Know Where You’re Going

Changing things up!

You all know I hate doing the same stuff, so I am changing up the vibe for Always Forward so I can continue to make sure it adds value to your week.

So what’s the change?

I have been working on a new framework that I call Ladder Nine (L9), in order to declutter and drown out the noise that overcomplicates growth in this industry. I think AF is the perfect companion to deliver the content, and so here we are….let’s roll.

Most loan officers start with numbers. You want $20M in volume, 100 units, or a certain income target. That’s fine, but numbers aren’t vision. They’re mile markers. Vision is bigger, vision IS THE GAME. It’s the picture of the business and life you’re actually building. Without it, you’ll hit goals (and possibly the wrong ones) but still feel like you’re just grinding year after year.

Your vision answers questions like:

What kind of business do you want to own? Solo producer, small team, or a full branch?

How do you want your days to feel? Controlled, flexible, or high-energy growth?

What impact do you want to make for clients, your community, and your family?

The clearer your vision, the easier it is to align decisions, filter opportunities, and build confidence. Otherwise, you risk working hard but building someone else’s ladder.

Why Ladder Nine Matters

The average loan officer runs their business on hustle, luck, and last month’s pipeline. That’s survival, not strategy. Ladder Nine is designed to change that. It’s a simple, repeatable framework that helps you build a business with structure, consistency, and purpose. Each week, we’ll climb one rung higher. When you finish the nine, you will see that success doesn’t have to be complicated and in fact, is pretty simple (but not easy).

Ask yourself: If you crushed every deal this year, what would that create for your business and your life? That’s your vision. Write it down in one or two sentences. Keep it where you can see it daily.

L9 Checkpoint

✅ I can state my vision in one or two sentences.
✅ I know how my business goals tie directly into the kind of life I want to live.
✅ I can explain my vision to someone else in a way that gets them inspired.

If you can’t check all three boxes, that’s your assignment this week.

Quick Win Tip

Take 20 minutes today to write your vision in plain language. Skip the “fluff” words…no one needs to hear about “synergy” or “legacy.” Just be honest and direct: “My vision is to build a referral-based business that funds $25M annually while giving me the flexibility to coach my son’s baseball team.”

Once you have it written, say it out loud. Tell your spouse, your mentor, or even record a short video to yourself. When you speak it, you’ll start to believe it, and belief creates momentum. It may sound lame and cheesy, but believe me this works.

Next Rung Preview

Next week we’ll cover Mindset. Why it’s the foundation of L9, and how the wrong mindset will sabotage your vision before you even begin.

Share of the Week

Look, I'm tired of wrestling with AI image generators that spit out random garbage when I need something specific for my business. You know my pain? You type in a prompt and get back some weird cartoon that looks nothing like what you asked for.

I started playing with Nano Banana, and my friends, it is different. And no, that's not a joke name (but it should be).

While other tools are just throwing pixels at the AI Engine wall, hoping something sticks, Nano Banana actually thinks about what you're asking for. It's built right into Google Gemini's 2.5 Flash model, which means it understands context and gets your brand.

Instead of me yapping about it, I wanted to share this awesome video that Rick Mulready just did, where he shows how this thing works, and honestly? It's pretty wild.

Whether you're working directly in Gemini or using Google AI Studio, the whole process just makes sense. Check out the video here.

Here's What You Missed Last Week:

Last Tuesday on “The Call” we discussed why most loan officers stay stuck: they're surrounded by anchors instead of propellers. We had a candid discussion about how your relationships directly determine your income. As a group, we identified energy drains, audited circles, and created relationship upgrade strategies.

This Tuesday: "Run the Numbers or the Numbers Run You.” We will be discussing the daily metrics winners track. Make sure to join me for the Running Your Business Like a CEO series and let me know if you would like a replay from last week.

Until next time….always forward.

-Frazier

P.S. Get the playbook that is helping loan officers do more loans today! The Green Zone Project is available now!