We recently had the chance to connect with Gene Griffin and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gene, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I run a brokerage, Summit Mortgage Solutions, and we specialize in Residential, Investment, and Commercial real estate lending. I feel most people misunderstand how a brokerage differs from getting a mortgage at a mortgage bank or a depository bank.
As brokers, we partner with hundreds of mortgage lenders. We’re able to shop for our clients to find them the very best rates, pricing, and terms to achieve their goals. We don’t work for these lenders; we work for our clients. We are true strategic advisors and advocate for them. Because we have access to many solutions, we often save our clients money.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Finance can seem rather boring to some, but we absolutely love what we do at Summit Mortgage Solutions. The way we see it, we help people achieve the American dream of homeownership, grow wealth through real estate investing, or help them solve complex financial issues through creative strategies.
This is a great responsibility we don’t take lightly. We believe that people deserve honesty, transparency, integrity, and to work with someone who genuinely has their best interest in mind. We intend to set a new standard in the mortgage broker world and dominate the industry by always doing things the right way.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I had a challenging childhood, yet I have loving parents who taught me how to be a good person, how to love others, how to work hard, and how to be humble.
We didn’t have much growing up, and I was often looked down on by peers because of this. I used to let the feeling that I had to prove something in life—to myself, to others, or to the universe—be my driving force. I realized that while this drove me very far, it was a negative approach.
I changed my way of thinking, and now what truly drives me is the ability to make a positive impact on society through the work we do.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I remember two or three years ago when the housing market was in a very bad place. Rates were steadily climbing, and business was incredibly hard to find. I would work 10-to-12-hour days, five or six days a week, and not get paid.
To keep some money coming in, I would wake up at 3 a.m., put on a blue vest, and deliver packages in my own car until 7:30 a.m. Then, I would work those 10-to-12-hour days in the mortgage world.
I remember one night my wife and I were in bed. She turned to me and asked, “How much longer do you think we can sustain this?” My heart sunk. I remember closing my eyes and my current life flashing through them. I had never experienced this before.
When I opened my eyes, I realized this was that moment. This was the moment where I either quit, took two steps backward, and never knew what could have been, or this was the defining moment where I didn’t give up, kept pushing, and found success. Sometimes success is just that next step, that extra push, or right around that next corner.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to think that I had to do everything on my own. That I needed to control every aspect of things or they wouldn’t be done “right.” As I matured, I realized that this was the wrong mentality and approach.
I could do more by surrounding myself with people that not only complement my strengths, but also my weaknesses. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Together, we can do more.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Right now, I’m all in with my business. I’m working day and night, seven days a week. I know this is what it takes to get through the next growth phase and take us to the next level.
For the past nine months, I’ve been going 99 mph. I’m hoping soon to drop that down to what I call the “Texas Cruise Control,” which is 85 mph. The sacrifices I’m making today will pay off in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.summitmortgagesolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genegriffinmortgage/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genegriffin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gene.griffin.10
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@genegriffinmortgage?lang=en
