A few years ago I came to the realization that if you're running a mortgage business that's computer and Internet based, you need to supplement all of that high technology with something decidedly simple and very old fashioned...a notebook.



As you may have guessed, I'm not talking about a Dell, HP, or Gateway laptop computer. I'm referring to an inexpensive school spiral notebook. It may seem silly to store information in such an old fashioned way, but it really makes a great deal of sense when you think about it.

Every mortgage professional should have one notebook in which he or she can safeguard critical information. Use your notebook to store important passwords, website URLs, membership sites, key contacts and other critical information.

Here's why your notebook is so important to your mortgage success...

Your notebook is available even when your computer isn't. If you experience a power outage during a winter blizzard or a summer tornado or hurricane, you'll have all of your key phone numbers in one place. If you're new computer goes on the fritz or your old desk top crashes and you have to run things from another workstation or a new machine, you'll have all of the necessary information to keep going right at your fingertips.

Yes...there are various ways to back-up your important information. You should be doing those as well. But, your notebook becomes your ultimate back-up. Take the notebook with you where ever you go, add your notes on a daily basis, and never let it out of your sight. It truly represents one of your "keys to success."

Working without a notebook is sort of like walking a tightrope without a net. With some luck and dexterity, you just might make it across the rope without incident. If you slip, however, you'll be regretting your decision all the way down!

Slide a net under your mortgage business tightrope by logging critical contact and password information in an accessible notebook. Keeping track of essentials this way provides you with a great insurance policy and can keep your mortgage business afloat in the face of technological challenges and failures.

Many years ago I worked for a mortgage business that had all of their computers stolen one Sunday night. You can imagine the loss and havoc this created. The business was crippled for days and weeks until order could be restored.

Ask yourself this question: If you had to start all over again tomorrow with a new computer and no stored information, would it be easier if you had all of that key information written somewhere?

Now that you're nodding "yes," get started immediately on building your notebook.

Here's a little tip to get you started: There's no need to go back and try to document your old information. Start fresh today and enter your information as you access it. If you access a Lender Website... jot down the URL address and your username and password. Make a quick note of today's "To Do List," or the prospect call information you need make next week, or what ever.

Use your mortgage notebook and briefly document everything that you do or needs to be done, and in one years time you will have built your ultimate mortgage back-up. It's so easy, so simple, so basic, and so inexpensive...how can you afford not to get started?