Tag Archives: management

How John Cady Is Transforming the Mortgage Industry Through Leadership, Accountability, and Innovation

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An Executive Leadership Interview with Top Mortgage Coach Dan Manginelli and Citywide Home Mortgage President & CEO John Cady

Dan Manginelli: John, you’ve spent more than 35 years in the mortgage industry and have helped build organizations producing over $21 billion annually. What has kept you passionate about this business for so long?

John Cady: The mortgage industry has given me incredible opportunities to help families achieve homeownership while helping professionals build meaningful careers. Early in my career, I measured my success by the loans I originated. Today, success is measured by the leaders we develop, the cultures we build, and the impact we leave on others. Watching loan officers and executives grow into exceptional leaders is every bit as rewarding as helping borrowers purchase a home.

Dan Manginelli: Throughout your career you’ve become known as one of the industry’s premier leadership voices. What defines great leadership today?

John Cady: Leadership starts with serving others. To me, it’s about creating an environment where people can perform at their highest level while growing personally and professionally. That requires trust, transparency, accountability, coaching, and continuous learning. Leaders should remove obstacles, develop people, and create opportunities, not simply manage production numbers.

Dan Manginelli: Accountability has become one of your signature topics. Why is it so important?

John Cady: Accountability isn’t about pressure, it’s about measurable action. Goals without measurable behaviors rarely produce results. Whether it’s meeting with referral partners, handing out business cards, engaging on social media, or making prospecting calls, growth comes from consistently executing the activities that create business. Accountability gives people clarity, focus, and confidence because they know exactly what drives success.

Dan Manginelli: You’ve written extensively about developing the next generation of mortgage leaders. Why has that become such a priority?

John Cady: Our industry is at an important crossroads. Many experienced leaders will eventually retire, and we have a responsibility to prepare the next generation. That doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentional recruiting, mentoring, coaching, and leadership development. We must stop expecting young professionals to simply figure it out. Instead, we need to invest in them from day one.

Dan Manginelli: What do younger loan officers and leaders want today that previous generations may not have emphasized?

John Cady: They’re looking for purpose, growth, coaching, and collaboration. Compensation is important, but it isn’t the only factor. They want meaningful work, feedback, opportunities to develop, and a culture where they feel valued. Great companies understand those priorities and create environments where multiple generations can succeed together.

Dan Manginelli: Since joining Citywide Home Mortgage, you’ve led tremendous growth. What has driven that success?

John Cady: Citywide already had a fantastic culture centered around entrepreneurial loan officers and personalized service. Our opportunity was to combine that culture with industry-leading technology, expanded product offerings, strategic recruiting, and leadership development. We’ve focused on building a company where talented professionals have the freedom, support, and resources to grow without sacrificing culture. That approach has allowed us to attract outstanding people and accelerate growth.

Dan Manginelli: You’ve been recognized by HousingWire as a Vanguard and National Mortgage Professional as both an Industry Titan and Legend of Lending.  What do those honors mean to you?

John Cady: They’re certainly humbling, but they really reflect the people I get to work alongside every day. Awards recognize outcomes, but those outcomes are produced by great teams. I’m fortunate to work with incredible leaders who care deeply about our clients, our loan officers, and each other. That’s what makes organizations successful over the long term.

Dan Manginelli: You have an impressive background in coaching and professional development. Why have you invested so heavily in education?

John Cady: I’ve always believed leaders should continue learning. Throughout my career I’ve pursued leadership education through the Disney Institute, the Management and Strategy Institute, and numerous executive development programs because I believe growth never stops. The more we improve ourselves, the better equipped we are to help others improve.

Dan Manginelli: Your career spans every major lending channel—retail, wholesale, consumer direct, credit unions, joint ventures, recruiting, and operations. How has that shaped your perspective?

