What a Business Master Class Taught Me About Leadership, Culture, and Growth

Over the past week, I had the chance to step out of the day-to-day and into a room full of growth-minded business owners at a Business Master Class. It was intense, thought-provoking, and packed with insights I’ll be applying directly to how we lead, serve, and grow as a mortgage company.

Here are a few takeaways that truly hit home for me:

1. Your Personality Is Your Reality

This one stopped me in my tracks. In business—and especially in leadership—we often chase outcomes: more volume, higher performance, stronger client loyalty. But the truth is, we don’t get what we want—we get what we are.
That’s why who you bring into your company matters so much. We’re not just hiring for skills—we’re hiring for energy, values, and alignment with the culture we want to build.

2. Culture Is Built at the Hiring Table

If your business culture feels off, the first place to look isn’t your mission statement—it’s your hiring practices.
Culture is shaped by who you hire, and protected by who you let go. You don’t evolve by accident—you evolve on purpose. That means having the courage to recruit for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
In our industry, that’s the difference between a transactional shop and a transformational one.

3. Marketing Isn’t About Explaining—It’s About Connecting

Mortgage is a numbers game, sure—but behind every number is a family, a first-time homebuyer, or a person building toward their dream. And the truth is: great marketing doesn’t start with features or rate sheets.
It starts with connection.
The best marketing doesn’t convince—it captivates. It earns attention, builds trust, and makes people feel something. Because when you win hearts, the minds follow.