Close

Blog

  • Hammer Time

    Recently one of my first bosses passed away.

    Danny Berry – or “DB” as most of us called him – was one of the two people who hired me when I first started in the music industry “back in the day”. Along with his partner, LC, they took a chance on a young guy who didn’t know nearly as much as he thought he did.

    I’ll never forget that.

    What DB and LC probably didn’t realize at the time was how much they were teaching me – not just about business, but about life.

    DB had a nickname:  “The Hammer.”  And trust me, if you worked with him, you knew exactly why.

    DB had a quick temper. He reacted fast, and sometimes he reacted hard. There were times when the situation called for it, but there were also times when he came in like a bull in a china shop. More than once, LC had to come behind him and smooth things over.

    The Hammer got things done, but sometimes it left a dent or two along the way.  As I look back, though, that’s not what I remember most.

    What I remember most is how much he cared.

    Whether the hammer came out or not, there was never a question about how deeply DB cared about doing things right. He cared about customers. He cared about suppliers. He cared about the business.

    And he cared about me.

    Now DB wasn’t a touchy-feely guy. He wasn’t the type to sit around talking about feelings.  But he made it abundantly clear that he wanted me to succeed.

    He took me under his wing. He taught me how to do my job. He corrected me when I made mistakes. He pushed me when I needed to be pushed. And he invested in me over and over again.

    Looking back, I realize how rare that is.  I don’t see as much mentoring today as I did back then.  I don’t see as many leaders willing to take the time to develop young people, correct them when necessary, and help them grow.

    But DB did.

    And because of that, a piece of who I am today as a Real Christian Businessman was shaped by lessons I learned from him.  He taught me that there are times when you need to be firm.  There are times when you need to be decisive.  There are times when you need to act.

    But he also taught me – sometimes intentionally and sometimes by example – that not every situation needs a hammer.

    Sometimes people need patience, sometimes they need grace, sometimes they need understanding.

    “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Prov 14:29 (NIV) 

    As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that wisdom is knowing the difference.

    Knowing when to stand firm, when to show grace, when to speak boldly and knowing when to simply listen.

    I didn’t see DB much after I was promoted and moved to other cities, but I’ll never forget him.

    His style, his intensity, his compassion, his investment in me.

    Most of all, I’ll never forget that he cared enough to help a 22-year-old kid find his way in a very tough business.

    And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

    I miss you DB.

    But I will never forget you or all that you taught me.

  • Stumbling Blocks

    “…Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way” Rom 13:14b (NIV)

    How many times have I inadvertently (and sometimes even purposely!) put things in the way of others…  from completing a task, to doing their job well, all the way to preventing them from succeeding.

    Let’s all leave the blocks at home this week!

  • Unseen Work
    I love what I do. But there are definitely parts of my job that I don’t enjoy. I’ve always been relational. That’s how God wired me.  I genuinely enjoy talking with people, hearing their stories, and learning about what’s going on in their lives. In fact, I can often remember details from conversations months or even years later – even though I can’t always remember what my wife told me ten seconds ago! (Devon still loves me though thank goodness lol) As I look back over my career, the common thread has always been people. Whether I was meeting customers face-to-face, talking on the phone, or helping clients today as a mortgage advisor, my greatest success has always come through relationships. I love those parts of my job! What I don’t always love are the tasks. Since I haven’t yet scaled my business to the point of having a full-time assistant, many of the day-to-day responsibilities still fall on me. Renaming documents after they’re uploaded into our system. Sending authorization forms through DocuSign. Updating records. Tracking activity logs. None of those tasks are particularly exciting.  They’re repetitive. They’re mundane.  And sometimes they’re the last things I want to do. A Real Christian Businessman knows God didn’t call us to only do the work we enjoy.  He didn’t design us to chase only the exciting assignments while avoiding the necessary ones.  Many times, the tasks we enjoy most are only possible because we’re willing to faithfully complete the tasks we enjoy least. The unseen work makes the visible work possible.
    “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Coll 3:23 (KJV)
    Notice the verse didn’t say to work heartily only when the task is exciting.  It didn’t say to work heartily only when people are watching. It said whatsoever ye do. That includes the spreadsheets. The paperwork. The follow-up.  The preparation.  The administrative tasks nobody notices. Remember that people are watching how we handle all of our responsibilities – not just the enjoyable ones. Let our attitude this week during the mundane tasks shine just as brightly as it does during the exciting ones.
  • Good Ole Days
     
    “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ for it is not wise to ask such a question.” Ecc 7:10 (NIV)
    How big is our rearview mirror in our car?! How big is the windshield in our car?! Looking back is good for a glance, but we always need to be looking forward to what is coming up!
  • Stand Firm

    Recently I had a loan close that went sideways at the very end. The process itself had gone smoothly. We were clear to close. Everything looked good.  Then, during final balancing between our funder and the title company – literally one day before closing – something changed.

    My client was suddenly going to be charged an extra $1,000.

    Not exactly the phone call I want to make 24 hours before closing.

    This was also a brand-new client relationship and a new real estate agent relationship that had already produced two additional referrals during the transaction.  So if I called my client and told him he needed another thousand dollars, yes, we probably would have closed…

    But there was a very real chance I would damage future trust and future business in the process.

    So I started digging.

    After researching it, I discovered something important: this wasn’t caused by me. It wasn’t caused by my team. It appeared to be some type of system issue that wasn’t caught until the final hour.

    So I called my VP.

    We talked through options, and after some healthy discussion, the conversation turned toward me potentially covering the cost out of my commission.

    That surprised me.

    I pushed back. Respectfully – but firmly.

    I explained that I was fully prepared to own this if it had been my mistake or my team’s mistake. But this wasn’t that.

