Self Education

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In-N-Out vs. Five Guys – Pristine Systems Are Key!!

I had a brutal case of the flu last week and the only thing that sounded good at the tail end of it was cheeseburgers with raw onions. I have […]

June 21, 2019 3 min read
In-N-Out vs. Five Guys - Pristine Systems Are Key!!

Rental Car Horror Story – Analogous to … Everything!

My wife Heejin travels to our Texas branches every week and rents a car. She normally rents from Hertz Gold b/c it is so easy and frictionless – you literally […]

June 14, 2019 2 min read
Rental Car Horror Story - Analogous to ... Everything!

Why Shake Shack’s Founder Is So Inspirational! “Hospitality vs. Service”; Success Recipe!!

60% of restaurants fail in their first year of business, and 80% are gone in five years. That is why people are so inspired by Danny Meyer, the founder of […]

June 7, 2019 4 min read
Why Shake Shack's Founder Is So Inspirational!

All-Time Record Month!! Why and What Did We Learn?

May was another all-time record month for JVM Lending – with 83 loans and $45 Million funded. It is fun to look at what spurred our recent growth and success. […]

June 3, 2019 5 min read
All Time Record Month!! Why and What Did We Learn?

Away Luggage; Partnership, Networking and Life Lessons

I recently found out that my L.L. Bean luggage is very uncool 😊. My niece let me know after she listened to Away’s founder on this recent How I Built […]

May 23, 2019 3 min read
Away Luggage; Partnership, Networking and Life Lessons

The Extreme Need for Nice – Part II

My wife Heejin recently received the below text from an agent: “I just LOVE your team. You and Jay did good. These people are such beautiful souls. Jenna really helped […]

May 8, 2019 3 min read
The Extreme Need for Nice - Part II

Expect The Worst & Be Happier – Restraint, Logic, and Moving On

Years ago, we spent several hours and over five hundred dollars cleaning up a borrower’s credit. As a “thank you,” the borrower went silent on us, never paid us, and […]

May 3, 2019 2 min read
Expect The Worst & Be Happier - Restraint, Logic, and Moving On

Ego, Hubris, Hot Markets, & WAMU’s Collapse

I don’t share this often but I used to play in a summertime three-on-three basketball league with Steph Curry and LeBron James (they were my teammates). We not only went […]

April 26, 2019 3 min read
Ego, Hubris, Hot Markets, & WAMU's Collapse

Share Our Mortgage Info, Please! Educating Buyers With Awesome Content :)

One of our borrowers once told us – “I asked the same question to three other loan officers before I read the FAQs on your website, and none of the […]

March 25, 2019 2 min read
Share Our Mortgage Info, Please! Educating Buyers With Awesome Content :)

Benefits of Playing By The Rules; College Admissions Scandal

Years ago I worked for a company that required all applicants to pass an IQ test before they could be hired. And I remember one applicant in particular who had […]

March 15, 2019 2 min read
Benefits of Playing By The Rules; College Admissions Scandal

Be Lucky; Hire Lucky; Luck Can Be Cultivated

A friend of mine was recently promoted to the executive (“C-suite”) ranks of a nationwide food conglomerate and he is now set for life. When I congratulated him and asked […]

March 11, 2019 3 min read
Woman on top of red cliffs

The Importance of Perfect Shoelace Tying

John Wooden was one of the most successful people of all time, and his amazing record as UCLA’s basketball coach is proof of his success. He won 10 NCAA championships, […]

February 15, 2019 2 min read
The Importance of Perfect Shoelace Tying

Learning (a lot) From Dutch Bros Coffee!

Dutch Bros Coffee absolutely amazes me b/c they continue to open up new stores and thrive in the ridiculously crowded coffee shop field. There are many factors behind their success […]

January 30, 2019 2 min read
Learning (a lot) From Dutch Bros Coffee!

“It Takes At Least Ten Years to Build a Real Business”

BONOBOS FOUNDER GOES THROUGH HELL I was listening to the Bonobos (clothing) founder on the “How I Built This” podcast yesterday, and he was discussing the overwhelming issues he faced […]

January 24, 2019 3 min read
It Takes At Least Ten Years to Build a Real Business
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