I was lying in bed this morning next to my daughter.  She sneaks in during the night and I am such a heavy sleeper.  I thought of my day and then in a moment I thought of all the people that I have come into contact in this business.  The talkers, the doers, the ne-er do-wells and the list can go on and on.  I wondered if it just happened to me or was an industry wide phenomena. 

I remembered a guy that was the big shot, it had to be his way and he wanted me to move into his building which was a an old car lot.  He was a car repair man that supposedly had other business dealings.  I never saw them.  He was going to build walls and so on and I was going to pay so much more in rent for the privilege of being on a major highway.  Well, the walls were never built and then I started hearing rumors the he was going to open a tire and brake shop.  Oh, and he was going to open an insurance store.

To date: no tire and brake shop, nothing else has ever gone into the building that has stayed more than a few months and no insurance store has ever opened.

I had an employee, it was the big-talker.  It would tell Realtors all the cliche'd lies and stories.  I never heard any of them till after it was gone.  I was going to be able to retire from it's deals.  It charged less and less on every deal.  It would retreat to it's office beat up AE's over an 1/8th of a point then close it somewhere else.  There was no loyalty to anyone or anything but itself.  It was moving on to another company leaving behind it scorched earth, and my office in repair mode that I am nearly done.

To date:  It went to work for another company in the next county.  It had to take a pay position as the branch managers assistant to make ends meet since she had burned every bridge she ever crossed.

The every guy, the in by 11 out by 3, go drink, and golf and play all night, but then complain there is no business to be had and he is not closing loans.  I laugh at this one, cause by the grace of God there go I.  I was this guy when I was 21, but at 30.  I was the early in out late, work hard, play hard.  Go and disappear from the office for days on end.  The funny thing is the guy was a great LO, but just could not commit to doing what he needed to do to be a success.

To date: No clue, I still have his diploma form IU.

I will admit all  day long that 2007 was the year that I became a better manager, and I hate it.  I am a better Mortgage Consultant, but I am thankful for each and every person that comes through my door.  They have been a learning experience and I take away a knowledge that I never got at Purdue. 

I could go on and on and I am sure that we all could tell our stories of the people that have come in and out of doors with the stories they tell.  However, I prefer the one that says she will close a loan and holds my feet to the fire to be a better LO, manager and owner. 

Dave Woodson - your mortgage consultant for life

www.indigofg.com and www.uwinfin.com