NEWSLETTER

From the Heart and Mind of April Young Blackwell

As I write this, we are two weeks away from when I took my first application.

Rather than having Valentine’s dinner this time last year, I sat in my office and watched step by step videos to enter my first application. I remember the entire process taking me 4 hours to do.

Everything was new. My credentials for Credit, Origination software, Lender portals, all of it, was brand new.

There I was on a Saturday night, no help desk to call. Just videos to watch.

Step by step, I figured out how to pull credit, how to integrate my credit into an application. How to export that application, then import it to a lender’s portal. Then, how to re-issue credit, run automated underwriting, and then issue loan disclosures.

A process, that normally took me 30 minutes beginning to end at the bank, now took 4 hours! That was for the first application. The next one, took an hour, the one after that 45-minutes. And, the one after that 30 minutes. Today, I can do the whole thing in about 10 minutes. This is called a learning curve.

Things that at first seem difficult, or even impossible, when done over and over again, become routine and easy.

Starting Blackwell Mortgage was a series of these learning curves. Each new lender presented its own unique strengths and quirks.

As we helped more and more of our clients, we became more knowledgeable. Things became easier.

Starting a business from scratch was challenging. However, through faith, belief, trust, and teamwork, all the systems evolved and a process emerged.

Through each challenge, I grew personally and professionally, as did my team. 

We had fun in the process, too.

Cinco De Mayo Team Lunch, Kim’s Birthday celebration at our Spaces Wine and Candy event, and annual Christmas Party at Season’s 52, are all memories that I will cherish.

I share this with you because my story is your story. Your love, your support, your prayers, your referrals, made it possible for us to close 106 loans in 2021, and to contribute $50,000 to charity. We could not have done that without you. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

The Charities we supported provided beds for children who had no beds, food for the hungry, dignity for the homeless, theater and ballet lessons for children who couldn’t afford it.

We couldn’t have done this without you. So, thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

I share the story of challenging learning curves with you, because I want to encourage you to remember, no matter where you are on the learning curve, whether you are climbing it, or you are on time, the curve is always moving. You’ll not always be stuck or aggravated figuring something out. You won’t always be the expert at something. The learning curve is and should be moving. Because, you should be moving. As you progress in your life, your career, there will be hills to climb, mountains to conquer, views to take in and to cherish. Wherever you are, let the moment soak in. Learn what you are meant to learn. Then, pass that knowledge on to the next in line. Sometimes we are the one giving others the hand up. Otherwise, we are the one, looking up for a little pull forward. We all have our special gifts and unique talents. We all have a light to shine. When we share those gifts, talents, and light, we make a dent in this universe for the better.

I believe that Blackwell Mortgage is here to be a dent maker in this universe. I believe we are here to unite the gifts, talents, and combined light of our clients, employees, partners and community to make a difference in the lives of those that are in need of that pull forward right now.

I feel that so strongly that I incorporated a non-profit entity that will designed to multiply the impact of Blackwell Mortgage alone.

1 Corinthians 13:13 Foundation is a NC non-profit organization with 503c3 status pending.

Blackwell Mortgage will match $25,000 from funds we raise in our community within the 1 Corinthians 13:13 Foundation. Then, with doubled funds, 1 Corinthians 13:13 Foundation will donate these funds to local charities to be used as matching funds for their donors.

In other words, a dollar from Blackwell Mortgage will become 4 dollars. Our impact will be 4X more than it could be on our own.

I couldn’t be more excited to execute on this vision that I feel God gave me over the Christmas-New Year break. It’s a testament to what can happen when you are well rested and listening for God’s voice in your life.

It was an answer to the question, What can I do to multiply my impact?

I am sure I am stepping onto a new learning curve with running a non-profit. But, I know this for sure. What I don’t know, I can learn. Who I need to know, I will meet. 

Blackwell Mortgage will be financial engine to power 1 Corinthians 13:13 Foundation. The support of the community will be its rocketfuel. Together we can do so much more. Let’s make a really big dent in 2022, shall we.

Learn more about 1C1313.org.