A strange phone call came across my airwaves recently, a guy from the city of Brotherly Love was on the other line.
"Hello, is this Jason Sardi?"
"To my knowledge, yes."
"Hi Jason, this is Darren _______ and I came across you over the internet."
~Thinking to myself, "Great, I hope he didn't come across that roast of Belonger that I churned out."~
"Hey Darren, how can I help you?"
"I'm losing my house."
Silence. It wasn't the four words that he said, it's how he said them. Even more, I knew I could do little to help him, at least not now. We spoke for probably ten minutes or so and I hope to the heavens that my advice will help young Darren out ... in the long run. When I hung up that phone, that empty space inside grew bigger.
I used to walk quite often, to and from work because I didn't have a car at the time. When I got home that evening, after speaking with Darren, I took a walk. Thoughts raced through my head about many things, Darren's situation included. After rounding the neighborhood for about the tenth time, I reached my doorstep. I stuck the key in the knob and turned it left, unlocking the luxury of me being home.
I don't smile too often. I don't laugh at many things. While I'm really not a soul stirring in sorrow, I'm probably not at the height of bliss either. At first, Darren's phone call made me want to press my palm against my forehead and sigh indefinitely. Then, I took that walk. It's quite amazing what a brisk use of your legs can do for your soul.
For the past seven years I have wondered whether this industry (The Mortgage One) was my true calling. Beyond anything and everything, do I belong here? Well, after that ten minute conversation with Mr. Darren, I can honestly say, "You are damn right, I belong here!"
The majority of my mother's life, she has dealt with people with special needs. She has taught, she has cared, she has educated. Epiphany folks, that's kind of our job too. That conversation with Darren probably won't save his house, but I'm pretty damn sure it educated and enlightened him on this industry and the fundamentals of buying and owning a home.
I took what my mother does for granted. There's rarely any immediate rewards and you better have resolve ... or you'll be undone. My mother has taught special education for almost as many years as I've been alive, I never understood why. I do now.
For better or worse, I know what I am doing. And frankly, if I'm not educating, I ain't doing squat. That's my job and it may reap little in the way of immediate rewards, but so be it. This industry, this culture, this economy, could use some education from the inside/out. It always will.
And Darren, try to relax. This isn't the end, it resembles more of the beginning.
Stay strong.
Jason - Good post, I hope you were able to put him in the right direction at least. Your last sentence summed it up, you should use that as a quote.
Stan Barsch