The Mortgage Cicerone - The Loan Attraction Coach - Con

Beat the Funk

A New Post by Rhonda Porter
Mortgage Broker/Correspondent Lender.
Read other posts by Rhonda Porter.

This is a re-post from a very small blog where I write to the real estate agents I work with.   This was originally posted on June 20, 2008 (hence the sad reference to the Mariners)...since then Seattle has lost their basketball team too...but we won't talk about Seattle's pro-sports teams or lack thereof.

I'm noticing more loan originators and real estate agents wading knee deep in funk while trying to make a living in this challenging market.  I found myself thinking of this post while on a morning walk with my old pug, Orson...and thought I'd share it with you.  On a bright now, we've had beautiful weather this month to make up for our lack of sun we had this past Spring (yesterday was 60 degrees in Seattle).

Beat the Funk

The M's and our lack of sunshine this Spring (which is officially over as of today!) are enough to have you feeling some blues, not to mention a challenging time in our industries and economy.  Here are a few tips on how I shake it off when I feel a funk starting to creep in (in no particular order):

• Hop on that treadmill for 15 minutes first thing in the morning--no treadmill?  Then get outside--even better!

• Clean your home office...there's a reason I don't have a photo of mine up as an example!

• Make the most of small victories--promote them.  You can do this by writing a short blog post or a real quick "Twitter".  I just did a twitter post the other day that said "Talon Escrow just called me to let me know how happy my client was with my services."

• Contact past clients.   Our past clients need us now more than ever.  Even if you just contacting them to see if they have any questions about their current home value or to put them in touch with a mortgage professional (ah-hem) to help review their mortgage. 

• Associate with positive people.  Misery loves company and it's real easy in this type of market to wallow in the gloom--GET AWAY FROM IT.  Make a conscience effort to spend more time with proactive positive people. 

• "I have time to take on a few clients".  I can't remember which motavational speaker I've heard use this quote, but now could be the time for you to use it.  Maybe while you're contacting your past clients!

• Take your vitamins--don't neglect your health.

• Do a good deed.

• Promote that you're not "unemployed"...use Twitter and blog posts to write about recent transactions (so what if they were a month or two ago).   

What do you do if feel the funk starting to make it's way towards you?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

New Domain Just For Bloggers

Last night Dan Green of the Mortgage Reports tipped me off to something incredible...the early release of a new domain exclusively for blogs.

Fortunately I was able to register www.MortgageCicerone.blog and www.mortgage.blog. While they still have to directed to my blogs, they are protected and mine.

If you want to be one of the first bloggers to register a rockin domain name, go to Blog Dot Blog to grab the domain you want before someone else does.

Thanks Dan!

Athol Kay's Top 24 Worst

A New Post By The Mortgage Cicerone
A Guide for Mortgage Professionals
Read other posts by The Mortgage Cicerone

I just got done viewing Athol Kay's most recent post and I'm still LMAO!

If you have not already seen it and are in need of a good hardy laugh, you owe it to yourself to view:

The 24 Worst Bad MLS Photos of the Year

Friday Fun - March Madness By Median Salary of Graduates

A New Post By The Mortgage Cicerone
A Guide for Mortgage Professionals
Read other posts by The Mortgage Cicerone

No real surprises, but still interesting.

Looks like a Stanford and Notre Dame would be playing in the NCAA Final if the winner of each bracket game was determined by the highest median average salary of each of the schools respective alumni.

March Madness Income Brackets

Athol Makes Me Laugh!

Don't know about you, but these last few months have been crazy and the pace frantic! Anytime I get a chance to laugh at our industry, I take it.

This morning I started working at 5:45 and needed a laugh break. So I took a quick spin and as always:

Athol Makes Me Laugh!

The Mortgage Industry Savior...Tom Cruise

There has been a lot written on what needs to be done to fix and take mortgage banking to the next level. While no one idea or person floated has in my humble opinion been the fix for all that is wrong in our industry, I think I have found the answer.

Why not turn to Mr. Mission Impossible himself...Tom Cruise.

Don't believe me, he will tell you so in this video.

<CLICK HERE TO WATCH>

If you take the time to watch this video, you will walk away saying...Wow!

Note: I'm not serious about this. My endorsement of this video is tongue-and-cheek.

Friday Fun - The Chicken or the Egg?

Hat Tip: OMG Larry

Friday Fun - Best of Festivus- Seinfeld

XX

This Ain't Intramural Mortgage Banking Brotha!!!

Are we experiencing a tough market environment? Heck Yes!

While it is necessary to work a lot harder to find loans nowadays, I know more people than I can count who are having a fantastic funding year in 2007.

Yet, why are some originators thriving and others failing?

In my opinion, it boils down to intestinal fortitude and each individuals ability to accept and adapt to a new market environment.

I get so tired hearing originators complain and whine about everything that is wrong with our market and their inability to make the money they were a few years ago. I feel like University of Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins, when a players parent writes him a letter anonymously complaining his players need more time off.

Here is Coach Hawkins response (classic):

Remember, this ain't intramurals brotha...it's division one mortgage banking.

Go Buffs, beat the Tide!

Friday Fun - Lincoln (Linkin) Park

Never knew Ole Abe was a rocker.

You know why God created Rock 'N Roll? So even skinny ugly dudes could get chicks too.

Hat Tip: OMG Larry