A pause to reflect on 30 + years with the Mortgage Pro's

Nobody makes it on your own in this business.

It takes a team of people and it takes a family commitment to sometimes put up with long hours, days away on education, training and conferences. It takes coworkers who work in the background and partners you may or may not agree with all the time. It takes lending partners who have to be treated with respect as they are there to help you be successful. When you start out, it takes worrying about where the first and next dollar will come from but deciding to invest your time in not worrying and making it happen.

It means taking a chance. It takes stepping outside the box to try things. It takes failing time and time again and then working on why and looking into yourself. It takes working on being successful and improving on the things you do continually rather than sitting back. It takes listening. Something I was not the best at a lot of the time. It takes stepping up to become involved in your industry in promoting it and strengthening it. It takes a commitment to be the best you can be for your company and your clients and analyzing all the time whether you are accomplishing that goal.

I never thought in my wildest dreams that when we opened the doors of our business in 1989 a receptionist and two coworkers, in the midst of 12% interest rates, that we would be where we are today. I never envisioned that my young kids who moved into our home in Kingston in 1988 would be working with me in the same business, respected in the industry, not for being my kids, but for what they worked hard to become as professionals. It is not easy working with your Dad or for your Dad and not being looked upon as the owners' children when they first start out. They did it themselves with their own personalities and work ethic. Those same children are putting their mark on their future and the company's future and I am proud to work alongside them.

It is very nice to be recognized by your peers and industry with awards and accolades and I am thankful and proud but that is not what I am most proud of. I am blessed with a patient wife and two great children, who are great parents and who are doing a great job raising their children, my grandchildren. I am proud of watching my children take their place in this industry and for the job they have done to get where they are today. I am proud that they still call me Dad.

I am really happy that they haven't asked for my office yet so I think I can stay around for a few years still!