Have you ever left an organization to only then feel you’ve left important people behind in your life? We all have. Knowing that a professional change is needed does not mean we have to sacrifice the relationships we’ve built along the way. 

Over the course of building a career as a mortgage operations specialist, I have had the pleasure of meeting amazing people. Some of these fantastic relationships stemmed from working for those that I felt were not only my boss, but a true mentor to me. Through working closely with former supervisors, I was allowed access to their knowledge and experience, which helped me build some of the tools of the trade I still use today. It has always been a bonus to be able to turn those mentor/mentee relationships into lasting friendships.

The same can be said of those I was lucky enough to train and coach. Granted, as a member of the management team, often my duties, included training both new operational staff, as well as providing ongoing coaching for experienced team members. There were times however, when a specific individual or class earned a special place in my heart that went far beyond duty. I have felt the sheer joy of what Friends put into clear perspective in “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS”, there is no such thing as a selfless good deed. Being able to see the potential in another person and to bring them into a role that allows that potential to shine is an honor. Through technical training and ongoing support, these moments can create fantastic experiences for you and the individual learning from you.

I cannot tell you how many times former co-workers (employees, colleagues and yes, even bosses) have reached out to me, long after leaving a company, to ask technical questions or to simply get my opinion on how they might best handle difficult situations happening within their organization. Could I have simply said, “I’m sorry, I no longer work there so I’m not the best person to ask” or “You may want to speak to so and so since they are your manager now”? Of course – but I never have, nor ever will. Being able to continue to help those I have worked with, regardless of our company affiliations, is one of the few standout benefits to being a true professional in this field. Something as small as helping someone find that all too elusive guideline (thank you AllRegs), to working through a tough loan scenario or procedural problem is rewarding – even when I will not reap the benefits of that loan closing or that process flow improvement being implemented.

It helps to remind myself that while I have moved on, I can choose to be an active participant in an industrywide team by continuing to touch other’s lives in a positive way. I leave those interactions feeling happy for the individual, and even their company, knowing they are still working towards something better, and proud of myself for being a resource they know they can count on. Making an impact on those around you can create new friendships that last even the loss of day in and day out interactions. Never forget that while some may consider this approach to our profession as showing disloyalty to your current organization, knowledge is not owned by any one institution. Continue to share knowledge with everyone and help anyone who needs it. Our entire industry can only benefit from an increase in learning, trust, and empowerment.