John Cady: It allows me to view the mortgage business holistically. Every channel has unique strengths and challenges, but ultimately success always comes back to people, leadership, operational excellence, and customer experience. Technology continues to evolve, but relationships remain the foundation of this business.

Dan Manginelli: Outside the office, community involvement has always been important to you.

John Cady: Absolutely. I’ve spent many years volunteering with the homeless and coaching youth football, baseball and soccer. Those experiences remind me that leadership extends well beyond business. Giving back teaches humility, patience, and service—qualities that make better leaders in every area of life.

Dan Manginelli: If you could give one piece of advice to an ambitious loan officer or mortgage executive, what would it be?

John Cady: Never stop investing in yourself. Learn continuously. Seek coaching. Build relationships. Stay accountable. Markets will always change, but professionals who embrace growth, develop leadership skills, and consistently serve others will always find opportunities to succeed.

Dan Manginelli: John, thank you for sharing your leadership philosophy and your vision for the future of our industry.

John Cady: Thank you, Dan. It’s been a pleasure. The future of mortgage lending is incredibly bright for leaders who are willing to invest in people, embrace innovation, and build organizations centered around trust, accountability, and service.

Why Top Loan Officers Choose Dan Manginelli as Their Mortgage Coach

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In the mortgage industry, the highest-performing loan officers understand a simple truth: success leaves clues, and nobody reaches elite levels alone.

The nation’s top athletes have coaches. The world’s best CEOs have advisors. The highest-performing sales professionals invest in mentorship and accountability. The mortgage industry is no different. That is why many of the country’s top-producing loan officers choose Dan Manginelli as their mortgage coach.

Dan Manginelli is widely recognized as one of the mortgage industry’s leading coaches, consultants, and growth strategists. With more than 35 years of experience in mortgage banking, leadership development, sales training, and business coaching, Dan has dedicated his career to helping loan officers build high-performing, sustainable businesses.

As a former mortgage company owner and current Sales Coaching Executive, Dan’s coaching philosophy goes beyond motivation. His coaching focuses on accountability, systems, execution, leadership development, referral partner growth, technology adoption, and measurable business results. His belief is simple: “If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know your business.”

What separates Dan from traditional mortgage coaches is his practical, real-world approach. Rather than offering generic advice, Dan helps loan officers create actionable business plans, implement proven systems, strengthen referral relationships, improve communication, and develop the habits required for long-term success. His coaching combines accountability with execution, helping originators turn goals into measurable results.

The results speak for themselves.

Top-producing loan officer Allyson Kreycik, who funds over $180 million annually, credits coaching with helping her move from a reactive business to a proactive one built on systems, goals, and accountability. She reported a 51% increase in production while implementing coaching strategies.

Jeff Bochsler, a top-producing mortgage professional in Santa Barbara, increased his business by 59% while using Dan’s coaching system. He compares coaching to having a professional trainer, explaining that accountability and measurable performance tracking helped him reach production levels he never thought possible.

Mike Sanchez experienced a 62% increase in production and credits coaching with dramatically improving both his accountability and communication skills. According to Mike, coaching is a must for loan officers who want to scale their businesses by 30%, 40%, or even 50%.

Other nationally recognized mortgage professionals including Paul Archibald, Kelly Manderscheid, Dominic Mancini, Pat Gannon, Scott Lief, Chris Totani, and Dan Gjeldum have all shared similar stories of increased production, improved confidence, stronger systems, and better business execution through coaching. Many report growth ranging from 19% to over 60% after implementing Dan’s coaching principles.

One recurring theme among these top producers is accountability. Dan helps loan officers establish daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals while tracking key performance indicators that directly impact production. His coaching helps originators focus on the activities that create new referral relationships, generate purchase business, increase pre-approvals, and ultimately close more loans.

But coaching isn’t only about production. Dan emphasizes leadership development, mindset, discipline, consistency, and creating balance between business success and personal fulfillment. He believes that sustainable success comes from strong relationships, servant leadership, and continuous improvement.

