One glance at Movement Mortgage's corporate headquarters told me this wasn't your average mortgage company.

The huge silver-and-red building in Fort Mill, S.C., with the double-M logo prominently displayed on the front, looks more cutting edge than corporate office. Inside, visitors are greeted at a reception desk, while glass windows on all sides give you a glimpse inside the life of an employee. Non-traditional seating in the form of wooden benches with red accents is offered under the stairs; a huge wall painted with a chalkboard-esque sign faces the visitor's waiting area. As you begin to walk around, you get the sense that you're in the office of a company like Google or Facebook, instead of a mortgage company. One thing is for sure, very little is traditional in this place.

I came to Movement from an advertising agency, so I'm used to cool work perks. Indoor basketball hoop? Seen it. Pool table by the kitchen? Clichéd. Walls of artwork? Nothing new. But walking into the Movement office, I was seriously impressed. My fairly large, industry-leader agency definitely did not have the same vibe as this place. Instead of the frantic, often caged-animal undercurrent that runs through agencies, the energy here was calm. People stopped to chat with friends and co-workers as they settled into their morning routine; the conference room echoed with friendly chatter as employees brewed coffee, stored their lunches, and grabbed a complimentary snack (fresh fruit, stocked daily).

My soon-to-be boss walked me past the Starbucks coffee machine before showing off the selection of drinks for purchase that he proudly noted no longer included soda. "We launched a health initiative," he told me, ridding the vending machines of all sodas to help reduce sugar intake. A veteran of caffeine-fueled 14-hour work days, I was shocked. Many of us at the ad agency tried to limit our coffee consumption by switching to soda in the afternoons. How did these people get through a day without a Coca-Cola at 2 p.m.?

As we continued our tour, I realized that this place was different from the tech companies and ad agencies it seemed to emulate in a very important way. Sure, the perks were great – a gym with classes available before work, at lunch, and after quitting time; a full-service café with hot meals available for purchase each day; free coffee and snacks in the break room – but unlike the tech giants in Silicon Valley, people here didn't seem to be bought off with the perks. I didn't see dark circles under their eyes; no one seemed to be dragging around like a zombie. The frantic energy that comes with little to no sleep and longer-than-should-be-legal work days was missing. People seemed genuinely happy to be there.

I was intensely apprehensive about interviewing with a mortgage company. Used to working for corporate clients, I was only too familiar with standard corporate procedures, rules and limitations. I knew nothing about loans, mortgages, or buying a house. And the last thing I wanted was to join the corporate grind as a soulless zombie. I wanted to go work for a company like lululemon or Birchbox, a company changing the game, offered incredible opportunities and made a difference in their communities.

Fortunately, that's exactly what I found at Movement. My lack of experience with loans and mortgages didn't even register during my interview. As an up-and-coming industry leader, Movement strives to connect with their current clients, employees and prospective clients on a deeper level. Traditional mortgage jargon has no place in this company. Instead, they craft clear, concise language designed to educate and inform potential homebuyers.

They're deeply dedicated to helping people, both in their community and across the world. CEO Casey Crawford launched the Movement Foundation as a way to invest in communities where Movement lends by funding nonprofits, ministries and schools. And he actively participates in the Foundation's initiatives. Movement University offers veterans, seasoned professionals, and college grads a chance (or second chance) at a career, hiring them with no experience and immersing them in a 5-week training course, resulting in a career track as a loan processor.

But what struck me the most was the people. Every single person I met had a smile on their face. They all seemed genuinely happy to be there. No one seemed overwhelmed by stress, even though this was another record-setting month. People left at a reasonable hour, and spoke reverently of their work-life balance (I know, it seems too good to be true).

So against all odds, I decided to leave the fast-paced, exciting world of advertising and settle down at a boring mortgage company. I traded in my trendy jeans and cool tees for a slightly more subdued, professional wardrobe and hoped against all hope that I wouldn't be bored.

And bored I wasn't. On Day One, I was greeted by the Thrive team – an entire department with the sole objective of helping employees, you guessed it, thrive – with a welcome box full of goodies and an orientation to immerse me in the company mission, vision and culture. Everyone was eager to introduce themselves and show me around my new home. And that's really what it felt like, home.

The perks are competitive with a top agency or tech company, but the atmosphere is so much more. Relaxed, comfortable employees who truly enjoy their jobs are abundant around here, and I've been hard-pressed to find someone who has anything other than a good word to say about the company. I couldn't be more pleased with the decision to leave my comfort zone of agency life. I'd say it seems a little too idyllic to be true, had I not experienced it myself.

And those jeans? Turns out I'm still wearing them. We just adopted a new casual summer dress code!