"My past, my upbringing, what I grew up from, it's a blessing to be here"
Darius James (pictured) grew up in an area with a high crime rate. Statistics say he shouldn’t be able to do what he is doing today. But even as a kid, James knew those obstacles wouldn’t be able to stop him from creating his own success.
James, now the CEO of Porch Point Mortgage and one of the youngest black African American leaders in the US, recently joined Mortgage Professional America in the latest edition of MPA Talk to discuss his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a CEO.
“I remember as a young kid telling my mom that I was gonna be the one to make it out,” he said. “I was going to be the one that cracks the code. I’m from Ypsilanti, Michigan. The crime rate is extremely high. But I was always determined and obsessed with finding a better way out, and I found that in mortgages.
“So, my past, my upbringing, what I grew up from, it’s a blessing to be here. I’m excited. To be able to do what I’m doing, not only to be able to kick in the door, but to kick in the door and hold it open for others, for the next me, and the next them can also see a path – to not only a great career. I’m helping people every single day, and that is such an amazing feeling.”
James spent the past decade building his mortgage career and has been involved with some of the biggest lenders in the country, including Quicken Loans, Loan Depot, Caliber Home loans, and Home Point Financial. Earlier this year, he became the president and CEO of Porch Point.
When asked what advice he would give his younger self starting his mortgage career, James said: “I think the greatest piece of advice I could give young me is staying dedicated no matter how long it takes, as we talked about here. There are a lot of obstacles, some self-inflicted, and it gets hard. We do a stressful job. And you go through every single emotion. So be mentally stable, and make sure you have a mindset coach or mentor. For mindset, don’t let the highs get too high and don’t let the lows get too low.”
Read more: Enduring the Great Recession was a blessing - broker
James shares more of his story and his tips on winning more business amid a housing market recession in the MPA Talk podcast episode, which you listen to here for free: For zero to hero.
