Lessons From Last Time

This episode of Lessons From Last Time with Don Goettling centers on resilience, leadership, and giving back to the mortgage industry. Don shares his 30+ year journey from motocross racer to leading a $1.5 billion regional team, and now to CEO and co-host of Momentum Builder and Sales Mastery. His story weaves together lessons from motocross, personal setbacks, and market downturns, showing how grit, purpose, and strong relationships fuel long-term success. At its core, the conversation highlights Don’s mission: to equip mortgage and housing professionals with the right tools, mindset, and community to not just survive the industry’s ups and downs, but thrive through them.

In honor of Jean-Louis Ledanois recently becoming our new CEO, we’re re-releasing his Lessons From Last Time episode. Tune in for a candid conversation about the life experiences that shaped his leadership style.
You’ll hear how leaving Venezuela, adapting to new cultures, and navigating the high-pressure world of Silicon Valley prepared him for this next chapter.
It’s a story of perseverance, adaptability, and leading with purpose, which are qualities we’re proud to have at the helm of the Knowledge Coop.

In this episode of Lessons From Last Time, mortgage leader Todd Williams shares how personal adversity and decades of industry experience have shaped his approach to life, mentorship, and building lasting impact. From redefining his own concept of success to raising the bar for those around him, Todd offers practical insights for anyone who wants to lead their life with excellence, integrity, and meaning.

Ken and Kirk dive deep into leadership with local coaching legend Jon Eagle, reflecting on how personal growth, faith, and mentorship transformed his approach to success. From early missteps to breakthrough moments, Jon shares how he learned to prioritize character over ego and relationships over results. Whether he's pushing athletes to play with heart or challenging coaches to lead with integrity, Jon reveals how true leadership begins by looking inward

In this special rerelease of Lessons From Last Time, we pay tribute to Fred Baldwin—a remarkable leader, mentor, and father. Joined by his son, Mike Baldwin, this episode offers a timeless conversation between two industry leaders whose values shaped both business and family.
Fred’s legacy of integrity, hard work, and genuine care shines through as he and Mike reflect on leadership, legacy, and the power of treating people right. As we remember Fred, we invite you to revisit and carry forward the lessons he so generously shared.

In this episode, Pat Stone, Chairman and Founder of WFG National Title, shares how Stoic principles have shaped his journey from combat zones to boardrooms. Through stories of challenge and change over his 50-year career, Pat reveals how focusing on what you can control, cultivating empathy, and staying curious can turn adversity into wisdom.

In this episode, Justin Tucker, Chief Strategy Officer at WFG National Title, explores what it means to lead with curiosity. He shares how staying open to feedback, experimenting often, and asking better questions have shaped his approach to strategy and innovation. From his roots in title insurance to launching creative side projects like Pizza Illuminati, Justin reflects on building a career and culture driven by curiosity, connection, and continuous growth.

Our first guest of the season, Michelle Berman-Mikel, founder of Berman Media PD, shares how loss, self-doubt, and starting over gave her the clarity to build her business and life with purpose. Her story offers a roadmap for turning adversity into opportunity and persevering through life's hard moments. 

Lessons From Last Time returns for Season 3 with Ken Perry and Kirk Faulkner reflecting on the shifts in the mortgage industry this year, takeaways from NMLS2025, and the rising importance of real, in-person connection to bridge the divide.

Lessons From Last Time presents a special throwback episode featuring our very own podcast host turned guest, Kirk Faulkner! Kirk dives deep into how challenging moments reveal true character and the invaluable lessons learned through personal failures and growth. "Difficult circumstances don't determine character; they reveal it. I've faced moments where challenges highlighted my shortcomings, but those same obstacles became opportunities for growth." Kirk also reflects on a pivotal leadership lesson from the pandemic: "Your team will remember how you acted in tough times."