VanDyk Mortgage - March 2022

MARCH 2022

Letters From the Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org TIMDANGO IS BACK!

My Scores for 3 Big Movies and TV Shows

If you know me, you know I’m a big fan of movies and TV shows. I don’t just glue my butt to the couch whenever I’m out of the office, but I do like to catch a show with my wife and kids every once in a while or surf Netflix on a Saturday night. When I see something good, bad, or ugly, I’ll share my thoughts in a “TimDango” review on my Facebook page and TimHartJr.com/Blog. I give each show a Credit Score. In case you haven't followed those reviews, here are summaries of three of my recent favorites: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Credit Score: 800 My whole family went to watch this movie and loved it. I absolutely loved it.

I could nitpick in the story, but they were overshadowed by the rest of the movie.

show, though, I don’t think I would watch the next season.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just stop.

As a kid, I thought Daniel LaRusso was pretty awesome but “Cobra Kai” really reminds me that he and his entire family are actually whiny babies. I don’t want to hate anyone, but I am close to hating them.

I give this bad boy an 800 credit score and highly recommend it. Go to the theater and enjoy it, or stream it on Disney+ if it’s up there! My family and I discussed where this would rank in the MCU universe. Here are my top five rankings.

1. “Avengers: Endgame” 2. “Avengers: Infinity War” 3. "Thor: Ragnarok" 4. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” 5. “Guardians of the Galaxy”

‘Cobra Kai, Season 4’ Credit Score: 680

I knew there would be some surprises and it did not disappoint. There are parts

If I had to rank the characters, it would be first ballot hall of famer Johnny Lawrence at No. 1, with Sensei Kreese as a distant second, Hawk in third, and then everyone else — except the entire LaRusso family with Daniel, who would be dead last. I need to throw Stingray somewhere near the bottom after the finale, too. He broke my heart.

It’s no secret that my family and I have really enjoyed the “Cobra Kai” series on Netflix. The show is loaded with nostalgia and has been highly entertaining for us to watch. Has it been cheesy as well? Of course. The show is a cheese fest. Every season gets more and more cheesy, and this season took it up a notch. If Johnny Lawrence wasn’t in the

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LEAVING ON A JET PLANE? 3 Essential Packing Tips

Many people are considering traveling this spring for the first time since the pandemic started. A lot has changed since 2020, but packing for vacation remains a hassle, and baggage fees haven’t gone anywhere. Here are some essential tips to keep your load as light as possible — physically and mentally. Make a list. It’s just as easy to forget things as it is to overpack. Solve both problems at once by creating a packing list in advance. Consider in detail what you’ll need, and put it in writing. As each item gets added to the suitcase, check it off. Writing everything down creates a system to prevent leaving anything behind. And when it’s all on paper, you’re more likely to notice that you probably don't need that many pairs of sandals. Use your personal item for extra storage. Airlines generally allow travelers one carry-on bag and one personal item. The dimensions allowed vary by airline, but the

general rule of thumb is that the personal item needs to fit under the seat in front of you. Don’t bring a small purse or a laptop bag when you can take a large tote or backpack. With the extra room, you can avoid checking another bag. Never check essential items. Lost luggage is the worst way to start a vacation, but it happens. If your luggage is misplaced, you probably won’t get it back that same day. So, you need to pack all essential items, like prescription medications or glasses, in your carry-on bag. Some experts even recommend tossing an extra shirt or pair of underwear in your carry-on in case your bag gets lost. You'll be glad to have them if something goes awry. Packing smart will make for a less stressful journey. You can kick back, relax, and enjoy the trip knowing that everything you need is right there in your suitcase, and everything you don’t need is safe at home.

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To summarize: The actors really nailed the fight scenes in the final episodes. Johnny is funny as hell. Stingray is Judas. Daniel Son and his whole family are babies. Dimitri could not beat up my 10-year-old daughter in real life.

I have to give this one a 680 credit score just because of Johnny’s performance.

‘Don’t Look Up’ Credit Score: 700

The one thing I didn’t like about “Don’t Look Up” is that it made it seem like you can never question science. In the last two years, we’ve all seen that science is always changing and needs to be taken with a grain of salt. But overall, I like this movie and I’d love to hear your take on it, too. I’m giving it a 700 credit score for being somewhat original. If you want to read my full reviews and make sure you never miss a TimDango post, follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/ TimHartJr/ .

