Testimonial: Former UTA Guard Accepts New Mortgage Role

At NexGoal, we take our athlete career placements very seriously – which is why our Project Coordinators spend so much time working with each candidate to put them in the best position to succeed. Once our candidates are placed, we like to take the time to share that candidate’s journey with all of you.

Our client, a nationwide leader in consumer direct and traditional mortgaging, keeps its partners, clients, and communities at the centerfold of everything they do, and they offer the number one CRM operating system in the mortgage industry. With their commitment to people and the community, they were looking for a like-minded Senior Loan Officer to join their Dallas, Texas, team.

We were fortunate to be able to work with Rodrick Epps, a former point guard for the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. A leader on and off of the court, with his driven attitude and proven skills as a licensed Loan Originator, we knew Rodrick would be a slam dunk for the position. Rodrick’s four years of successful mortgage industry experience meant that this would be a seamless transition.

Rodrick said his decision to work with NexGoal was easy once he spoke with one of our recruiters, Emma Sullivan.

“Emma presented herself to be very helpful and professional in reference to facilitating the career opportunity. I really enjoyed the ease of communication and being informed thoroughly throughout the process. 10 out of 10 experience,” Rodrick said. The two stayed in regular contact throughout the process, and Rodrick said Emma was always available for any questions or concerns he had.

Rodrick praised the NexGoal team following the acceptance of his new position. “Others seeking a new career opportunity or a new opportunity in the same field should choose NexGoal because you will experience an easy-going streamlined process while having any and all concerns alleviated.”

Over the past 10+ years, we have specialized in placing former athletes in careers with our various corporate clients. The core of our business surrounds athlete job seekers, and Rodrick was quick to advocate that other former athletes like himself and competitive-minded job seekers come to NexGoal when looking for their next opportunity.

The NexGoal team would like to thank Rodrick for his feedback and kind words, and we wish him continued success in his new role as Senior Loan Officer.

Are you looking to work for an industry leader and advance your career in the mortgage industry? We have the opportunity for you! We look forward to placing you in your next career. You can get started by filling out our Athlete Candidate page here.

Employers: Are you looking to bring on highly qualified candidates like Rodrick, who may not find you on their own? Reach out & discover how quickly we can connect you with top active & passive job seekers near you!

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4 Lessons Athletes Can Carry into the Business World

At NexGoal, we choose to tap into the network of former athletes because of the highly transferable skills they’ve acquired throughout their athletic tenure. Whether they competed on a professional, collegiate, or high school level, these athletes understand what it takes to succeed. Employers want to fill their organization with employees possessing these high character traits. Knowing how to thrive individually and as a team, and having hard work and dedication ingrained in their DNA, athletes today have a real competitive edge when entering the business world.

Perseverance & Competitive Drive

Athletes are continually facing new challenges, but much to their chagrin, it’s impossible to win them all. Despite this, they are built to overcome losses to tough competition and still find ways to improve when they are on the winning side. Under demoralizing circumstances, athletes maintain a high level of intensity and determination they believe will pay off. What others may view as a setback, the tenacious athlete will consider as a new obstacle to overcome. To avoid getting discouraged, setting immediate, manageable steps is vital.

Former Green Bay Packer Tony Moll credits his athletic background for their’ roll with the punches’ business model, “making audibles left and right.” Discover how Moll turned his winery hobby into a successful business venture through the lessons he learned on the football field. 

Optimism & Confidence

Athletes believe in their abilities to produce significant results, especially under pressure or when the odds are stacked against them. Basketball legend Michael Jordan never distressed over missed opportunities but instead focused on performing his best in the present moment. 

           “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” -Michael Jordan

While there needs to be a balance between optimism and realistic goals, athletes will certainly not lack confidence and will provide the ‘self-starter’ mentality your organization covets. Inclined to accepting constructive criticism, their tenacity and hopefulness allows them to quickly correct course and prove their worth in the next presented opportunity. 

Leadership & Communication

An athlete’s qualities often place them in a natural leadership position as their work ethic and confidence begin to set the standard for other employees. Knowing the power of being a unified team versus being a group, athlete employees promote team chemistry and consistent communication. They are energizing, organized, and resourceful when it comes to their job performance, and therefore serve as natural motivators in the office. Even the more reserved athletes are used to believing in their abilities and therefore lead by their actions when the words are not enough.

Preparation & Consistency

Athletes operate under a goal-oriented, disciplined business approach that ensues consistent job performance and refined skills. Through intense preparation and a commitment to learning, the athlete’s strategic mindset keeps them relevant in a competitive market. Athletes don’t believe in such a thing as over-preparing, and having knowledgeable employees means having powerful employees. 

Throughout their athletic career, they have grown accustomed to balancing their commitments to academics, training, and family and friends their entire lives. Through effective time management and intense focus, athletes can concentrate their energy on the task-at-hand and keep their priorities’ in-check’ to be successful.