As the mortgage industry continues to evolve, top producers recognize that staying competitive requires more than experience alone. It requires adaptability, accountability, and a willingness to grow. That’s why so many of the nation’s leading loan officers continue to invest in coaching.

For those looking to elevate their production, strengthen their business, and create long-term success, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: top loan officers choose Dan Manginelli because coaching isn’t an expense — it’s an investment in becoming the best version of themselves.

Moses and His Mouth

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Confidence

Is there any better confidence boost than being chosen by God himself? You wouldn’t think so, but despite the fact that Moses was singled out to lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt and hand-picked to receive the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai, this father of the faith urged God to bestow the honor on someone else. The problem? Moses wasn’t confident speaking in front of large groups and was thought to have a speech impediment. It’s surprising, then, to learn that he’s mentioned more in the Bible’s New Testament than any other Old Testament figure. Sometimes others see our potential much more clearly than we do.

The Blueprint For Confidence

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It’s never too late to be who you might have been. ~ George ElliotThe Blueprint For Confidence

The Blue Print For Confidence

So much of what happens in our lives, the decisions we make that propel us down one path or the other, all comes down to confidence. Whether we have it or whether we project it.

Confidence – meaning “assurance, poise, self belief – is the fuel that allows us to fly, the lack of which keeps us grounded. Confidence attracts confidence and gets us to try new things, even things seemingly beyond our reach. New jobs, daring adventure, that new relationship you thought was out of your reach. It makes or breaks us, in terms of success.

So, the question is: How do you get confidence?

Your attitude is a choice in building it, but there are some sure-fire ways to start building more confidence in your life.

One: Set yourself up for success by choosing to feel good about yourself.

Now, that seems simple enough, but think of it this way: Have you ever lost a little weight and it seemed like every time you turned around, someone was saying, “You look great. Oh my gosh! What is it about you? Did you get a haircut? You look phenomenal.”You felt good about yourself that day. And you probably felt empowered and more accomplished at work that day, too.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of wearing something you feel good in. That pair of jeans or a shirt that people always compliment. Your power suit. That great pair of shoes. When you feel like that, you have an extra boost of confidence to attempt bigger, better things. Nothing’s going to stop you, and you can do anything. That’s how you want to feel about yourself every day.

Two: Repeat after me: knowledge is confidence.

The more you know, the more confident you feel to talk about it. So that’s an easy one, right? There is no reason why you shouldn’t be learning every single day. It’s a win-win: a confidence builder that keeps on giving and giving.

Whether you’re in real estate, shoes or automotive sales – or whatever you do for a living – you can separate yourself from the pack by knowing more about your product, your market, your competition, etc., than anyone else in your company. It’s that knowledge that gives you confidence.

So, tonight, instead of watching 30 minutes of TV, make it 30 minutes to success. Devote 30 minutes to researching new information about your trade, and see how well that information serves you the next day.

Prepare and project.

But it’s not just about building your own confidence, also important is the way you express yourself, handle yourself. The way you project confidence. It’s in the way you carry yourself. It’s in the tone of your voice, the way you approach sharing the knowledge and passion you have for your work.

There are a lot of people that just ‘wing it.’ The presentation, the sales pitch, they just flat out ask for whatever it is they want.

Believe me, you can always tell when someone is winging it; they are just talking about what they know, instead of what the other person really wants to know.

Preparation builds confidence. Think back to when you prepared for a test at school. You studied by yourself and with others, and you felt like you knew it all. The day of the test, you knew in your mind that you were prepared. You knew the answers. Now think of the time you didn’t prepare for the test. You ‘winged it.’ You had very little confidence that you would pass, in fact you had such anxiety that you made yourself feel sick-sick enough to stay home from school.

