February 19, 2025 • 35 mins
How does a mortgage loan officer juggle the worlds of finance and comedy? On this episode of the ONpoint Podcast, ACUMA President Peter Benjamin sits down with Allie Hager of Telhio Credit Union. Allie shares her journey from the rigid structure of big banks to the supportive environment of credit unions, where she discovered her true calling. Along the way, she talks about balancing work and stand-up comedy, helping families achieve homeownership, and embracing resilience, humor, and authenticity. Don’t miss this inspiring blend of wisdom, laughter, and personal growth! Tune in to the latest.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The views and opinions expressed in this
podcast do not necessarilyreflect the views or positions
of Acuma, its board of directors, its management staff or its
members.
The podcast discussionpresented is conversational in
nature and for generalinformation only.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello, welcome to Atkins On Point Podcast, a
series focused on sharing thestories of people who are making
a positive impact in the creditunion mortgage industry.
I'm your host, Peter Benjamin.
Before we get to our episode,just a quick word from our
sponsor.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
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(01:06):
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Speaker 3 (01:14):
Today I am joined by Allie Hager, mortgage Loan
Officer with Telhio Credit Union.
Allie, how are you doing today?
Speaker 5 (01:23):
I am so good.
Thank you so much for having me.
I've been so excited.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Oh, my pleasure, my pleasure.
I'm really excited to have aconversation with you.
There's, I think we have afriend in common who's give me a
little insight into you andwe'll dive into that.
But before we do, as always, wegot to pull the hawk in.
Justin, how you doing today andwhat's the latest and greatest
(01:47):
happening over at Acuma.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I'm good, peter.
How are you living the dream?
Someone's or yours, always mine.
There we go.
See, I almost got you with thatone.
I don't know why I paused, andI think about it first, think
about whose dream it was.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Whose dream is this?
Maybe?
It's your wife's dream.
Don't wake me, man, don't wakeme.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Not yet, at least right, that's right, yeah.
So over here at Acumen, we'rein the full swing of event
planning, which pretty muchstarts as one event ends and the
next one begins, and we justkeep going all year round.
But our first in-person eventis coming up on April 8th and
9th, which will be our viewpointregional summit.
(02:33):
So, if you haven't heard me sayit on previous episodes, this
one's going to be a little bitdifferent.
We're going to have anexperience along with it.
So we're going to be headingout to see the blue wahoos.
Wahoo, which is a minor leaguebaseball team they're going to
take on which I haven't decidedwhich one's my favorite team,
even though it's going to be theBlue Wahoos but they're taking
(02:54):
on the Montgomery Biscuits,something about no, seriously
like something about biscuitsand Wahoos, like I mean, come on
, these are the greatest namesever wahoos, like I mean, come
on like, these are the greatestnames ever.
I was already planning on buyinga hat and blue haus.
Yeah, exactly, but now you gotto find one for the montgomery
biscuits.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Just because, you know, minor leagues always have
the best hats yeah like theyreally do.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I have one with the sea dragon on it.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That's's pretty good, I forgot the name of it, but
there's one in Oregon that has,and it's impossible to find,
Cause I always like the team orthe hat.
The hat Okay, I like the lowprofile fitted ones, but it's
the.
Why am I blinking on it?
It's Oregon.
Hops, I don't think the town,but it's like it's a you know
(03:52):
the.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I like brewing beer, and so it's literally it's.
It's it's a, you know, a hopclove holding a baseball bat.
So we all just learned a couplenew things about you one you
love brewing beer.
Well, that's not new exactly.
There we go all right.
Uh, besides that, umregistration just opened up for
our focal point workshops, so wehave two of those.
They're happening May 6th and7th the first one, which will be
in Savannah, georgia, and thenthe second one will be June 3rd
(04:12):
and 4th in Seattle, washington.
So if you're not registered forone of those two events, what
are you waiting on?
The Viewpoint Regional Summitis free for credit unions and
CUSOs, so come out, see us, takein all the education that we
have to offer.
And then also, you want to markyour calendars because our 2025
Make your Mark AnnualConference will be happening in
(04:35):
Denver, colorado, from September21st to the 24th.
Registration will be openingsoon, so be on the lookout for
that as well.
So if you can't make it to anin-person event, don't worry.
We have plenty of educationalcontent all year round with our
webinars, our fast tracks andinside track series, along with
our on point podcast.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
All right, appreciate it, man, as always.
Thank you very much.
Yes, thank you All right, ali.
So, friend in common, theamazing Scotty, he is amazing,
he is amazing.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Allie, so friend in common, the amazing, scotty.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Hey, he is amazing.
He is amazing.
Like I said earlier, he is thebest self promoter on earth.
But he also said that you areabsolutely fantastic and we had
to have you on that.
You are doing some amazingthings and you're just an
overall great person.
So when I was like, okay,scotty, if, if, this person's
(05:26):
all right by you, they're allright by me, and I have to talk
to this person, so that's whywe're here now, one thing that
scotty a did tell me about wasthat you are a stand-up comic
and because you are a stand-upcomic, I guess we're, we, we all
kind of are figure what's.
You know the second segment'sgoing to be, and so we know what
that's going to be.
It's going to be the dad joke.
(05:46):
So I won't spoil, alert, we'redoing dad jokes, but I I, before
we get to you, know the meatand potatoes of today's
conversation.
I have to know tell me aboutthis whole stand-up thing oh my
gosh.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
So that is a loose term to say that I am a stand-up
comedian, but I am.
I did a stand-up comedy becauseI get myself into situations
that I can't get myself out ofand then I just have to go with
it.
So it was the.
It's called the last con or thelast standing comic, and it's a
(06:20):
real estate show that's put onand do a couple of these a year
and so it's usually realtors,mortgage loan officers.
So I was one of fourcontestants this past time that
got to go and it's in front of400 of our industry peers, sold
out at the funny bone like thecraziest the on stage, all the
things.
So so yes, I have done stand-.
(06:43):
Comedy.
I would say that that's thefirst furthest I can go All
right?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Well, scotty should be your promoter because he
painted the picture.
He painted the picture asthough you were like some, you
know Dane cook type standupcomedian and that you were going
on tour any minute.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Now, oh my god, um so I mean I can, I will, if the
opportunity calls.
I always say yes, so whateverhands down.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
We're going on tour.
All right, excellent, excellent, excellent.
Ali hager going on tour.
It's like the heirs tour, butscotty a is promoting comedy,
absolutely, absolutely well,that's awesome.
I mean that that's always kindof sort of been the dream of of
mine of doing stand-up comedy,just with dad jokes, just going
(07:34):
up there and seeing a whole youknow.
So you haven't met her yet, butcan you imagine and justin, I'm
looking at you can you imaginegoing into like a room of
cameron's cameron's on our teamand cameron's what?
27, I don't know she is, butyeah, and just like just going
up there and doing just not likean hour of dad jokes, and every
(07:58):
time we do a dad joke she justrolls her eyes and that would
just, I would although she wouldhate it I would just love every
second internally.
I think that's the best part ofdad jokes is that cringe factor
?
yes, 100 yeah because internallythey're laughing, on the
(08:18):
outside they're like when's thisgonna stop?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
yeah, they don't want to laugh, but yeah, they know
it's funny.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely 100%.
