Who before what

I’ll never forget the first time I met Mike Hardwick as I was interviewing to come to work at Churchill Mortgage. My younger brother was in town, and he needed to run some errands, so he dropped me off at the old four-story brick building on Old Hickory Boulevard in Brentwood, TN. I had no idea what to expect, as I knew nothing about the mortgage business and came from a completely different industry and a large global corporate culture. A culture that I had thrived in, but felt like I had to be what they wanted, not who I was. A culture that only cares about my output: I was a little nervous. 

I remember Mike asking about my family, wanting to know about my parents, my relationship with them, how often I got back up to Massachusetts to visit. We spent an hour talking about everything BUT the mortgage business. And then he said something I’ll always remember. He said around here; you won’t find people walking around the hallways angry and yelling at each other or using foul language. The culture just doesn’t allow it. He said we could teach people the mortgage business. We can teach someone how to take an application, and we can teach someone to process a loan, but what we can’t do is take someone who is generally dishonest and make them honest. We can’t take someone who is naturally argumentative and make them harmonious. We are looking for people who fit who we are.  

At Churchill, we work on WHO we are as people before we worry about how and what we do. The how and the what improves who we are growing to be improves. 

This is so critically important during times of pressure. As when you are squeezed, who you truly are comes out. Do you run or stand firm? Do you blame others or take extreme ownership? Do you run around with your hair on fire, or do you slow down and think? Do you seek to understand, or do you just try to make a point?

Take the time to write out WHO you want to be. Be specific. Create what we call core convictions for yourself that can act as a guide for your own behaviors. Convictions that you can default to when things get tough. Be more intentional with WHO and your what and how will reach new levels. 

The below are mine:

1. I believe I was created to serve others, without exception
2. Be the hardest working person in the room
3. Be the expert
4.  Leave people better for the encounter
5. Do the next right thing
6. Mornings matter

There are a lot of details, story, and meaning behind each one, but that’s a song for another time...