S.M.A.R.T. Goals

I have a background in Executive Coaching. It was a short lived experience, but the training was phenomenal. Many of the lessons I learned were about personal and professional development. The subject of Executive Coaching fascinates me, as I have seen first hand the results that being held accountable by someone can have on people within the workforce. Being held accountable by someone else is a luxury that some people pay for, but truthfully, you can hold yourself accountable. How can you do that? By setting goals and following through on those goals.

In these tough times in the mortgage market, if you are swinging wildly at every pitch, you are bound to strike out. (I also played Professional Baseball so get ready for a few of those analogies.) I have attached a short video by Dr. Stephen Covey who is the well-known guru who wrote The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People which was named “the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the 20th Century.” As an originator, you are in fact your own business. It is up to you to determine what you need to do, and how you are going to do it. Most of the time, managers in the Mortgage Business just want to see results, but they don’t necessarily want to show you how to produce those results. According to Dr. Covey and several other leading authorities on effectiveness, setting the goal you wish to attain is the #1 Step in reaching that goal. (As an aside, Dr. Covey has sold over 20 million books, so I am pretty sure that he knows what he is talking about.)

So, you want to be successful? Take about 15 minutes this morning, and set some time to put together some S.M.A.R.T. goals for yourself. This is imperative to making your ideals become realities. Why do they call them S.M.A.R.T. goals? Each letter stands for what your goal must have to be a legitimate goal worth working towards.

Specific.Measurable.Attainable.Realistic.Timely.

Check out Top Achievement for a break down of how to make sure you’re using this tool correctly.

Ok, here is the video. I thought about this after seeing the video on Activerain.com, which is a great resource available to all Real Estate Professionals. If you aren’t already signed up, you should definitely join immediately. We will discuss that site and others later on down the road. For now, enjoy the video and afterwards set some goals for yourself.

Good Luck!

Introduction to Mortgage Pick-Me-Up

“Oh, great. Another mortgage blog. This is just what the world needs.”

Well, actually, the world does need this blog. Unlike the others doomsdayers and naysayers that exist in the blogosphere, Mortgage Pick-Me-Up is here to focus on the positives about the mortgage industry. Are there positives? Of course there are.

As a Mortgage Originator, it is extremely depressing to be inundated with bad news every day. Yes, I know it is a difficult market. Yes, I know that rates are up, and property values and consumer confidence are down. I understand that banks are shutting their doors, and cutting jobs like a Ginsu knife cuts through shoes. I GET IT!!!

But guess what? I have a job to do. We have a job to do. And it might be nice to get a little boost each morning to learn about new programs available, sales techniques from some of the legends, marketing ideas from advertising gurus, and feedback from other Originators around the country. Let’s not sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. As Billy Ocean said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” (I think that was actually Joseph Kennedy but I digress…)

So grab your morning paper, get your cup of coffee, and get your Mortgage Pick-Me-Up.