Well, the younger they are,they're too cool for school
still.
So you know.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I know and say what.
And we, officially, about amonth ago, we transitioned to
the betas.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I don't even know what they're like yeah, so those
are going to be the beta test.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Children, keep thinking that every time I hear
beta my kids.
My kids are alphas and theyhate that jokes.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
What if the betas logo was like beta fish?
Yeah, we're not even at thesegment yet.
Yep, that happened.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Justin, I'm segwaying .
All right, allie, I'm sad.
Thanks for ruining a moment,justin.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah, no problem, that's what I'm here for, all
right.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
All right.
So, allie, I appreciate youwalking me through that.
I had to ask that question, ofcourse, yes, but all right.
So, ali, I appreciate youwalking me through that I had to
ask that question, of course,yes, but all right.
So first question.
I always ask this firstquestion and technically it's
not the first question anymore,but but so now it's the second
(09:37):
question.
But I always preface thisquestion with the same exact
industry, and so, to that point,tell us about yourself.
What makes Allie Allie?
What keeps you going?
Who are you?
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah, so I am, first of all, a wife, a mom of three
kids.
I am a self-starter and someone, like I said, that gets myself
into a lot of situations thatthen I'm like all right, we're
just doing this, we're goingwith it.
So I have been a mortgage loanofficer for since 2014.
(10:12):
And so I am a mortgage lenderand I have been in the credit
union space for six years.
So I have seen big bank, I'veseen brokerage, I've seen credit
union and I've been in all ofthem, and I will promote credit
unions all day long, just basedon experience.
(10:34):
But I'm a person who is alwayslooking for how I can get better
or what I can do to be better,or something new that I can
learn.
And I would say I used to likewhat used to really make me tick
is trying to find my purpose.
Like I would not truly knowwhat my purpose was and I would
(10:56):
just be out looking to see, like, can I figure out what this
would be?
And now I, based on experienceand things that I've seen and
people that I've worked with anda lot of no's along the way,
I've kind of discovered that mypurpose is to be a person that's
going to say yes to things thatmost people will say no to, and
(11:19):
so now I'm like living that andit's been really cool to see
the opportunities and like justthe path from doing that.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
No, I mean, that's awesome, and you're not the
first person to really say Ikind of sort of found my purpose
in the credit union world.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Right, and I've said it right I lost my.
I lost my way, you know,working for banks.
You know I lost my way workingfor IMBs.
I found it again at creditunions.
Right, and I think that's whatmakes credit unions so special
right, and I think that's why wepush so hard to advocate for
(12:01):
credit unions is because youknow they really are this
amazing place.
Not just you know to work, butyou know the idea of you know
people helping people.
You know it's.
You know our communities, ourmembers, really could embrace
the idea of getting their homeloans through a credit union.
They really would see that, hey, these are people who believe
(12:23):
in the idea, hey, of we'reputting families in homes, right
.
You know it's.
I was talking to someoneearlier today and you know they
said you know jokingly and it'sserious.
You know, like every singletime that they, you know, go to
you know a broker conference,they feel like the second they
come home they have to take ashower, right, and the funny
(12:47):
thing is like that couldn't bemore true.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
Yeah, no, it's so true.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It's like it's, but it's different, right it's.
Credit unions are special and Ilove that.
You said I found my way wayagain, right, because that's why
we do what we do, right.
So thank you very much forsharing that.
Now, as always, you and I had aconversation pre-recording and
(13:13):
I really liked something yousaid and I wanted to kind of
pick up where we left off aboutone of the things that you said
in our conversationpre-recording, and it was really
about making mistakes and how,really, that you've learned from
(13:35):
your mistakes and how thatthroughout your career, you've
had a lot of trial and error andhow that throughout your career
you've had a lot of trial anderror and that, ultimately,
through that trial and error,you've been able to learn from
those mistakes and been moresuccessful.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Now, the reason why I like having this conversation
is I want to have thisconversation is because I think
there's a lot of lessons tolearn from it.
Right, I think the mostsuccessful people learn from
their mistakes, right, and youknow, I come from the school of
thought that, and maybe it's mychange management background.
But if something, if a processdoesn't work, it's not a failure
(14:16):
, right, it's just a reason forus to learn and to improve.
Yeah, right, and I'm going tokeep trying to improve, improve,
improve until I get it right,right, and a lot of people don't
don't see that A lot of peopledon't learn from their mistakes.
They just truly don't.
(14:37):
Yeah, they only go out and theyjust give up.
So walk us through, like youknow, some of these, these
lessons learned.
Walk us through that careerjourney that that really kind of
made you who you are today.
And again, scottie said youwere something special.
Let's kind of, let's kind ofwalk through this and the trials
(14:59):
and errors.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Yeah, so I, when I started, I was at a big bank, so
that was 2000,.
Actually 2011 that I got intothe industry, 2014 that I
started lending.
But yeah, so I was young when Istarted.
I was 24 when I got into themortgage industry.
I was 24 when I got into themortgage industry and so in that
(15:21):
time I was getting led bypeople who I knew I could
probably do what they were doing, but I was too afraid to do it
because I was getting a lot oflike you would never be able to
do this.
Like you should stay justassisting at this point.
Like it's really hard to dothis job, stay just assisting at
this point.
Like it's really hard to dothis job.
(15:43):
Like a lot of no's that justhonestly pushed me to want to do
it more.
So I had one manager at thatbank who believed in me that let
me start lending.
And I still was getting a lotof no's and throughout that time
and leaving there and gettingintroduced to the credit union
and getting started at thecredit union I, once I got here,
(16:05):
like well, I like found myrhythm.
So I would say my.
My year of finding myself andknowing that I could do this job
was when I was 33 years old.
So I was 33 years old, it was2020.
So I was 33 years old, it was2020.
I, that year, closed 33 millionin loans and I was just.
(16:26):
I got promoted to team lead.
All these things were happeningand I started reading books
like High Performance Habits byBrendan Burchard.
There was a book called GirlWash your Face that I read by
Rachel Hollis.
Just self-help things to belike.
No, I got this, Like even ifother people don't believe that
(16:46):
I can do this, like I believethat I can do this.
So that year I just fell intomy own.
And then it was like a year-ishlater I was on maternity leave
with my third, with my daughter,and I got the opportunity to go
start a team and lead all ofColumbus for another big bank.
(17:08):
And I let it get to my head andI was like I'm only 35, but I
was going to give myself to 40to get into management.
But I'm like if they want menow and I say no, then that
means someone else gets to dothis.
So I have to do this, so I haveto do this.
So I took that, left the creditunion, went for that
opportunity.
I was there 10 months, 10 monthsof a terrible imposter syndrome
(17:29):
, like waking up in the morningdreading having to go in.
I built a team.
I had a team of six.
We weren't doing bad,Everything was honestly going
pretty well but it was literallyme, every single day of like
they're going to find out that Iliterally have no idea what I'm
doing.
And I was the youngest personon my team.
Everyone was older than me andthe day I knew I was in the
(17:50):
wrong room was when I wasliterally in a room and my upper
management called everyone thatwas in my same position into a
meeting, except for me.
