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  • Not So Kind

    I closed a loan recently where the buyers were just plain ornery.
     
    Nothing seemed to go right in their eyes. Every issue that came up during the process was immediately someone else’s fault—and someone else needed to pay for it.
     
    During the inspection they discovered the roof needed replacing. The seller paid for it.
     
    The HVAC system wasn’t performing like it should. Again, the seller paid.
     
    Now, negotiating repairs when something major is discovered isn’t unusual. That happens in real estate all the time. But what stood out in this situation wasn’t the negotiation—it was the attitude behind it. 
     
    Every conversation came with confrontation.
     
    There was no calm discussion. No patience. No willingness to work through the issue together. It was always blame first, demand second.
     
    Even toward the end of the transaction, when the closing date shifted slightly, some of the costs changed. That happens in lending—daily interest adjusts when closing dates move. It’s simply part of doing business.
     
    But when I explained the change, they initially expected me to pay the difference!
     
    Not because of a mistake or because of anything I did wrong. 
     
    Simply because something had changed.
     
    A Real Christian Businessman understands something important though – our response to problems says a lot about who we are.
     
    Anyone can blame others.  Anyone can raise their voice.  Anyone can be harsh.  That seems to be the default approach these days.  But we’re called to react differently.
     
    We can respond with patience.  We can speak with kindness.  We can approach problems with humility and empathy – instead of anger.
     

    “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph 4:31–32 (NLT)


     Most of the time, the result ends up being the same either way. The problem gets solved.
     
    But I’ve often seen something surprising: the kindness approach actually produces better outcomes than the rude one!
     
    People want to help those who treat them well.
     
    So this week, when a problem comes up (and it will!) let’s pay attention to our response.
     
    We can react like the world does: blame, frustration, and harsh words. Or we can respond with patience and kindness. The problem will get solved either way.
     
    But only one approach reflects that of a Real Christian Businessman.

  • Good

    “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.“  Ps 34: 12-13 (NIV)


     I read this over and over, and kept focusing on the Word “good” for some reason. 
     
    We can have “days”… but these passages tells us how to have days that are good!
     
    I never thought about it like that – have you?

  • Answer Anyway

    I had a deal fall apart this week.
     
    Everything was lined up. We were clear to close. Then—24 hours before closing—the buyers got a survey back on their rural property. Neither their agent nor I knew they had ordered one. We didn’t require it for the loan, but the buyers felt like they wanted to get one anyway.
     
    But once it showed up, it changed everything. 
     
    Because there was a problem.
     
    The surveyor said he needed to go back out and confirm a few things. So we pushed closing to later that day, hoping it would all be resolved.
     
    It wasn’t.
     
    Turns out the house was 14 feet over the property line. Not a fence. Not a shed. The bedroom and a bathroom were over the line! You can’t just move that.
     
    So now the title company, attorneys, Real Estate agents and property owners are working through an easement agreement. If all goes well we’ll close in about 10 days.
     
    So what does this have to do with being a Real Christian Businessman?
     
    Everything.
     
    When this all surfaced, everyone started calling me.  The buyers.  Both buyer’s agents (a husband-and-wife team).  The seller’s agent.  The title company.  Even people internally asking, “Why aren’t we closing this loan?”
     
    Everyone wanted direction. Everyone wanted answers. Everyone thought I should somehow fix it.
     
    Now, once we go under contract, the loan officer does act like the quarterback, helping move everything toward the finish line. But in this case, the survey wasn’t required by us. Once it existed, it became a title issue that had to be resolved before we could move forward, not a loan issue.
     
    Still… the calls kept coming.
     
    I could have ignored them.  I could have said, “Why are you calling me? I can’t fix this.”
     
    But I didn’t.
     
    I answered the calls.  I returned the texts.  I listened.  Then I listened some more.
     
    I didn’t have solutions. But I showed I cared. Because at the end of the day, this situation could derail a family getting into their home.
     
    In reality I didn’t want to respond that way. I wanted to step back and let everyone else figure it out and call me when it was done!
     
    But that wouldn’t be compassion.

    “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” — Col 3:12 (ESV)

    As a Real Christian Businessman, we’re called to something different.
     
    Sometimes leadership isn’t fixing the problem. 
    Sometimes it’s simply being present when people are frustrated, stressed, and looking for help.
     
    This week, if you find yourself in a situation you’re only indirectly involved in, don’t ignore it. Take the call. Listen. Show that you care.
     
    Because sometimes people don’t need an answer.
     
    They just need someone who will answer anyway.

  • Shiny New Toy

    “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” Coll 3:2 (NIV)

    How many times do I get enamored by things that are all around me;  That new car someone is driving, the beautiful clothes I see at the store, or an amazing looking house that I drive past… I do it all the time! 

    Instead we need to focus on things above – like love, wisdom, peace, and righteousness!

  • Almost Done

    I’ve been working with a particular buyer for almost two years now.

    As a Loan Consultant, that length of time isn’t unheard of. Some buyers take months. Some take years. But this situation has been a little different than most.

