We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Davidson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ashley with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I have always been a driven person. My mom says I was determined to do things well from a young age. I likely got that from her. She is a perfectionist, in the best way possible. I grew up as a classically trained dancer (started dancing at the age of 2). It was “my life” for so long. I would attend school and then head to dance after school was over. I actually got PE credit during Middle and High School for the amount of time that I danced. I grew up in a family with high expectations about education. So, if I faltered in my grades, I would not have been able to dance. This love kept me busy, motivated, and out of trouble… if I am being honest. I did not have time to get into trouble! I graduated in the top 3% of my class, with never receiving less than an A as a grade. I also was a nationally recognized competitive dancer and assistant teacher for a large dance convention. I learned early on how to manage my time effectively, and I feel that it has really served me well in life. Dance is all about perfection. You can never truly achieve it, but you strive to get there. Having such a drive to succeed at both school and dance was a feeling I have continued to aim for in my professional life. I often joke that I have a personality defect, because I can never seem to turn “off.” As a residential mortgage loan officer, there are no true days off. I find myself in the very fortunate position that I keep very busy. I have built my business with my agents and clients knowing I will answer the phone when they call. My husband jokes that I am the emergency contact for so many people for that reason… I will always pick up a call, even if I do not know the number… even if the call is at an inconvenient time. Both my mom and dad worked during my childhood. My dad is a “worker.” He was a public safety officer, and on his days off, he always had a long list of things to accomplish. I think I am likely similar in personality. I make a list each morning of the items I need to accomplish, and am not really good at stopping my day until that list is complete. I have such an amazing career that allows me to help people finance the single biggest purchase they will make in their lifetime. I take that very seriously! It brings me so much joy to be able to help people during these stressful transactions, and try to make them as calm and easy as possible. So, I think having a strong work ethic keeps me on top of my tasks and allows me to accomplish as much as possible each day!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Personally, I have the most amazing family. My husband and I have two kiddos, and they keep us smiling and laughing. They are my world, and I feel so honored that we get to raise these two amazing tiny humans! I very proudly got my bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin. We are big Longhorn fans, and my family loves attending UT Football games together. Go Horns! Like I mentioned before, professionally, I am a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer. There are so many exciting things about what I do! I love being able to celebrate closing day with my clients! It is truly the best feeling to help them achieve their goals! I have been in this business for about 10 years and help around 120ish clients each year. It is such a wonderful career and something I am just as passionate about even 10 years after starting!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the best skill I have is not taking no for an answer. In mortgage, sometimes you have to look at things creatively… like putting a puzzle together. I love being able to help someone that was previously told no and be able to help them purchase a time.
Time management is always important. Life is busy and being able to properly manage my time really allows me to still be present for my family and achieve everything I want to professionally.
The only thing that often differentiates me is my organization and process. While my closet might be a mess, my desk is always neat and tidy. I keep everything organized and keep all of my paperwork up to date. It makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I do not think there is one single person that has helped me build into the person I am today professionally. I have been fortunate to work with so many amazing people, and I feel like I learn from each of them. I have a mentor that really took the time to help and educate me early on in my career. He was always so patient with me and answered every question I had (there was a ton of them). I remember really feeling like I had “made it” when he started calling me to discuss problem files and asking for my opinion. I am still thankful to him for our continued friendship! My best friend is a real estate broker. We both started in the business at the same time, and really cut our teeth together. We also got to teach each other our sides of the business. I really think that has made us each better at our jobs. It has always been so fun for us to “teach” each other new things we find out! I also have the best team anyone could ask for. My partner at work is the total opposite of me in personality, but we are the same person if regards to how we work our process and take care of clients. I don’t know how I got so lucky. She is my first call when I need to bounce an idea off of someone. My Production Manager is my second call! I feel so fortunate to have such rockstars that I get to surround myself with. They elevate my game, and make me better… and we also have so much fun!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HomeLoansByAshley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley.homeloans/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyrmlo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyematthews/
Image Credits
Vanessa Joy Photography The Latest Photo by Jen Kandziora
