Jason Appleton

Big Update! I am married and I passed the NMLS Exam!

May 11, 2012 Personal Life Leave a comment

I promise to begin posting here more often. I’ve been getting a lot of messages asking why I haven’t been updating much. Truth is, I’ve been so caught up in life and have met some amazing milestones in my life.

First of all, I passed my National Mortgage License Exam (with an 86%) and my Ohio Exam. I am now a Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator for Residential Finance Corporation. What does that mean? Well, I am a Residential Loan Officer. I refinance home mortgages and extend purchase loans for houses. I love it!

Here are some tips on passing the National Mortgage License Exam (NMLS).
Get the ProSchools Course ($95 for the basic course, or $350 for the full kit which includes your pre licensing education course required for your 20 hours)
Once your done going through everything once, take the final course exam. If you get an 85% or better, you should be good if its the first time you’ve taken it. If you get less than that, try to figure out where you are weakest and do that chapter from page one. Dont take the quizes more than once after reading through the entire chapter. You dont want to memorize the questions/answers or you will really hurt yourself. When you do take the quizes, you want to be able to answer the questions with an explanation in your head. So if it asks a question and you have to guess, then you dont know enough yet.

Finally, when you are taking the actual exam, you wont know how well you are doing until the end, even if you are doing really well. The way the questions are worded and answers setup, you will often find yourself seeing more than one correct answer, but, if you can explain the proschools answers in detail, then your chance of selecting the correct exam answer will be MUCH better.

Before I took the national exam I had 3 full copies of the entire pro schools course highlighted and noted and was scoring 90′s on the quizes with no memorization and answering them in full detail explaining the answers.

Do that and you’ll pass the test.

Thats about it really. Everything you need to know to pass the exam is in the proschools course. Screw abacus, dont touch compucram. Just focus on learning and knowing the pro schools material.

When I was taking the exam I felt like I wanted to throw up and was shaking like a mad man. The stress was really difficult. I had no idea how well I was doing and the minute it takes to process your answers before giving you the results is the longest minute of your life. When I not only saw it read: Passed, but with an 86%, I lost it. I really couldn’t believe it. I knew I had earned it after studying as long and hard as I did. Dont let the crazy high fail rate of the test freak you out, if you do what I said above, you’ll pass it.

So, I’m writing this from my Father In Law’s Condo on the Beach at Daytona Beach, Florida. Yes, I married my best friend and the most amazing woman I’ve ever known. Cristen Schuerman, now Cristen Appleton. 5 foot 1 inch of miracle. We’ve been together 2 years now and I have only fallen deeper in love with her with every day. She is amazing with my daughters who absolutely adore her and shes just a fantastic mother and truly my best friend. We talk about everything, we have no secrets and we live our lives as a team. I’ve never before experienced what I now know as a soul mate. We were simply created for eachother. We were married at the Cincinnati Masonic Center in Downtown Cincinnati on May 5th, 2012. Pictures will be coming soon once the photographer has finished doing her thing with them.

What can I say other than this: if you are reading this and know you are in a bad relationship. If you are with a Narcissistic man or woman who makes your life miserable. If you are in an abusive relationship of any kind, be it physical or mental. If you fight and argue a lot about anything or everything. If you aren’t trusted for no reason or can’t trust who you are with for multiple reasons….DONT SETTLE. You can and WILL do better. My wife and I have argued 3 times in 2 years and we had a bit too much to drink two of those times and were just being stupid. When she walks into a room, I feel complete and safe, not fearful or concerned. When we talk, I know I can believe her every word not having to be concerned with her spinning some self serving lie. When we laugh, it’s from the gut and when we cry, its because we love each other and are typically overjoyed about something. My point is, in 34 years I’ve experienced a lot of horrible relationships and always wondered if it was me or the women I dated. What I realized is that, to become wise you have to have experiences to learn from. To appreciate the greatness of the person you are meant to be with, you have to experience the ones you aren’t. I know that Cristen is my reward for all of the battles I’ve had to fight before finding her.

