I may be jumping the starting laser here, but next week features a celebration for resident aliens of Earth like me: On Wednesday, May 4th, we celebrate Star Wars Day! Anytime I can celebrate outer space and the vast galaxy around us, I get excited to the point that my eyes stalks quiver.
Before we start, let me get something out into the atmosphere. Star Wars is here for pure entertainment purposes only. After all, even a non-Earthling like me can see the flaws in the story’s time continuum. All this supposedly happened a long time ago, yet the technology is more advanced than what we have today. And within the storyline itself, the technology is advanced in Episodes 1-3 but regresses in 4-6 and then rebounds in the remaining films. That’s entertainment for you!
As a mortgage mentor, I’m deeply disappointed that the home lending and real estate markets are not represented in Star Wars. There were so many opportunities to do so: Let’s talk about acreage in Tatooine and rural lending programs; or how about the availability of government lending from the Republic; there are first time tree buyers on Endor; and let’s not forget current interest rates of the Galactic Standard Credit.
All that aside, let’s look at the element that binds everything in the Star Wars galaxy together: the Force. This is an extraordinary concept—to be happy, successful and complete, you must be one with the force. In credit union mortgage lending, we have our own version of the force. We call it the credit union way.
We all subscribe to the power of the way credit unions help their members with their financial needs, particularly mortgage loans and ensuring members that their trusted credit union will do whatever they can to help them with homeownership. To be a successful credit union mortgage lender, you need to harness the power of the credit union way and use it to assist and support members throughout the life of their loans, their next loans and whatever needs they may have in the future. In other words, you need to become a Mortgage Jedi!
In Star Wars, the Jedi stand for all that is good with the force and use its power for the betterment of the galaxy. I think credit unions do the same in the mortgage space, so it is up to us to become Mortgage Jedi so that we can help more members. To do so, we need to embrace the credit union way as well as the tools listed here:
- The Jedi Council: As a singular Jedi, the insights and resources a Jedi Council can provide are crucial to your success. In addition to your credit union and mortgage teams, your myCUmortgage experts can assist you by delivering on their Jedi promise: Exceptional Leadership, Comprehensive Solutions, Expert Guidance, Partner-Focused Service and Peace of Mind.
- The Galactic Community: No matter what part of the galaxy you’re in, there is a vast and unique mixture of alien races, all of whom look different, speak different languages and have different cultures. You need to embrace this type of diversity within your credit union galaxy if you are to successfully assist your members.
- Land Speeder: While the Jedi have a lot of cool powers and abilities, teleportation is not one of them. So, unless you have developed some type of teleportation machine, you need to a mode of transportation so that you can get yourself out of the office, become a part of and thrive within the galactic community, visit your credit union’s other branches and be with your members at the closing table.
- Light Saber: Okay, there’s no real reason to have a light saber if you’re a Mortgage Jedi. However, they’re really cool and, if you custom build your own light saber, its blade can match your credit union’s colors! Way to stay on brand!
- Droids: They’re everywhere in Star Wars and each serves a specific purpose. For a Mortgage Jedi, I’d recommend the following droids:
- Protocol Droid: You need efficient and effective communications to all parties involved in the mortgage process. A protocol droid can help you achieve this; but be warned that they can get a little chatty at times.
- Probe or Scout Droid: Either of these will help you stay current on industry trends and insights. They can also be programmed to remind you of important mortgage activities, such as TBDs in your pipeline or members whose mortgages are being paid off soon. They can certainly help build your pipeline and keep it flowing.
- Systems Droids: These digital wonders help you and your members through the mortgage process and beyond. Be it online mortgage applications or servicing your members’ loans, these are at the hub of your Jedi operations.
- The Jedi Mind Trick: Your wealth of mortgage knowledge and experience comes into play here as do your colleagues on your Jedi Council and the subject matter expertise they provide; however, keep in mind that your members only deal with mortgage lending maybe a few times in their lives. This is where you must avoid using this particular Jedi power and instead focus on clear and concise communication and transparency in everything you do.
Are you ready for your Mortgage Jedi training? myCUmortgage can certainly help you in many facets of becoming and thriving as a Mortgage Jedi. And not to worry—you don’t need to go to the swamps of Dagobah for it. Simply reach out to any of our galactic experts and we can get things moving as fast as Han Solo’s Kessel Run.
And if you’d like to discuss Star Wars at any time, please feel free to comment here and reach out to me! May the 4th be with you… always!