MOVING FORWARD WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IS UP

WELCOME

Hello and welcome. Not sure where in the world you are, but wherever you are, I hope you’re warm, safe, and dry. Mercifully, the big storm seems to have missed us here in Atlanta. We were so forewarned that I took every precaution. Now I currently have so much food on hand that I could open my own Waffle House. (Trust me, that is not a complaint.)

As much as I try to stay in my pink Glennda bubble, news of the world occasionally penetrates. So, if you’re struggling, I hear you. I’d planned on talking about content creation strategies this week. Instead, I want to discuss how to move forward when you’re distracted or depressed.

Even though we’re not together in person, I want y’all to feel my hug. Let’s get started.

STORYTIME WITH GLENNDA

The Very Special Episode

When I was growing up, when something serious was happening on a show that was normally lighthearted, they called it a Very Special Episode. Like maybe one of the girls on The Facts of Life had a friend who took drugs, or the friendly bike shop owner on Diff’rent Strokes turned out to be a predator. So that’s what today’s Storytime with Glennda is going to be. We’re serving up a touch more gravitas.

I’ve had a lot of conversations lately where people are saying, “I know I need to show up, Glennda, but I just don’t have it in me.” If that’s where you are right now, guess what? You’re not alone. There are times when the noise can feel louder than normal. And maybe your energy is waning. The idea of the things you normally handle so diligently, whether it’s creating content, calling a client, or even opening your laptop, feels a million times more difficult than usual. So, I want you to listen to me carefully when I tell you that you are not broken. You’re not lazy. You’re definitely not failing.

You know what you are? Human.

Now here’s the truth I’ve learned over the years: real estate doesn’t stop just because we’re having a hard go of it. People still need our help. I mean, families are still moving and life is still happening. I don’t say this to sound cold, because that’s certainly not who I am. Instead, I want this knowledge to ground you because knowing this fact is what helps ground me. When you feel depressed or beaten down, the answer isn’t to disappear or to pretend you’re fine. What will bring you up again is to shift your focus away from yourself and back to your impact.

Years ago, I heard a woman speak on a stage. This was back in the ‘90s, when nobody talked openly about mental health. The speaker’s name was Erma, and she was a real estate agent in Alabama. She stood in front of a room full of agents and talked openly about her depression, especially how hard January was for her. Between the gray, bleak weather, and her totals resetting to zero, she struggled. She shared what she did when she felt herself slipping into that existential angst.

Erma didn’t look at her awards or tally her commissions. She didn’t power-pose in front of a mirror and give herself affirmations. No, ma’am. Instead, her strategy was to drive by all the houses she had sold. She didn’t do this to pat herself on the back. Rather, this was her way of reminding herself of the role she’d played in people’s lives.

For example, Erma talked about a young couple she helped buy a modest home. The wife was pregnant when they closed. The family was able to bring their newborn home from the hospital to that house. Owning a home made them feel settled, like they were real adults, and ergo could finally be parents. When she drove by, she remembered the small basket she dropped off when that baby was born and all the joy that couple was experiencing. They couldn’t believe they finally had their own place, where they could mark heights in doorways as their daughter grew. They talked about how they looked forward to watching her play in the backyard. It was so much more than just four walls for those people. The impact of how Erma helped change that family’s life pulled her back into the right mindset.

Erma’s story stayed with me for a reason. What I can tell y’all is that when money is your motivator, it’s never enough. But when people are your motivator, you never run out of purpose.

Sit with that for a second.

When you’re feeling beaten down, I want you to stop asking, “How do I get myself motivated?” and start asking, “Who do I help because I do this work?”

Please understand that you aren’t required to put out high-energy content on those days when you’re not feeling it. You don’t have to give a TED Talk on Instagram Live. All you have to do is to stay connected. That might look like answering one message or checking in on one past client. Maybe just share a simple reminder that you’re here and paying attention.

In our job, we simply do not have the luxury—emotionally or financially—to let the outside noise pull us off course. Not because we’re supposed to be tough all the time, but because our work matters to people who need us steady.