Too often I see people getting married too young or for all of the wrong reasons. At 34 years old, having seen all I’ve seen, I know without a doubt that this is true happiness for the first time in my life and I’m grateful for my past for showing me just how great true and real love really is. I hope any of you reading this who are struggling through a bad relationship can see some light at what should be the end of a dark tunnel knowing that it’s ok to get out. You will find the one you are meant to be with and to be honest, if you know in your heart that you are the cause for your partners misery, you know you can’t tell the truth to save your life, you play games, take your partner for granted, cheat, steal, abuse etc, then you need to take a step back and look at yourself. Stop dating and try to find the reason you are the way you are. I’ve dated a person with textbook Narcissistic Personality Disorder, I mean, to the letter, and I know that she knows how messed up she is, as I’m sure you do as well. You may never admit it to anyone else, but you can admit it to yourself and then begin to figure out how to resolve those issues that cause you to find yourself doing all of the things that create a horrible environment for yourself and your partner. Until you do, you will never find happiness in your life and neither will anyone you ever date.

The point to all of this is, I see so many people in bad relationships or simply not happy in their relationship and believe it’s too late to change their lives or leave who they are with in fear of being lonely or never finding someone else etc. If you focus on being the best you that you can be, then the person you are meant to be with will find you when they have become the best them that they can be and the two of you will compliment each other and fill each others cracks as one from then on.

Drastic changes in ones life is scary. I have gone through a complete life transition. I’ve quit doing something I’ve done for over 6 years in going from self employed fight promoter and going into a completely new and unknown career in the mortgage industry. I’m now married to the love of my life and spend every day learning, listening and focused on how to make our lives and our childrens lives better, and I love my life for the first time in 34 years.

Hopefully, this long winded post to be aged blog helps you in some way and if it does, I’d love to hear from you.

I’m marrying my dream woman in 4.5 months!

Jan 24, 2012 Personal Life Leave a comment

On May 26, I’ll be marrying the woman of my dreams. In 34 years I’ve seen the worst of the worst in women which has left some scars that I thought would last my lifetime. In over a year and a half with Cristen I’ve learned what it means to actually be loved by a loving woman. I’ve learned what it feels like to not have to worry about being lied to, cheated on, to not have someone solely with you because of what you can do for them or what they can get out of you. I’ve learned what a loving heart means in times of crisis or concern and how comforting it is to feel the touch of someone that adores you and only wants you to be happy.

I’ve never before felt like I had a better half, as the joke says, but I understand now what that means. Both of us, our entire lives felt that marriage wasn’t in the cards because we were both so unique and never felt “right” with anyone. It all makes sense now, knowing her and the silly things she does, even her flaws are perfect to me because I see them differently than someone else might. I adore her and I know she adores me. She loves me for all of who I am, not for who she hopes I can someday be. She is amazing with my daughters and they adore her. We have to argue with my daughters because they always want to call her mommy and though we dont allow it, because she isn’t their mommy, we completely understand. She loves my girls like they are her own. Selfless in her dealings with them, reading to them, playing with them, she puts love in everything she does whether it’s the dinners she makes or just her presence in the room. She radiates how strongly she adores us all and how grateful she is to have all of us.

She is just amazing in so many ways. Patient and understanding. She is the polar opposite of anyone I’ve ever dated before. Shes real! She is the textbook incarnation of the perfect woman to complete me in this life.

I can’t wait until the day I can utter the most powerful words I’ve dreamed of since I was a young man, “I do” and “my wife”, and it all be straight from the best and most pure and happy place in my heart.

It’s very sad that the majority of my family won’t be at the wedding and the anger that has been stirring in me because of it is getting difficult. It sounds horrible but in seeing how Cristens family is, so non judgmental, so close and caring for eachother. I used to think my family was real and caring, funny and all of the things that make up a close family and In recent years I’ve come to realize my family is distant, careless and judgmental. They preach love and God, faith and religion but unless you share their beliefs and abide by what they are told all mankind should, you don’t matter. It’s fine, because I have a new family that cares about me and my daughters. They are excited about Cristen and I getting married and wouldn’t miss it for anything, regardless of whether or not it’s a Catholic wedding or where it’s taking place. It’s not about them, it’s about Cristen and myself and they respect us and what we want. Some people just can’t see past themselves.

