Insight #2

Throughout my career in the mortgage industry, I have worked with numerous assistants. Just the nature of that support position meant typically about a two-year stint before they moved on to something else.

Years ago, I worked with one assistant for about 5 years. She was an excellent teammate and integral to my success, but the grind of the position was probably starting to weigh on her some.

At the end of the year, we met to discuss goals for the upcoming year. When I asked her what her personal or long-term goals were, she told me she had always wanted to be a teacher. I told her if that is what she really wanted, she should pursue that goal. It would take one year to get her teaching credential, then she could get hired to see if she like it. At worst, if she didn’t like it, she could always return to the business world, with the experience of knowing she had at least given her teaching goal a shot.

She went back to school at night, received her credentials, and was hired as a middle school math teacher, never to look back. She had worked in both the business world and in education and she knew she had found her calling as a math teacher.

The pivot in her career happened because of a meeting we had to discuss our goals as a team, which instead turned into a statement and action plan she had for pursuing a dream. It was her goal and her vision for herself. The roll I played was supporting her and giving her a slight push in that direction. She had the vision and had to do all of the work herself, but our short meeting breathed life into her dream which was enough to put her on a whole new career path.

Most of us harbor thoughts at one time or another of changing jobs or careers, or pursuing a side-hustle, or starting a business, but the weight of our current commitments keep us running in place.

Any pursuit of something different and meaningful, takes time, effort and sacrifice. When it comes to our goals and dreams, it’s always easier to envision, plan, ponder, and talk about them, than it is to act on them. But action is the only way our dreams move from our heads, into reality.

My assistant took that action all of those years ago and she found her calling in a new profession. I think that’s the recipe for all accomplishments, big and small. Have the dream and take action. The formula can’t get much simpler than that.

Baxter Scruggs

No matter what your definition of success is, or where you find yourself on this journey called life, these thirty stories will provide a fresh perspective, and help you rethink those beliefs that limit your goals, dreams and aspirations.