Confidence isn’t rocket science. It’s a simple of matter of doing all you can to be the best you can be. And the great news is: You can do it now. You can fix it now. Whatever it takes to boost your confidence, make it up to yourself. Wear or buy more of that thing you wear that makes you feel sharp, professional, stylish and smart. Look the part of the successful person you are. Spend time everyday learning as much as you can about what you do. Empower yourself to succeed by digging for knowledge that sets you apart from the pack.

Confidence may not be something you’re born with, but you can grow it with a little effort.

YOUR BEST… ON PAPER
What do you have right now, this very day, to be confident about?

Write it down.

What skills or attributes are you most proud of and how do they help you in business and in life?

The 4 Things People Want From A Leader

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Business Executives Running in a Race

“You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want.” Zig Ziglar

It’s no secret the world is in a protracted economic crisis caused by many different and competing factors–and it may be awhile before recovery really takes hold. It’s enough to make people lose faith in just about anything. But Rob Goffee, author, Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School and former Director of Human Resources for the BBC, argues that if we lose faith in our leaders, we stand to lose everything. Great businesses, he insists, led by great people will bring our current difficulties to an end.

The very definition of leadership, according to Goffee, is the ability to excite people to exceptional performance. What’s more, people want exceptional performance everywhere–our schools, our hospitals, our local businesses, even our sports teams! Goffee and his students asked over 1,000 people what they wanted from leaders in these tough times and they arrived at four things, listed here in order of importance:

Community. People want to belong to something. Being part of a team is highly motivating.

Authenticity. People want to be led by a real person they can trust. We know instinctively when leaders are only in it for themselves. Performance is always the first thing to suffer and if demoralization sets in, there may be dire consequences to the entire organization.

Significance. People want to be recognized for their part in the contribution to the whole. We want to have meaning but, again, not just bring home a paycheck. Individual recognition is one of the most critical functions a leader must fulfill regularly.

Excitement. Leaders, from local business owners to CEO’s, have the ability to transform organizations and enrich lives. If leaders are not excited about what they are doing, you can be sure the employees are dragging quietly behind them.

Effective leadership is an authentic, skillful role performance. It requires lots of action, and it’s always difficult, but it’s always worth it. Try it with those who follow you and share these tips with your clients and colleagues!

Radical Change

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Radical Change

change-architect-sign1

Who is your support group or person? Every successful person has that person or group, that no matter what you do it gives you unconditional motivation. That same person can call you out on your shortfall without you getting defensive. We all need a person or group that will bring us up after a day of lead generating that felt like you accomplished nothing. At the same time they call us weak for quitting before you get a lead.

We all like to say we are self starters, self motivated. It’s time to wake up! If you keep showing up and getting the same results, you’re not moving forward, you are back sliding. CEO’s at the highest level have a coach and or a mastermind group that they consult to perform at higher levels.

Stop waiting and start wanting. Michael Caplan, CEO E Trade Group wrote, “To succeed as a team is to hold all of the members accountable for their true actions and expertise.”

Go to your office today, find the people in your office that you want to emulate or simply respect, and set up a mastermind group. If you take this challenge, make sure that at your first meeting you all agree to be BRUTALLY HONEST with each other. This group is not to be a social wine club, this group is to push you to new levels, to call each other out with respect and always reminding each other that this is to break the barriers of complacency.

If you want unconditional love, with no feedback on anything you do wrong, or helping you to new financial levels, its best you just get a pet! We all love what we do and I wouldn’t do anything else than what I do. So I have to have people around to tell me when I get off focus and realign me with my goals. I said we need radical change. Will you make a radical change?

It’s All In Your Head

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When I try to think ‘big picture’ about what makes people successful in business or in life, the first and most obvious part of the ‘big picture’ to me is this: It’s all in your head!

Meaning, it’s what’s in your head that sabotages you. Our minds are powerful tools that can be used to both imprison and free us.To be successful,we have to be mentally strong enough to respond to whatever happens in a positive, pro-active way.