They were in a closed officeand I was outside of the office
and I was like this isn't, thisisn't my space, Like I'm not, I
shouldn't be here.
And so, luckily, had stayedfriends with all my friends at
(18:11):
the credit union and theyluckily wanted me back, I guess
later I found out that they,like the day I left, said we
have to get her back, but theylet me go out and find my way,
which I appreciate.
So, um, I and that whole yearof being there, like I was not
getting referrals from any of myrealtor partners.
It was such a strange time andso got back.
(18:33):
I've been back for um like 10months, I guess now, and coming
back to the confidence of justbeing back at a place that I
know that I belong in, that liketruly cares about me genuinely
as a person and that trulygenuinely cares about other
people and helping people, andjust the stories that I can tell
of the people that I've gottento do loans for and the way that
(18:55):
my confidence then shows to myrealtor partners and the
referrals now that are just likeflowing in.
It's just such a testament oflike stay like you can be.
A lot of people will say likeyou're not going to grow if you
don't get outside of yourcomfort, like you can't be in
your comfort zone, You're nevergoing to grow.
But my platform now is you canbe in your zone but you can
stretch within your own zone andthat's where you're going to be
(19:17):
your best.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
No, I mean a hundred percent and thank you for
walking us through that.
I think we've all, throughoutour career, have had that, that
moment of imposter syndromeRight, and there's nothing
scarier than having it RightJust out of curiosity.
Did you ever find out what theywere talking about behind that
closed door?
Speaker 5 (19:37):
I, I actually don't I feel just like well, this
stinks peace out like itprobably wasn't good for me at
that, like I think I was seeingthe writing on the wall, so it
was probably a good time toleave yeah, I mean, it's never a
good sign.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Never a good sign when you could have a
conversation now.
We're just out of curiosity,like how many people were you
managing?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
just remind me of that when I went to the other,
coming to the big bank I was,there were six people that were
on my team that I hired in andso here you are, managing people
had more experience, older andyou had this imposter syndrome.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Do they make you feel like, like you didn't belong?
Speaker 5 (20:16):
100, 100%.
There was one guy specificallywho hated every part of me being
the manager, some dailystruggle, but yeah, and I mean
and but there was a day that I Idon't know what came over me,
but I got.
I was like no, I'm the managerin this situation.
So I sat down with him and Isaid I got hired into this
(20:37):
position for a reason and I'mnot going anywhere.
So one of us would have to gosomewhere and I'm not going
anywhere essentially, and Ithink that just standing up for
myself a bit honestly made himrespect me a little bit more.
But yeah, I mean, it was veryapparent that they were like not
fully trusting what I wassaying as a manager, even though
(20:59):
we were not doing bad, like wewere doing honestly pretty well.
So or it might've been, but Ithink probably too, it is like
me overthinking the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
I mean that's part of it, right.
I mean so you know, one of thethings that always makes it
tough right now I kind of gotsidetracked.
I was.
I was really interested.
If you've ever found out whatthey were talking about behind
closed doors was.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
I kind of wish I didn't know.
I don't really know.
I don't think I cared to knowyou know.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
But one of the things you know with imposter syndrome
is, yes, you kind of step intothese situations where you might
have imposter syndrome.
I think we all have it right,we step into these positions.
I mean, heck, when I, when Itook this position, I, I I often
still have it right where, like, what the heck am I doing in
this, this job?
(21:45):
Like I'm just a nobody.
But one of the things that kindof helps us combat that is
staying true to ourselves, right, yep, and not not giving up on
our values, not portraying whowe are, yeah, and that, as long
as we continue to focus on thatcompass and that tends to
(22:08):
overshadow that, I guess it's afear, right, the fear of being
discovered as a fraud.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Yeah, that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
So what were some of those things that you stayed
true to that allowed you to kindof stay strong in that
difficult situation?
Speaker 5 (22:28):
So something I found out about myself is that my
faith and I think this hasrecently hit me is that my fate
and I think this has recentlyhit me.
I don't even realize I do thisbecause it's nothing that's like
huge or things that otherpeople couldn't choose to do if
they didn't want to.
But one of my favoritestatements that people say to me
is I would never like, there'sno way.
How do you even do that?
(22:48):
I would never do something likethat.
Like I love when someone saysthat to me and it's things like
that I go to the gym at 5 am orthat I go to early morning
networking meetings.
Like I go to a 7.30 in themorning networking meeting every
week.
Or the stand-up comedy stuff.
Like I read a stat that morepeople would want to swim with
(23:11):
sharks than to public speak andthat's so true.
Like there's I had so manyconversations cause I was like
you know, I wish this would havewent better.
Like I had such high hopes,blah, blah, blah.
But after I mean, there's somany people that are like you
did something that nobody wouldever want to do.
There's no, you would neverfind me on a stage doing stand
(23:34):
up comedy in front of 400 people.
That's so crazy, like I don'teven know how you did that.
And so I'm finding out that I'mhaving those kind of
conversations a lot, and so Ithink that's where I maybe shine
or, like stay true to who I am,because I'm still going to do
that, like I'm still going towake up and work out at 5 am, or
I'm still going to go to theearly morning meeting, or I'm
(23:56):
still going to do that, like I'mstill going to wake up and work
out at 5am, or I'm still goingto go to the early morning
meeting where I'm still going tosay yes to opportunities that
come up, even if they'reuncomfortable, because I want to
, not because someone else isgoing to put their fear into me
to like that I won't.
And so I think when people seethat, or people are watching
that even from afar, that thatstill gains a little bit of
respect, because they're like Iwould never in a million years
(24:16):
wake up and work out at 5.
Am.
That's so crazy.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I mean, I'm right there with you Um, I'm an early
morning person, but it's.
It's that frame of mind, right,you?
You kind of have to make thatconscious decision, just like
you have to make that conscious,conscious decision to let that
fear overcome you.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Yeah Right, that's decision.
Just like.
You have to make that conscious, conscious decision to let that
fear overcome you.
Yeah right, that's all.
Yes, and I'm not by nature anadventurous person, like I'm not
.
Those conversations are notlike oh my gosh, you want sky.
I mean, I went like the thingsI'm doing to me seem so simple
and yet there's still like areso many people that are like
there's never a way I would everdo that, and so I think
sticking with that and thenfinding that within myself is
(24:57):
what then like has just likecoming back to the credit union
and just having the confidenceand like.
So having that confidence plusthe confidence of the who I
truly am, and like my values andwhat I still hold true to who I
am and I'm not changing, likeI'm myself through and through,
in conversations with friends,with family, at work, like I'm
(25:17):
just who I am, and I think thatthat has helped me in my career
because I'm not fake, like I'mjust staying true to how I am
every single day.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
You're genuine.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
You gotta be it.
You gotta be it.
I mean I love that.
I mean I think that's that.
That's one of our, you know,big things that we that we love
about you know our little groupis that you know we're all
pretty genuine, right.
As long as you can be yourauthentic, genuine self, you'll,
you'll always be successful,regardless, right, and you can't
let fear overtake you, becauseyou're especially if you have
(25:52):
that imposter syndrome, becauseall that's going to do is make
that fear of being discoveredovercome you.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Yeah, I can freeze you, I that entire year I was
not, I was just.
I could feel that I wasdifferent.
It's just a different type.
