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.