Mental toughness is a process. It just doesn’t happen overnight. It’s like any kind of strength training. You start out slowly, with smaller weights. You learn to pick and choose the options that work best for you, where you are.

When something terrible or unexpected happens, youmay be prone to thinking, “You know, that’s just my luck. Stuff like this always happens to me.”
Or, even when things are rolling along smoothly, you may be one of those worriers—that personwho always assumes theworstwill happen in any given situation.

Self-image is a tough thing for all of us. We all have our own insecurities, our own sense of inadequacy, even failure. And if you really just want to try to hold on to what you have, that negative self-image will always speak louder in your head than anything else. People with half your ability will accomplish more in life only because they believe better things about themselves. Their perception makes for a more successful reality.

The beginning of mental conditioning is training yourself to recognize and acknowledge the strengths you already have. Everyone says, ‘If I could just live up to my potential,’ but to be honest, I don’t buy that.We’re always looking for abilities we wish we had, rather than recognizing the gifts and skills we already have.

Why do you suppose that is?

Everybody’s afraid of what others think.When you close your eyes, that person is in your head, saying what you think they think about you (and it’s never good).We’re always afraid that someone’s going to pull the curtain back and find out we don’t know asmuch as we think we know.That somehow we’re not as accomplished, smart or successful as they are.

Even when all the talent and know-how and drive and determination is already there to succeed, just a whiff of fear will kill it before it even begins.

That’s why it’s essential to ‘retrain’ your mind to work FOR you, not against you. Train it to take the time to gain perspective, to respond, not to react.To think: ‘What are my options here?’

Whatever the situation—whether it’s personal relationship trouble or challenges in business—you always have options. Mentally, you lay it all out: What do I really want to do? What is the best way to respond to get what I want?What will be the best scenario short-term? Long term?

Each option comes with a given consequence, so you train yourself to think through those as well. Some of the consequences automatically rule out the option.

Once you narrow down the options, keeping ‘mind over matter’ means you learn to play to your best strength and go with the option you know you’ll be best at, the response that will work best for you.

If you see yourself as a person who already has the talent and skill and drive and determination to get things done…If underneath all that is a fundamental belief that you deserve to succeed in everything you work hard at…

How and where and who you envision yourself to be is how and where and who you are…and will be.

Always…
be willing to try…
be actively learning…
lead by example…
believe you add value to whatever you do…
be open…
be contagious…
Is this you? If not, begin each day retraining yourself to think, speak and act in affirming, intentional and positive ways. To change your perspective is to change your life.

The Value of “Thank You”

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There are certain times of the year when thankfulness seems more plentiful. Thanksgiving Day is a natural time to pause and count our blessings, while the Christmas holiday is a natural time to be thankful for the family, friends and celebrations that add meaning to our lives.

The rest of the year, most of us don’t say ‘thank you’ nearly enough.

I know the importance of those two little words, though. That’s why I make sure to say ‘thank you’ to all those who help me do what I do:

• Thank you for working alongside me.

• Thank you for your loyalty and belief in me.

• Thank you for your strength to get through the frustration and the tears.

• Thank you for your drive to work hard and be the best you can be.

• Thank you for your part in helping us grow by leaps and bounds.

Taking time out to let those around you know they are appreciated, that the work they do is noticed and valued, goes a long way. It can turn a promising newcomer into a top producer. It can make a committed team member really shine. It can make the people around you not just willing but eager to help you look your best.

Do you want to reach the top? Don’t forget to say ‘thank you’ along the way to those who are helping you achieve that goal.

Who can you thank today and for what? Don’t wait. Do it now.

Change Your Perception, Change Your Life

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We’ve all heard it said that ‘perception is reality,’ but have you thought about the fact that a lot of the adversity we face in our lives is rooted in our perception?

So, what is perception? Perception, defined, is ‘the process of using the senses to acquire information about the surrounding environment or situation.’ It is also an impression, an attitude or understanding based on what is observed through your thoughts.

