Mindset Monday - Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Over the course of the last couple months I have been a part of dozens of conversations about what we want this year to look like and what we hope the market will do. Now, don’t get me wrong I am as optimistic as everyone that this year the market will give us some better terms to do business under,
I am just not planning on it.
Hoping for things outside our control cannot and should not take the place of strategic planning. Plan for the environment that we are in, not a hypothetical one. A turn can take time, there is progress to be made in that time. A thought that has helped me lately is the idea of being excited about the work we are doing, and the impact we will make rather than what the market may give us. Regardless of what the market is doing, realize that we are blessed, we are some of the best of the best, and our clients and sphere need us playing ball. We keep swinging the bat, refining our swing, and if the market decides to cooperate those base hits will become home runs.
A few tips to producing an effective strategic plan:
Keep it simple. A former drill SGT I had in the Army used to say “keep it simple stupid”. Not the nicest way to frame it, but there was wisdom in there somewhere. We often feel like our problems are complex and they require equally complex solutions. We go deep into creating spreadsheets, adding more tech, and end up overwhelmed by the idea of executing the new plan. Your plan should be able to be easily understood by anyone who is charged with helping you achieve it, and it should be able to be easily communicated.
Don’t worry about knowing all the details of the plan. You don’t need it all figured out. You don’t need 100% of a solution. You need 80% of a plan and then you need to act resolutely. The plan will develop as times go on. You will regularly reassess and pivot as needed. Don’t have too fine a point on exactly what you hope to accomplish. This puts undo stress on you and causes you to miss the wins that come if they are not exactly what you set out for the result to be.
Play to your strengths. Plan for your weaknesses. Your plan should be a combination of playing to your strengths and reinforcing your weak points. If you struggle with tech, the cornerstone of your plan shouldn’t include adding new software. Can you mix new things in? yes, but don’t make it the foundation of the plan. If you are great in networking scenarios, the foundation would be to lean into it and shape a plan that gets you doing more of it, and makes you more effective in those scenarios. If tech is your weakness, pick one platform to focus on and shape a plan that creates simple and consistent implementation for 90+ days. It will become a habit and once a habit is formed, you can focus on adding another new tech endeavor.
We have a ton of business planning, marketing planning and support here a FW, take advantage of it. There are people here running amazing businesses in this market. Listen, learn and take their ideas and make them your own. Leverage your “superpower” to create an effective strategic plan. Mastermind with other team members and share ideas. Ignite runs a mastermind program and is creating these think tanks where you can incubate your ideas and get insight from others that are finding ways to win. I am in one and each meeting I walk away with nuggets to take to my business.
Written by Chris Catania
Chris Catania entered the mortgage industry in 2005. As a seasoned Branch Manager and coach at Fairway, Chris has consistently been at the forefront of providing, creative problem solving, exceptional service and tailored financial solutions. His commitment to excellence and deep understanding of the mortgage landscape have made him a trusted advisor and a leading figure in the field.
Beyond his professional achievements, Chris is a Army veteran, devoted husband and father. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Chris also brings his leadership experience and skills to the community as a coach, where he mentors individuals, teaching them the values of teamwork, discipline, accountability and perseverance. Chris Catania's blend of professional acumen, family dedication, and community involvement truly sets him apart as a respected professional and valued community member.
