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3 Personal Lessons from My First 2 Years as a Mortgage Agent

It was the early days of 2022, and the real estate market was buzzing. I was a brand new mortgage agent on a vey steep learning curve. I am changing careers, going from 15 years of engineering to now a world of building my own business and "sales". I am frantically learning the ins and outs of the mortgage industry, lender policies, insurer guidelines, and just how the heck to go from meeting a potential client, to helping them close on what is the largest financial transaction of their lives. As I start to get the hang of things, inflation and interest rates shoot up, and that booming real estate market is no more. I find myself grappling with a mix of thoughts - exhaustion, self-doubt, but determined to succeed. It's through these wild twists and turns that I learned invaluable lessons about adaptability and resilience, shaping not just my early new career, but also my outlook on life.

As I look back at my first 2 years as a mortgage agent, I am proud of hitting this 2-year professional milestone (most new mortgage agents don't make through under "normal" circumstances), but I also value the personal lessons that I can draw on. Beyond the transactions and closed files, there are stories of human connection, resilience, and understanding. The lessons from those stories help fuel not only my professional growth, but also my responsibilities as a person, husband and father.

In this article, I share three pivotal lessons and how they resonate across both my professional and personal life.

Lesson 1: The Power of Building Genuine Connections

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is the importance of building genuine relationships. In the mortgage industry, establishing trust and rapport with partners and clients is paramount. Beyond business transactions, it's the connections we make with people that truly matter. Each interaction, whether with clients or colleagues, offers an opportunity to listen, empathize, and understand.

In both business and personal life, I have learned that having meaningful relationships is the cornerstone of success and fulfillment. Whether it's with clients or loved ones, investing time and effort to strengthen connection creates a mutual benefit of growth, and creates a sense of belonging. I know at times I am guilty of putting too much emphasis on professional success, money, and accolades. It certainly helps to have the right people around along the way for clarity on what is truly important.

Lesson 2: Embracing Adaptability and Resilience

Ask just about anyone in the real estate and mortgage business, and they will share how embracing adaptability and resilience was a necessity over the last 2 years. If they don't, its because they likely left the business, are too exhausted to talk, or are still trying to catch their breath. The last 2 years has felt like a whirlwind of challenges. The housing market was on fire in early 2022, and then as inflation and interest rates shot up, things very quickly turned to what felt like....[crickets chirping] for large parts of 2023.

Surviving as a mortgage agent in this ever-changing landscape meant embracing adaptability and resilience. At the very least, they are necessary skills that set the foundation for growth. The challenges from the last 2 years, and the ones that are sure to follow, will produce opportunities at every turn. I do believe that. Seeing those opportunities and how to best handle them will require adapting and continuing to put one foot ahead of the other.

This lesson extends beyond business and highlights the resilience required to thrive in the face of adversity that comes with life. Embracing change with an open mind and unwavering determination enables personal growth, builds confidence, and translates to self-belief. It's through the challenges and problems that we stretch our selves and develop new thoughts and skills. That leaves no choice but to emerge as a stronger and more capable human than before, not just for ourselves, but for the people around us.

Lesson 3: The Value of Empathy and Compassion

It is so easy to get caught up in the bottom line of closing files, building a business, and earning commissions. However, it is the human element that makes all the effort and hard work worth it . My experience over these last 2 years as a mortgage agent has reinforced the profound impact of empathy and compassion. Behind every mortgage application, there is a story—a dream, a hardship, a goal, a challenge. Especially during these last 2 years with so much stress and frustrations that have seemingly boiled over for many individuals and families.

By approaching each interaction with as much empathy and compassion as possible, I've been able to provide guidance, support, and service beyond what I even thought would be required. This lesson goes so much farther beyond business, and serves as a reminder of the importance of kindness and understanding in our regular interactions with others, especially within our own families.

My wife is a nurse of almost 20 years. The nuances and unimaginable pressures of a nurse in the Canadian health care system is worth its very own article (maybe multiple), that I will not even attempt to take a stab at. But what I can do, is practice empathy, as her perspectives and experiences from her professional life, are very different than mine.

Same goes for my son. Who is "only" 8 years old, so care-free, innocent, happy, and will have his own curiosities and challenges as he navigates what remains of his childhood, teenage years, and young-adulthood. That will all happen (way too quickly!) in a much different world than I grew up in. Doing my best to understand the world through his eyes will serve me well in my role in guiding, helping, and supporting him through the upcoming years.

As I reflect on these lessons from my first 2 years as a mortgage agent, I'm reminded that success isn't solely measured by professional achievements. It's in the moments of personal growth and fulfillment, the connections made, and the challenges overcome. I hope if anything, these last 2 years have laid a solid foundation I can build on for both my professional career and personal growth.

If you made it to the end, thank you for reading. If my reflections resonated with you or sparked thoughts of your own, I encourage you to share it. Whether it's in the comments below or through a message, let's celebrate the wins and challenges that we can all learn from.