It like plays mind tricks onyou.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Did anyone else notice it, like, did you like
your husband notice it?
Did your, did other coworkerswho knew you notice it?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
I honestly don't think that people noticed it.
I think it was a very internalbattle that I was having because
I would have to show up eachday.
I was fully confident in beingthere but like internally I was
dying, like I was just always solike overstressed, overthinking
, just like I could feel it inmyself.
(26:40):
But I don't think there was.
I mean people on my team.
I would get us into places orin front of groups or going to
huge realtor meetings, like Iwould.
I would set those things up andI would get us to the right
places.
So I think I was my impostersyndrome internally was hurting
me, but probably outwardly kindof helping, just because I was
(27:01):
like pushing more to overcomelike that feeling I was having.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Yeah, it's, it's as, as I can tell and you know, as
you can see it's.
You're passive, you're back inyour safe spot, right.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
You're at Tel safe spot, right, yeah, you're at
Tell Ohio.
Right, you came back to thecredit union space and you're
once again seeing success.
Right, it's your comfort zone.
Right, it's your binky, it'syour blanket.
Right, and now everything's OK.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Right.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Yeah, for sure, and.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Yeah, for sure.
And.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
Tell Ohio is just awesome anyway.
I mean, they've been around.
They weren't celebrated 90years last year?
Like they, they've been around.
You walk into a room, you tellsomeone where you're from, like
they it's good to work there.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Good, and that's what the credit union movement's
about.
Yeah, yeah, awesome.
Well, before we transition, Ialways ask two final questions
because we need to starttransitioning.
Well, one of the finalquestions is any final thoughts,
any words of wisdom that youcan provide someone, as they?
(28:05):
You know, perhaps someone hassome you know imposter syndrome
out there and they're just notsure how to overcome it.
Perhaps you know someone'sreally struggling right now with
just getting past.
You know a whole bunch ofmistakes, so any final words of
wisdom that you can give someone?
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Yeah.
So I would say that I somethingthat I've recently really
started implementing is the letthem theory.
I don't know if you're familiar, but the let them theory is
essentially, let them think whatthey want to think and let me
do what I'm going to do,regardless.
And so just getting past otherpeople's opinions of you or what
(28:48):
you're doing, or, if it'sdifferent than what they're used
to, still just being okay withknowing that you are doing what
you actually want to be doing,what you're going to be best at
doing.
So I would say that that isnumber one.
I would say, staying true toyourself, to your values, just
really relying heavily.
I rely, I'm a believer, and soI rely heavily on the word of
(29:11):
God, and I think that my numberone verse that I lean on a lot
is Romans 8 eight 28,.
That says that he's going towork everything out for the good
of those who love him and arecalled according to his purpose.
And so I am.
That's something I lean onevery single day.
That you know.
I have the backing of that and,um, so, yeah, I would say to
stay true to who you are anddon't let other people's
(29:32):
opinions fog what you know thatyou're going to be best at.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Thank you very much for sharingthat.
And the last question, asalways what keeps you going?
You're like everyone else, onefoot out of bed every single day
.
What keeps you motivated?
What keeps you driving everysingle day?
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Yeah, I would say my motivating factor and the
biggest purpose of my life is mykids.
So I just want to be the bestat what I do, to show them that
they can be the best and thatthey just you know, whatever you
want to do, you can do, you canstrive for whatever you want to
do.
I want them to see me, I wantto lead by example for them and
(30:13):
I'm just really thankful to getto be a mom and so they're my
like daily why and they reallypushed me to just do the best I
can.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
I absolutely love that answer.
I absolutely love that answer.
Well, allie, as I mentionedearlier, it's time for us to
transition to our second segmentNow.
Always, we typically doJeopardy, we do fun facts, but I
already said it, we're doingdad jokes today, the most, the
most requested segment of theshow, dad jokes, and I don't
(30:43):
know the fact that you are astandup comic.
Yes, you are officially astandup comic.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
I'll take it.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
We're we're.
We're doing dad jokes and youcame prepared with two dad jokes
, so here's what we do.
We're doing dad jokes and youcame prepared with two dad jokes
.
So here's what we do.
We're going to go around thehorn.
You'll do your two dad jokes,Justin will do his two dad jokes
and I'll wrap up with my twodad jokes and then we'll just
close out.
Sound good.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
Yep Sounds good All right.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Fire away whenever you're ready.
Speaker 5 (31:10):
All right, you ready, let's do it.
Okay, the first one.
Alright, you ready, let's do it.
Why don't skeletons fight eachother?
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Why.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
They ain't got the guts.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
That was good.
Justin's laughing Bam.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
You ready for the second one, please?
What did the sushi say to thebee?
I don't know the wasabi, wasabithat's a good one, that's a
good one.
The adjuncts are soembarrassing.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I love them.
I love them so much, justin, ohmy gosh, I love them so much.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Justin, oh my gosh.
So mine are more like holidayrelated, but have you ever made
a new year's resolution andstuck to it?
No, the only one that has everworked for me is procrastinating
yeah and then Valentine's Dayjust passed, so we can't, you
(32:19):
know, not pay homage to that.
But what did the puzzle say onValentine's Day?
No idea you complete me.
Oh okay, I don't like you,peter do you want to do another
one?
yes, I do.
I hate when you get mine.
(32:39):
Uh, how do you?
How do you put a flower in thefriend zone?
How you tell it, you're my bestbud okay, that was good.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Okay, that was good.
All right, my turn.
What do you call the pinkfleshy bites between the shark's
teeth?
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Oh, human flesh, slow swimmers.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
That too.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Alright, yes.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
You know, growing up, the weirdest summer job I ever
had was cleaning the monkeycages at the local zoo.
That shit was bananas yes, andnow we're you're welcome, justin
.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
I was saving it for the very end you said damn
earlier, so we lost it oh damnit all right.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
All right, it's okay.
And that wraps up dad jokes forthis episode.
Thank you very much, ali, forjoining us today.
Really do appreciate your timeit was such a pleasure.
Oh, great, great, great great,and I really do appreciate you
know talking to you.
It was a great conversation.
I really enjoy everything thatyou're doing over at Telhio.
(33:55):
Keep up the great work.
I really do appreciate the factthat Scottie A introduced us
Love an opportunity to see youat one of our events learn more
about your story.
I think it's important that theCredit Union movement continues
to have more people like youthat are invested in our
(34:16):
communities and our members, butalso that our true believers in
what we do.
So one thank you for that.
I think that's very important.
But but two, again, this is agreat conversation, so thank you
very much.
Speaker 5 (34:28):
Yes, thank you so much, and it's actually on my
goal list for 2025 to attend aconference.
So Excellent, excellent,excellent and.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Justin, as always, thank conference so excellent,
Excellent, excellent.
And Justin, as always, thankyou.
Thank you, it was my pleasure.
And, to close out, thank youagain to Polygon Research for
sponsoring today's episode andto all of you.
We know your time is valuable.
Thank you for tuning into thelatest episode of Actors On
Point podcast.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Until next time be well, my friends.
Thanks for listening.
We'll see you next time at theACMA On Point Podcast.
If not already, be sure tosubscribe and give us a
five-star rating.
