How to Catch and KEEP a Professional Mentor

Getting a mentor isn't only a smart way to learn, it can be a fast track to knowledge and experience in just about any endeavor you can imagine. With a great mentor, doors otherwise locked to you can swing wide open and shorten your path to success by many years.

If you're looking for a mentor, here are some things to remember: 

• Deciding if you need a mentor is mainly a matter of knowing what you want to achieve most and the general direction you'd like to take. Stay open-minded if your mentor recommends another direction, but your objective should be the main goal. Consider carefully what you want the mentor to provide and how often you'd like to meet.
• Make a list of potential mentors, follow them on Twitter or other social media and notice any potential personality conflicts. Aim as high up the ladder as you can–even someone you think is out of reach, too rich, or too famous may have an opening for an assistant. Use LinkedIn and Google to find candidates.
• Write a letter of introduction and sign it by hand. Don't introduce yourself by email. If you want to make absolutely sure your message gets to your prospective mentor send it FedEx Overnight.
• If you get a YES then arrange to meet as soon as it's convenient. And if the first meeting goes well, arrange for next steps.

Watch out for unintentional bad advice that can stall your progress. A recent Harvard Business Review article shares the most common ways a mentor's advice can go wrong, including:

• Reacting unfavorably if you take a side-path the mentor has not taken.
• Choices you make that affect your mentor negatively in a material way, say financially, that could alter otherwise sound advice.
• Taking advice from someone with dissimilar tolerances for risk than you.
• Knowing more than your mentor about certain things–take it into account before accepting advice wholesale.
• Try to add value to your mentor making the relationship mutually beneficial. When you "arrive" don't forget to show appreciation to the people who helped you along the way.

I hope that this information helps you in your field of business.  I believe that a person becomes successful by continually LEARNING and Mentors are a great way to learn from "real experience/"  Feel free to pass these tips along to your team, clients, and colleagues!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

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Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Anxiety Management for Public Speaking

Getting in front of a group of people to speak can cause a lot of anxiety for some people.  Even those that are very comfortable speaking with clients, referral partners or prospects can lose their confidence when it comes to public speaking.  

Before you back out of an opportunity to speak publicly, consider these benefits: overcoming fear, boosting self-esteem, honing critical-thinking and analysis skills, improving communication and networking opportunities, expanding your personal brand, getting more business, and impressing your audience... and your boss, if you have one.  Confidence is not easy to come by but you can master the skill with time.  

In the past if you got a case of the jitters, the standard prescription used was to find ways to force yourself to relax and calm down before giving your presentation. Except, this isn't the most effective way to channel that nervous energy. 

New Harvard Business School research shows getting excited reduces performance anxiety better than trying to calm down. "Anxiety is incredibly pervasive," says Alison Wood Brooks, PhD., author of the study. "People have a very strong intuition that trying to calm down is the best way to cope with their anxiety, but that can be very difficult and ineffective. When people feel anxious and try to calm down, they are thinking about all the things that could go badly. When they are excited, they are thinking about how things could go well." 

Because both anxiety and excitement are highly charged emotional states, it's easier to convince yourself that your anxiety is actually excitement, rather than try to convince yourself you're not anxious at all. Brooks says, "When you feel anxious, you're ruminating too much and focusing on potential threats. In those circumstances, people should try to focus on the potential opportunities. It really does pay to be positive, and people should say they are excited...even if they don't believe it at first." 

So, what's the best strategy? Dr. Brooks recommends that prior to any presentation you should tell yourself you're excited and forget about trying to calm down. In fact, simply saying "I'm excited!" out loud will naturally increase your feelings of excitement and get you pumped about the rewards of public speaking that are about to be yours! 

Give this helpful tip a try on your next public talk, and feel free to pass these tips along to your team, clients, and colleagues.  Good luck in your next opportunity!!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

December Job Report Gives Mixed Data

"Life is a mixed blessing, which we vainly try to un-mix." Author and journalist Mignon McLaughlin. The Jobs Report for December is in and the data was mixed. Read on as we un-mix the data and find out what it means for home loan rates.


