Karen George wrote a great article last week "Good Salespeople Ask For Business" that got me to thinking.
As a loan officer for 14 years I have seen both the good and the bad. In the last couple of years I've witnessed the flood of less than ethical Salespeople into my chosen field. I will not lower myself to their level. I will not compete with them on their playing field. Yet, we can all see and feel the damage they have done. Daily, I hear from people who are in dire straights due to the misdealing of these so called "professionals". Despite this, we can also make the argument that they are not completely at fault. I did so back in January with my article, "Conspirator or Patsy". 
No matter where you want to place the blame, the fact remains. Many homeowners are on the verge of losing their homes to foreclosure. We also have seen the flood of foreclosure scams and artists hitting the consumer marketplace. Like any other predator, these sharks smell the blood of their prey from miles around.
As an insider to the business, as a responsible and ethical loan officer, and as a human being I have asked myself, "What can I do?" And really, is there much of anything that a single individual working in a small office could do?
One of my favorite Professors in college was a business teacher, Joseph Kriz. Teaching was his third career. He had been a laborer, a CEO and leader of large companies, and then instead of retirement, he chose to teach. It was his way of giving back. One of the greatest ideas that stuck deep inside me was this; "When you are looking for solutions for seemingly impossible tasks - look into your toolbox. These are your real assets."
When I asked myself "What can I do?" in an effort to help or solve this dilemma, I looked into my toolbox. I've been a daily blogger since early 2001. Blogging is a tool. I use it primarily as a vehicle in getting my personal message out to my readers. Learn who I am and why I am and you'll use me for your next loan.
It struck me that I could use blogging as the vehicle to get the "Right" message out as well. I then looked at my other tools. Many people think of ActiveRain as a tool. It is a tremendous resource of competent information on a national level. Additionally, most all of the professionals on ActiveRain already know the value of blogging.
Using a combination of these two tools I had the idea of a dedicated blog. A single reference point. A site with many different voices, yet all with one common goal in mind, to give the homeowner in trouble a place to find honest and unbiased information concerning their circumstance.
The Foreclosure Report is the result.
It's still very new. I published the first post just a couple of weeks ago on 6/24/07. Tapping my resources here on ActiveRain, I've poked around looking for posts on foreclosures written in the voice I was looking for. I'm happy to say, I now have around 30 voices who have offered to help!
Here's just a couple...
Some have offered to post directly - others have allowed me to repost their articles.
I commented to Jason Sardi in response to his having to turn down a loan...
"What more can we do?"
I think we can continue our counseling so that they don't continue on the path downwards.
I think you have two roads to take here.
1. Declined, "Sorry I can't do a thing - ....NEXT?" or,
2. Declined, "and here's why. Furthermore here's the options you have going forward and the implications, pros and cons of each"
We all know for some, they shouldn't be home owners. Others might just be in a temporarily tough place.
Some you might have done the loan, others may be coming to you for the first time.
No matter which or what, one thing is for sure - you know much more than they do.
Use that knowledge to point them in the right direction. It may not yield a loan in the short term but it's the right thing to do in the big picture.
We as insiders know so much more than the general public. We know - yet we also sit back and wait to be asked. This is called a "Pull" based information flow. We wait until the information is "Pulled" from us. Wouldn't it be better to change that dynamic. Offer it up freely? Push it out there so that when the seeker of that information looks they can easily find it?
Now, back to "Good Salespeople Ask For Business". (and thank you to Karen for reminding me that I am a Good Salesperson). But are 30 voices enough? I don't think so. Yet you may not have heard from me about this project. Why? More than likely I just haven't gotten to you yet.
So as a Good Salesperson, I am asking YOU for business. I want YOUR articles, I want YOU to be a part of this project.
As a Good Salesperson, I also came equipped to handle objections.
If you don't think there is anything of substance you can contribute, then please just do this:
- Help spread the word to as many as you can. The public, non blogging insiders, anyone.
- Write a post about this project.
- Add a link. Add a link to your blog here, add a link on your outside blogs.
In closing all I ask is that you do The Right Thing. Help someone else. Give of yourself. Help to make this world a better place.
After all, you do have all the right tools.
;)
;)
I'm all for doing the right thing! Ethics...there's no better ingredient for a great business model! I believe in educating and representing the consumer faithfully and ethically.
In short, I adhere to the The Borrower's Bill of Rights