The Deal Desk (blog)

September 4, 2024: Ikigai is a Japanese concept referring to the reason for being or the thing that gives your life purpose and meaning. It combines 1. Passion (what you love), 2. Mission (what the world needs), 3. Profession (what you are good at), and 4. Vocation (what you can be paid for). Finding your…

August 28, 2024: The Book of Proverbs is about 3000 years old and is believed to have been written by King Solomon. The phrase “steel sharpens steel” is often attributed to Proverbs 27:17, which states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Recently, I had a conversation with a successful business owner who…

August, 22, 2024: The need for  “more cowbell from the classic SNL skit is all about injecting extra enthusiasm, energy, and effort into your performance to make it truly exceptional and unforgettable. This can be applied not only in music, where it can give a song a distinctive and memorable impact, but also in various other…

August 9, 2024: I’ve been reading “Meditations of Ralph Waldo Emerson – Into the Green Future” complied and edited by Chris Highland. It’s been on my bookshelf for a while. It has valuable and timeless insights and inspiration for mortgage loan officers on professional and personal development. Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” emphasizes the importance of trusting…

August 6, 2024: Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator and author of the book “Never Split the Difference” He is known for his expertise in negotiation techniques. A mortgage loan officer can learn much from the several effective negotiation techniques from this book. For starters, Voss emphasizes the importance of active listening in…

August 3, 2024: Zen Buddhism emphasizes the importance of the “beginner’s mind.” This concept encourages an approach to life with an open mind, free from preconceptions and assumptions. With a beginner’s mind, we experience the world with fresh eyes and a sense of curiosity, allowing for new insights and personal growth. The Zen master Shunryu…

August 1, 2024: Mark Twain famously said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” This quote succinctly captures the idea that much of our worry is unfounded and unnecessary, as the things we fear often do not come to pass. The majority of worries, over 70 percent, never…

July 27, 2024: In the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the “frame problem” presents a significant challenge, as it pertains to determining all the relevant aspects of a scenario that must be considered in making a decision. This challenge involves recognizing and understanding all the essential details and their interactions within the given “frame” that…

July 23, 2024: Lessons from “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferriss Productivity not Busyness: Ferriss emphasizes the importance of focusing on tasks that are high-impact and productive, rather than simply staying busy. Prioritize tasks that directly contribute to closing deals and generating revenue.  Outsourcing and Delegation: Ferriss advocates outsourcing tasks that can be done more efficiently…

July 13, 2024: The recently published 2023 HMDA report on mortgage transactions by lenders, which includes banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies, had some interesting and revealing details: There were 4,460 lenders reporting in 2022, and 5,113 lenders reporting in 2023. (The data, however, does not specify the exact number of new mortgage…