In this episode of Coach’s Corner, Coach Carla dives into a common challenge faced by many real estate agents: call reluctance, specifically when reaching out to your sphere of influence—those people who already know, like, and trust you. Whether you're a new agent or have been in the business for years, the fear of rejection can hold you back from making those crucial connections.

Carla discusses the fear of rejection and the stories that our ego creates to keep us from feeling discomfort. These stories often prevent us from making calls, as we imagine worst-case scenarios that rarely, if ever, come true. This episode helps reframe what rejection really is and explains why a ‘no’ today is not personal or final—it’s simply a ‘not right now.’

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding Call Reluctance: Why agents feel hesitant to call their sphere and how the fear of rejection manifests.
• What Rejection Really Is: Breaking down the myth that a ‘no’ means personal rejection.
• The Stories Your Ego Creates: How the ego uses fear-based thoughts to keep you in your comfort zone and avoid potential rejection.
• Redefining Rejection: Why someone not being ready to buy or sell a home isn’t a reflection of your worth as a person or agent.
• Shifting Mindset: How to move from a sales-driven mindset to a relationship-driven approach to calls.
• A Practical Strategy to Overcome Reluctance: Approaching each call with curiosity and a service mindset to provide value and strengthen relationships.
• The Magic Question: How to use the question “Who do you know that might need help with real estate?” to take pressure off the conversation and activate your contact’s memory for potential referrals.

Self-Reflection Questions to Overcome Fear:

1. What story am I telling myself about this call?
2. What’s the worst that could happen if they say no?
3. Is it possible I’m taking this too personally?
4. Have I ever had a positive experience when calling my sphere?
5. What am I really afraid of, and is it based in reality?

By asking these questions, you’ll uncover that much of the fear around making calls is based on stories, not facts. The more you challenge those stories, the more your fear begins to lose its power.

Action Step:
If you’ve been struggling with call reluctance, Carla challenges you to take action. Start with just one call today—focus on curiosity and building relationships rather than trying to make a sale. The more you practice, the easier it will become.

Listen & Subscribe:

• Visit DoubleDutyPodcast.com for more episodes.
• Submit your questions or challenges for future episodes of Coach’s Corner!

If you found today’s episode helpful, share it with another agent who might be struggling with the same challenges. Let’s keep building and growing our Double Duty businesses together!

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Welcome back to the Double Duty Agent Podcast! This is the second episode in our 5 Master Keys to Unlock Success mini-series, and today we’re tackling a crucial topic—creating a time-blocked schedule. Host Carla Higgins explains why having a set schedule and sticking to it is essential for double-duty agents who don’t have time to waste. You’ll learn how to make the most of your time, how to invest every minute wisely, and how to avoid burnout while building your real estate business. Plus, we break down the 5 key responsibilities every agent must time-block to ensure success.

Key Takeaways

• The importance of a set schedule: Double-duty agents can’t afford to “fit real estate in the cracks.” Set specific days and hours for your real estate business.
• Timeblocking for success: Eliminate decision fatigue by scheduling specific tasks during specific blocks of time—this keeps you focused on high-value activities.
• 5 Key Responsibilities:
  1. Conversation Practice and Skill Building: Dedicate at least 30 minutes a week to improving your skills.
  2. Lead Generation: Spend at least 1 hour a day talking to people, building your SOI, and generating new leads.
  3. Lead Follow-up: Consistently follow up with leads to avoid leaving money on the table.
  4. Appointments: Timeblock space for listing consultations and buyer strategy sessions.
  5. Negotiating Contracts: Set aside time for contracts, and if you don’t have any in the pipeline, work on building your contract knowledge.
• Themed Lead Generation Days: Learn how to break up lead generation into themed days (e.g., Open House leads, SOI, follow-up) to stay organized and focused.
• Avoiding burnout: Block out time for family, self-care, and personal commitments to maintain balance and prevent exhaustion.

Action Items for Listeners

1. Create your schedule: Sit down and map out your week. Write down all personal, family, and work commitments, then block out your real estate work hours.
2. Timeblock the 5 key responsibilities: Lead generation, lead follow-up, conversation practice, appointments, and contract negotiations.
3. Incorporate themed lead generation days: Assign specific days for different types of lead generation activities.
4. Prioritize self-care: Ensure your schedule includes time for relaxation, family, and personal commitments.

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• Connect with Carla https://doubledutypodcast.com

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In today’s episode of Coach’s Corner, Carla addresses one of the most common challenges faced by dual-career agents: feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and trying to prioritize what matters most in a real estate business while juggling another demanding career. Carla shares a listener’s message that perfectly captures the struggle many double-duty agents face and provides actionable steps to cut through the noise and focus on the core job responsibilities that drive success.

Key Takeaways:

• The Overwhelm Is Real: As a dual-career agent, you're balancing two complex worlds. It's easy to feel lost in the flood of emails, texts, social media notifications, and training opportunities. But you’re not alone—many agents feel the same way!
• Focus on Your 5 Key Job Responsibilities:
  1. Build Your Skills & Practice Conversations: Whether you’re a new or experienced agent, constantly improving your skills is essential. Check out programs like Ignite After Dark for flexible training options. Practice your scripts and conversations regularly but keep it simple—15 to 30 minutes a few times a week can make a big difference.
  2. Lead Generation: This is about talking to people, not overcomplicating things. Set a goal to have five meaningful conversations each day, asking, "Who do you know that might need help with real estate?" Consistency is the key to building leads.
  3. Lead Follow-Up: Don't let opportunities slip through the cracks. Follow up with anyone who has shown interest and stay front of mind by keeping communication open. Consider setting up a "Follow-Up Friday" to make it easier to manage.
  4. Appointments (Listing/Buyer Strategy Sessions): Focus on helping clients achieve their goals, whether it’s selling quickly or making a smart investment. The more you practice, the more confident and natural these appointments will feel.
  5. Negotiating Contracts: Mastering negotiation skills is vital for closing deals successfully. Take contract classes, read and understand the contracts, and practice explaining them to clients.
• Prioritization is Key: Don’t get distracted by every training, class, or notification. Focus on what moves the needle in your business—mastering the five job responsibilities—and trust that success will follow.

Resources Mentioned:

• Ignite After Dark: Live online classes taught by top instructors for dual-career agents. Sessions run for 12 weeks, and you can join at any time. Register for either the 6:30-8:30 pm ET or 6:30-8:30 pm PT sessions.

To attend Ignite After Dark you need to do the following:

1. Sign up for a Free Zoom Account (if you do not already have one);

2. Login in to Zoom

3. Register for either the East Coast (6:30 pm Eastern) or West Coast (6:30 pm Pacific) options. After you register, you will receive a personalized access link which allows us to take attendance for the Market Center.

West Coast Agent Registration Link 6:30-9:30 Pacific on Tuesdays: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqduGqrT4pHdNJVm_9AWl93l65zrWzJ8PH#/registration

East Coast Agent Registration Link 6:30-8:30 Eastern on Tuesdays: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udu6hqj0jGNcLFs3Q7vDRhHwgM27j5OmD#/registration

• Mini-Series on Time Blocking: Listen to next Wednesday’s mini-series episode on time-blocking strategies specifical

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