Never give up. I know it’s a cliché, but you’ll never succeed in the business world if you aren’t willing to fail, dust yourself off, and try again.
Jacques Poujade is the Chief Executive Officer at LendPlus, a lender that specializes in helping customers purchase the residential properties of their dreams. He’s an experienced financial expert with three decades of experience that he uses to help LendPlus clients and his team.
Mr. Poujade’s resume has an international flair. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the Loyola Campus of Concordia University, and then went to Montreal, Canada, to earn his masters in finance from Faculty of Graduate Studies of McGill University. He began his professional life in Canada as well, serving as a supervisor for the Montreal-based Coopers & Lybrand firm from 1982-1987.
He quickly moved up in the world, earning job titles such as Financial Analyst and Assistant to the President of First National Bank of Boston, Vice President of Finance for the London-based Zimcor Group, and Branch Manager for American Home Loans in subsequent years.
Mr. Poujade also has entrepreneurial experience, as he founded Allegiance Financial Group in 1996 and served as the company’s CEO until it was sold to City Holding Company in October of 1997. He also co-founded Lenders Direct Capital Corporation.
Today, Mr. Poujade concentrates on his position with LendPlus. The company offers a wide variety of loans for customers to choose from, including 30-year fixed rate mortgages, 15-year mortgages, variable-rate mortgages, FHA loans, USDA loans, reverse mortgages, and VA loans. We recently had the chance to sit down with Mr. Poujade and discuss what has made him so successful in the business world:
Where did the idea for LendPlus come from?
I’ve worked in the financial sector for my entire adult life, and my previous experiences with entrepreneurship had gone pretty well. When the opportunity came along to start another company, it was pretty easy for me to visualize the shape that LendPlus would ultimately take.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I wear many hats in my role with LendPlus. Sometimes, I’m looking at the “big picture” and trying to create business strategies for long-term growth. My team will also come to me if a deal requires creative structuring, giving me the chance to work directly with clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Honestly, the best way to transform ideas into reality is simply to put in the hard work and get it done. There is no magic wand that brings plans to fruition overnight, but nearly anything is achievable if you do your homework and roll up your sleeves.
What’s one trend that excites you?
This may not be a popular opinion considering recent trends in the market, but I love cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Litecoin. I feel as though they have the potential to revolutionize the economic landscape, especially in the financial sector.
Recently, LendPlus became the first lender to offer crypto-based mortgage payments. I view these assets as a dynamic growth opportunity, so accepting them is a no-brainer to me. I also see it as doing my part to help crypto get the wide scale support it needs to change the economic paradigm for the better.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurs have the freedom to set their own hours, but this can prove to be a curse. I try to begin my day with the most difficult task on my schedule to get off to a good start, and then try to carry that momentum throughout the day.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Never give up. I know it’s a cliché, but you’ll never succeed in the business world if you aren’t willing to fail, dust yourself off, and try again.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Can I go back to crypto? I know that some people don’t understand or trust digital currencies, but I believe they will do great things in the near future.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I might be the boss at LendPlus, but I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without the support of my team. One of the most under-appreciated aspects of entrepreneurship is making sure that your team is just as dedicated as you are.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
When people buy a home, it’s often all they can talk about for the next couple of months. If they have a great experience with us, this turns into free word-of-mouth advertising that really helps us acquire new customers.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Thankfully, I can’t recall any really dramatic failures in my professional life. There have been slip-ups here and there, but nothing that really sticks in my mind.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
If you could create an app that automatically tracks consumer spending (with no user input required), you could really be onto something. I can’t tell you how many clients we work with who have no idea where their money went.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently found the perfect holiday gift for somebody close to me, though obviously I can’t say anymore here!
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I love RescueTime because it helps me stay on schedule even if the internet is trying to distract me. I also use a program called Breeze to organize my workflow.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I love The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry because it teaches leaders of any stripe how to cultivate the fresh ideas every enterprise needs for growth.
What is your favorite quote?
“Believe in Yourself.” Whether you are trying to start a business, purchase a home, or land your dream job, nobody will believe in you until you can demonstrate that you believe in yourself.
Key Learnings:
- Successful entrepreneurs never give up even if they fail sometimes along the way.
- Your team is indispensable to your success.
- There is no substitute for hard work.
- Don’t sleep on cryptocurrency.
Connect:
Company Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.