The Five Levels of Leadership

Episode 587

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl sits down with Kevin Gillespie to unpack the five levels of leadership and authority that actually move teams forward: confidence, discipline, leadership, gratitude, and enjoyment.

You will hear how real confidence is a steady presence rather than bravado, why discipline beats motivation when the day gets messy, and how gratitude keeps you centered so you can lead with clarity even in tough markets.

Carl and Kevin share practical ways to build joyful cultures that attract talent, turn daily habits into long-term wins, learn faster from hard seasons, and surround yourself with people and rooms that raise your standard.

They close with simple steps to model calm, celebrate other people’s wins as your own, and use authentic enjoyment to make followership the natural outcome of how you show up.

If you want help installing these five levels through six proven growth systems in your branch or team, take the next step at ProfitDrivenPlan.com for a no-pressure strategy call that maps your path to franchise-level value.

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What I Learned From Coca-Cola

Episode 586

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl talks with Kristin Simpson about the Coca-Cola versus Pepsi story, the rise and fall of New Coke, and the surprising truth that culture often beats product when it comes to winning hearts and market share.

Listeners will hear why emotional connection, nostalgia, and brand identity can outrun a statistically better offering, how to build a culture that attracts clients and teammates, and simple ways to show you are a real person who cares.

Carl and Kristin dig into practical plays for branch leaders and loan officers, including celebrating wins by sharing what works, making leadership accessible when issues escalate, and keeping personal notes so your follow-ups feel natural and human.

They also unpack how to avoid competitor bashing, use vulnerability the right way, and design every client interaction so people remember how you made them feel.

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Structure, Consistency, and the Rise of Amy DeBusk

Episode 585

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl talks with Amy DeBusk, a loan officer out of Northern California who went from zero closings last September to funding 12 loans this September. They dive into the structure, consistency, and discipline that turned her business around and gave her a whole new level of confidence.

Listeners will hear why tracking leads instead of just counting closings created a major shift, how Amy turned realtor partnerships, online reviews, and YouTube content into a balanced three-legged stool of lead generation, and the role accountability played in keeping her focused on the right daily activities.

Amy also shares how she uses ChatGPT (she calls it Gus) to crunch numbers, draft proposals, and stay ahead with marketing strategies, along with the simple product videos that continue to bring in leads week after week.

Check out an example of Amy’s videos here: An Example Of Amy DeBusk Videos

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Expanding Your Territory Without Moving ZIP Codes

Episode 584

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl sits down with veteran loan officer Kurt Nielsen to show how you can expand your territory without packing a moving box, using smart delegation, a local presence partner, and consistent communication to serve clients across time zones.

Kurt shares how he lives in Puerto Rico while originating primarily in Hawaii, why answering the phone in real time still beats voicemail every day, and how weekly database touches and realtor value plays like marketing their listings keep him top of mind.

You will hear the simple three-highlighter exercise that forced Kurt to delegate everything outside his money-making, skill-matching, enjoy-doing lane, plus the “write small checks to cash big checks” mindset for hiring a daily success plan caller and setting up an office across from top agents.

Carl and Kurt talk about when an occasional in-person visit helps, when a Zoom coffee works better, and why today’s buyers and agents care more about speed, clarity, and execution than your zip code.

If you want a clear roadmap to build a multi-market footprint like this, grab your seat at the live 2-day event in Clearwater Beach this October by visiting MastermindRetreats.com.

A Conversation With Jimmy Reed

Episode 583

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl and Jimmy Reed have an unscripted conversation on overcoming challenges, from managing expectations to building momentum through consistent activity and real conversations.

You will hear why defining success for yourself matters, how gratitude makes you more attractive to partners and clients, and why the people who keep showing up past year five often win because relationships compound.

Jimmy shares two simple action items that move the needle fast, set a firm daily start time with a quick three gratitudes and three wins, then audit every agent on both sides of your recent deals to find warm opportunities already in your sphere.

Carl and Jimmy dig into mentorship, collaboration, and using AI to level the busywork so you can spend more time on relationships that actually generate referrals.

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.