For more great episodes andinformation, be sure to visit us
online at acmaorg and to getthe latest updates, head over to
our LinkedIn page.
The views and opinions expressed in this
podcast do not necessarilyreflect the views or positions
of Acuma, its board of directors, its management staff or its
members.
The podcast discussionpresented is conversational in
nature and for generalinformation only.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello, welcome to Atkins On Point Podcast, a
series focused on sharing thestories of people who are making
a positive impact in the creditunion mortgage industry.
I'm your host, Peter Benjamin.
Before we get to our episode,just a quick word from our
sponsor.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
This episode is sponsored by Polygon Research.
As the annual HMDA data releaseapproaches, there's no better
time to prepare.
With their flagship tool,HMDAvision, Polygon Research
shows you where you areoutflanking your peers and where
you still have work to do.
Their superpower is microdata.
While others offer summaries,Polygon Research shows you the
(01:06):
details Every loan in everymarket.
Learn more atPolygonResearchcom.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Today I am joined by Allie Hager, mortgage Loan
Officer with Telhio Credit Union.
Allie, how are you doing today?
Speaker 5 (01:23):
I am so good.
Thank you so much for having me.
I've been so excited.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Oh, my pleasure, my pleasure.
I'm really excited to have aconversation with you.
There's, I think we have afriend in common who's give me a
little insight into you andwe'll dive into that.
But before we do, as always, wegot to pull the hawk in.
Justin, how you doing today andwhat's the latest and greatest
(01:47):
happening over at Acuma.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I'm good, peter.
How are you living the dream?
Someone's or yours, always mine.
There we go.
See, I almost got you with thatone.
I don't know why I paused, andI think about it first, think
about whose dream it was.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Whose dream is this?
Maybe?
It's your wife's dream.
Don't wake me, man, don't wakeme.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Not yet, at least right, that's right, yeah.
So over here at Acumen, we'rein the full swing of event
planning, which pretty muchstarts as one event ends and the
next one begins, and we justkeep going all year round.
But our first in-person eventis coming up on April 8th and
9th, which will be our viewpointregional summit.
(02:33):
So, if you haven't heard me sayit on previous episodes, this
one's going to be a little bitdifferent.
We're going to have anexperience along with it.
So we're going to be headingout to see the blue wahoos.
Wahoo, which is a minor leaguebaseball team they're going to
take on which I haven't decidedwhich one's my favorite team,
even though it's going to be theBlue Wahoos but they're taking
(02:54):
on the Montgomery Biscuits,something about no, seriously
like something about biscuitsand Wahoos, like I mean, come on
, these are the greatest namesever wahoos, like I mean, come
on like, these are the greatestnames ever.
I was already planning on buyinga hat and blue haus.
Yeah, exactly, but now you gotto find one for the montgomery
biscuits.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Just because, you know, minor leagues always have
the best hats yeah like theyreally do.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I have one with the sea dragon on it.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That's's pretty good, I forgot the name of it, but
there's one in Oregon that has,and it's impossible to find,
Cause I always like the team orthe hat.
The hat Okay, I like the lowprofile fitted ones, but it's
the.
Why am I blinking on it?
It's Oregon.
Hops, I don't think the town,but it's like it's a you know
(03:52):
the.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I like brewing beer, and so it's literally it's.
It's it's a, you know, a hopclove holding a baseball bat.
So we all just learned a couplenew things about you one you
love brewing beer.
Well, that's not new exactly.
There we go all right.
Uh, besides that, umregistration just opened up for
our focal point workshops, so wehave two of those.
They're happening May 6th and7th the first one, which will be
in Savannah, georgia, and thenthe second one will be June 3rd
(04:12):
and 4th in Seattle, washington.
So if you're not registered forone of those two events, what
are you waiting on?
The Viewpoint Regional Summitis free for credit unions and
CUSOs, so come out, see us, takein all the education that we
have to offer.
And then also, you want to markyour calendars because our 2025
Make your Mark AnnualConference will be happening in
(04:35):
Denver, colorado, from September21st to the 24th.
Registration will be openingsoon, so be on the lookout for
that as well.
So if you can't make it to anin-person event, don't worry.
We have plenty of educationalcontent all year round with our
webinars, our fast tracks andinside track series, along with
our on point podcast.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
All right, appreciate it, man, as always.
Thank you very much.
Yes, thank you All right, ali.
So, friend in common, theamazing Scotty, he is amazing,
he is amazing.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Allie, so friend in common, the amazing, scotty.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Hey, he is amazing.
He is amazing.
Like I said earlier, he is thebest self promoter on earth.
But he also said that you areabsolutely fantastic and we had
to have you on that.
You are doing some amazingthings and you're just an
overall great person.
So when I was like, okay,scotty, if, if, this person's
(05:26):
all right by you, they're allright by me, and I have to talk
to this person, so that's whywe're here now, one thing that
scotty a did tell me about wasthat you are a stand-up comic
and because you are a stand-upcomic, I guess we're, we, we all
kind of are figure what's.
You know the second segment'sgoing to be, and so we know what
that's going to be.
It's going to be the dad joke.
(05:46):
So I won't spoil, alert, we'redoing dad jokes, but I I, before
we get to you, know the meatand potatoes of today's
conversation.
I have to know tell me aboutthis whole stand-up thing oh my
gosh.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
So that is a loose term to say that I am a stand-up
comedian, but I am.
I did a stand-up comedy becauseI get myself into situations
that I can't get myself out ofand then I just have to go with
it.
So it was the.
It's called the last con or thelast standing comic, and it's a
(06:20):
real estate show that's put onand do a couple of these a year
and so it's usually realtors,mortgage loan officers.
So I was one of fourcontestants this past time that
got to go and it's in front of400 of our industry peers, sold
out at the funny bone like thecraziest the on stage, all the
things.
So so yes, I have done stand-.
(06:43):
Comedy.
I would say that that's thefirst furthest I can go All
right?
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Well, scotty should be your promoter because he
painted the picture.
He painted the picture asthough you were like some, you
know Dane cook type standupcomedian and that you were going
on tour any minute.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Now, oh my god, um so I mean I can, I will, if the
opportunity calls.
I always say yes, so whateverhands down.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
We're going on tour.
All right, excellent, excellent, excellent.
Ali hager going on tour.
It's like the heirs tour, butscotty a is promoting comedy,
absolutely, absolutely well,that's awesome.
I mean that that's always kindof sort of been the dream of of
mine of doing stand-up comedy,just with dad jokes, just going
(07:34):
up there and seeing a whole youknow.
So you haven't met her yet, butcan you imagine and justin, I'm
looking at you can you imaginegoing into like a room of
cameron's cameron's on our teamand cameron's what?
27, I don't know she is, butyeah, and just like just going
up there and doing just not likean hour of dad jokes, and every
(07:58):
time we do a dad joke she justrolls her eyes and that would
just, I would although she wouldhate it I would just love every
second internally.
I think that's the best part ofdad jokes is that cringe factor
?
yes, 100 yeah because internallythey're laughing, on the
(08:18):
outside they're like when's thisgonna stop?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
yeah, they don't want to laugh, but yeah, they know
it's funny.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely 100%.
Well, the younger they are,they're too cool for school
still.
So you know.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I know and say what.