Wrap Up

If you are actively seeking quality employees for your organization who you can feel confident relying on, get in contact with us today to discover how we can work together! We utilize industry-leading technology and our pipeline of candidates to find your ideal employee. 

“What impressed me about NexGoal was the time they spent up front, understanding the core competencies required for our roles. We receive candidates that have the intangible winning qualities like hunger, drive, and passion.” -Bret Anderson, Millennium Labs.

If you are a former or current athlete, we hope this article helped you uncover your potential for your post-athletic career and how the skills you’ve acquired can transfer into the business world. Find confidence in how these desirable traits can make up for other areas your resume may lack.

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Becoming a Better Leader in the Workplace

Whether you are the CEO of your company or simply taking charge of one objective in a new business project, being a sound leader is critical. Leadership doesn’t come naturally for everyone, but thankfully, it doesn’t have to. One great example is in Author, Director, and Management Consultant, Peter Gasca. In a piece for The Entrepreneur, Peter admits his lack of natural leadership but credits his mentors and his ambition for new challenges as the root of his leadership growth. Being an introvert doesn’t make you a pushover or incapable of leadership. In fact, introverts are often better listeners than extroverts, which a key characteristic of leadership. Review the four simple priorities Peter recommends every aspiring leader set early in their career.

In this breakdown, we reveal three critical factors to becoming a better leader in the workplace: 

Communication

If you exhibit an uplifting, optimistic spirit, others will follow suit. If you appear discouraged or disinterested, your team will become concerned and uninspired. Being vulnerable to your team does not make you weak, but rather a leader that employees will want to follow. Admitting when you’re wrong will cultivate respect from your peers and your employees by elevating a sense of accountability.

The most renowned leaders are great listeners who show a genuine interest in workplace conversations. Get ‘in the trenches’ and be a part of the team. When discussing long-term goals and analyzing the bigger picture, allow your employees to feel they are a part of the team as well. Be intentional in constructing a bond with them and occasionally discussing matters outside of work. Consider stepping outside your office and walking amongst your team members or employees, but do not micromanage or talk down to others. Instead, take a mentoring approach and seek out what’s best for their career development. 

Trust Your Team

Have confidence in your subordinates, have faith in your peers, and encourage their involvement. As you begin to learn your employees’ skill-sets and strengths, you will know who to trust most in critical situations or with new projects. When you start trusting others, they will start trusting in you. Additionally, you will be offering them opportunities to grow and take on leadership responsibilities themselves. 

When you invest in your employees, you will see individuals grow into more productive, engaged, and happy employees. Seek out feedback for new ways to garner motivation, reward employees, and become a more effective leader. Foster creativity in your team by challenging them in areas you believe they will excel. When an issue does arise, or a mistake occurs, always give your team the benefit of the doubt. Get to the root of the problem and do your part in ensuring the problem does not happen again.

“Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished.” – Lisa Cash Hanson

Celebrate Others’ Wins

When you notice somebody is doing a good job, go beyond the ‘pat on the back.’ Acknowledge and honor them publicly. When they take a bold step in sharing a new idea or comment during a meeting, show your appreciation for their contributions. Hearing compliments of their work will not only provide a sense of accomplishment but will increase confidence, provide affirmation, and bring a sense of job security. The happier your employees are, the more productive and passionate they will become. Not much is better than happy and appreciative employees having your back.

Although it is important to celebrate others and have fun, you must also remember to stay assertive and hold your team accountable to gain respect. Don’t let your team get stationary. Your employees are relying on you to help keep their goals a priority. Lastly, when discussing an employee’s room for improvement or growth, do so privately to refrain from publicly embarrassing or belittling them. 

Wrap Up

What are your preconceived notions of quality leadership? Rid yourself of the ‘my way or the highway’ mentality. It is not about being the loudest in the room, the most-liked, or most recognized. Authentic leadership involves wanting the best out of your team and aspiring to see others grow. The best leaders aim to inspire, entrust, and keep morale high. It is not a quick and easy process, but you can lead your team to success through pure intentions and deliberate planning.

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Facing Career Disappointment Head-On

Whether it is losing your job, failing to receive a job offer, or merely making a mistake on a new project, we all encounter disappointments in our careers. What is your experience in conquering yours? Are you aware of all the tools at your disposal? Don’t allow yourself to become a spectator of life because of one mistake. Take these three steps to renew your confidence and get back on track:

“Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom.” – Sir Boyle Roche

Accept Your Feelings & Move On

Encountering disappointment is inevitable, so we must practice accepting and choosing to view it as a form of growth.
What Not To Do:
-Do not guilt or shame yourself for feeling discouraged.
-Do not pass the blame onto someone else.
-Do not make a rash decision that you will come to regret.

The best way to cope with your feelings and get it out of your system quickly is to open up about what happened. Talk it out, write it down, and prepare to move on. Creativity expert Diana Raab, Ph.D., promotes the use of ‘free writing’ because “it can help you express concern and emotions in a non-threatening way. The journal is non-judgmental and will listen.”