    Something had gone wrong somewhere inside the organization, and absorbing that loss out of an already slim commission was a hard pill to swallow.  We ended the conversation with him saying he would look into it, though he wasn’t optimistic anything could be done.

    Then came the good news.

    The company covered it.

    The cost was absorbed because it was determined to be an error that wasn’t tied to anyone’s fault. In fact, they still don’t fully know how it happened.

    A Real Christian Businessman understands two truths that must live together:
    Take responsibility for what is yours.
    Stand firm when something isn’t.

    I was prepared to accept the hit if this had been my mistake. That’s part of leadership. Sometimes doing right by the client costs you money.

    But there’s also a time to respectfully hold your ground.

    Not arrogantly.
    Not defensively.

    Just honestly.

    Because accountability matters – but so does fairness.

    “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:9 (NIV)

    Being strong and courageous doesn’t always mean charging ahead.

    Sometimes it means having the difficult conversation.
    Standing firm under pressure.
    And being prepared to do the right thing regardless of how it turns out.

  • Keep It Calm

    ““For a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous  life that God desires”. James 1:20 (NV)

    If we can keep our temper low, good things will happen!
     
    When my stress level is high it’s harder for me to do this than at other times. 

    But I gotta keep tryin’!

  • Don’t Take It Personal

    I recently closed a loan that I thought would never close. 

    Not because I couldn’t get it done…
    But because the client kept switching lenders in the middle of the transaction.

    I first picked up the file after she had already been denied by another lender. She was under contract and had less than 20 days left to close when she came to me.

    So my team and I went to work!   We pushed the file to the top of the priority list. Worked hard. Moved quickly. Explored every option possible.

    But eventually we hit a wall.

    Her debt-to-income ratio just didn’t work. I tried different programs that I had available, and we still couldn’t make it happen.  That’s when she switched lenders again.

    And that bothered me.

    While I was still trying to figure out a different loan solution for her, she was already shopping somewhere else. After all the time, effort, and energy we had invested, it felt personal.

    So I wrote the deal off and moved on (kinda – it still hurt!).

    Then something unexpected happened.

    Lender number three didn’t work out either… and she came back to me.  But this time, I approached things differently.

    I stayed professional.
    Kept communication strong.
    Worked the process.

    But emotionally, I kept my distance because I fully expected her to leave again.

    Still – we kept moving forward.  And eventually… we got it done.

    At the closing table, she looked right at me and thanked me sincerely. She told me no one else had shown her that level of care and commitment, and that without my help she wouldn’t have ever gotten the house.

    And in that moment, it reminded me of something important.

    A Real Christian Businessman can’t allow hurt feelings to dictate how we treat people.  That’s hard for me sometimes because I’m a “feeler.” I care deeply about people, and when I feel used or overlooked, it can stick with me.

    But business is still business.  And we’re still called to treat people with kindness – even when they don’t return it the same way.

    “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” Prov 11:17 (ESV)


    Kindness isn’t weakness.
    Professionalism isn’t passivity.

    Sometimes it means setting our feelings aside and simply doing the job we were called to do.
    And often, the outcome ends up better than we expected.

    This one certainly did.

    -I wrote a book! Real Christian Businessman: 30-Day Field Manual Vol 1
    -I’m featured in this book! iWork4Him: Change the Way You Think About Your Faith at Work

    RealChristianBusinessman.com

  • Ax

    “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” Ecc 9:10 (NIV) 

    When was the last time you sharpened your ax?  

    It’s a lot harder to get things done when it’s dull isn’t it?!

    Let’s remember to sharpen up from time to time so we don’t end up working so hard – we have the skills yet we have to preserve our strength and be smart about how to use it!

  • Stay Steady

    A job as a advisor can be boring.  I mean – how exciting is it to talk about interest rates and loan terms all day with people? I do everything I can to make the process smooth and stress-free for my clients… but “fun”? That’s a stretch.

    It’s not like when I worked in the music industry. Back then, there was always something exciting going on. New Artists just coming on the scene.  Stories to tell. People to introduce. Energy.

    People react a little differently when you’re introducing them to the lead singer of an up and coming band versus explaining the parts to their monthly mortgage payment. 

    But here’s what I’ve learned:  

    Success in the Mortgage Business isn’t built on excitement.

    It’s built on consistency.

    -Consistent calls to past clients so you stay top of mind.
    -Consistent communication with referral partners – not just asking for business, but adding value.
    -Consistent follow-up with leads.
    -Consistent updates to clients under contract.

    Day after day.
    Week after week.
    Nothing flashy.
    Just steady.

    And yes-it can feel repetitive.

    But a Real Christian Businessman understands this truth: the “boring” work is often the most important work.

    Because if we don’t prepare…  If we don’t follow up…  If we don’t stay disciplined in the small things…

    It shows.

    You can’t skip writing the sermon and expect to deliver a great message.
    You can’t skip researching a guest for your upcoming podcast and expect the interview to go well.
    You can’t skip preparing to give a presentation at a meeting and expect it to go off without a hitch.

    Consistency is what separates those who last from those who fade.

    “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1  Cor 15:58 (ESV)


    So this week, let’s not chase excitement – but instead chase consistency.

    Let’s make the calls.
    Let’s send the follow-ups.
    Let’s do the small things well.

    Even when it feels repetitive.

    Because what feels “boring” today…

    is often what builds something great tomorrow.

  • Favorites

    “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism’ Acts 10:34 (NIV)

    Aren’t we so fortunate that God doesn’t show partiality towards us? 

    I mean, He doesn’t judge us based on nationality, race, status, political affiliation – or even if someone is a believer in Him or not!

    Sounds like an example we need to show to others doesn’t’ it?!