Peace can be found in the midst of turmoil. The Greeks have one particular word they use for tranquility- euthymia which the stoic philosopher Seneca defines as ‘believing in yourself and trusting that you are on the right path’. The challenge Seneca says is to avoid doubt by following the countless footpaths of those wandering in every direction. Walking in that state produces tranquility.
Priorities help you not only achieve your goals and objectives, but they also help you regain control of your life. Which do you prefer?
There’s no doubt most of us are under increasing heat and pressure in our careers as reverse mortgage professionals. What can we learn and how can we benefit?
I am bracing myself. For what? The fact that my once quiet gym will be crowded with those starting their New Year’s resolutions. The good news is that by February there should be plenty of room and machines to choose from during my early morning workout. All kidding aside, resolutions do hold some value but many fail.
The value of interruption
Sometimes it’s best to avoid January 1st as the start date of our resolution. Why? Once we have made the internal commitment to improving postponing taking action sends the unconscious message that ‘this too can wait.’ Those who have successfully quit smoking have shared that they made a point to throw away half of their last pack. Friends who have committed to losing weight often begin in the middle of the week or the middle of the month. The importance of pairing our decisions with immediate action is key to keeping our internal promises to ourselves.
Looking ahead to 2019 perhaps we should reconsider our approach to New Year resolutions.
Have you finished your Christmas shopping? While most of our planning focuses on what gifts to buy here are some practical ways to get the most from this year’s holiday season.
1- Watch your calendar. With Christmas and New Years Day falling on Tuesday this year, you will need to move your most important actions and appointments on your calendar. Reschedule as needed before you leave the office today.
2- Set your email auto-responder. Create a short vacation reply for your holiday absences. It should include when you will be out of the office, who to contact in case of an emergency, and when those sending you a message can expect a reply.
3- Change your voicemail message. Just like your email set the expectation with those who may call your office during your holiday absence. Set a reminder on your calendar to revert back to your standard message when you return to the office.
4- Leave your work email alone. That’s right- don’t keep checking it repeatedly during your time with family and friends. Chances are most of your customers are taking time off from business matters as well. Any problems that may arise cannot be dealt with until your bank or lender opens anyway.
5- Remove the temptation. If you find yourself with an abundance of baked goods and holiday treats that you don’t want to tempt you- bring them to the office! They have a strange way of disappearing quickly in the break room. Problem solved!
6-Prepare your new year’s promotions. Each new year most find a sudden, albeit often temporary, sense of motivation to improve their lives. Seize upon this mindset to reach out to your potential borrowers on the opportunity to begin the new year with no monthly mortgage payments or increased monthly cash flow.
If you’re not having a bad day good. But when that inevitable time comes here are some great quotes to help you push through and continue moving forward.
Keeping your routine during the holidays has its benefits...
Welcome to our first periodic segment where we share what HECM professionals in the field are seeing when it comes to attracting and qualifying potential reverse mortgage borrowers...
Your experiences in the field hold value in helping equip HECM professionals...
