Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron Thomas.
Hi Ron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. I’m an “80’s baby”, I grew up where hip hop was born. When I think about my childhood it reminds me of summer days in the big city, street basketball, loud music playing, and a the feeling that everyone there is in a rush to get somewhere. My dad was a neighborhood hero and always cared about the community. His passion was supporting underserved youth; he ran an after school program called Cities In Schools to keep kids active, off the streets, and out of trouble. My father’s gift was the ability to connect and relate to all people. He knew the biggest drug dealer in the neighborhood and had a great relationship with the police chief at the 44th precinct in the Bronx. He was the community liaison, well respected and passionate about helping others. His favorite saying was “the world is my home”.
As a young girl, my mom’s ambition was her strongest attribute. She was born in a one street light town in Kentucky and was determined to realize her big city dreams. Many of her peers did not make it out or never wanted to leave, but she did. She went to Murray State University and would lead rally’s and sit ins to protest racial discrimination and fight for equality on campus. After graduating she refused to go back to the town she was born in and eventually landed in NYC where her world collided with my father, she had my siblings and I, and joined forces to support my dad’s passions.
I am the youngest of 5 children, 3 girls in the middle and my brother and I first born and last born respectively. Although I only had 4 biological siblings, I grew up with more brothers and sisters than I can count because my dad would offer our small apartment as a safe place to stay whenever any of his students needed it.
When I was 3 years old, my father Ron Thomas Sr. died of a heart attack while playing basketball at the neighborhood courts right outside of our apartment building. I didn’t get the benefit of growing up with my hero, but I am equal parts of both of my parents; I pride myself on loving people unconditionally, dreaming so big that my ambition seems unreasonable, supporting my community in any way I can. I believe in delusional optimism, being obsessed with your passion to the point where one seems crazy, chasing their dreams.
I started playing sports at a very young age and was always a competitive person; competitive with others and with myself. My brother likes to joke, “Ronnie would score 30 points, get all of the rebounds in a basketball game, and if his team lost he still would literally cry after the game”. The truth is that I hated to lose more than I loved to win and still do. In high school I earned decent grades but really began to excel in sports. I was a part of city championship teams in both basketball and football. I was the football team MVP surrounded by really talented athletes. After high school, I earned an academic scholarship to Hamilton College and was also recruited to play four years of Division II football with them. Sports taught me valuable life lessons: the importance of a strong work ethic, the value of teamwork, the joy of winning, and the heartbreak of defeat. I realize now that losses are lessons we need to experience in life.
The legacy of my parents, my sports career, a strong education at the esteemed Hamilton College all shaped me and ultimately led me to a professional career as a Mortgage Lender where so many of my greatest strengths and life experiences are leveraged.
Today, I manage and run the daily operations of a full service Mortgage Brokerage, All Financial Services. All businesses are made up of people, processes, and products/services offered. I focus on connecting with people: their ambition, attitude, and effort. These are all qualities that we can control. In a world of unknowns, I’m looking to surround myself with people who exhibit these character traits. Some of those people for me are the ten loan officers I push daily to be the best version of themselves. I am extremely hands on and take the time to role-play and coach my team towards success, for themselves, our clients, and our community. The most powerful currency we have is the relationships we establish and nurture. I have over 15 years of mortgage lending experience and my passion is to using my strong relationships and expertise to support my clients and real estate partners; to guide them on their dreams of home ownership as they break generational curses. I believe in real estate as a vessel of change. My goal is to inspire everyone I encounter. Equipped with a strategic plan, good habits, and the right team of professionals, anyone can realize their goal of home ownership.
Ninety days prior to our last closing of 2022 we designed a roadmap for a 54 year old gentleman to accomplish his lifelong goal of being a homeowner. He diligently followed that map, took care of each task we laid before him, and ultimately finished his year with a bang. Before coming to All Financial Services, he did not believe home ownership would ever be within his reach. We had the honor and privilege of witnessing him shed tears at the closing table while he watched his vision and hard work become a reality. The emotions on that day reminded me why I do what I do.
Every day I remind myself that I am different. Not special but different in the steps I am willing to take to get the job done. Experience has shown me that there is never any traffic on the extra mile. I have a loving fiancé and 3 year old son who have given my life purpose and meaning. I choose to walk toward the storms, to embrace challenges as opportunities, and pay forward the many blessings I’m thankful God has given me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I consider obstacles and challenges more like opportunities to problem solve. I know we are optimal problem solvers when the pressure is on.
However, here are some obstacles I face daily:
To pump hope and belief into those who were never believed in.
To find the right people to join me in business when everyone interviews well
To understand that it takes time to build a sustainable business that can be scaled for growth
To inspire people to care about their job, because what they do or don’t do affects others directly.
To encourage salespeople to care about the best interest of the client over their commission and self-interest
To encourage my team to make relationships and not transactions
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Think and Grow Rich, by Napolean hill Unshakeable by Tony Robbins
48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
JAY-Z: Made in America – Michael Eric Dyson
Contact Info:
- Website: All Financial Services, LLC
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captain.mortgage/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ron.thomas.3133719
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ron-thomas-7b147550
Image Credits
@yrnphoto
@iloswork
@aliciawileyphotography
