This is me now

This blog is the journey of Xcel Lending.

My vision for Xcel comes from my experience:

It began in college as I was completing my finance degree.  I made a decision during my senior year to start writing home loans on a part-time basis for an escrow and mortgage company.  After college I became the full-time sole loan originator in the mortgage division of this company.

Fresh out of college

Eight months later I re-located from New Mexico to Texas to get away from the dust and tumbleweeds! Having no business contacts and fueled with nothing but a desire to succeed, I worked months on end to close my first loan, and then many more months until I had a consistent amount of business.

I made sales call after sales call and over months and then years I had enough business to hire employees and start my own branch.  A few years after managing my branch (while continuing to originate loans), I was promoted from branch manager to vice-president of retail lending.  As I shifted from sales to operations I worked tirelessly, spending many early mornings and late evenings at the office.  I improved at what I did and who I was, and my next title became Chief Operating Officer/Senior Vice President.  It was the highest position I could achieve in the company.  I worked in mergers and acquisitions, compliance, audits, risk analysis, and warehouse line management. For eleven years at the organization I worked my way to the top, and the mortgage division grew from one loan originator (myself) to $100 million per month in production.  I have a lot to be proud of.

But.

Fast forward to this moment today.

I have worked eleven years for this company and it is my last week as a corporate executive. These past eleven years have formed my vision for what I will do next.  I sit in my office with floor to ceiling glass windows and stare at the downtown traffic as I think upon what I have helped build and what I will now build.  In this economy many would say that I am crazy for leaving my corner office.

It is time.

Time to start afresh.

Time to live out my entrepreneurial dream: freedom in making growth decisions, freedom in determining my qualify of life.  Freedom from traffic.  Freedom from an unhealthy amount of stress.

I consider my co-workers.  Many of them have worked by my side for years.  We have grown together.  We have been through ups and downs.  They are my friends...and they inspire me to dream for my own.  My dream for my new business is to create a positive and supportive work environment.  I want to lift others up and value their contribution and importance--not only as employees partners but as human beings.   Teamwork makes the dream work.

I dream of Friday afternoons at the office where my team and I BBQ on the back porch grill as together we celebrate a great week and look forward to the weekend.  I imagine myself toasting a great year at the Christmas party as each employee opens a Christmas bonus check.  When I look back upon the last eleven years, the moments that gave me the most gratification were the ones where I gave of myself, contributed to others lives, and helped individuals take a step up.  I pray I can bless others, give, make a difference.

I dreams of opportunities for others and not just for myself.  It is more blessed to give than to receive.  --Acts 20:35

I dream of growing as a leader.  I dream of passing a legacy onto my children.  I desire the autonomy to make executive decisions on a daily basis.

I dream of treating every client with value.  Of creating a place where all employees respect every client.  Clients who become friends.  Clients who become repeat clients.  I aspire to have a work environment where me and mine are proud of who they serve.  Of being completely humble and gentle and patient. --Ephesians 4: 2

I dream of valued relationships with business associates, vendors, and partners.  Again, those who will be, or already are, friends. I value integrity and no one will question it.  May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. --Psalm 25:21

I dream.  I lead.  I serve.

Fresh out of the corner office

Welcome to my blog!