At the beginning of the 20^th century, a man who would go on to build an animation empire was born. Throughout his life, Walt Disney laid the foundation for what is now one of the largest entertainment conglomerates in the world. But like many, Disney started out small and dealt with his share of struggles and naysayers along the way. While it might seem like commercial mortgage brokers don’t have much in common with the man behind the mouse, there are many lessons they can learn from Walt Disney:

Learn from failure.

The early years of Disney’s career were marked by failures and financial woes. Despite these struggles, Disney persevered and became easily the most recognizable name in animation. As a commercial mortgage broker you will face your own setbacks, from uncooperative borrowers to deals that fall through at the last minute. However, if you remain dedicated to your mortgage business, you’ll succeed.

Don’t be afraid to get creative.

Obviously, creativity was an enormous part of Disney’s success. While the commercial mortgage industry might not seem like a hot bed of creativity, as a broker you can experiment with the way you market yourself and your mortgage business. Don’t be afraid to try new things to bring in business.

Surround yourself with the best talent.

Another reason Disney did so well was because he hired the best talent. Whether it was artists and animators or producer and directors, Disney made sure he had the right people working for him. If you own a company, you need to do the same. Make sure you hire employees who share your business vision and will work hard to help you achieve it.

Focus on your goals.

Although there were always people who didn’t believe in Disney’s ideas, he pursued his goals and remained focused. As a commercial mortgage broker, you need to do the same in order to succeed in the industry.

Walt Disney made a name for himself not only because he was talented, but because he was a hard worker who was dedicated to his dreams. Commercial mortgage brokers would do well to remember that perseverance, creativity, the right people and focus are all major factors of success in the business of closing loans. In the words of the man behind the mouse, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

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