Such is life.

Nonetheless, I’m not going to let anything or anyone distract me from the amazing and lifelong dream I’m about to achieve in finding the woman I know I’m meant to share my life with. Stones thrown from miles away are easily dodged.

Mortgage Broker Exam and other stuff.

Dec 7, 2011 Personal Life 1 Comment

So I just started 3 weeks ago with the Residential Finance Corporation as a training broker. It’s great here and everyone is hard working, very sharp and funny. Just a great group of people who genuinely care about getting their clients the best rates they can without any BS. My kind of company. So I’ve been studying for the first time in my entire life! The National Mortgage Lender exam! The past two days I’ve gotten an 82, 85 and a 90 out of 100 on my CompuCram practice tests, so I’m jacked up and think I’m ready!

My test is tomorrow! If I pass, my family is great! If I fail, then I have to wait 30 days to take it again. Scary stuff. Getting married in 6 months and have lots of money going out for various things so I HAVE to pass this test. I already have two refinance clients waiting for me and a financial advisor looking to send business my way every month because he’s a big MMA fan and has loved coming to my shows over the years.

We shall see how it all plays out but I think I’m ready!

I am now a training Mortgage Broker

Nov 23, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

I have been hired by the Residential Finance Corporation to become a Mortgage Broker at their Cincinnati, OH branch.
The owner/manager of the branch has been a fan of the MMA Big Show for a long time and has followed me on Facebook. Turns out, he and I are a LOT alike. Both kind hearted big guys with a knack for business that don’t believe you have to sell your soul to make a living. The mortgage business is perfect for guys like us. We get to help save people money by refinancing their homes and or extending mortgage loans who need a break and we get to make a living from it. You just can’t beat that.

Up until 2 years ago you didnt even need a license to become a Broker, you just needed to be hired by a group that could teach you. Back then, people were making RIDICULOUS money in the field. Now, times have changed and you have to be licensed which is what I’m working on now. I completed a 2 week and a 1 week eligibility course in 3 days and am now eligible to take the final National and State Exams, which I’m currently studying for. I’ve doubled my testing score within the past week and feel good.

My goal: Get Licensed and once I’ve completed my 10th Refinance or Mortgage Loan, begin training for another fight. I won’t fight until I can see my abs. haha I dont want another video of my giant fat body mauling another guy. I wanna look good doing it!

So, within the next couple of weeks I should be licensed and ready to roll. If you or someone you know is in need of the services I’ll be providing, send them my way and know I’ll do everything in my power as will everyone here to get your desired deal done and save you as much money as possible in the process. I actually just saw one of the other MLO (Mortgage Loan Officers) refinance a property for someone and it saved them over $400 a month. CRAZY! I’m just blown away by some of the deals people make and have to assume fell victim to predatory lending in the heydays when there was little regulation. Well, its time to clean up America and if this is my way of getting involved to help while feeding my family, I’m all in.

You can call or text me at 513-258-3545, email me at jason@mmabigshow.com or add me on Facebook!

The MMA Big Show is working on getting $2,000 in sponsorships for Dec 17th or we may not do a show on that date. I’m personally taking a step back to recalibrate my life and focus. Within 2 to 3 months, once some of the things I have brewing for 2012 begin coming to fruition, we will pick things up and hit the ground running in a big way. I just need a break from MMA right now and need to focus on my life change, my family and my amazing fiance.

Dream Fitness 24/7 will be officially open next week (Located in the Plaza on Beechmont Ave across from Penn Station/Uhaul) and just down from Pearl Vision. We’ve had some setbacks due to changing our membership processor and getting our 24 hour door installed, final permit etc. Nothing goes as planned, of course. Though we will be open for business, we still have lots of plans for spicing up the place as memberships begin coming in. It looks nice, but Cristen and I want it to look amazing, and it will in due time!

Thank you all for your support and interest in my blog.

I’m getting a day job.