Please never forget that your quiet consistency builds far more trust than your loudest, flashiest moments ever will. If you still show up, even when it’s hard, you’re not denying your humanity. Instead, you’re honoring your responsibility.

So, if you’re feeling low right now, don’t you dare worry about aiming for greatness. Just aim for presence. Aim for a little reminder of why you do this work in the first place. That’s how you find your way forward when you don’t know which way is up.

Because I promised this week would be about content, I want to leave a small take-away. When you’re low, don’t concern yourself with a big idea or perfect lighting. Your only goal is to stay connected. If today’s a bad day, here are a few ways to show up without forcing it:

• Answer one question you get all the time. This is simple, helpful, and rooted in service.

• Check in with one past client. You don’t need an agenda. A “thinking of you” message will do nicely.

• Share a reminder, not a performance. A sentence you’d say to a friend is enough.

• Post something useful, not personal. This could be a market note, a timing tip, or a quick clarification people appreciate.

• Re-share something that still matters. Listen, if it helped someone once, it can help someone again.

Consistency doesn’t mean constant output. Instead, consistency means people know you’re still here, no matter what. I promise y’all that when times are tough, this is enough.

(I did not mean to end this on a rhyme, but here we are.)

Social media isn’t optional anymore, y’all - it’s where clients decide if they want to work with you. If you’re not growing online, you’re invisible. That’s why I recommend the Estate Social Growth Program. You spend just a couple of hours filming, and the team turns it into polished, optimized content that builds your brand and gets you seen by the right clients. If you’re ready to show up the way you should, this is where you start.

GLENNDA’S GRANDMA HOUSE

Big Feelings on Paint

Here’s what’s happening with the grandma’s house I bought! While I was in Turks & Caicos, a team of magical elves was hard at work in the rental property. (Please do not tell my contractor I called him a magical elf.) I was so pleased to see that the power was on and that we’d gotten new recessed lights in the kitchen!

The bad news was that once the cabinets were properly illuminated, I realized the oak’s color was worse than I thought. Those cabinets stood out like a sore thumb, yet my dilemma was that they were in fine condition. So I took to Instagram to take everyone’s temperature on whether or not I should paint them, given that it would run about $3,000 and I am not made of money.

Let me just say this—in a country that can’t agree on a single thing, y’all have come together to say unequivocally that I must paint the damn cabinets. Message received. Next up, what color should we paint them?

GLENNDA’S GURU

Welcome, Steve Shull!

Now, my guru today is Steve Shull. Steve has been coaching agents and business owners for nearly 30 years, which means he was doing it way back before coaching was trendy or polished. Steve’s the founder of Performance Coaching, which was the very first real estate coaching program of its kind!

What I love about Steve is that he understands pressure from every angle. I kid you not, he’s basically Captain America. He’s worked on Wall Street and he played four years in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins… including serving as a Super Bowl co-captain!! Today he’s a principal at luxury brokerage Teles Properties in Beverly Hills. But what really matters is that Steve helps people build businesses that actually support their lives. I promise y’all, that perspective has never been more needed than it is right now, so please enjoy!

Thanks so much, Steve!

GLENNDAISM

Today’s Words of Wisdom

GLENNDA BAKER & ASSOCIATES

Lock It, Leave It, Love It

For anyone looking for that unicorn property, I have one that’s easy, elegant, and makes real life simpler. This condo at 200 River Vista Drive, #505, in Atlanta, GA, is perfect for downsizing without giving anything up, whether that means a beautiful, secure place for your mom where you know she’s truly taken care of, or a lock-and-leave home you can enjoy without the upkeep. This place is luxury without complication: gated, concierge-level amenities, and a smart layout that works just as well as a primary residence, a crash pad, or a pied-à-terre. You can travel, come and go, host family when you want, and not worry for a second when you’re away. Easy, elevated living like this (especially at this price point) is rare, and that’s what makes this such a terrific opportunity!