And we, officially, about amonth ago, we transitioned to
the betas.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I don't even know what they're like yeah, so those
are going to be the beta test.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Children, keep thinking that every time I hear
beta my kids.
My kids are alphas and theyhate that jokes.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
What if the betas logo was like beta fish?
Yeah, we're not even at thesegment yet.
Yep, that happened.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Justin, I'm segwaying .
All right, allie, I'm sad.
Thanks for ruining a moment,justin.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah, no problem, that's what I'm here for, all
right.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
All right.
So, allie, I appreciate youwalking me through that.
I had to ask that question, ofcourse, yes, but all right.
So, ali, I appreciate youwalking me through that I had to
ask that question, of course,yes, but all right.
So first question.
I always ask this firstquestion and technically it's
not the first question anymore,but but so now it's the second
(09:37):
question.
But I always preface thisquestion with the same exact
industry, and so, to that point,tell us about yourself.
What makes Allie Allie?
What keeps you going?
Who are you?
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah, so I am, first of all, a wife, a mom of three
kids.
I am a self-starter and someone, like I said, that gets myself
into a lot of situations thatthen I'm like all right, we're
just doing this, we're goingwith it.
So I have been a mortgage loanofficer for since 2014.
(10:12):
And so I am a mortgage lenderand I have been in the credit
union space for six years.
So I have seen big bank, I'veseen brokerage, I've seen credit
union and I've been in all ofthem, and I will promote credit
unions all day long, just basedon experience.
(10:34):
But I'm a person who is alwayslooking for how I can get better
or what I can do to be better,or something new that I can
learn.
And I would say I used to likewhat used to really make me tick
is trying to find my purpose.
Like I would not truly knowwhat my purpose was and I would
(10:56):
just be out looking to see, like, can I figure out what this
would be?
And now I, based on experienceand things that I've seen and
people that I've worked with anda lot of no's along the way,
I've kind of discovered that mypurpose is to be a person that's
going to say yes to things thatmost people will say no to, and
(11:19):
so now I'm like living that andit's been really cool to see
the opportunities and like justthe path from doing that.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
No, I mean, that's awesome, and you're not the
first person to really say Ikind of sort of found my purpose
in the credit union world.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Right, and I've said it right I lost my.
I lost my way, you know,working for banks.
You know I lost my way workingfor IMBs.
I found it again at creditunions.
Right, and I think that's whatmakes credit unions so special
right, and I think that's why wepush so hard to advocate for
(12:01):
credit unions is because youknow they really are this
amazing place.
Not just you know to work, butyou know the idea of you know
people helping people.
You know it's.
You know our communities, ourmembers, really could embrace
the idea of getting their homeloans through a credit union.
They really would see that, hey, these are people who believe
(12:23):
in the idea, hey, of we'reputting families in homes, right
.
You know it's.
I was talking to someoneearlier today and you know they
said you know jokingly and it'sserious.
You know, like every singletime that they, you know, go to
you know a broker conference,they feel like the second they
come home they have to take ashower, right, and the funny
(12:47):
thing is like that couldn't bemore true.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
Yeah, no, it's so true.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It's like it's, but it's different, right it's.
Credit unions are special and Ilove that.
You said I found my way wayagain, right, because that's why
we do what we do, right.
So thank you very much forsharing that.
Now, as always, you and I had aconversation pre-recording and
(13:13):
I really liked something yousaid and I wanted to kind of
pick up where we left off aboutone of the things that you said
in our conversationpre-recording, and it was really
about making mistakes and how,really, that you've learned from
(13:35):
your mistakes and how thatthroughout your career, you've
had a lot of trial and error andhow that throughout your career
you've had a lot of trial anderror and that, ultimately,
through that trial and error,you've been able to learn from
those mistakes and been moresuccessful.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Now, the reason why I like having this conversation
is I want to have thisconversation is because I think
there's a lot of lessons tolearn from it.
Right, I think the mostsuccessful people learn from
their mistakes, right, and youknow, I come from the school of
thought that, and maybe it's mychange management background.
But if something, if a processdoesn't work, it's not a failure
(14:16):
, right, it's just a reason forus to learn and to improve.
Yeah, right, and I'm going tokeep trying to improve, improve,
improve until I get it right,right, and a lot of people don't
don't see that A lot of peopledon't learn from their mistakes.
They just truly don't.
(14:37):
Yeah, they only go out and theyjust give up.
So walk us through, like youknow, some of these, these
lessons learned.
Walk us through that careerjourney that that really kind of
made you who you are today.
And again, scottie said youwere something special.
Let's kind of, let's kind ofwalk through this and the trials
(14:59):
and errors.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Yeah, so I, when I started, I was at a big bank, so
that was 2000,.
Actually 2011 that I got intothe industry, 2014 that I
started lending.
But yeah, so I was young when Istarted.
I was 24 when I got into themortgage industry.
I was 24 when I got into themortgage industry and so in that
(15:21):
time I was getting led bypeople who I knew I could
probably do what they were doing, but I was too afraid to do it
because I was getting a lot oflike you would never be able to
do this.
Like you should stay justassisting at this point.
Like it's really hard to dothis job, stay just assisting at
this point.
Like it's really hard to dothis job.
(15:43):
Like a lot of no's that justhonestly pushed me to want to do
it more.
So I had one manager at thatbank who believed in me that let
me start lending.
And I still was getting a lotof no's and throughout that time
and leaving there and gettingintroduced to the credit union
and getting started at thecredit union I, once I got here,
(16:05):
like well, I like found myrhythm.
So I would say my.
My year of finding myself andknowing that I could do this job
was when I was 33 years old.
So I was 33 years old, it was2020.
So I was 33 years old, it was2020.
I, that year, closed 33 millionin loans and I was just.
(16:26):
I got promoted to team lead.
All these things were happeningand I started reading books
like High Performance Habits byBrendan Burchard.
There was a book called GirlWash your Face that I read by
Rachel Hollis.
Just self-help things to belike.
No, I got this, Like even ifother people don't believe that
(16:46):
I can do this, like I believethat I can do this.
So that year I just fell intomy own.
And then it was like a year-ishlater I was on maternity leave
with my third, with my daughter,and I got the opportunity to go
start a team and lead all ofColumbus for another big bank.
(17:08):
And I let it get to my head andI was like I'm only 35, but I
was going to give myself to 40to get into management.
But I'm like if they want menow and I say no, then that
means someone else gets to dothis.
So I have to do this, so I haveto do this.
So I took that, left the creditunion, went for that
opportunity.
I was there 10 months, 10 monthsof a terrible imposter syndrome
(17:29):
, like waking up in the morningdreading having to go in.
I built a team.
I had a team of six.
We weren't doing bad,Everything was honestly going
pretty well but it was literallyme, every single day of like
they're going to find out that Iliterally have no idea what I'm
doing.
And I was the youngest personon my team.
Everyone was older than me andthe day I knew I was in the
(17:50):
wrong room was when I wasliterally in a room and my upper
management called everyone thatwas in my same position into a
meeting, except for me.
They were in a closed officeand I was outside of the office
and I was like this isn't, thisisn't my space, Like I'm not, I
shouldn't be here.