    My buyer was born outside of the United States. She is now an American citizen and speaks English — but with a heavy accent that can be difficult to understand. She understands English as well, but I often have to slow down, reframe things, and explain concepts multiple times to make sure we’re on the same page.

    On top of that, so much of the home-buying process today is electronic. Disclosures. DocuSign. Online education courses. Loan paperwork.

    And that has been the hardest part for her.

    There have been many times I’ve spent hours on the phone — often on FaceTime — walking her step by step through forms, signatures, and required documents just so we could keep moving forward. What takes most buyers minutes has taken us hours. Sometimes days.

    Her credit is great, she has money for a down payment and she has a solid job.

    But her income isn’t high, which has made finding something she both likes and can afford a real challenge.
    And in full transparency I have considered walking away more than once.

    Not because she wasn’t serious.
    Not because she wasn’t trying.
    But because of how difficult the process had become at every turn.

    But she didn’t give up!

    And neither did I.

    After nearly two years of searching, paperwork, obstacles, and persistence… she finally found a home she loves.  We made it through all the requirements (finally!), and we’re scheduled to close this week!

    This story isn’t about me being some amazing loan consultant for sticking it out. 

    There have been plenty of times in life and business where I didn’t persevere the way I should have. This just happens to be one of the times where I did — and it is going to end well.

    It is a reminder of something every Real Christian Businessman needs to hear from time to time:

    Working with people isn’t always easy.
    Doing the right thing isn’t always convenient.
    Perseverance is rarely comfortable.

    Yet that’s often where the greatest fruit is found.

    “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9 (ESV)

  • Repay

    “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.” 2 Thes 1:6 (NIV)

    Why do I always stir around and rehash in my head those that have wronged me in some way, trying to figure out how I can get back at them or “give them what they deserve”?
     
    God’s got my back on this – We’ve got to remember that!

  • It’s Cold

    I grew up in Atlanta, but spent about 12 years living in Michigan (Detroit and Grand Rapids!).  I still remember when we first moved there.  I was so cold! I didn’t understand why it was so cold in April.  And also in May! And even sometimes into June!?  People would laugh at me because I would try and wear just a jacket, and they kept saying, “wear layers”… but it took me 3 years of living there before I ever figured it out (or actually listened to them lol).
     
    Last week here in the Nashville metro area we experienced very cold weather (it’s still cold here!), and some snow, but mainly ICE.  It was the worst Ice Storm this city has ever seen.  The sleet came and the precipitation froze all the trees.  The temperatures have not really risen much above freezing and it has snapped more trees and power lines than I have ever seen. It looks like a tornado came through!  Some of our friends are still without power as of this writing (we somehow didn’t lose power this time thankfully).  It has taken a toll on our city.

     
     Working during times like this can be difficult.  Trying to work without power, trying to care for elderly parents who may not have power, or just trying to get around where we live has been challenging.
     
    But a Real Christian Businessman knows no matter what our situation is we can always lend a hand to help.  I talked to numerous referral partners and clients last week who were without power.  I immediately shifted the conversation to what can I do to help and never once talked about business.  Business takes a back burner during times of need!

    “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2 (NIV)

     
    So the next time a natural disaster hits, let’s remember to put our own situations aside and try and help our fellow neighbor.  No matter who they are or what they believe in, God loves them all.   And he has asked us to do the same.

  • Think Up

    Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”. 2 Coll 3:2 (NIV)


    It’s so easy for me to get fixated on the shiny new toy or material things that surround my everyday life. 

    I need reminders like this constantly, as the world pushes a completely different agenda! 

    “Think up!” 

  • Bad Job

    I worked on a file the other day for a client to try and get them pre-approved for a loan so they could start looking for a home.  I was rushed that day since we were leaving shortly to take my daughter back to college for her 2nd semester of school, and I didn’t do a good job on it!

    I messed it up. I didn’t take my time and couldn’t seem to get them approved.  I left it for later, and actually realized as we were driving to her school what my mistakes were. Later that night I got it all fixed and got them what they needed but I clearly didn’t do a good job when I started to work that day. 

    Have you ever done poor quality work – basically work that wasn’t that good and passed it off as being ok?

    Have you ever gotten to a point where you “didn’t care” and just went through the motions?

    “The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” coll 3:25 (MSG)

    A Real Christian Businessman knows that doing “shoddy work” is not representative of who we are.  Even though we are allowed to make mistakes, being a believer doesn’t give us a pass to cover up our mess or to do bad work.

    Fortunately I recovered from my poor quality work that day, but I don’t always remember to make it right every time.

    Join me in remembering this week that while we are doing our jobs, going through the motions or working at it halfway is not who we are.  Together let’s put forth the maximum effort and don’t take a pass just because we are believers and think it represents well.

    Because it doesn’t.

  • Others

    “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.”  Phil 2:4 (NIV)


     I often forget about doing this – I’m always looking out for MY best interests!
     
    When was the last time you lent a hand to someone without thinking about what you would get in return?
     
    I needed this reminder this week more than I thought!