The truth is: buying or selling a house can feel like a full-blown identity crisis. Realtors know it, clients feel it, and now we have a licensed therapist here to explain *why* it all gets so emotionally messy.

In this episode we welcome Katy's former client and current number one referrer, Mary Ruiz, LPC. She's not just a real estate success story — she's now a licensed professional counselor (and a great one at that). We chat about the mental health rollercoaster that often comes with real estate: from renovations and relocations to the unexpected triggers that show up when people face big change. Mary shares why even competent, confident people often spiral emotionally during a transaction, and how *Realtors can support clients* without carrying the weight of everyone's emotions.

We're talking about therapy, boundaries, client meltdowns, and the emotional expectations people carry into real estate decisions. This is a must-listen for any Realtor who's ever felt like an unqualified therapist.

Here's what we cover in this episode:
- Why therapy and real estate overlap more than you think
- The mental toll of buying, selling, building, and renovating
- What neurodivergent clients may struggle with during moves
- Why confident people often break down during transactions
- Tips for helping clients regulate their emotions
- When (and how) to set boundaries with difficult clients
- Grounding techniques to use during emotional conversations
- What Realtors can do to protect their own mental well-being

💬 "The kindest thing you can do is tell someone the truth." — Mary Ruiz

🧠 Resources & Links:
- Learn more about Mary's practice: https://ruizcounseling.com
- Realtor Resources: https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/resources
- Join the Hustle Humbly Community: https://www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/membership
- Send us your questions or episode ideas: team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

—

Hustle Humbly is the go-to podcast for Realtors who want to ditch the comparison game and run their business with confidence, clarity, and a healthy dose of mindset work. Hosted by top-producing Louisiana agents, Alissa Jenkins and Katy Caldwell, each episode delivers real advice from real agents who have walked the walk.

Leave us a review → https://ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template → https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/starthere

Email Templates 101 → https://emailtemplates101.com

Agent Systems 101 → https://agentsystems101.com

Build Your Own Business 101 → https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

All Resources → https://hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas + toasts → team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

Music:

"Straight A's" by Connor Price → https://connorprice.shop/

"The Good Life" by Summer Kennedy → https://soundcloud.com/summerkennedy/the-good-life

"Be The One" by Matrika → https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/be-the-one

What if you left your phone behind… on purpose?

In this episode we chat with top-producing Realtor Kim Lafleur, who did the unthinkable—she took a full-blown, out-of-the-country vacation *without* her phone. No calls. No texts. No Instagram scrolls. Just silence, sunshine, and serious boundaries.

Kim walks us through what inspired the decision, how she actually pulled it off (yes, there was a team hand-off at the airport), and the powerful lessons she learned about control, trust, and rest. If you've ever felt chained to your phone or scared to take a break, this one's for you.

Kim has sold over 655 homes with more than $121 million in volume and ranks in the top 10 of 1,900 agents in her market — and yet, she's living proof that your real estate business won't collapse when you step away. In fact, your boundaries might just make you better.

Here's what we cover in this episode:
- The surprising reason Kim chose to give up her phone
- The exact process she used to prep her team and clients
- Why NOT having her phone made her trip more meaningful
- How her team handled real estate emergencies (and even got new listings)
- What "the brick" is — and how it's changed her daily life
- Why letting go of control might be your next best business move
- Creative ways to set up support systems and reward the people who help you

🎧 Listen and get inspired to set stronger boundaries and maybe even plan a phone-free break of your own.

🛠 Resources & Links:
- Email Templates 101: [emailtemplates101.com](https://emailtemplates101.com)
- Build Your Own Business 101: [hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob](https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob)
- Agent Systems 101: [agentsystems101.com](https://agentsystems101.com)
- Free Database Template: [Get it here](https://hustlehumblypodcast.com)
- Submit your toast or topic idea: team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

—

**About Kim Lafleur:**
Kim Lafleur is a top-producing Louisiana Realtor and team leader with over 655 homes sold and $121M+ in career volume. Ranked in the top 10 out of 1,900 agents in her market, Kim is known for her client-focused approach, leadership, and ability to guide families through big life moves with care and strategy.

—

Thanks for listening! If you love the show, here are 4 ways to support us:
1. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
2. Share the show with a friend or on social media!
3. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify!
4. Join the Hustle Humbly Community or grab a resource from our shop.

—

Music:

"Straight A's" by Connor Price → https://connorprice.shop/

"The Good Life" by Summer Kennedy → https://soundcloud.com/summerkennedy/the-good-life

"Be The One" by Matrika → https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/be-the-one

Ever been blindsided by a cancelation that just didn't make sense? This week we're sharing a raw, real story about a transaction that went sideways—only to come full circle weeks (and $15,000) later.

In this episode, Alissa opens up about a recent experience with a buyer who backed out of a deal in the eleventh hour. What followed was a perfect storm of assumptions, zero communication, and a text message that dropped a cancelation bomb—with no phone call to discuss it first.

We're diving deep into the best practices & etiquette for Real Estate Cancellations: when you should call (not text), how to manage your client's emotions, and what happens when professionalism goes out the window. Spoiler alert: it cost the buyer way more than they expected.

This is your podcast therapy session and masterclass in cancelation communication all rolled into one. Because y'all, some deals really *can* be saved—with the right conversation.

Here's what we chat about in this episode:

- The shocking cancelation that inspired this story
- Stats on how often cancelations are happening (hint: it's more than you think)
- What *should* happen before a cancelation is sent
- Why a simple phone call could have saved the deal
- Handling emotional clients and managing expectations
- What to disclose—and when
- How to exit gracefully and protect relationships for the long game
- What happened when the *same* buyer came back
- Tips for co-op agent professionalism in tricky transactions

🛠️ *Resources + Links Mentioned:*
- [Episode 113: Be the Boss](https://www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/113)
- [Episode 255 & 24: Client Management](https://www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/255)
- [Episode 210: Buyer Consultation](https://www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/210)
- [Email Templates 101](http://emailtemplates101.com)
- [Agent Systems 101](http://agentsystems101.com)
- [Build Your Own Business 101](https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob)
- FREE Database Setup Guide: https://www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/starthere

Got a wild transaction story or need podcast therapy? Email us at team@hustlehumblypodcast.com.

——
**Hustle Humbly is your go-to resource for navigating a real estate business with confidence, clarity, and heart.** Hosts Katy and Alissa bring you proven systems, real stories, and the kind of encouragement you didn't know you needed. Tune in each week for new episodes!

## 🎵 MUSIC CREDITS
- "Straight A's" by Connor Price → https://connorprice.shop/
- "The Good Life" by Summer Kennedy → https://soundcloud.com/summerkennedy/the-good-life
- "Be The One" by Matrika → https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/be-the-one