Nov 4, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

It’s been 6 years since I started the MMA Big Show. Prior to that I owned Opulent Records. I’ve developed nationally touring bands and put them on live national television. I’ve developed MMA fighters from Amateur to the UFC. I’ve broadcasted live nationally on DirectTV, produced television series and have promoted over 80 Pro/Am MMA events regionally. Anytime anyone has decided to be a fight promoter in this region, the MMA Big Show has been the targeted promotion to take out. Because competing with the MMA Big Show on any real level is impossible. But when you have 5 promotions just doing small shows eating up fragments of the market, the collective efforts though not in collaboration, still cut the pie into too many pieces. It’s time to change course.

The fact is, everyone and their brother wants to be a fight promoter now and in the Cincinnati Market, a market already on the low scale when it comes to MMA event goers, the market is such now that it’s simply not enough to raise a family. The only way to achieve everything I’ve set out to do is by either establishing a lucrative television deal or establish 7 figures in capital and after many of the ups and downs over the years when I’ve thought I had finally achieved one or the other of those goals, something has always happened.

I’m getting married in May and have 2 daughters. My amazing fiance has a son of her own and together, we make a family of 5. The ups and downs of self employment is simply too unstable when raising a family, especially in this economy. It’s simply time to begin working towards making someone else wealthy who has more contacts and funding than I do, and hope they share in the end.

If anyone out there reading this has an opportunity for me, let me know. I’m looking. ( jason@mmabigshow.com )

My problem is, I’ve done so many things and played so many roles over the past decade, in looking at Monster.com and the like, I have no idea what “job title” to look into. How do you categorize someone like me? I’m someone that makes things happen.

Now, for those of you loyal fight fans, I’m not leaving MMA. I’m going to promote an event every other month and focus on continuing to get sponsorships for the shows, television etc. It’s just not going to be my primary focus right now. I hope it ends up like when you are trying to remember something, and when you stop trying, it pops in your head…? Hopefully, if I stop trying so hard for the things I need to take the MMA Big Show to the next level, something will happen to take it there.

One thing nobody can ever say with any truth or conviction is that I dont put on the best damn MMA events in the region and everyone MMA Big Show fan knows “Nobody Does It Better.”

Capital Punishment & The Judicial System

Sep 7, 2011 Political Views Leave a comment

I feel greatly for the loved ones of victims of serious crimes. I think about my fiance, my mother, my son and my daughters, everyone that I love and care for and think to myself how vengeful I would be if something intentional were to happen to any one of them. The beast to kill would awaken in me and I’d probably focus my energies on making sure the person who committed the act paid, one way or another. That’s natural in my opinion to feel such a way and I don’t blame anyone for it. We protect our own at any costs.
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Pictures of my Fight July 9

Jul 10, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

I won my fight tonight.

Jul 9, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

34 Seconds in the first round by TKO.
I still can’t believe it. It really takes a special kind of person to deal with that kind of pressure on a regular basis. I have a new found respect for the guys that get into that cage and hopefully, the guys that have looked at me like a desk jockey for 6 years saw something they didn’t realize was in me. I have to thank Eric Ward who has helped me tune up my hands for a whole now and has taken a lot of punishment to help get me to what I was able to do what I did without having to think about it.
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I’m fighting July 9th in Indy.

Jul 5, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

Religion & Respect

Jul 5, 2011 Personal Life Leave a comment

I’m 33 years old. I’ve seen a great many things in such a short span of life and have learned many valuable lessons. I’ve learned hard lessons. In my youth I was nearly impossible to deal with. Head strong and independent of mind and a will that rarely budged. I tortured my mother who worked so hard to raise me on her own. Living on welfare until I was old enough that my mother could again work. She went from working President Nixon’s detail in the Airforce to struggling with her daily chores of raising a fatherless child that wouldn’t take no for an answer. The sacrifices she made to bring me up as best she could. I remember sleeping in a bed in the only bedroom in the apartment as my mother slept every night on the couch. Through out my life religion has always been a topic of open discussion. I am thankful to my Grandmother who would always instill the various facets of religion into my mind and heart hoping that one day those lessons would alter the often chaotic boy I was then. Two of my aunts, both of whom converted from party going youngsters into the devout Catholic worshipers they are today also aided in those lessons and did and continue to do what they can to instill those same principles of faith that have lead them to what I hope is a happier life.
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