This week marks the finale of The Art of SBA Lending podcast, and Ray Drew brings it home by reuniting with his original mentors and colleagues from the era that shaped his career: the Mercantile Capital team. Listen as they reminisce about the "good old days" of 2011–2013, an era defined by reinventing business after the 2008 crash.
The panel discusses how Mercantile Capital was built around the niche business of 504 interim lending (an industry they essentially invented). They recall the unique office culture, characterized by healthy competition, daily in-person mentoring sessions, frequent celebration of birthdays, and bizarre marketing tactics (shiny envelopes and stress-ball brains). The alumni highlight the competitive, yet collaborative, environment where young talent was actively taught the business.
The episode features hilarious and nostalgic stories, including the infamous "Find My iPhone" conference incident involving a police car and a hungover apartment owner. Tony shares lessons learned from the creative ways he structured deals, while Carolyn explains how she fell in love with SBA lending by serving small business owners.
🎯 In this episode:
The Startup Grind: How the team pivoted after the 2008 crash to focus on the ultra-niche 504 interim lending space.
The Last Chapter of the "Good Old Days": Remembering a pre-virtual, pre-AI era of paper packages, fax machines, and in-person mentorship.
Learning the Ropes: The harsh but valuable lessons learned from veteran lenders, including don't pretend to know the answer and "let's shorten that up a little bit".
Culture, Competition, and Camaraderie: How working together to navigate uncertainty created a special bond and connection within the team.
💬 What's your favorite memory of a mentor helping you out with a deal? Share your story in the comments.
🎙This episode is sponsored by:
CORPSMART
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Rapid Business Plans
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