If you are an active job seeker facing rejection from employers, find confidence in your resilience. The high bar you have likely set for yourself is admirable and will ultimately help you reach your full potential, but don’t stay out of the game for too long. Instead, choose to view your next opportunity as a stepping stone to something greater. If that means temporarily broadening the prerequisites of your ideal job, so be it.

Find new energy and motivation through co-workers and your friends and family. Surround yourself with those who will listen and allow you to vent or blow off a little steam. Your closest friends and family will often be there to provide the necessary encouragement and keep you from the self-criticism and negative thoughts built up in your head. However, it is important to be swift when cycling through your feelings. The longer you harp on your disappointments, the more discouraged you will feel.

Get Realistic

Our brains are naturally wired to pinpoint the negatives surrounding us, but there are still steps to overcome them. Do you have tendencies of a perfectionist, continually finding faults in your work? It’s great always to be striving to improve, but not when it comes at the cost of your happiness. Stop comparing your career ‘lows’ to other people’s career ‘highs.’ It’s not fair to others, and it’s not fair to yourself.

It is important to set lofty career goals, but it is equally important to keep your present expectations realistic. Take a step back and ask yourself if you are acting overdramatic. Ask yourself questions like, “Will this matter three years from now? Or even three weeks?” Quit perceiving disappointment as a sign of failure, but rather an opportunity to try something new. What did you learn? What steps can you take to ‘right the ship?’

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bounce Back with a Win

How we choose to handle our disappointments will determine our eventual success. When you learn the applicable lesson from your disappointment, it’s time to get back on the winning track. It does not need to be a ‘huge win’, but establishing a little momentum is vital for career growth. Do not attempt to overcompensate with a risky move that could end up proving costly. Take small steps to get back in the game and keep moving forward.

Support from your friends and family is great, but ultimately, hard work, dedication, and passion have to come from you. Can you think of something specific to you that provides extra motivation and self-encouragement? I urge you to meditate on that thought and find a notion that will ignite a flame in you no matter what current path of life may be. When you choose to persevere through strife, your efforts will soon be rewarded.

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Get Your Voice Heard with These Tips & Tricks

If you are new to a company or industry, it can be challenging to know when to speak up and how to command a room. This challenge is amplified when operating remotely. Without the ‘in-person’ touch to your daily or weekly meetings, it is difficult to know when to assert yourself and when you may be overstepping your grounds by doing so. In one-on-one conversations, a lack of social interaction and clarity through feedback still occurs. For many employees, this can hinder the level of passion they have for their work, leading to a decline in productivity and results.

Here are three tips and tricks you can implement into your routine today:

Speak Up for Others

If you have introverted tendencies and do not feel comfortable speaking first, start by being a good listener. When others are talking, don’t spend your time planning what you should say next. Instead, stay actively engaged in what they have to say, or you may miss out on essential details that affect your ideas. For more on uncovering the art of listening and its role in your success, click here.

Introverts are commonly observant, courteous, and strategic. If you give others the chance to speak their mind and show an interest in what they have to say, they will do the same for you. Additionally, if one of your great ideas stemmed from a thought shared by your co-worker, share it. Brainstorming new ideas gives way to new solutions, and giving credit to others can go a long way in affirming one another.

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. -Napoleon Hill

Prepare for Future Conversations

When you have an upcoming meeting, it is critical you research the topics on the agenda. Brainstorm solutions that you can bring to the table from both broad and specific lenses. Even if it’s not you, a co-worker can take one of your ideas and run with it (or vice versa). For example, if you have a meeting set to discuss budgeting plans and new goals for 2021 within your department, don’t go in blindly. Instead, research previous years’ sheets and documents to determine what adjustments can be implemented and why. Having these points ready will show that you are invested in the topic, attentive, and well prepared. If you fear you will have nothing to say, write down a few statistics and questions to have ready when you are called upon during the meeting.

Speak with Confidence and Exuberance

If you lack confidence in your capabilities, take time to reflect on your career path and how you got to where you are today. Organizations want to hear from their employees. If they didn’t want to, you likely would not be in the room. Everyone receives help along the way, but through time and hard work, you have cultivated a level of expertise that gives you the right to share your insights. Now share it! But remember, assertiveness does not have to be accompanied by aggression.

Feeling prepared? You know what needs to be said and how to say it. If you are unsure of how many opportunities you will get to speak, you must make the most of your time. Quickly arrive at the point you are trying to make and provide your reasoning. Although you must keep an open mind to other’s thoughts, don’t get caught rambling on or taking a defensive approach to your opinions.

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” – Chief Joseph

Bonus Tip – Be Aware of your Body Language

Positive body language goes beyond having proper posture. Don’t be a statue. Show yourself to be alert and engaged in conversations and ready to speak your mind.

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