Ep 94: Jay Crowell's Leadership Lessons from Fred

Kathryn and Michael welcome Dino Katsiametis to the podcast, where he shares his 28-year career in the mortgage industry and his vision to transform the sector. Dino discusses his early entrepreneurial experiences working in his father's restaurants, learning valuable lessons about customer service and personal growth. He describes his father's journey from dishwasher to food and beverage manager, emphasizing the importance of seeking wisdom from others and stepping away to gain perspective. Dino's father's success in the hotel business, where he was recognized for his leadership and ability to connect with people, inspired Dino's own pursuit of excellence and desire to leave a legacy in the mortgage industry. He discusses his leadership evolution from focusing on production to building a people-centered business, including his semi-retirement approach and development of innovative business models. Dino outlines his vision for Ethos Lending, focusing on treating clients and staff with respect and creating a partnership-based company culture, while highlighting his commitment to high moral character and people-focused leadership. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast, Kathryn and Michael provide practical insights for business owners and leaders on how to foster a loyal and engaged workforce. They share strategies to reduce employee turnover and improve retention by focusing on creating a supportive work environment, transparent communication, and effective leadership. They explore various leadership practices, including delegation, recognition, and goal alignment, in an atmosphere where employees feel trusted, heard, and valued. Michael emphasizes the importance of leaders recognizing the psychological safety of their teams, particularly in the post-COVID era. They also touch on the costs associated with high turnover, including time and money spent on recruitment and training. The discussion emphasizes the importance of personal accountability and self-leadership for leaders, while acknowledging that while turnover is inevitable, organizations can take steps to improve retention through thoughtful strategies and practices. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

This episode features Jay Crowell, president of the National Retail Division for Cornerstone Home Lending.  Jay shares his leadership journey and experiences connecting finance and sports through his father's basketball coaching legacy. He details his father's impact as a pioneering basketball coach and camp founder, while discussing how his upbringing shaped his professional career in mortgage and his approach to leadership. The conversation explores Jay's insights on leadership, including the importance of seeking understanding over winning and the value of integrating different perspectives, with lessons drawn from his father's basketball camp teachings. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast, Kathryn and Michael discuss the qualities of strong sales leaders. They focus on exploring qualities that distinguish effective sales leaders and professionals, emphasizing the importance of connecting features and benefits to customer outcomes while highlighting the role of emotional engagement and strategic thinking. The discussion covers how great salespeople demonstrate genuine care and confidence through insightful questioning and bold statements, while also examining the evolving impact of AI technologies on sales practices and strategies. The conversation concludes with insights on maintaining a positive mindset in sales, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the face of technological changes and evolving sales landscapes. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

Today Michael and Kathryn introduce Ryan Wheelwright, a veteran mortgage lending professional, to discuss his career journey and experiences across various industries. Ryan shares his background in business and philosophy, his transition through different companies, and his early work in the restaurant industry which helped develop his people skills. The conversation explores Ryan's evolution from restaurant work to mortgage banking, his approach to video content creation and social media, and his strategies for building professional relationships and personal branding. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcasts, Kathryn shares her experiences and insights from attending the Momentum Builder Sales Mastery event in Dallas-Fort Worth, where she connected with industry leaders and learned about adaptability in the mortgage industry. The event featured various speakers who discussed personal growth, social media strategies, and the importance of meaningful connections, with Michael and Kathryn agreeing to feature some speakers in future book club episodes. They discuss the value of authentic presentations and events, with Kathryn planning to share more personal stories in her videos, and note the success of the Sales Mastery event which has been a key industry gathering for 30 years. They agreed to focus on both immediate takeaways and longer-term lessons that could be applied as they move into 2026.   Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage  

Today Michael and Kathryn discuss the book "The Spirit of the Purple Cow" by Seth Godin, which focuses on being different and remarkable to stand out in today's world. They explained the concept using the example of a purple cow being needed to capture attention, as ordinary cows no longer inspire interest. The discussion highlights how traditional marketing methods are less effective, and they emphasize the importance of passionate obsession in creating memorable and distinctive experiences. Michael and Kathryn explore the concept of creating distinctive and remarkable products or experiences in business, drawing on examples from various industries and discussing how traditional marketing methods are becoming less effective. Highlighting successful examples like Apple and Trader Joe's, they emphasize the importance of passionate customer advocacy and the role of "sneezers" in naturally spreading product awareness through word-of-mouth and social media. The discussion concludes with insights on niche retail strategies and the value of taking calculated risks to differentiate oneself in the marketplace. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

In today's episode of the Building Bigger Lives Podcast, Brian Manning, a 27-year mortgage industry veteran, shares his career journey, which began at age 22 when he managed the Bahama Out Island Travel Network, a scuba diving travel reservation company in the Bahamas. He learned about the internet for the first time when a customer from Texas found cheaper rates online for Atlantis Paradise Island, prompting him to explore new technologies. Despite his initial success, Brian decided to pivot to the mortgage industry, where he has since built a successful career, recently transitioning to Cross Country Mortgage. He discusses his transition from South Florida to Boulder, Colorado, and his shift from transactional to relationship-driven real estate practices, emphasizing the importance of authentic connections and mentorship. Brian shares his plans to expand his business through relationship development and systematic processes, while also launching a podcast to explore the challenges faced by high-producing individuals across various domains. His approach to learning and growth is characterized by a relentless curiosity and a focus on continuous improvement, as he aims to attend conferences outside the industry to expand his horizons. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

Michael and Kathryn discuss the theme of their podcast episode, which focuses on the fall season's shift in economic events and market conditions, encouraging listeners to reflect on their business plans and goals. They explore the importance of reviewing past commitments and goals, emphasizing the need to adapt and plan for the future. Michael shares his approach of helping clients reconnect with their New Year's business plans, while Kathryn highlights the value of reflection, planning, and celebration during this time of year. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan- www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen- http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage

In this episode of the Building Bigger Lives podcast, Michael and Kathryn explore the Japanese business philosophy of Kaizen, which means "good change" or "change for the better." Kaizen promotes continuous improvement through incremental changes. They explore historical examples from Toyota and personal experiences shared by Michael's family. They also discuss the practical application of Kaizen principles, particularly the 5S framework, and emphasize how these concepts can be adapted across various industries to improve efficiency and productivity. The conversation concludes with a focus on the importance of waste reduction and standardization, while encouraging listeners to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement in both their personal and professional lives. Building Bigger Lives Podcast https://www.instagram.com/buildingbiggerlives Contact Coach Michael Regan www.facebook.com/CoachMichaelRegan www.instagram.com/coachmichaelregan/ www.linkedin.com/in/mregan/ Contact Kathryn Pedersen http://www.instagram.com/steamboatmortgage