This was a pretty unique Netflix movie. I have a feeling a lot of my friends might hate it because it really picks on conservatives, but honestly, it picks on everyone. It’s not just a one-sided political hit piece. In the movie, an asteroid is heading toward Earth but no one seems to care. They’re all too obsessed with themselves, their political fights, and Hollywood culture. I enjoyed it because I thought it was true to the reality of our times. People just do what they’re told by celebrities, magazines, or politicians without any critical thinking. My favorite part of the show was when Leonardo DiCaprio’s character spoke on a talk show and just went OFF on a no-BS rant.

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I need all the leadership help I can get, so I invited Vanessa to share some tips on my Tim Hart YouTube channel. Here are her top three ways to lead. 1. Set the bar. Vanessa says the best way to lead is to set a good example and use your actions to inspire and influence others. You never know who is watching you at home or at work. It might be your kids (like my nosy one who likes to listen around corners) or your teammates. I loved this point, because it reminded me of John Maxwell’s “Law of the Lid,” which says, “Leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s effectiveness.” It’s also the lid that determines a business’s effectiveness. If your company has crappy leadership, it can only do so well, but if you’re an awesome leader, you can “raise the lid” for everyone and make your whole team more effective. 2. Keep it real. As a leader, you have to be honest in how you present yourself, your company, and your brand. Vanessa says one of the biggest compliments you can get is “in the office, that guy is exactly how he is at

home. There’s no faking it with him,” and she’s totally right.

In a work context, you can send the value message all kinds of ways, from getting your employees Christmas gifts to shouting them out when they make a sale or please a client. “We had a guy who always took the garbage out,” Vanessa says. “He always emptied the garbage. And it was such a little tiny task, but I always said, ‘Thank you so much for taking the time to do that because no one else would.’” I’m definitely going to take Vanessa’s advice to heart, and I think it will make me a better leader for my team at VanDyk Mortgage. I like to think I do pretty well already, but a guy can always get better! Before I go, I have to give Vanessa credit for starting the Impact Leadership Group here in Fort Myers. It’s awesome to see her pursuing her passion and helping other people at the same time. If you want to watch my whole talk with Vanessa and get a link to her group, search “Leadership Advice: Three Ways to Lead” on YouTube and subscribe to the Tim Hart channel.

If you’re real with your team, they’re more likely to trust and follow you, and the same goes for your customers, friends, and family. The thing you need to avoid in leadership is the stereotypical “used car salesman” persona. If you put up a shield and come off as greasy and slimy, no one will trust you, but if you let them in a little bit, then they will. That’s exactly what I try to do by sharing stories about my life in this newsletter every month — let you in a little bit. 3. Value the people you lead. “Everybody has value. They're not just robots, and we need to treat them like they’re people who have lives outside of work,” Vanessa says. Real leaders check in on their people regularly, thank them for their hard work, and give them space, patience, and guidance. As a parent, I could see right away how this same logic applies at my house. My kids probably wouldn’t love and respect me if I didn’t show them that I love and respect them, too.

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Trivia Question : Who is Tim's favorite Cobra Kai Character?

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Tim Hart, NMLS #354676 8280 College Parkway, Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com

Inside This Issue

Go to the Movies With Tim (Kind Of) PAGE 1

Packing Tips to Save Your Back, Wallet, and Sanity PAGE 2

Testimonial From the Hart PAGE 3

Leadership Tips From a Florida Entrepreneur PAGE 4

ARE YOU A LEADER OR A FOLLOWER?

3 Ways to Up Your Leadership Game

If you remember my “Six Degrees of Tim Hart” article from last month’s newsletter, this one might feel a bit like a sequel. That’s because it stars one of my friends from Edison Professionals, Vanessa Araya, a landscape business owner and leadership expert. Vanessa and her husband run Outdoor Life Pros landscaping here in Florida, but her big side passion is leadership. She got into it after taking on her first management position and realizing that, in her words, “There’s more to leading than just being a boss.” She inhaled a bunch of business books and seminars and got really excited about leadership’s power to influence other people, make a difference in their lives, and

help the community. She was so into it that she decided to start a chapter of Impact Leadership Group! They meet every month at Freedom Church here in Fort Myers.

If you’re about to tune out, think about this:

You don’t have to be a business owner like me to take Vanessa’s leadership

underneath them and that’s the only way to be a leader. I’m here to tell you that’s not true. You can lead just one person or you can lead 100 people. It’s all about the influence and impact you have on the people around you.”

advice. You can be a leader anywhere — in your family, in your church, even in your group of friends or coworkers. As Vanessa puts it, “People think that they have to have this long résumé, 40 years of experience, or 100 different people

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