Okay, y’all… Episode 300 is HERE. Cue the confetti cannons and the alpacas! (Yes, there’s an alpaca and a camel story in this episode and no, we’re not kidding.)

For this milestone episode, we knew we wanted to bring you something special—and what better way than to finally get the one and only Laura Buck Smith behind the mic! Laura has been on our dream guest list for a very long time because she’s the one person we trust to honestly and openly talk about something we’ve never been able to teach on from experience: building and running a real estate team.

As solo agents, we have always stayed in our individual lanes, but we know so many of you are either curious about joining a team or wondering if you should start one. And the truth is… there are so many misconceptions out there. This episode is packed with real talk, systems, and yes—Laura’s incredible mix of structure and heart.

Here’s what we chat about in this episode:

• How Laura got into real estate and never worked solo
  
  

• What it was like building her team from the ground up
  
  

• The three-tier structure she uses for agents
  
  

• What really goes into leading 25 team members (without losing your mind)
  
  

• How they handle leads, admin, training, open houses, and more
  
  

• The five interviews (yes, FIVE) and 90-day probation period for new team members
  
  

• How they expanded into Alabama (spoiler: Stephen made it happen in a week!)
  
  

• Why team culture and consistency are non-negotiable
  
  

• The honest truth about when you’re ready—or not ready—to lead a team
  
  

Whether you’ve thought about building a team or you just want to learn how a well-oiled machine operates, this episode is packed with value, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes gems.

We’re so thankful to Laura for showing up and sharing it all—systems, stories, boundaries, and all the heart behind what they’ve built at Team Smith.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• The Market Real Estate Company: https://www.themarketrealestateco.com
  
  

• Laura’s open house strategy and new construction tips
  
  

• BoomTown and Zillow Premier Agent tools
  
  

• Bob Brooks Real Estate School: https://bobbrooks.com

“You need to have a servant’s heart to be a team leader. It’s not about you. It’s about your team.” – Laura

“If you're not ready to be responsible for someone else's income, you're not ready to start a team.” – Katy

“We don’t compete with our team members—we support them, and we don’t take leads from them.” – Laura

“Everyone on the team gets five interviews and 90 days of daily check-ins. If they can't email once a day, how can I trust them with a $900 lead?” – Laura

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast. The reason people stay on Team Smith is because of the culture.” – Alissa

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template

Email Templates 101: emailtemplates101.com

Build Your Own Business 101: hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

Agent Systems 101: agentsystems101.com

All Resources: hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas and toasts to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

Feeling a little too “relaxed” in the name of boundaries? This one's for you.

We’ve talked a lot about boundaries, self-care, and rest—but let’s not forget: real estate is still a job. And if you’re not working, you’re not getting paid.

In this very real, very necessary pep talk, we’re talking about something a lot of agents need to hear right now: get to work. Whether the market has slowed, your motivation is fizzling, or you’re stuck in an “I’ll start next week” loop, this episode is your reminder that consistency—not motivation—is the real secret to success.

Yes, we believe in work-life balance. Yes, we’re fans of boundaries. But if you’re calling “watching Netflix on a Tuesday” your professional day off… it might be time for some tough love.

🎧 In this episode, we’re diving into:

• The difference between rest and avoidance
  
  

• What to do when your motivation is MIA
  
  

• How to stop “fizzling” after big events or ideas
  
  

• Why many agents self-sabotage with poor time management
  
  

• How to be honest about your productivity and stop lying to yourself
  
  

• The connection between consistency and confidence
  
  

• How to use 10-minute tasks to get momentum going
  
  

• The REAL start of your 1–3 year journey to real estate income
  
  

We’re also sharing real stories about using your time wisely, knowing when to take a break and when to get back to it, and how to rate your networking game on a scale of 1 to 10 (spoiler alert: sitting in the back and talking to no one is not a 10).

If you’ve been floating around wondering why business is slow, it might be time to look in the mirror. Let us help you gently—but firmly—snap out of it and get back to work.

“Boundaries and work ethic are not the same thing. And they can absolutely coexist.” – Alissa

“The clock doesn’t start until you start working.” – Katy

“Adaptability is the way of consistency.” – James Clear (quoted by Katy)

“If you haven't gotten a paycheck in three months, you're unemployed.” – Connie, Alissa’s broker

“Most daily actions evaporate. Some accumulate.” – James Clear

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Hustle Humbly Buyer & Seller Checklist https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/checklist
  
  

• Episode 9: Your Database
  
  

• Episode 17: What to Do When You’re New or Slow
  
  

• Episode 135: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
  
  

• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
  
  

• Book: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template

Email Templates 101: emailtemplates101.com

Build Your Own Business 101: hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

Agent Systems 101: agentsystems101.com

All Resources: hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas and toasts to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

Sweaty palms? That might be your sign to lean in.

We’re back with a special Fair Housing Month episode, and this time we brought in a very special guest: Molly Mair from Eugene, Oregon—a former teacher turned Realtor and now a brokerage owner, DEI committee chair, and all-around fierce advocate for fair housing.

We first met Molly at a conference in California (shoutout to her adorable sun-logo mugs and shared love for data nerdiness 🫶), and we instantly knew she had a perspective worth sharing. In this chat, she helps us unpack the real-life, real-estate side of fair housing—from inclusive buyer consults to those awkward seller jokes that need shutting down (politely but firmly!).

Fair housing isn’t just something you cram into a continuing ed course. It’s something we live and breathe in our day-to-day business, and Molly shows us exactly how she does that—with heart, systems, and a little trial and error.

🎧 In this episode, we chat about:

• What to say (and NOT say) when clients ask about neighborhoods and schools
  
  

• How Molly navigates buyer consults with inclusivity in mind
  
  

• The difference between being a “nice” agent and a fair one
  
  

• Tips for communicating with escrow and title for smoother, more respectful closings
  
  

• The power of reflection when you get it wrong (because you will sometimes!)
  
  

• Grants and tools available to help your DEI efforts in real estate
  
  

• How to handle sellers who want to choose buyers for the wrong reasons
  
  

• What it means to be a fair housing agent—and why it should be on your resume
  
  

Whether you're already passionate about fair housing or feeling nervous to say the wrong thing, this episode is for you. It’s full of honest moments, practical ideas, and motivation to just start—even if it’s a little uncomfortable at first.

🎉 Toast of the episode goes to Realtor and fair housing advocate Ashley Contreras!

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Hustle Humbly Trello Training (Free on YouTube! Just search "Hustle Humbly Trello")
  
  

• Implicit Bias Test (Referenced for self-reflection on bias)
  
  

• Fair Housing 2.0 Course
  
  

• At Home With Diversity Course
  
  

• Documentary: The Vanport Flood (Available on YouTube)
  
  

• Bias Override Training (Referenced as a valuable educational opportunity)
  
  

• Book: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  
  

"Sweaty palms? That’s your sign to lean in." — Katy

"People can’t dispute a spreadsheet. Be consistent and treat every transaction the same." — Alissa

"If you want to break the rules, you won’t be breaking them with me." — Molly

"I’m not a DEI expert, but I’m an advocate—and that means I keep showing up and learning." — Molly

"What do we lose by including more people? Nothing. We just make the table bigger." — Molly

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template

Email Templates 101: emailtemplates101.com

Build Your Own Business 101: hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

Agent Systems 101: agentsystems101.com

All Resources: hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas and toasts to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com