Momentum by Design:
Transform Your Life and Business with Intentional Planning
Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed? You're not alone. The last three years have been challenging for mortgage professionals, and many are struggling to find their rhythm. But as Brian Covey shared, the solution isn't waiting for external circumstances to change… it's about creating momentum by design.
Brian's philosophy is simple but powerful: "You don't get the life that you want. You get the life that you focus on." Here are actionable strategies from our discussion with him that you can implement immediately to regain control and create the momentum you've been seeking.
Implement Sunday Success Planning
The Strategy: Plan your entire week every Sunday night in the order of your priorities.
Brian credits this single habit with transforming his life: "Sunday night changed everything a few years ago, where I was coming into my weeks and things were on my calendar that I didn't say yes to. At least I thought so."
How to Execute:
Block 30-60 minutes every Sunday evening
Plan in this specific order: Family first, then fitness/health, then business
Include your spouse in the planning process
Put family events in first (practices, games, date nights)
Schedule your workouts and recovery time
Then add business meetings and activities
Use time-blocking for everything
The Result: 70-80% of your week will be filled with things YOU chose, aligned with your actual priorities.
Pro Tip: Brian learned this lesson when his coach walked him through this exercise. Before Sunday planning, he had appointments he didn't remember agreeing to and was constantly rescheduling. Now his weeks flow with intention.
Develop Your "Flip the Switch" Mentality
The Strategy: Create a mental shift that transforms you from a professional going through the motions into a competitor who's locked in and focused.
Brian explains: "When I step onto the field, there's something that changed about my demeanor. Even now, when I step on over 47, it's competitive."
How to Execute:
Identify your "field" moments (important calls, client meetings, prospecting time)
Prepare 5-15 minutes before each important activity
Ask yourself: "Am I competing or just going through the motions?"
Develop pre-performance rituals (like athletes do)
Bring data and preparation to every important conversation
Step over an imaginary line when entering high-stakes situations
The Mindset Shift: Stop being someone who just shows up. Become someone who competes and commands attention through preparation and presence.
Real Example: Brian spent 30 minutes preparing for a meeting with a 1,000-agent real estate team. He brought data about their current mortgage company and their agents, setting the stage immediately and commanding their attention.
Make Your Standards Stronger Than Your Feelings
The Strategy: Create non-negotiable standards that you follow regardless of how you feel in the moment.
As Brian puts it: "Your standards have to be stronger than your feelings."
How to Execute:
Write down your non-negotiables (workout times, family commitments, business activities)
Recognize that feelings of not wanting to do something are normal and temporary
Develop self-talk that reinforces your commitment: "The Brian in a month wants these results"
Create accountability systems (workout partners, scheduled calls, etc.)
Use movement as medicine when energy is low (30 push-ups, walk outside, air squats)
Remember: You can act your way into better feelings faster than you can feel your way into better actions
The Reality Check: Even David Goggins sits looking at his running shoes for an hour sometimes, having an internal battle. The difference is he runs anyway.
Use Movement as Medicine
The Strategy: When you're not feeling it, use physical movement to change your state and flip your switch.
Brian's approach: "If I'm not feeling it, the first thing that I can go do right now is go outside for a walk, do 30 push-ups, do 30 air squats, go get hydrated."
How to Execute:
Keep a list of 5-minute movement options: push-ups, air squats, walk outside, jumping jacks
When energy is low, choose movement over scrolling or complaining
Use music to enhance the state change (Brian loves NF and high-energy music)
Hydrate immediately after movement
Don't ignore what your body is telling you—address it with action
Make this your go-to response when motivation is lacking
The Science: Movement changes your physiology, which changes your psychology. Forward momentum creates more forward momentum.
Brian's Personal Example: Even at 47, he dropped to single-digit body fat and ran over 400 miles last year—not because he loves running, but because "it works for me."
Delegate and Buy Back Your Time
The Strategy: Identify tasks that others can do better or more efficiently, then systematically delegate them out.
Brian's evolution: "Over time, what I've realized is people are way more creative, way better at things than I am and I know what I'm good at."
How to Execute:
Audit your current activities: What takes you longer than it should?
Identify your unique strengths and focus there
Find people who love doing what you don't enjoy
Start with one area (operations, social media, administrative tasks)
Reframe the cost: "You probably can't afford not to have the right people around you"
Give clear expectations and systems to your team
Focus your energy on recruiting, business development, and coaching
The Breakthrough Insight: Brian's operations partner Josh can analyze a loan in minutes, while it would take Brian 2-3 times longer. Josh loves it, Brian doesn't. Perfect delegation.
Time-Blocking Benefit: When you delegate effectively, you can focus 2-3 hours daily on high-impact activities (recruiting, business development, one-on-ones) and accomplish more than 10 hours of scattered activity.
The Bottom Line: Design Your Momentum
Brian's message is clear:
"You will win" when you plan your weeks with intention, compete instead of just participating, make your standards stronger than your feelings, use movement to change your state, and delegate to focus on your strengths.
Your Challenge: Pick one of these action items and implement it this week. Don't try to do all five at once. Master one, then add the next.
The momentum you're looking for isn't coming from external circumstances. It's coming from the intentional choices you make every single day. Start designing it today.
