I am already late and I've got a refinance application today at 9am today! That's right, I live in Michigan and I have a refinance with someone who actually has 700 credit! I jump into the shower just as fast as I jump out and before I know it I'm already stressed about my day. I deeply regret staying up working until 2am the night before now. I shouldn't of had "one last beer" to help me sleep either. I am thinking about the client I have to call in 10 minutes, getting dressed and trying to not trip over peanut the cat that my kids renamed Puppy (don't ask) as I'm turning on my PDA to read my emails. Why did I keep hitting the snooze button?!
The whole ride in to work I'm on the phone talking to my borrowers with disastrous credit, depreciating values, and "oh I heard Rock could get me 2.9% fixed forever. Who cares about the $19,000 in closing costs they want to roll in." After that, I'm lucky enough to actually deal with closings, explaining to borrowers why we have to pay JUNE taxes NOW, even though you usually can wait until September, and no this is not some kind of scam. Still trying to organize my day, and much to the chagrin of my fellow drivers even texting at red lights, without coffee. WHERE'S THAT $F@*&^% DUNKIN DONUTS! By the time I get to work I've already been working for an hour. I'm greeted by my processor, who is PO'd because I promised her I'd get her Piston tickets from a title agent I know for game 7, but since they just lost to that Michael Jordan wanna-be Lebron James, there might not be a game 7 now. So with her frown, she reminds me of the 86 things I have to do before my lunch meeting, while surfing on Myspace.
Like so many days before Michigan turned into the Evil Empire of lender approvals, I threw things at the wall and see what would stick. In the good ol days, when the big 3 were actually showing a profit and adding jobs, I usually had an idea what would fly and what would not. But in Michigan, it's a complete crap shoot based on which lucky underwriter gets my file. Despite my luck lately, the inevitable happens for the 3rd time in a week.
The phone rings and my underwriter tells me her concerns on one of my files. Yes, It's Christine, its like she personally wants me to fail, I can feel her smile over the phone because she knows she is going to deliver me bad news. Does she get commission to decline my files????? She's not an underwriter, she's an OVERWRITER! I think Christine thinks I work for Fraud Financial because I do loans in Michigan. To no fault of my own this half-million dollar purchase has just went from a slam dunk, to a Dunkin Donut coffee stain in the middle of my crotch. I knew I should of bought those Haggar stain free pants for $5 more! F%!#!!! Now I'm left with the unpleasant job of informing my very wealthy client that his dream is now a Michigan mortgage disaster!
Once again that all too familiar sinking feeling is back and I find myself riding the real estate roller coaster courtesy of "changing guidelines". Ever been there? Or are you one of the ones that this never happens because you are so organized and worthy? Oh and if Michigan is doing so bad and the housing market is awful, why are the rates going up every day I look! Maybe I should work part-time at Taco Bell so I can get some food discounts. I can't believe they got rid of that Zesty Nachos already, it was GOOD!
Well today I finally decided it is time to leave the mortgage business!
Ok let me explain what I mean. Now I believe in excellent customer service and working hard for my clients, but it never ceases me how many people won't hesitate to take advantage of that. I think early on we all are so committed to making our book of business grow that we forget what we've sacrificed in return. In any effort to gain footing in our jobs we can easily lose ourselves and our identity somehow shifts into an almost unrecognizable life of unending work.
I don't care how successful you are it is never easy to lose that big account, that huge loan, or that highly profitable networking partner. It's the 80/20 rule, 20% will tell people how GREAT you are, but 80% will tell people how BAD you are. The key to success in our business is to find true joy in what we do above and beyond the money, especially now. Don't get me wrong, I love pay day, I love investing in risky investments, and I love putting money where my mouth is. But when business is reduced solely to the numbers it is hard not to be thrown around by the waves of change. I have found I am most successful when I am not consumed with the bottom line and just keep finding loans to help my clients in the horrid time in Michigan. I expect my clients to goto the doctor once a year, goto the dentist twice and year, and call me once a year to see how I can help their current situation. I tell them they need to once a year.
Today I stopped and to put gas in my Envoy, $75 to fill up my tank. What is this the year 2050? When I walked inside I stood in line with my Aquafina water, USA Today and a $1 easy pick for the big $100 million jackpot, someone's got to win...so why not me!. A young gal was all perky in line, looks me up and down. Hey maybe she likes me? Oh, she is staring at my coffee stain in my crotch that sticks out like a neon sign at night. She noticed I was all dressed up and asked me,
"So what do you do?"
I looked at her and said, "I am in the business of helping people achieve their dreams".
Normally I would have responded with, "I run a mortgage company and do home loans" or "I'm in the mortgage business in Michigan, you know anyone hiring?". To my unending surprise she asked for my business card and wants my help in buying her first home this Summer.
I realized today that by giving up what I've worked the hardest for I have gained more than I could have ever dreamed. Everything else will fix themselves. Hey we live in Michigan, it seems like all we can do is go up, right? So what do you do for a living?
p.s. PISTONS IN 7!
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