Just when it looked like the job market was improving, the Jobs Report showed that only 74,000 jobs were added in December. This was well below expectations and was the smallest increase since January 2011. However, the number of job creations for November was revised higher by 38,000, bringing November's total to 241,000.

Adding to the confusion, the Unemployment Rate fell to 6.7 percent, which is the lowest level since October 2008. However, the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) fell to 62.8 percent, matching the number from October 2013 as the lowest level since the late 1970s. The LFPR measures the proportion of working-age Americans who have a job or are looking for one, and it should be moving higher in a recovery. In addition, 347,000 people left the workforce last month, though it is unclear whether these are people retiring, people leaving the labor force because they can't find a job, or a mixture of both.

What does this mean for home loan rates? Overall, the December Jobs Report was weak, which gives the Fed cover to continue its Bond purchases. Remember that the Fed had been purchasing $85 billion in Bonds and Treasuries each month to stimulate the economy and housing market. Due to strong economic data, the Fed decided at its December meeting to start tapering these purchases. Beginning this month, the Fed will now purchase $40 billion in Treasuries and $35 billion in Mortgage Bonds (the type of Bonds on which home loan rates are based).

The decision to further taper these purchases will be dependent on economic data. If more economic reports are weak like the December Jobs Report, further tapering could be delayed and this timing could have a big impact on Mortgage Bonds and home loan rates this year.

The bottom line is that home loan rates remain attractive compared to historical levels and now remains a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender
NMLS #: 493712

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

How is the Bond Purchasing Program Effecting the Housing Market?

Time will tell. As 2014 marches along, time will tell us what impact the Fed's tapering of its Bond purchase program will have on home loan rates.

Remember that the Fed had been purchasing $85 billion in Bonds and Treasuries each month to stimulate the economy and housing market. Starting this month, the Fed will now purchase $40 billion in Treasuries and $35 billion in Mortgage Bonds (the type of Bonds on which home loan rates are based). The decision to further taper these purchases will be dependent on economic data.

Speaking of economic data, Consumer Confidence rose to 78.1 in December, rebounding from the lows hit in October and early November due to the government shutdown. In housing news, the S&P/Case Shiller Home Price 20-City Index rose by 13.6 percent year-over-year in October. This was just below expectations, but up from the 13.2 percent annual gain recorded in September. Pending Home Sales for November ticked up slightly, while New Home Sales fell slightly to an annual rate of 464,000 units. However, the number of New Home Sales for October was revised up to 474,000, which was the highest level since July 2008. Overall, the housing market continues to improve.

What does this mean for home loan rates? The Fed will be closely monitoring economic reports in the coming weeks and months as it decides when to further taper its Bond purchases. The timing of further tapering could have a big impact on Mortgage Bonds and home loan rates this year. This is a key story to watch in 2014.

The bottom line is that now remains a great time to consider purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks home or refinancing your home loan, as home loan rates remain attractive compared to historical levels. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients. 

Wishing you a very happy New Year!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

Happy New Years Trivia Challenge

Happy New Year!!  I hope that you had a very happy holiday season with friends and family!  We have enjoyed a great year with my family, friends, business associates, and clients and are looking forward to an amazing 2014.  Here are a few more trivia tidbits to help you ring in the New Year with a little history.

The Babylonians were the first society to observe New Year's Day around 4,000 years ago. Back then, the holiday was celebrated at the beginning of spring instead of mid-winter. And it wasn't "one night only" but festivities lasting eleven days!

When was the first Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop? 

1. 1907 
2. 1934
3. 1940 
4. 1952 

ANSWER: The first ball drop was organized by Adolph Ochs, the owner of The New York Times, and held on December 31, 1907. The ball itself was designed by Artkraft Strauss, and the ball drop has been held every year since, except for 1942 and 1943 due to wartime blackouts.

Between 1903 and 1915, what was the main New Year's Day event at Rose Bowl Stadium?

1. Football
2. Soccer 
3. Chariot Races
4. Sprint Running

ANSWER: In an effort to enhance New Year's Day activities, the Tournament of Roses Association decided to add a football game in 1902. The first game was Stanford University vs. University of Michigan. After Stanford lost to Michigan 49-0, the Tournament replaced football with Roman-style chariot races. Football didn't return until 1916.

