Reflection:

To understand where we come from is, in part, to understand the the very way we started.  Do you recall your first Real Estate Transaction?

I was working for the Federal Grill here in Allentown, a somewhat recently extinct semi-fine dining restaurant.  While life there seemed to be that of a rock star, without much in the way of fame or fortune, I was unhappy because I hadn't a clue of what I was going to do for the rest of my life.  My dreams of catch as catch wrestling had died because the passion withered and my contempt for the industry grew.  I was lost and didn't know the next place life would take me, or where I may take life next.

A gal I worked with at the Federal Grill, I'll refer to her as Beth Forbes (I dare you to look her up on this forum)... moved on to the world of mortgages.  Roughly two years after she made that transition, she entered the Federal Grill and I just had to ask the question, "Beth, are you hiring?"  I remember, if I'm not mistaken, her answering... "Aggressively."

So began a young journey into a world I had no clue about at the time.  I would meander into the office every chance I could to learn and try to drum up business.  While I hated talking on the phone, that became my only way of generating enough action to quantify me being able to come in and have anybody pay attention to me or teach me a thing.  I was willing to pay dues and while my parents are successful folks, I had always earned my keep and done things the hard way... because I thought it was the right way.  They thought I was crazy; I knew I was just stubborn.

After many a phone call, I ran across a couple who were in debt out their ear-hairs and needed help bad.  My call was timely in reaching them.  I should mention that when I started in this biz, rates had become super low and the refi boom was on the verge of becoming an epidemic that would tease any gibroni who wanted to make a buck to be an 'expert' in this industry.  I never understood that mentality, still don't. 

Yet, these folks didn't qualify in any facet for those rates so heavily advertised on television & local newspapers back then.  Young me, I heard what we could do for them and immediately retorted, "8.5% on a fixed rate?  Why would they ever take that with rates so low?"  My mentor at the time pointed out the astutely obvious, we are consolidating a lot of stuff and saving them $400.00 a month.  "What does the interest rate matter if they are saving money along the way?  Plus, they don't qualify for anything else!"  I replied, "They will not take it, that interest rate is way too high."

Well, they took it and it had nothing to do with my sales technique.  I didn't think they would want it, yet it was they who knew what was best for them, especially back then.  I told them what was available and they never balked.  I collected my net paycheck on that very small loan of $500.00 and quit my position at the Federal Grill and started full-time at First Choice Equity Group, Inc.  Sardi grew a nut; Sardi realized that folks will always buy houses and need money.  Young Sardi realized that what seemed a good deal for them to me ... wasn't necessarily shared by them and vice versa.  Young Sardi realized that sales is a game of friendship and I hope I can provide what you need to be done to better your world.

As our world grows more complex (in perception only most of the time;-), I realize this isn't a game at all.  Can I help or can't I; let's leave the rest aside.  I called that couple again about six months ago and they are doing pretty well.  They seem to be one of the better stories of all that is happening.  They have eight years left on their mortgage and have no other debt at all. 

We concentrated on the interest rate for so long, it makes me wonder if we ignored or dismissed the true value in Capitalistism... Savings.  I know I did.

America... it's freaking Friday, well technically Saturday.  None the less, grow some nuts and be the squirrel that eats away... and helps out in the every way.  Feel good and not just because it is better than being hurt...