How do we end up staying so long??
A note to my mortgage buds . . .
I almost feel guilty for talking about my work like this. After all, I was the one who accepted the jobs, the training, who networked and made good friends in the industry. I always loved my teams, my bosses, my clients and industry friends. Toward the end of my career, there was a rhythm (albeit long hours!), but we were “in it” together, we commiserated, celebrated wins and cared for each other. I truly had the best boss, the best team, great products and good friends.
Early on, I chalked it up to the steep learning curve. There was just a lot to learn. I have a true love of people and think that gave me entrance into a couple good spots, but this industry was different than anything I had known. Offices opened and closed, banks merged and people moved with it, requiring learning different products, systems and people. I just tried to keep up. I did admin work when the Great Recession hit, but after moving to SWFL, five (5!) different people suggested I go back to mortgages and all suggested the same high-integrity team. So I did. As an assistant serving two top-level loan officers, I mentioned to my psychologist friend that I wondered if I might be a little A.D.D. (?) (there were signs!) But I was learning and growing, so tried harder. I was given more training and transitioned to a loan officer.
I had the opportunity to join a popular credit union in our area with great products and took it. The culture was amazing, our team and my boss . . . I truly loved my years there!
So what happened?
Before I started in mortgages in SWFL, I tried again to get back into staffing and had an interview with a staffing agency where they said that even though it had been 20 years, they urged me to pursue staffing. I had an opportunity to manage a staffing office soon after, but after praying about it, felt like the Lord was leading instead to take the real estate association job, which led directly to a return to mortgages. (Why?)
In the end, after all that time, it was the hours that did me in. I resigned during the season of super-low mortgage rates and zillions of applications. My mom passed away and I needed to step away and get my bearings.
What did I learn and why did I end up in mortgages and not staffing?
Commission-based pay revealed my own financial insecurity and fear. Eventually, the Lord confirmed that He is my provision — not my deals.
The Lord taught me my worth as a person. At times, I had some pretty unhealthy interactions, sometimes originating with me and other times a client or boss. Truly, understanding one’s own abilities, limitations and personality can limit these exchanges, as it is clear what situations we will thrive in and which will not be a good fit.
Ultimately, I think it came down to the people. It’s always the people! The friends in the industry, so fun and funny, our great clients, our amazing team. I will always be grateful for those relationships and for knowing I can do hard things. (I could hug them even now!)
In the background, a couple things had been percolating . . .
First off, I heard of a company called Career Direct. They gave career assessments and helped folks figure out what careers would be a good fit. Shizzam! I LOVED the concept, took the assessment and got the results. It said that I was quite “unstructured” and that I shouldn’t be in a job with lots of details or deadlines. (AGH!!) (I knew it was wrong . . . it was just the stress of the job, right?)
A couple years earlier, I heard of an organization called Better Together — they did Job Fairs at churches, inviting local employers, recruiting volunteers from the church and advertising to the community to find applicants in need of work. (See their website to read more!) I literally jumped up and down in my kitchen and told the Lord I had to do that!
I had a key conversation with an Executive Director of a local nonprofit who felt that I was the person who should take her place. It was a total surprise and didn’t end up happening. But the process of leaning in, praying and asking the Lord His will for my life led me to re-engage with my passions and ultimately gave me the courage to resign my mortgage work.
New Things!
I trainied as a Career Direct consultant and began giving assessments and consultations. LOVED it. (still do!)
As a part of my training, I took another assessment which confirmed my “unstructured” trait. This caused a bit of shame since I was from a pretty structured home and should be able to do structure. After mom passed, I saw a therapist and broached the subject of possibly being A.D.D. She didn’t diagnose, but her “you THINK?” said it all. Over a period of two to three years, the Lord confirmed His design in me and showed me more of the good things about who I am. He also led me to great strategies for those parts that have been hard. (Like “time-blindness”!)
I led our church to do a Job Fair with Better Together. Oh, what fun!! As we were packing up and leaving, I felt the Lord distinctly say, “This is one of the good things I had in mind for you to do.” (Not audibly, but distinctly, nonetheless.)
I called the CEO at Better Together and we had breakfast. We decided it would be great to work together! They offered me a part-time, flexible position the following year as a Partnership Manager working to encourage churches to join in the mission. As a pastor’s wife for forever and lover of business, it was a sweet fit and the work felt like a wide-open door that was intuitive in nature. My boss was amazingly great and we approached the work similarly and made great headway in opening a new region in Florida. I can’t TELL you the difference it makes working in your strengths vs. against them. I highly recommend!!
My husband and I moved to Virginia the following year and are currently creating a new life here including kids and grandkids, close family, new friends, gardening and lots of new work. The Lord knows what’s next for us . . . and for you!