Mortgage Marketing LIVE! How to Show Up in a Crisis with Rene Rodriguez

Recorded during the COVID-19 shutdown, this episode is a conversation between Geoff Zimpfer and influence expert Rene Rodriguez about how professionals show up (or fail to) during a crisis, personal branding online, and the courage required to speak authentically. Best for LOs who are posting constantly but haven't thought critically about what their online presence actually communicates.

Takeaways you can run this week

• Audit your last 20 social posts before publishing anything new: categorize each as 'Jester,' 'Alarmist,' 'Apathetic,' or 'Lighthouse.' If the pattern isn't the brand you want, decide consciously before your next post what category it falls into.
• Before going live or posting content, ask not 'What can I say to make a difference?' but 'What is on my heart right now?' — then speak from a specific memory or belief you hold, not a forward-looking talking point you're manufacturing.
• Download the Courage Scale at thecouragescale.com and share it in your next team meeting or agent partner conversation as a framework for identifying whether your communication energy is 'above the line' (openness, logic, joy) or 'below the line' (fear, apathy, anger).
• Keep your hands inside the 'influence zone' — belly button to eyes — during any video call or Facebook Live. Practice one video this week with this as your only focus before worrying about scripts or production quality.
• When recording video, leave your real background visible (books, whiteboard, personal items) rather than using a virtual backdrop. Your environment communicates values; let it work for you intentionally.
• If you have been absent from clients or partners for months, use this crisis window to re-emerge with a genuine, values-based message — Rodriguez's research shows people who show up unexpectedly during a crisis are 'solidified forever' as trusted figures.

Worth quoting

“You're showing up when you're trying not to show up.”

“If you can name it, you can tame it.”

Best for

LOs who are posting frequently during the market shift but haven't evaluated whether their content is building the leadership brand they actually want.