manufacturing, electrochemical processors, pharmceuticals, metal fabrication, staffing, and food processing are just a few examples of tough risks that shouldn't be content with their risk placement within excess and surplus markets. Take it to the Mattresses! Fight for the coverage, the service, and the pricing that you deserve. It takes additional planning, some not-so-ruthless tactics, possibly some repositioning to portray your company's strengths in a positive light.
Tough Risks We've Placed Lately - After Taking it to the Mattresses:
- Waste Haulers
- Print Screening
- Pallet Manufacturer
- Chemical Processing Plant
- Temporary Staffing Firm
I'm Scott Brookes, and my unique set of experiences and skills enables me to rethink your risk program. Reposition you as a desireable risk - not something to be dumped into an E&S market and ignored. Let's pull your company out of risk pools, improve your cash flow, set you up with the local services you deserve, and most likely save you money in the process.
Here's the dialogue from The Godfather:
Clemenza:
That Sonny's runnin' wild. He's thinking of going to the mattresses already.
Sonny:
No, no, no! No more! Not this time, consiglieri. No more meetings, no more discussions, no more Sollozzo tricks. You give 'em one message: I want Sollozzo. If not, it's all-out war: we go to the mattresses.
