Getting Pushed Off The Ledge - Forced Swimming Lessons

Getting Pushed Off The Ledge  - Forced Swimming Lessons

Being an entrepreneur has always been in my blood.  My Father, Grandfather, Uncles, and Aunts have all owned their own businesses for years. The desire to be self-employed was always so appealing. Be my own boss, set my schedule, have no limit to the growth, ability to be creative and integrate change, carrying the vision of what could be in a business. All of these attributes of business ownership were so attractive to me. Of course, I could see the pitfalls and the opportunity for utter failure. We've all heard the statistics that make you feel doomed to fail. Not to mention, who hasn't been sucked in or slightly enticed by the promise of the multi-level marketing/pyramid scheme/network marketing (as they put it nicely) industry? 

Fear of the unknown was probably the most difficult of all. We are taught in our society to be "order takers", get a guaranteed wage, don't rock the boat, and sure as heck DON'T MOVE MY CHEESE!  We've learned to embrace watching "Man Vs. Wild" in lieu of taking a camping trip and "storage wars" instead of going to a garage sale on Saturday. "Call of Duty" has replaced enlisting in the military and "Social Media" Has replaced true friendship (in many ways). 

So who in the world would be crazy enough to leave the comfort of their job to be an entrepreneur?

I didn't have an option.

I was unexpectedly laid off from my employer, due to an unexpected dynamic we call "working in the family business"... if you catch my drift. Please mind you, I was laid off due to the interpersonal dynamic of working with family, not any moral or performance reason.

Anyways, something inside of me gripped me deeply and filled my heart with courage. I'm not sure if it was adrenaline, survival mode, or "will the real Mike Rankin please stand up?". I immediately called a few colleagues in the Mortgage Industry for advice. As a kid, I was always taught from the Bible - "A wise man listens to advice" and "In the presence of many counselors there is safety". The same afternoon I was let go, I spoke with Joe Petrowsky amongst other Mortgage Companies.  I knew there was a connection with Joe, so I drove to Connecticut from New York the very next morning to meet him. After being offered several positions at other companies, I knew Joe was the man I needed to be under.

He launched me off to start the first New York branch of Right Trac Financial Group. He wasn't prepared, nor was I, for this new adventure. But, he gave me the green light and was there to support me. Within days I had an office space that came with furniture, business cards, and a humongous mountain ahead of me.  Who the heck starts a Mortgage Broker branch right before QM comes out? Yes, we were not in our right minds... Thank God or else we wouldn't have done anything. 

So, here we are, 9 months later in a new location with a bigger office, an Assistant, and we have already trained and got our first loan officer licensed from scratch! Our reputation as the most respectable Mortgage Company in the Capital District is growing. There were a lot of dark days.  Days where I thought I was going to lose my mind, all of my savings, and all of my reputation. I look back and thank God for carrying me through it. I am also so grateful to Joe for his encouragement and support constantly. 

A few quotes and books that helped me through:

     The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

     "I sought The Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" Psalm 34:4

     "The angel of The Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." Psalm 34:7

     "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek The Lord lack no good thing" Psalm 34:10

     "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all it's great strength it cannot save; But the eyes of The Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and to keep them alive in famine" Psalm 33:1-19

If you are afraid of doing something new or challenging, know that you are not alone.  You have friends and advocates, both in person and on Active Rain. I spell Faith "R-I-S-K". 

Take a risk and you'll see that no matter what you will come out a better person and more victorious than the one that lived in fear.

     -Your Mortgage Consultant for Life