Vision: As a leader, you need to be able to see the bigger picture and visualize how to get where you want or need to be. For leaders being able to have vision is an extremely important skill set you bring to the table.
We are living in the Renaissance of Work. Just like great artists know that an empty canvas can become anything, great leaders know that an entire organization — and the people inside it — can become anything, too. Master Artists and Mastering the Art of Leadership draw from the same source: creation. In this series, we’ll meet masters who are creating the future of work and painting a portrait of lasting leadership. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Loren Howard.
Loren Howard is the Founder and President of Prime Plus Mortgages, A Hard Money Lending, and a Real Estate Note Investing Company. He is a decorated college athlete turned serial entrepreneur who has launched companies of varying industries to the 7, and 8-figure marks. He holds a decorated college football career and several world records for the indoor row for the 500M, 100M, and max distance in 1:00. Loren gives back to his community by serving as the Co-Founder and Board Member of the Valley Guardians, a 501c-3 charity that offers mentorship, leadership, and educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Phoenix, Arizona.
Thank you for joining us. Our readers would enjoy discovering something interesting about you. What are you in the middle of right now that you’re excited about personally or professionally?
I have always been an extremely driven person, and I found that having an active goal in my professional and personal life keeps me focused and motivated.
Personally, I am constantly perfecting my fitness routine. I recently started cycling and have been able to hit some major milestones in my performance and build relationships with some good friends of mine as well. I find that the better my physicality, the better my performance toward my professional goals.
Professionally, We are preparing for the changes in the real estate market. Over the past few years we have been able to build a great team, and a great service, and are now ready to see how we can maintain our growth in the new real estate landscape.
We all get by with a little help from our friends. Who is the leader that has influenced you the most, and how?
I have had a lot of leadership inspiration from various leadership books and influences over the years.
Coach Fitzgerald, from Northwestern University, taught me a lot about leadership in a team setting when I played football.
I read a lot of autobiographies over the years and hearing and seeing the various ways people motivate themselves to overcome hardships has been inspiring as well. Joe Dispenza was a great resource for leadership inspiration. He speaks a lot about the importance of manifestations, and intrinsic motivation.
It’s important to learn about various leadership styles and find the one that best resonates with you and your team.
Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead to our biggest discoveries. What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made as a leader, and what did you discover as a result?
Before I knew about intrinsic motivation, like many other first-time leaders, I thought the best way to lead was with an iron fist. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While being a strict leader can have its benefits, it can actually be demotivating to your team. I have found that empathic and intrinsic motivation are far more effective leadership methods.
How has your definition of leadership changed or evolved over time? What does it mean to be a leader now?
I have found that intrinsic motivation is the most effective and successful way to lead a team. In order to be successful, leaders know how to inspire and grow their teams.
You can train your team to learn, grow and see that progression for themselves. This further motivates them to have purpose and seek further growth for themselves.
I want to be a ‘coach’ for my team by giving them the tools and motivation they need to accomplish their goals.
Success is as often as much about what we stop as what we start. What is one legacy leadership behavior you stopped because you discovered it was no longer valuable or relevant?
Teams reflect their leadership, and if they have a disconnected leader they can lose focus. Especially in virtual environments, it can be easy to feel disconnected and alone. Leaders need to place emphasis on connecting with their teams and helping them keep focus. Continually connect and develop your team. As a leader, your #1 priority should always be to ensure your team is engaged and locked in.
What is one lasting leadership behavior you started or are cultivating because you believe it is valuable or relevant?
A major flaw many remote companies face is an ‘Island’ Mentality, where team members feel like they are completely on their own. Therefore, I believe that a connected and positive work environment is extremely important.
By creating a positive remote work culture, you build higher morale, and motivation among your team. I think that it is important that you make sure to continue to connect and engage with your team and develop a positive culture. Building a culture and work environment where my employees are engaged and inspired is my top priority as a leader.
What advice would you offer to other leaders who are stuck in past playbooks and patterns and may be having a hard time letting go of what made them successful in the past?
Nothing is set in stone, so don’t get complacent. You have to keep your fire alive in order to inspire and motivate your team, so don’t be afraid to learn new things and grow.
In order to be an expert, you need to continue to educate yourself in your field, the latest technology, and best practices. Industries are constantly changing, so continuous education is a must for any leader. If you don’t reskill yourself as a leader you will fall behind.
Many of our readers can relate to the challenge of leading people for the first time. What advice would you offer to new and emerging leaders?
You don’t know what you don’t know. For new leaders, the best thing you can do is read and learn as much as you can about leadership and psychology.
Learn about the various style and methodologies behind how people work, management, leadership styles, and what approach works best for you.
Have a good understanding of yourself, your flaws, skillset, and play into your strengths. Lastly build a team who fills those gaps, and different things and cultivates those skills for your team.

Based on your experience or research, what are the top five traits effective leaders exemplify now?
The Top 5 Traits Of An Effective Leader Are:
- Integrity: In order to be a great leader, your word needs to mean something. Without it, your team won’t be able to trust you and won’t take you seriously. Without trust, you cannot lead a team.
- Vision: As a leader, you need to be able to see the bigger picture and visualize how to get where you want or need to be. For leaders being able to have vision is an extremely important skill set you bring to the table.
- Coachability: In order to intrinsically motivate your team, you need to invest time and energy into your team to see results. You need to know what will motivate, and how to communicate with your team. If you can’t inspire or motivate, you can’t be an effective leader.
- Competency: You need to be an expert in your field and industry as a leader, otherwise you can’t help your team problem-solve. In order to be an expert you always need to be learning and growing and engaged with the latest trends, technology, and market changes.
- Drive: You need to motivate and inspire yourself for growth. Be Passionate and enthusiastic about what you do, your industry, new skills, and ideas. Without drive, you cannot make ideas into reality.
American Basketball Coach John Wooden said, “Make each day your masterpiece.” How do you embody that quote? We welcome a story or example.
My routine helps me to be present and be the best version of myself every day. My routine combines a series of habits from exercise and fitness, meditation, visualization, journaling, reading, and of course sleep. All of these play a critical factor in my performance and help me to be the best version of myself. Build a routine that you can be consistent with, and approach each day with mindfulness.
What is the legacy you aspire to leave as a leader?
I want my legacy to reflect all the different lives that I changed for the positive. By helping others achieve their full potential and teaching them to do the same and make an impact in the lives of those around them
I’m grateful to have been able to see how those I have coached pay it forward to do amazing things and create a ripple effect of positive growth and change in the world.
How can our readers connect with you to continue the conversation?
You can follow me and my companies here:
Prime Plus Mortgages: Hard Money Loans Scottsdale
Prime Plus Mortgages: Mortgage Note Investing
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience a leadership master at work. We wish you continued success and good health!