So, what is your perception of your career, your life, your finances? Is your perception part of the problem or part of the solution?

If your perception of the economy right now and anything that is happening in the world is that it’s all on the skids and that buying and investing in anything at this time is ludicrous, that is your reality. There is nothing I could say, no evidence I could present to change your perception or the resulting reality.

Now, 80 percent of Americans worry about things that never happen. But every now and then, out of all of those hundreds of things we worry about, one actually happens, confirming the perception that what you worry about will happen. But a vast majority of the time, we worry about things that never come to be.

That worry spills over to the people in our lives, creating perceptions in others that may or may not be reality based. Negativity breeds negativity. Hopefulness breeds hopefulness.

The other day, I was out with my children, riding bikes, when we came across one of our neighbor’s sons. This was the conversation that took place between the two boys:

“Hey! Did you get a new bike?” the five-year old neighbor kid asked.

“Yes,” answered my son, enthusiastically.

“I wanted a new bike, but I couldn’t get one because of the enonomy.”

The ‘enonomy’? How could a five-year-old kid know about the economic impact on his desire for a new bike? Somewhere in his house, his parent’s perception of the economy trickled down to him.

Think about this: In the past eight hours, what have you communicated about your life, about your career? Whatever industry you’re in—whatever role you’re filling at present—what kind of perception are you operating under? Are you approaching what you do with a positive outlook? Are you focusing on the problem or on the solution? And how do you relate your perception to others?

Times are tough. Challenges are part of the journey. But if you change your perception, it will change the reality of your life.

What’s holding you back?

Charles Schwab is dyslexic, but that didn’t stop him from achieving success in the business world through the investment firm that bears his name. The 55th richest person in the U.S. according to the 2008 Forbes 400 list, Schwab started a foundation that provides support, encouragement and resources for families impacted by learning disabilities.

Changes to Underwater Refinance Plan Going Into Effect

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On October 24, 2011, President Obama announced plans to open up refinancing to more homeowners who are underwater. This proposal was a revision to the previous Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and is now known as HARP 2.0.

Some of the major changes under HARP 2.0 include:

No underwater limits: Previously, borrowers whose loan-to-value limits were greater than 125 percent were ineligible to refinance. Now, borrowers can refinance no matter how far their homes have fallen in value.

Appraisals may be eliminated and underwriting relaxed for most borrowers: Being able to use this program may save time and money, and remove some of the anxiety from the refinancing process.

Deadline extended: Borrowers now have until December 31, 2013 to get refinanced under HARP 2.0.

These changes will be put into effect by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the week of March 19, 2012.

It’s also important to note that the HARP 2.0 Program is for loans that were secured by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac prior to June 1, 2009.Currently, loans obtained after this date are not eligible for this program. You can determine whether your mortgage is owned by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae by checking the following websites:

Give me a call or send me an email if you want to learn more about these changes. I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have!


Mind Over Matter

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mindmatter

 

Before Disney was ‘Disney’

Walt Disney is remembered as one of the most successful film producers, directors, animators and entrepreneurs of all time. More than 40 years after his death, The Walt Disney Company owns, among other assets, five vacation resorts, 11 theme parks, two water parks, 39 hotels, eight movie studios, six record labels and 11 cable TV networks. In 2007, the company had an annual revenue of more than $35 billion annually. But not everyone believed in the future Academy Award winner. Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper job because he ‘lacked imagination and had no original ideas.’
[Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com]

When I try to think ‘big picture’ about what makes people successful in business or in life, the first and most obvious part of the ‘big picture’ to me is this: It’s all in your head!

Meaning, it’s what’s in your head that sabotages you.Ourminds are powerful tools that can be used to both imprison and free us.To be successful,we have to be mentally strong enough to respond to whatever happens in a positive, pro-active way.

Mental toughness is a process. It just doesn’t happen overnight. It’s like any kind of strength training. You start out slowly, with smaller weights. You learn to pick and choose the options that work best for you, where you are.

