This past week Dan Gilbert was featured on Smart Business to discuss growing a business and building corporate culture.
Even though Dan has a full plate, being chairman and founder of Quicken Loans in addition to owning and operating several other businesses, Dan still makes time for such things as making sure to be at each and every new hire orientation. At these orientations Dan discusses each and every “ism” Quicken Loans has and how things should be handled:
From always being aware of your surroundings to being obsessed with finding a better way, the “isms” focus on empowering employees to do whatever is needed to grow themselves and the business. There’s no red tape or committees at Gilbert’s companies, just employees who are trusted and expected to do whatever needs to be done. To Gilbert, failure is an option, as long as it’s not intentional. Employees can’t be afraid to fail; they have to be able to take chances. As a leader, you have to foster creativity.
‘You don’t want people who ‘just work here,’ you want empowered people who aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes to grow the company,’ Gilbert says. ‘If you don’t build a good culture, there is no question that a bad culture will take its place.’
Personally, I can attest to Quicken Loans having one of the best cultures. Employees are empowered and can make suggestions to improve anything they feel they can improve upon. To read more on the Dan Gilbert’s ideas of culture, the Quicken Loans “isms” and building a business, visit the Smart Business article.
On Tuesday January 12th Haiti experienced a catastrophic earthquake, a 7.0 on the Richter magnitude scale. Between 217,000 and 230,000 people were identified as dead as well as 300,000 reported injured and an additional 1,000,000 now homeless.
Over the next four weeks following the Haiti earthquake, Quicken Loans and their sister companies joined together and through a series of conducted auctions, jean days, potlucks and payroll deduction campaigns they were able to raise a total of $71,723. Out of that total, $53,303 went to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund, $10,000 went to rebuilding the Christianville Clinic in Haiti, $5,000 was given to Samaritan Feet, which helps supply shoes for Haitians, and $3,420 went to UNICEF.
Thank you everybody from Quicken Loans and their sister companies for helping to make a difference in the lives of so many who are struggling right now. Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member iris19 – “The Quicken Loan advisor that I worked with assisted with the refinancing of our home. I had spoken to another bank, and did not get the service I had experienced when the economy was more robust. The person who worked with us from Quicken Loan was knowledgable, strategic, provided alternatives and responded rapidly to requests. The determination if we qualified for the loan was fast and relatively painless. I have recommended this genteman to several friends and family members and would definitely use Quicken Loans if we ever needed to make a change in our mortgage.Talk about making the challenges facing us all in this economy into an opportunity to work smarter!”
To see other Quicken Loans reviews visit Viewpoints or to see this review live click here.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member Hedge – “I have been through the entire process with Quicken Loans twice in the past two years, and am absolutely convinced this is by far the fastest and most efficient method of conducting a refinance.
Communication via e-mail and secure uploads and downloads for the transfer of documents was flawless. The level of professionalism demonstrated by Thomas Fain and his team was top notch, and I feel they worked really hard on my behalf to close a loan that I honestly didn’t believe would be a simple slam-dunk.
I now realize that it is possible to develop the kind of relationship and trust with a mortgage banker from halfway across the country just like someone you know and trust from halfway across town.”
To see more Quicken Loans review check out Viewpoints review site or to see this review click here.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member Godisgoodallthetime – “I had a 30 year fixed loan with a reputable company, at a decent rate. My goal was to pay my loan off as a 15 year loan. Every time I checked into refinancing, it would only help if I changed my goal to pay the loan over its entire life (regardless of whether it was 15 or 30 yr). Even my own lender was unable to make the “hassle” of refinancing worth the time and effort.
When I spoke with Jorge Mendez at Quicken, he listened to my goals, and worked to find a way for me to meet them, at a lower overall cost. He found a way for me to obtain a 15 yr loan at over a point less than my existing loan, and even paying it off in 8 years I’ll still save thousands.
I was told the entire process may take a month, but we were closed in less than three weeks. I wish I had made the call earlier!”
To see more Quicken Loans reviews visit Viewpoints or to see this review live click here.
THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund) is a non-profit organization that brings heat to those whose service is off, received a utility company shut-off notice or has depleted heating fuel. Quicken Loans joined with WWJ Radio to sponsor THAW’s 7th Annual WWJ NewsRadio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon which began Friday, Feb. 5th and ran through Saturday, Feb. 6th. Quicken Loans sponsored an online auction that featured wall graphics from Fathead.com along with trips, tickets and much more.
Since 1986, THAW has provided around $70 million in assistance to more than 124,000 Michigan elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled individuals who found themselves in need of emergency energy assistance.
To learn more about THAW or to see what you can do to help, please visit THAW.
Dan Gilbert talks to the Kauffman Foundation about entrepreneurialism, from his first attempt at a pizza business when he was in 6th grade to his latest project called Bizdom U. Bizdom U is an entrepreneurial academy, which allows people who may not ordinarily get a chance at starting a business the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of business in a year to two year school setting. In the end Bizdom U even chooses to fund some of the businesses the students create during their time at Bizdom U. Watch this video to learn more about Dan Gilbert’s take on entrepreneurialism and the story behind Bizdom U.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member aspring2 – “The refinance process was so easy. I was talked through everything and provided all of the information necessary to make an educated decision about my new home loan. Any questions I had were answered in a timely manner. Everything was handled professionally. I have and will continue to recommend Quicken to anyone looking to refinance.”
To see more Quicken Loans reviews visit Viewpoints or to see this review live click here.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member Bpalant - “When I first called Chase about refinancing my loan, I was a little skeptical when they recommended talking to Quicken Loans. However, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
My loan specialist, Sandra Hanna, was wonderful. She went through the entire process with me, explained anything I didn’t understand often multiple times, was patient, professional and courteous. We discussed several options surrounding terms, rates, etc and, together, chose the one that was right for me.
In 1.5 hours, I applied to refinance my loan and locked in a terrific rate.
I closed on my loan in approximately two weeks after starting the process. I closed it in the comfort of my own home and it took literally minutes to sign all of the documents.
I am delighted with Quicken Loans. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to all of my friends and family.”
To read more Quicken Loans reviews visit Viewpoints or to see this review live click here.
Today’s review of the day is from Viewpoints member Lglenn11 – “My experience with Quicken Loans was phenomenol. Inititally, I didn’t think they would help me be able to refinance my loan in order to make sense for me to proceed with the process. My advisor called me back after I declined to share different options that Quicken gave to me which enticed me to eventually begin the refinance process. The staff was courteous, helpful and knowledgeable, very eager to help. From the time I began the process til the day I close, was a very short period of time, less than 30 days. I have friends that are going through loan modifications with their current banks and their processes are taking over 3 months!
Kudos to Dawn and her colleagues!”
To see this review live click here or check out other Quicken Loans reviews by visiting Viewpoints.
This past week Dan Gilbert was featured on Smart Business to discuss growing a business and building corporate culture.
