Kelly Rogers
Vice President/Area Leader
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
Were there specific challenges you faced early in your career, and how did you overcome them?
I returned to the mortgage business in 2010, after spending eight years as a stay-at-home mom. I was starting over as a single mom with four daughters, who had been on welfare. We didn’t have anything. I celebrated my 40th birthday, wondering how I was going to do this. I had nothing but a die-hard work ethic, more faith than a mountain, and a whole lot of love for my girls. I look back on those long days, getting up before everyone, racing home when there were school open houses, team meetings, and piano recitals, feeling like a failure.
Slowly, it started to pay off. I kept working, calling, writing the ‘thank you’ notes, building relationships, and investing in the people around me. I look back on those days and remember that woman. I am grateful for every difficult moment, every relationship, and every opportunity.
Do you have a personal philosophy or mantra that has guided you throughout your career?
I spend a minimum of an hour a day reading. When someone suggests a book, I want to know why and then will generally buy it and add it to my current stack. I keep a list of podcasts that I am listening to, from Craig Groeschel to Tom Ferry, Mel Robbins to Jay Shetty, and countless others. Reading, listening, and learning are a way of life. They are the constant voice I have reminding me how little I know and how much I have to learn.
Our industry and our lives are not stagnant. By embracing the mindset of growth, I live committed to learning. I am always collaborating with others, testing new theories, asking questions, and fine-tuning the systems we use.