by Jamie Hannigan

As the holiday season of 2019 came to an end, the energy and momentum of 2020 had everyone’s attention. It was finally here. The year 2020 was the symbol of a new era, when everyone was simultaneously turning a page in their life stories. I declared the New Year to be my final deadline. No more excuses and no further delays, it was time to step out of my comfort zone. For years, I knew life had so much more to offer other than waking up, paying bills, and buying more things. I was seeking a challenge, a new experience, and ultimately chasing the excitement of a new endeavor.

My primary job as a mother is to keep life running smoothly, but I also live with an insatiable desire to keep evolving into the highest version of myself. It was just a matter of me mustering up enough courage to follow through with my vision. As Tony Robbins said, “If you want to take the island, you need to burn your boats.”

My plan was to burn every boat until I was forced to pull the trigger and start a new career in the mortgage industry. My husband, who’s been in the industry for decades, always made the business sound so rewarding. My desire to join him could not be suppressed any longer. I knew the time had come and secretly I was ready. I told everyone about my “New Year, New Me” decision, knowing my accountability would force me to follow through if I ever had second thoughts.

Then, it happened. The calendar flipped and by January 2020 I was a licensed New Jersey Mortgage Loan Officer. I officially made the leap and there was no turning back. Surprisingly, I was filled with more excitement than fear as I stepped into this new world. My new employer, Allied Mortgage Group, was authentically welcoming. The atmosphere was filled with a sense togetherness along with an underlying buzz of getting things done.

I was continually greeted with warm smiles and words of encouragement as I transitioned into their world. With my husband by my side and a strong support system behind me, I felt confident about the decision I made.

The lightness in the air made this new adventure seem less intimidating. Rates were at an all-time low, my pipeline was growing, and I was learning at light speed. I found myself in a perfect balance of making just enough mistakes to learn while not feeling like a complete failure on a daily basis. Life was good.

“Not so fast!” Life said. The calendar flipped again and in March 2020 the world stopped. Any type of normalcy faded away as each state began locking up its communities. Fear spread throughout the country and suddenly we were living in a state of quarantine. “We are living in unprecedented times,” they said. What they said was true; it was uncharted territory for all of us. We forged through life the best we could and met each day with the hopefulness of returning back to our old lives. The real truth was that it was never going to be the same.

Wait! Stop! Hello? Did the Universe forget I decided to change careers 90 days ago? Did she forget I traded my consistent biweekly paycheck for a “when I close a loan” commission check?  I couldn’t help but have moments of selfishness where I thought to myself, “what did I do?”  In the coming weeks, it only got more difficult. My pipeline began to shrink as my borrowers lost their jobs and found themselves scrambling to keep afloat. Stricter guidelines weeded out any loan that had the slightest hint of risk. People were going on unemployment and into forbearance as the whole world was in survival mode.

The lightness I once felt and the optimism I carried in my pocket was replaced with this heavy feeling of dread. It was only going to get worse as we battled the pandemic. I had to find a way to survive, as a mother, a wife, and as a new LO.

I relied on what I knew worked. Just like before, I had to burn all the boats. The boats were all the negative things that were happening around me and within me. I had to get rid of them or I didn’t have a chance to make it to better days. My survival techniques spell out the word ‘COVID’ to remind me how bad it could be and how I can still find solutions in the problem.

C – Connect. On a daily basis, even though we may be limited in our physical contact with others, don’t forget to reach out to friends and family. Make a phone call that isn’t work-related and you’ll clear some space in your mind. It’s food for our soul when we interact and nurture our friendships and relationships. Although social media can sometimes interfere with our daily lives, I have learned to make it work for me.  On Facebook, I joined a few Loan Officer Groups to remind me I am not alone in this profession. The page is often filled with funny jokes and sarcastic one-liners to help me through those rough days. You would be surprised how much you have in common with a loan officer in another state. These groups are welcoming and supportive and a great resource on so many levels.

O –  Openness. Things are changing every day and who knows what to expect in the coming months. It is so valuable to keep an open mind across the board. What worked before may not work now and what you thought was the best way to do something, may no longer be the case. I am beginning to learn the relationship between my flexibility and stress level. The more open-minded my thinking is, the less frustration I experience. Although I find so much comfort in excel spreadsheets, I am mindful not to stay too rigid in my thought process. There is a vast world of opportunities and creative ways to do business, generate business, and thrive despite any event we face in our career.

V – Visualize. Let’s face it, there are some loans you wish you never started. There are days when you feel like you are spinning in circles and running in place. Take the time to close your eyes and visualize yourself out of the chaos.  It only takes a moment to shift your energy and get out of the funk you might be experiencing. It may require intentionally thinking about better days but it is worth a few minutes to envision a new outcome.  To help me get to a better state internally, I recall the closing with the borrower who made me feel most appreciated, and I remember how rewarding this career can be when a family gets their dream home. Good memories and hopeful visions of the future instantly shift my energy back to the center.

I – Identify. We all have “our people,” the ones you call when you need clarification on a guideline or the person you email who gets right back to you with an answer. Your company is your team. Find the teammate who’s willing to answer your hundredth question, the one who always shows you a better way to do something, and, above all, the ones who support your success. I quickly learned who was a guru, who gave me constructive feedback, and who genuinely wanted to help a newbie. Remember you have direct access to your coworkers; they are in this industry with you. Use them as a resource to vent, to ask for help, or to simply relate. It’s easier to feel a connection with someone in your field. More than likely, they will offer you more comfort than you’d expect. You simply have to identify your teammates.

D– Detach. This is my favorite technique. On bad days, I tell my manager I am hiding in a closet and oddly enough she understands. Sometimes you simply have to walk away from your computer or shut off your phone. There will be times when the answers won’t come to you and your frustration is getting the best of you. In those chaotic times, know it’s life-giving you a red flag to shut things down. You might need more breaks than you do more leads, and it might make more sense to take a walk than it is to send ten more emails.

There will never be enough hours in the day to get all your boxes checked, all your borrowers called, and your pipeline bursting at the seams. Find the balance within you and trust your professional skill to prioritize what needs to be done.

We will continue to evolve as women in both our personal and professional lives, undoubtedly. We love the days we feel like rock stars and accept the days we work in pajamas. Whatever your position is and regardless of how long you’ve been in the mortgage industry, the advice always centers back to the simplicity of being kind and caring to yourself and others.

About Jamie Hannigan