And so, luckily, had stayedfriends with all my friends at
(18:11):
the credit union and theyluckily wanted me back, I guess
later I found out that they,like the day I left, said we
have to get her back, but theylet me go out and find my way,
which I appreciate.
So, um, I and that whole yearof being there, like I was not
getting referrals from any of myrealtor partners.
It was such a strange time andso got back.
(18:33):
I've been back for um like 10months, I guess now, and coming
back to the confidence of justbeing back at a place that I
know that I belong in, that liketruly cares about me genuinely
as a person and that trulygenuinely cares about other
people and helping people, andjust the stories that I can tell
of the people that I've gottento do loans for and the way that
(18:55):
my confidence then shows to myrealtor partners and the
referrals now that are just likeflowing in.
It's just such a testament oflike stay like you can be.
A lot of people will say likeyou're not going to grow if you
don't get outside of yourcomfort, like you can't be in
your comfort zone, You're nevergoing to grow.
But my platform now is you canbe in your zone but you can
stretch within your own zone andthat's where you're going to be
(19:17):
your best.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
No, I mean a hundred percent and thank you for
walking us through that.
I think we've all, throughoutour career, have had that, that
moment of imposter syndromeRight, and there's nothing
scarier than having it RightJust out of curiosity.
Did you ever find out what theywere talking about behind that
closed door?
Speaker 5 (19:37):
I, I actually don't I feel just like well, this
stinks peace out like itprobably wasn't good for me at
that, like I think I was seeingthe writing on the wall, so it
was probably a good time toleave yeah, I mean, it's never a
good sign.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Never a good sign when you could have a
conversation now.
We're just out of curiosity,like how many people were you
managing?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
just remind me of that when I went to the other,
coming to the big bank I was,there were six people that were
on my team that I hired in andso here you are, managing people
had more experience, older andyou had this imposter syndrome.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Do they make you feel like, like you didn't belong?
Speaker 5 (20:16):
100, 100%.
There was one guy specificallywho hated every part of me being
the manager, some dailystruggle, but yeah, and I mean
and but there was a day that I Idon't know what came over me,
but I got.
I was like no, I'm the managerin this situation.
So I sat down with him and Isaid I got hired into this
(20:37):
position for a reason and I'mnot going anywhere.
So one of us would have to gosomewhere and I'm not going
anywhere essentially, and Ithink that just standing up for
myself a bit honestly made himrespect me a little bit more.
But yeah, I mean, it was veryapparent that they were like not
fully trusting what I wassaying as a manager, even though
(20:59):
we were not doing bad, like wewere doing honestly pretty well.
So or it might've been, but Ithink probably too, it is like
me overthinking the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
I mean that's part of it, right.
I mean so you know, one of thethings that always makes it
tough right now I kind of gotsidetracked.
I was.
I was really interested.
If you've ever found out whatthey were talking about behind
closed doors was.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
I kind of wish I didn't know.
I don't really know.
I don't think I cared to knowyou know.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
But one of the things you know with imposter syndrome
is, yes, you kind of step intothese situations where you might
have imposter syndrome.
I think we all have it right,we step into these positions.
I mean, heck, when I, when Itook this position, I, I I often
still have it right where, like, what the heck am I doing in
this, this job?
(21:45):
Like I'm just a nobody.
But one of the things that kindof helps us combat that is
staying true to ourselves, right, yep, and not not giving up on
our values, not portraying whowe are, yeah, and that, as long
as we continue to focus on thatcompass and that tends to
(22:08):
overshadow that, I guess it's afear, right, the fear of being
discovered as a fraud.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Yeah, that's a thing.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
So what were some of those things that you stayed
true to that allowed you to kindof stay strong in that
difficult situation?
Speaker 5 (22:28):
So something I found out about myself is that my
faith and I think this hasrecently hit me is that my fate
and I think this has recentlyhit me.
I don't even realize I do thisbecause it's nothing that's like
huge or things that otherpeople couldn't choose to do if
they didn't want to.
But one of my favoritestatements that people say to me
is I would never like, there'sno way.
How do you even do that?
(22:48):
I would never do something likethat.
Like I love when someone saysthat to me and it's things like
that I go to the gym at 5 am orthat I go to early morning
networking meetings.
Like I go to a 7.30 in themorning networking meeting every
week.
Or the stand-up comedy stuff.
Like I read a stat that morepeople would want to swim with
(23:11):
sharks than to public speak andthat's so true.
Like there's I had so manyconversations cause I was like
you know, I wish this would havewent better.
Like I had such high hopes,blah, blah, blah.
But after I mean, there's somany people that are like you
did something that nobody wouldever want to do.
There's no, you would neverfind me on a stage doing stand
(23:34):
up comedy in front of 400 people.
That's so crazy, like I don'teven know how you did that.
And so I'm finding out that I'mhaving those kind of
conversations a lot, and so Ithink that's where I maybe shine
or, like stay true to who I am,because I'm still going to do
that, like I'm still going towake up and work out at 5 am, or
I'm still going to go to theearly morning meeting, or I'm
(23:56):
still going to do that, like I'mstill going to wake up and work
out at 5am, or I'm still goingto go to the early morning
meeting where I'm still going tosay yes to opportunities that
come up, even if they'reuncomfortable, because I want to
, not because someone else isgoing to put their fear into me
to like that I won't.
And so I think when people seethat, or people are watching
that even from afar, that thatstill gains a little bit of
respect, because they're like Iwould never in a million years
(24:16):
wake up and work out at 5.
Am.
That's so crazy.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I mean, I'm right there with you Um, I'm an early
morning person, but it's.
It's that frame of mind, right,you?
You kind of have to make thatconscious decision, just like
you have to make that conscious,conscious decision to let that
fear overcome you.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Yeah Right, that's decision.
Just like.
You have to make that conscious, conscious decision to let that
fear overcome you.
Yeah right, that's all.
Yes, and I'm not by nature anadventurous person, like I'm not
.
Those conversations are notlike oh my gosh, you want sky.
I mean, I went like the thingsI'm doing to me seem so simple
and yet there's still like areso many people that are like
there's never a way I would everdo that, and so I think
sticking with that and thenfinding that within myself is
(24:57):
what then like has just likecoming back to the credit union
and just having the confidenceand like.
So having that confidence plusthe confidence of the who I
truly am, and like my values andwhat I still hold true to who I
am and I'm not changing, likeI'm myself through and through,
in conversations with friends,with family, at work, like I'm
(25:17):
just who I am, and I think thatthat has helped me in my career
because I'm not fake, like I'mjust staying true to how I am
every single day.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
You're genuine.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
You gotta be it.
You gotta be it.
I mean I love that.
I mean I think that's that.
That's one of our, you know,big things that we that we love
about you know our little groupis that you know we're all
pretty genuine, right.
As long as you can be yourauthentic, genuine self, you'll,
you'll always be successful,regardless, right, and you can't
let fear overtake you, becauseyou're especially if you have
(25:52):
that imposter syndrome, becauseall that's going to do is make
that fear of being discoveredovercome you.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Yeah, I can freeze you, I that entire year I was
not, I was just.
I could feel that I wasdifferent.
It's just a different type.
It like plays mind tricks onyou.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Did anyone else notice it, like, did you like
your husband notice it?
