When my youngest son John was little ... he was the best little question asker I've ever run into. A regular little "Inquisitor". It seemed his thirst for knowledge just never was quenched. He just HAD to know and find things out.
Let me tell you, the government could have used his services. They could have just placed him in an interrogation room with our enemies and poof! They'd be BEGGING for mercy!
The family joke about John's habits goes something like this ... "Dad. Dad. Dad? Dad! DAD! DAD!! DADDDDDDD!!!!" At this point my wife would say, "Gene, for godsake ... answer the child!" Because it was so non-stop, I would have almost grown deaf and numb to his questioning and wasn't really hearing the poor kid any longer. Obviously his mother did ...
Not too long ago, Marilyn and I were watching TV. An ad for the show "Family Guy" came on. The ad showed the youngest member of this TV show's family, Stewie, doing much the same thing as our son had years ago. "Mom. Mom. Mom? Mummy. Mommy!! MOMMMMMMMM!!!" We just cracked up.
While going through the constant barrage of questions from our youngest, it could be frustrating, to say the least. It could feel like someone just relentlessly picking away at you.
My mother, is the mother of four ... all boys. (After having my own boys, I came to the conclusion my mother was never shown her due. How she survived four of us and stayed sane ... I'll never know. I'm nominating her for sainthood.) Now my mother ... while we were going through this torment John was heaping on us ... would always say, "Quit complaining. It's a sign of intelligence. Be glad he's inquisitive!" Ahhhhh Grandma ... bless you ...
After seeing the Family Guy TV ad the other day, my wife and I got laughing that maybe we should have called our youngest, "Stewie". But we also got talking about a particular client I presently have that shows much of the same propensity for questioning as our son and Stewie. (I, of course, made the smart comment that I wondered if my mother would still say the same thing about him ... "Be glad he's inquisitive!")
Although I'll admit the TIMING for this young client's calls could greatly improve ... I'm thinking I do agree with my mom on this one. This customer wants to learn. He needs to know everything ... and that's good! Yes, it comes with its challenges (and some frustrations) for sure ... but if we had more buyers or customers like him we'd be better off for it and we probably wouldn't be suffering the present mortgage mess we are.
A knowledgeable and engaged customer is more likely to eagerly fulfill their obligations within a transaction ... and in a timely manner. As a result of their active engagement, they are also less likely to have fraud perpetrated against them, a concern being awarded alot of attention these days. They take the time to question. Take the time to become educated. Take the time to make sure everything is in order. Take the time to make sure the i's are dotted and the t's crossed correctly in regards to their transaction.
So today I'm saluting my son, John ... and Stewie ... my new young customer ... and all the customers like them for their inquisitive ways!
Never let anyone silence you. Never let anyone make you feel badly for asking and seeking. Keep asking questions. Keep asking them until you get the attention and answers you need to proceed safely and securely in your mind. You deserve attention. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to receive answers.
And oh yes ... Mom, I'm saluting you too!
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