Attitude Toward Hard
My wife got me stand-up comedy classes for Christmas. The final test is performing on stage in front of 100 people. This is real stand-up comedy, not improv. My first thought was fear, “I don’t want to do this.” About 30 seconds later I reframed the challenge with enthusiasm, “I can’t wait to do this!” […]
Working Defensively vs. Building Intentionally
Think and Grow Rich rubs appraisers the wrong way. The book’s focus on ambition clashes with a professional culture built on caution and risk avoidance. While the industry rewards staying under the radar, the book advocates for intentional growth. This friction makes the message feel “salesy,” when it actually highlights the gap between working defensively and […]
Partnership Is the Risk-Reduction Strategy
If I’m a Chief Appraiser, why would I ever switch from my old appraisal platform? The short answer is leverage. Leverage means functionality well past just ordering appraisals. 1. AI compliance reviews (Auto Review) removes mundane checklist work. Your experienced commercial reviewers can focus on harder judgment calls and higher-value work. You keep high quality FTEs while […]
The Most Important Work in the Bank Nobody Sees
When valuation is working, no one notices. Loans close on time. Credit feels confident. Audits pass without friction. The bank moves forward as if gravity itself is cooperating. That’s not luck. That’s valuation doing its job quietly, consistently and without applause. And that’s the problem. Appraisal departments tend to disappear into the background precisely because […]
Stay Coachable
The longer you’ve been in valuation, the easier it is to think you’ve “made it.” But anyone who’s trained karate long enough knows getting a black belt doesn’t close the journey. It restarts it. It’s a reminder that you’ve learned the basics well enough to finally understand how much more there is to learn. The appraisers […]
The 6 Most Offensive Words in Business
“We’ve always done it this way.” I’m very chill, but that sentence makes me instantly mad. In my brain, it’s like saying, “I don’t feel like thinking today.” Ridiculous, right? Yet that’s what I hear when someone says the six most offensive words in business. This sentence sounds harmless, but it greatly impacts your appraisal […]