Did your, did other coworkerswho knew you notice it?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
I honestly don't think that people noticed it.
I think it was a very internalbattle that I was having because
I would have to show up eachday.
I was fully confident in beingthere but like internally I was
dying, like I was just always solike overstressed, overthinking
, just like I could feel it inmyself.
(26:40):
But I don't think there was.
I mean people on my team.
I would get us into places orin front of groups or going to
huge realtor meetings, like Iwould.
I would set those things up andI would get us to the right
places.
So I think I was my impostersyndrome internally was hurting
me, but probably outwardly kindof helping, just because I was
(27:01):
like pushing more to overcomelike that feeling I was having.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Yeah, it's, it's as, as I can tell and you know, as
you can see it's.
You're passive, you're back inyour safe spot, right.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
You're at Tel safe spot, right, yeah, you're at
Tell Ohio.
Right, you came back to thecredit union space and you're
once again seeing success.
Right, it's your comfort zone.
Right, it's your binky, it'syour blanket.
Right, and now everything's OK.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Right.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Yeah, for sure, and.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Yeah, for sure.
And.
Speaker 5 (27:31):
Tell Ohio is just awesome anyway.
I mean, they've been around.
They weren't celebrated 90years last year?
Like they, they've been around.
You walk into a room, you tellsomeone where you're from, like
they it's good to work there.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Good, and that's what the credit union movement's
about.
Yeah, yeah, awesome.
Well, before we transition, Ialways ask two final questions
because we need to starttransitioning.
Well, one of the finalquestions is any final thoughts,
any words of wisdom that youcan provide someone, as they?
(28:05):
You know, perhaps someone hassome you know imposter syndrome
out there and they're just notsure how to overcome it.
Perhaps you know someone'sreally struggling right now with
just getting past.
You know a whole bunch ofmistakes, so any final words of
wisdom that you can give someone?
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Yeah.
So I would say that I somethingthat I've recently really
started implementing is the letthem theory.
I don't know if you're familiar, but the let them theory is
essentially, let them think whatthey want to think and let me
do what I'm going to do,regardless.
And so just getting past otherpeople's opinions of you or what
(28:48):
you're doing, or, if it'sdifferent than what they're used
to, still just being okay withknowing that you are doing what
you actually want to be doing,what you're going to be best at
doing.
So I would say that that isnumber one.
I would say, staying true toyourself, to your values, just
really relying heavily.
I rely, I'm a believer, and soI rely heavily on the word of
(29:11):
God, and I think that my numberone verse that I lean on a lot
is Romans 8 eight 28,.
That says that he's going towork everything out for the good
of those who love him and arecalled according to his purpose.
And so I am.
That's something I lean onevery single day.
That you know.
I have the backing of that and,um, so, yeah, I would say to
stay true to who you are anddon't let other people's
(29:32):
opinions fog what you know thatyou're going to be best at.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Thank you very much for sharingthat.
And the last question, asalways what keeps you going?
You're like everyone else, onefoot out of bed every single day
.
What keeps you motivated?
What keeps you driving everysingle day?
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Yeah, I would say my motivating factor and the
biggest purpose of my life is mykids.
So I just want to be the bestat what I do, to show them that
they can be the best and thatthey just you know, whatever you
want to do, you can do, you canstrive for whatever you want to
do.
I want them to see me, I wantto lead by example for them and
(30:13):
I'm just really thankful to getto be a mom and so they're my
like daily why and they reallypushed me to just do the best I
can.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
I absolutely love that answer.
I absolutely love that answer.
Well, allie, as I mentionedearlier, it's time for us to
transition to our second segmentNow.
Always, we typically doJeopardy, we do fun facts, but I
already said it, we're doingdad jokes today, the most, the
most requested segment of theshow, dad jokes, and I don't
(30:43):
know the fact that you are astandup comic.
Yes, you are officially astandup comic.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
I'll take it.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
We're we're.
We're doing dad jokes and youcame prepared with two dad jokes
, so here's what we do.
We're doing dad jokes and youcame prepared with two dad jokes
.
So here's what we do.
We're going to go around thehorn.
You'll do your two dad jokes,Justin will do his two dad jokes
and I'll wrap up with my twodad jokes and then we'll just
close out.
Sound good.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
Yep Sounds good All right.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Fire away whenever you're ready.
Speaker 5 (31:10):
All right, you ready, let's do it.
Okay, the first one.
Alright, you ready, let's do it.
Why don't skeletons fight eachother?
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Why.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
They ain't got the guts.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
That was good.
Justin's laughing Bam.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
You ready for the second one, please?
What did the sushi say to thebee?
I don't know the wasabi, wasabithat's a good one, that's a
good one.
The adjuncts are soembarrassing.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I love them.
I love them so much, justin, ohmy gosh, I love them so much.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Justin, oh my gosh.
So mine are more like holidayrelated, but have you ever made
a new year's resolution andstuck to it?
No, the only one that has everworked for me is procrastinating
yeah and then Valentine's Dayjust passed, so we can't, you
(32:19):
know, not pay homage to that.
But what did the puzzle say onValentine's Day?
No idea you complete me.
Oh okay, I don't like you,peter do you want to do another
one?
yes, I do.
I hate when you get mine.
(32:39):
Uh, how do you?
How do you put a flower in thefriend zone?
How you tell it, you're my bestbud okay, that was good.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Okay, that was good.
All right, my turn.
What do you call the pinkfleshy bites between the shark's
teeth?
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Oh, human flesh, slow swimmers.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
That too.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Alright, yes.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
You know, growing up, the weirdest summer job I ever
had was cleaning the monkeycages at the local zoo.
That shit was bananas yes, andnow we're you're welcome, justin
.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
I was saving it for the very end you said damn
earlier, so we lost it oh damnit all right.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
All right, it's okay.
And that wraps up dad jokes forthis episode.
Thank you very much, ali, forjoining us today.
Really do appreciate your timeit was such a pleasure.
Oh, great, great, great great,and I really do appreciate you
know talking to you.
It was a great conversation.
I really enjoy everything thatyou're doing over at Telhio.
(33:55):
Keep up the great work.
I really do appreciate the factthat Scottie A introduced us
Love an opportunity to see youat one of our events learn more
about your story.
I think it's important that theCredit Union movement continues
to have more people like youthat are invested in our
(34:16):
communities and our members, butalso that our true believers in
what we do.
So one thank you for that.
I think that's very important.
But but two, again, this is agreat conversation, so thank you
very much.
Speaker 5 (34:28):
Yes, thank you so much, and it's actually on my
goal list for 2025 to attend aconference.
So Excellent, excellent,excellent and.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Justin, as always, thank conference so excellent,
Excellent, excellent.
And Justin, as always, thankyou.
Thank you, it was my pleasure.
And, to close out, thank youagain to Polygon Research for
sponsoring today's episode andto all of you.
We know your time is valuable.
Thank you for tuning into thelatest episode of Actors On
Point podcast.
We hope you enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Until next time be well, my friends.
Thanks for listening.
We'll see you next time at theACMA On Point Podcast.
If not already, be sure tosubscribe and give us a
five-star rating.
For more great episodes andinformation, be sure to visit us
online at acmaorg and to getthe latest updates, head over to
our LinkedIn page.
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