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Spring may not yet be here. But, Spring Training has once again begun in baseball. Hope springs eternal.
Each year major league baseball teams across the country travel to designated sites to get ready for the new season, with their eyes on winning the World Series. Professional players who have dedicated their lives to one thing, playing baseball, go back and start over, getting back to basics.
To be successful, these teams and their players believe in the need to start over and reinvent themselves; analyzing, developing and practicing their craft in attempts to improve.
- How can they make things better and progress to the next level?
- How do they stay one step ahead of their competition?
- How do they prepare to win?
It shouldn’t be any different in business. Companies need to constantly analyze their strengths and weakness to identify ways to improve their business, performance, and profits.
Things are constantly evolving with new products, new technology, and new consumers. Every business needs to keep up.
- Do you know what your competition is up to?
- Are you aware of changes in products and services?
- How about the needs of today’s homebuyers and owners?
Lenders need to set the wheels in motion to ensure their team is well prepared to compete and win in the current lending environment. Understand what needs to change and what needs to improve.
This can’t be accomplished if your team isn’t built on a strong foundation of quality. Everyone must be dedicated to doing things right, for all the right reasons.
Spring training and the spring buying season is a time to get back to basics. Yes, identify and incorporate what needs to change, but don’t overlook that on which success is built.
In baseball, it’s things like pitching, hitting, catching, throwing, and running. There may be new techniques or methods to help hone these skills, but the key is in knowing what needs to get done. Then practice, practice, practice, until it becomes second nature.
In lending, it’s the same. Identify what is needed to compete, develop the processes and technology, and then train the team. Do what needs to be done to continue to be successful. Things like:
- Well trained staff
- Taking complete applications
- Explain the process to the consumer so they understand what to expect
- Streamlined processes to minimize delays
- Continued communication and follow up
- Understanding the needs of your customer
- A commitment to quality
Just as there are no shortcuts to the World Series, there are no shortcuts to a successful business. It takes players, training, practice, and commitment.
Spring training is the time for ballplayers to get back to basics. The spring buying season is the time for lenders to so as well.
Let’s have a great season.
