Episode 070 - Buzz Baker
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Buzz Baker has served as Network Funding, LP’s President, since he co-founded the business in 1998. With more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Buzz and his partner have expanded Network Funding into one of the fastest-growing mortgage companies in the nation, employing over 500 originators in 38 states with licenses to do business in 47 states. Before founding his own company, Buzz worked first as a loan officer and then a producing manager for North American Mortgage Company. He holds a degree in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Buzz is also proud to serve as one of the trustees on the Star of Hope board, a charity that supports the homeless in Houston, Texas.
Buzz joins me on the show to share why he changed his college major from PE to Finance and the mentor that helped him make that pivotal decision. He discusses the processes of navigating business partnerships and how setting ground rules ahead of time together with his long-standing business partner gave them a firm and positive foundation for Network Funding, LP. Buzz also shares his philosophy of investing eternally and why charitable giving is so important to him personally and to the business.
"We're just trying to be a good steward, make wise decisions, and pray for wisdom.” - Buzz Baker
“When the hard things come along, you’ve got to get counsel, and I still get counsel.” - Buzz Baker
“What we try to do is find good people and build it around them.” - Buzz Baker
This week on The Wow Factor:
Buzz’s experience of growing up in Houston, Texas, as the youngest of three boys
How his parents helped their sons develop a strong work ethic and the jobs he did as a youth, from delivering papers to selling Christmas trees
What Buzz got out of working at Lockheed for two years and how he knew it was time to spread his wings
The colossal risk Buzz took when he moved to North American mortgage and why he took the leap
How Buzz blended fear of the unknown with an absolute trust in God
Why Buzz is a fan of outsourcing tasks that lie outside your zone of genius
Why he embraces the servant leadership model
The principles that are central to their business
The highs and lows of Network Funding LP, and what happens in the financial sector when the rates spike up or drop low
Buzz Baker’s Words of Wisdom:
Pray for wisdom — pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray for good ideas, and when you get them write them down and put them somewhere safe, then you’ll have several years of ideas in hand.
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