Melinda Wilner, our Chief Operating Officer, looks back on her last 10 years at UWM.

This past October, I celebrated 10 years at UWM. Although a lot has changed over the years, our goals have always been centered around growth. From the days I led a team of 37 underwriters to the nearly 6,000 on my team today, I’ve grown as a person and as a leader. Here are some things important lessons I’ve learned along the way:

Stay Positive

Life’s unpredictability is one of its greatest treasures. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the negative aspects of life’s ‘what if’s’, but the challenge is to truly appreciate and anticipate the positive ones. While it’s important to be prepared for all possible outcomes, most of the time our wildest fears and worries never come to fruition. Don’t let fear affect your decision-making abilities. Stay positive.

Break Things Into Parts

It can be overwhelming when you have a lot on your plate. When you’re left feeling like there’s not enough time in the day to get your work done, break your workload into parts and prioritize them. Allocate enough time to complete each task and check them off as you go. It will help make your days easier.

Embrace Change

How you handle change will determine how well you will execute your job. Change is inevitable and it’s important to look at change as progress and that change is a way to be better today than you were yesterday. I often say if you aren’t changing then you aren’t growing. Don’t resist it; it’s a good thing!

Be a Thumb Pointer

Take time to reflect on your results. When things go well, what are you doing that is making things go well, and do more of that. When things could have gone better, take the time to reflect and ask yourself, “What could I have done differently for a better outcome? How could I have helped something to go more smoothly?"

Spend Your Time Wisely

We all have the same 24 hours in the day to make an impact. You have to say no to things that aren’t aligned with your goals or your brand, and don’t waste time on things that drain your time or that you don’t get value or enjoyment from. Always look at the time commitment required and truly assess the input vs. the value.

Put Things in Perspective

For many, balancing their work and home life can be challenging and stressful. Every day, I ask myself what will make me the best mom, wife and leader, and I use that to make decisions on what gets prioritized. I consciously put things in perspective and compartmentalize the things that I can and cannot control. It’s important to take what comes at you in stride and feel confident that you are strong enough to get through it.

At UWM, we focus on growth. Growth as a company, as a leader, as a team member and as a person. As you navigate through your career, you will experience change and learn lots of lessons. What matters is how you apply them, not only at work, but in your everyday life. Learn more about career opportunities here.