When something terrible or unexpected happens, you may be prone to thinking, “You know, that’s just my luck. Stuff like this always happens to me.”

Or, even when things are rolling along smoothly, you may be one of those worriers—that personwho always assumes   happen in any given situation.

Self-image is a tough thing for all of us. We all have our own insecurities, our own sense of inadequacy, even failure. And if you really just want to try to hold on to what you have, that negative self-image will always speak louder in your head than anything else. People with half your ability will accomplish more in life only because they believe better things about themselves. Their perception makes for a more successful reality.

The beginning of mental conditioning is training yourself to recognize and acknowledge the strengths you already have. Everyone says, ‘If I could just live up to my potential,’ but to be honest, I don’t buy that.We’re always looking for abilities we wish we had, rather than recognizing the gifts and skills we already have.

Why do you suppose that is?

Everybody’s afraid of what others think.When you close your eyes, that person is in your head, saying what you think they think about you (and it’s never good). We’re always afraid that someone’s going to pull the curtain back and find out we don’t know as much as we think we know. That somehow we’re not as accomplished, smart or successful as they are.

Even when all the talent and know-how and drive and determination is already there to succeed, just a whiff of fear will kill it before it even begins.

That’s why it’s essential to ‘retrain’ your mind to work FOR you, not against you. Train it to take the time to gain perspective, to respond, not to react. To think: ‘What are my options here?’

Whatever the situation—whether it’s personal relationship trouble or challenges in business—you always have options.

Mentally, you lay it all out: What do I really want to do? What is the best way to respond to get what I want?What will be the best scenario short-term? Long term?

Each option comes with a given consequence, so you train yourself to think through those as well. Some of the consequences automatically rule out the option.

Once you narrow down the options, keeping ‘mind over matter’ means you learn to play to your best strength and go with the option you know you’ll be best at, the response that will work best for you.

If you see yourself as a person who already has the talent and skill and drive and determination to get things done…If underneath all that is a fundamental belief that you deserve to succeed in everything you work hard at…How and where and who you envision yourself to be is how and where and who you are…and will be.

Always…
be willing to try…
be actively learning…
lead by example…
believe you add value to whatever you do…
be open…
be contagious…

Is this you? If not, begin each day retraining yourself to think, speak and act in affirming, intentional and positive ways. To change your perspective is to change your life.

Smile Thieves

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People become what they think of themselves, good and bad.

It may sound strange to say so, but I want to talk about thieves. Not the bandit, shoplifter or pickpocket type, but the kind I like to call ‘smile thieves.’ We all know these people: You wake up happy and ready to conquer the day. You feel great, you look great. Then the smile thief appears and ruins your day with a comment like, ‘Isn’t that dress a little tight?’ or ‘What happened to your hair?’ These people rob you of your smile daily. They steal your confidence, your happiness and your zest for life on a regular basis.

Never give anyone the ability to change your day or mood. Challenges will come into your daily life and you will have to face them, but that’s different from willingly letting smile thieves wreak havoc. Often, these people are jealous of the happiness of others so they search for negatives in people like there is a reward for it.

People become what they think of themselves, good and bad. If you think of yourself as a beautiful, hard­working, successful individual and truly believe it, it will happen. If you see yourself as always struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, just getting by, that is what you will become.

You would never allow someone to reach in your pocket and steal money out of it, so why would you allow anyone to steal what is more important than money: your confidence. You have the power to make life great. If someone tries to change that with a negative comment, call them out on being a ‘smile thief.’

Whatever you do, don’t ever let anyone steal your smile.

5 or 53… It’s Easy

A smile is the most common facial expression and you can do it with as few as five pairs of facial muscles or as many as 53 (not surprisingly, it takes more effort to frown). Smiling also releases endorphins that make us feel better.

Write five affirmations that you can use each day to keep your confidence at an all time high.