Tell Us Your Story
Welcome to Tell Us Your Story, the podcast that tells the diverse stories of businesses, leaders, and influence. Our mission is to ignite inspiration, foster education, and bring our community together. Join us as we unravel the path to achievement, discovering how these remarkable businesses and leaders navigated obstacles, conquered hardships, and transformed failures into success. Their stories will leave you reinvigorated and inspired with invaluable leadership insights and equipped with practical advice to overcome the challenges on your journey towards success.
Tell Us Your Story
Crisis Creates Catalysts: Master Problem Solver and Connector Matt Von Bergen of Partners Mortgage
Matt Von Bergen's journey from tragedy to triumph reveals the transformative power of perspective in the face of life's greatest challenges. Having lost his brother to a brain tumor at age 12 and his mother to pancreatic cancer at 16, Matt faced a profound choice that would define his future: use these devastating losses as excuses or as catalysts for growth. Choosing the latter ignited what he calls his "flame of desire," fueling a determination that has carried him through his remarkable career.
The middle child of five siblings, Matt's path took him from stocking shelves at Walmart to becoming a top-producing cell phone salesperson by age 20. When he entered the mortgage industry in 2005, just before the housing market collapse, his resilience would be tested in entirely new ways. While many fled the industry during the 2008 financial crisis, Matt made a pivotal decision to stay, awakening what he calls "the beast within" – a commitment to making things happen rather than letting circumstances dictate his fate.
What distinguishes Matt in the mortgage world is his approach as a Senior Mortgage Advisor rather than just a loan officer. With two decades of experience and thousands of scenarios under his belt, he's mastered the art of educating clients, developing tailored strategies, and providing genuine advice based on deep expertise. Beyond his professional success, Matt has become what he calls a "master connector" – building networks not merely for business growth but to create value for others through meaningful relationships.
His philosophy of servant leadership extends to coaching youth sports, mentoring colleagues, and founding networking communities that prioritize authentic connection. Matt's definition of success revolves around alignment of mind, body, heart, and soul – ensuring his own cup is full so he can effectively pour into others. For those facing their own challenges, his advice is refreshingly direct: "You've got to risk it for the biscuit." After all, as Matt reminds us, the real failure isn't in trying and coming up short – it's in not trying at all.
