Imagine launching your business one week before the world shut down.

That’s exactly what Robb Everhart did. As co-founder of Fairway Home Mortgage in Rochester, NY, Robb and his wife opened their doors just days before the COVID lockdowns began in 2020.

But that’s just one chapter in a story shaped by two decades of leadership in the mortgage world—navigating market crashes, scaling teams, learning hard lessons in hiring, and redefining what success really means.

In this episode, Robb gets real about the cost of playing a role, the power of mentorship, and the growth that comes when you finally decide to lead with authenticity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How launching a business during a global shutdown taught Robb to lead with calm, clarity, and confidence

✅ Why being inauthentic early in business cost him years of progress—and what finally helped him find his voice

✅ How to recognize when a partnership or hire isn’t right (and why ignoring your gut can quietly derail your culture)

✅ The question a mentor asked that changed how he leads his team

✅ Why being a strong communicator is a superpower in high-stakes industries like finance

✅ How coaching baseball and navigating divorce shaped his view on leadership and legacy

✅ The biggest hiring lesson Robb learned—and how slowing down actually speeds up growth

✅ What entrepreneurs can learn from the evolution of lending—from cold calls to AI tools

✅ Why staying true to your values is harder—but always worth it

✅ How defining your mission helps you grow with clarity, even when the world around you is in chaos

🎧 If you’ve ever felt pulled between who you think you should be in business and who you really are, this episode will remind you: growth starts with getting honest—and it’s never too late to lead differently.