Which of the following is NOT in the top three favorite destinations for ringing in the New Year in the United States? 

1. Las Vegas
2. Disney World
3. New York City
4. Seattle

ANSWER: The top three New Year's destinations are Las Vegas, Disney World, and New York City. Seattle is actually number five, just behind Los Angeles.

Wishing you a very happy New Year!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

Five Books to Inspire you for 2014

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader" - Margaret Fuller

This quote has always struck me as a quote directed towards children - but learning doesn't stop when you receive your degree - learning is a lifetime experience.  In today's world, you must continue to learn to be the best in your field.  

A simple and inexpensive way to improve in your field of business is to read a book relative to your industry and find ways to gain YOUR competitive advantage. Here are 5 of Amazon's Best Sellers in Business to help you get inspired for 2014!

#5. Contagious: Why Things Catch On. Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering the question, "What makes things popular?" Most people think advertising. Not so, according to Berger, it's word of mouth. The trick is how to boost awareness without coming off as self-serving. Whether you need to spark something viral with a product, a person, or an idea, look no further than Contagious.

#4. Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. Head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson has won more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports. More importantly, according to Eleven Rings, he coached from a place of deep values. Being tagged as the "Zen master" coach, he developed a new approach to leadership based on freedom, authenticity, and selfless teamwork. Unique in the ultra-competitive world of professional sports, this method is equally needed in the business world today.

#3. Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works. A.G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble, co-authors with strategic adviser Roger L. Martin to outline the strategy P&G used to double sales, quadruple profits, and increase market value by more than $100 billion during Lafley's tenure between 2000-2009. Leaders in any organization will learn the essential elements for business success: where to play and how to win, while implementing five essential strategic choices. The ideas in this book can help you turn a brand around or make a great one even better.

#2. Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success. Wharton's youngest tenured professor, Adam Grant, Ph.D., reveals his pioneering research on how focus on the traditional "indicators" of success like passion, hard work, talent, and luck don't play the role we once thought. Grant shows how three interaction styles in the office have a surprising impact on success. Praised by bestselling authors such as Dan Pink, Robert Cialdini, Seth Godin, and more, Give and Take promises an approach to success that could transform any organization.

#1. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Sheryl Sandberg, CEO of Facebook, is ranked on Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World. Lean In expands on her now famous TEDTalk (viewed over 2 million times) where she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back, and offers solutions to empower women to achieve their full potential. Called an "inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth," Lean In is an important conversation-changer for women in business.

I am excited for the promise that 2014 holds.  I hope that you will be inspired to grab one of these books or another great book from your industry and unlock the potential for your business.  I look forward to a year of family, friendship and great business relationships!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712

The True Value of Time

"I once asked a five-year-old what he would take with him if he were going to Heaven. He replied, ‘I would take my parents because I think that up there they would have more time with me.’... 'nuff said." - Art Linkletter, TV Host

Time is a treasured commodity made more valuable because it is usually in short supply. When a day, an hour, or even one second passes, it cannot be returned. It is fixed. And it is finite.

What might seem to be stating the obvious is really a profound concept worth our reflection during hectic holidays. This season, regardless of which holiday you celebrate or if you celebrate any at all, remind yourself that the family, friends, and even coworkers and clients gathered around you probably crave your attention much more than any other gift.

The key is to consciously honor the person or event, to stay connected during your experience. This is all that "being in the moment" means, and it makes moments last. Consider setting aside a few hours for coffee with a friend. If you have kids, make a plan to take each one for their own special outing. Reserve some time each workday to call your favorite clients and colleagues, check-in, and personally wish them a happy holiday.

Our "to-do list" is always right where we left it, our schedule can remain the paragon of organization, and success will eagerly await our return! But somehow the importance of these things will seem somewhat diminished and somehow less important when first we realize how precious, how priceless, our time really is to others.

Feel free to pass these tips along to your team, clients, and colleagues!

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance.  Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please 

LIKE my Facebook Page, Follow me on Twitter or Connect on LinkedIn

Michael Lasson

Sr. Residential Mortgage Lender

2265 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B

PO Box 1449

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Direct:  (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

Fax:(573) 693-9141

Email:  mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

NMLS #: 493712