5 Years of Thankfulness

5 Years of Thankfulness

     In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, Dan Stewart invites us to write about 5 things we're thankful for that impact our business each day. In coming up with my 5, I expected to think of technologies, software, marketing systems, the CFPB (Just kidding), and the many tools at my disposal to help make my job easier.  To my surprise, none of the 5 that made this list fell into these buckets.  This list is a reminder to me that our business is a people business.  More than anything else, I'm thankful for the people that surround me -they are the key to my success in both my business & personal life.  So without further ado, from 5-1, here are 5 things I'm incredibly grateful every day.

5) My ActiveRain blog

     I'm a writer.  Always have been.  In the mortgage world, I don't always get to write about things that interest me.  With my blog, I'm free to get my writing fix daily.  Whether I'm venting, informing, asking questions, or just putting 'pen to paper' and getting some thoughts out there, ActiveRain allows me to do something I enjoy, and the result is my business grows.  I'm thankful that I have a place where I can share information with the world, and specifically through SEO, the people that are in need of the information most.

4) My Clients

     My clients are awesome.  They trust me to help make a financial decision that will affect them, their family, and their future.  I take that to heart, and appreciate it more than they know.  A client has the ability to make my work life infinitely easier or more tedious, depending on how available they make themselves, how quickly they return items, and how much they want to argue with me about items we need to get them to closing.  Far more frequently than not, the people I work with make my life infinitely easier by being amazing the whole way through.  Many of my clients have become friends, and are people I've really enjoyed getting to know.  

     Even clients who make the day more tedious with a poor attitude, an "I'm too busy to be bothered" mentality, or similar issues, are much appreciated.   These people allow me to earn a commission by busting my butt for them, whether they appreciate it or not.  That commission has paid for trips to national parks, skydiving outings, charitable contributions, weekends of snowboarding down mountains, and more.  While I may not make a friend out of every client, I do get a paycheck on every closed deal.  I am thankful for everyone that trusts me to help them with their home financing.

3)  My business partners

     The real estate agents, Financial Advisors, Attorneys, title companies, and business owners that help me grow my business by trusting me to provide a high level of service to their clients, family, friends, and coworkers.  The only reason these folks are #3, and clients are #4, is because I wouldn't have met most of the clients I have without a tremendous group of business partners.  Like clients, these people are appreciated more than they know.  I have learned (and hopefully have taught) so much from these people about business and more.  

2) My team

     A loan officer is nothing without a good team.  My loan coordinator/assistant (who is really the star of the show) Cristy is amazing.  She's a step ahead of me on nearly everything, and when something needs to be done, oftentimes I find it completed before I can even get started.  My processor Shelley has my back like no other.  She fights for my clients and loan files as if she were the LO.  My branch manager takes the time out of his day to discuss operational items with our corporate office, policy changes, and specific loan issues --- these time consuming tasks would bleed my business dry.  When I need to fight for a loan file, my whole team goes to bat.  Our corporate team is also amazing, working together to keep the bulk of marketing, process management, and paperwork off of my shoulders.

     With a great team behind me, I am nothing.  I would never have the time to grow my business if I had to manage the things that my team takes care of.  I am eternally grateful for these people.

1) Volunteer opportunities

     Part of what I love about my job, amidst the many frustrations involved with the mortgage industry, is that I get to help people.  I get to help business partners grow their businesses.  I get to help clients achieve the huge goal of home ownership.  I get to help colleagues solve problems and improve their business practices.  I love helping people.  My motivation, day in and day out, is to be able to help more people.  

     There are so many causes out there that deserve time, attention, and money, and I wish I could do more to help them.  I know that the greater my income and the greater my network, the more I can do.  I currently offer time as a mentor to a local community organization, help them with fundraisers and organizational goals,  and I volunteer at the local library a couple hours per week.  In the past I've been a Rotarian, have volunteered at animal shelters, and I'm always seeking new opportunities to help.

     Without motivation, we cannot perform.  My motivation is to have the world be a better place because I was here.  I know that if I set lofty financial goals, along with sharing my time and resources, I can have the kind of impact I want to. 

     I am extremely grateful for the people  that have taken the time and have accumulated the know-how to create organizations that are making the world a better place.  These people impact my business more than any technology, software, or marketing tool.  I have a drive to grow, succeed, and become better each day, and that drive wouldn't exist without the knowledge that there are people out there that need my (and all of our) help.