In this raw and inspiring episode of Level Up with Kelly and Jay, Jay opens up about how he's stayed resilient through years of market challenges while others have burned out around him. If you've ever felt exhausted, unmotivated, or questioned whether you can keep going in this industry, this conversation is for you.

Jay shares the powerful lesson his dad learned from a college professor: "You create your own weather." Learn how to control your internal temperature regardless of external circumstances, why your identity can't be tied to production numbers, and the daily practices that keep you locked into your purpose when everything around you feels difficult.

From affirmations and prayer to five-year planning and avoiding comparison traps, this episode is packed with practical tools to help you recalibrate, stay consistent, and build the legacy you want—not just the income you need. Plus, Jay reveals why he doesn't open certain emails and how modeling work ethic for his kids fuels his daily discipline.

In this episode of Level Up with Kelly and Jay, they break down why your scripted approach is costing you clients and reveal the conversational framework that builds trust and closes deals in challenging markets. Forget the scripts and loan officer monologues—Kelly and Jay share how to have real, high-trust conversations that uncover your clients' true motivations. From navigating buyer fatigue to combating misinformation about rates and timing, they show you how to help clients get past the noise and focus on their actual goals. Learn how to use tools like Mortgage Coach to educate (not just quote), when to bring in down payment assistance programs, and how to ask the one question that stops "I'll wait and save" objections in their tracks. Plus, hear a real success story of a client who was told to wait a year but closed right after Christmas instead.

In this episode, bestselling author and thought leader Erwin McManus joins hosts Kelly and Jay as their first guest on Level Up Loan Officer for an unforgettable conversation about human potential, mindset transformation, and the power of narrative.

Erwin shares profound insights on why negative emotions stick while positive ones flee, how to navigate depression through managing expectations versus reality, and why taking personal responsibility is the key to change. He challenges us to stop listening to our negative self-talk and start talking back to those inner voices that hold us back.

Whether you're a loan officer navigating client relationships or anyone seeking personal growth, this episode delivers actionable wisdom on understanding human frequencies, serving others authentically, and becoming the highest version of yourself.