From Rock Bottom to Real Estate Rockstar – The Journey of Courtney Embry

🔥 In this episode of the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast, we sit down with none other than the powerhouse herself, Courtney Embry! 🔥

Courtney isn’t just a co-founder of BrickDriven Realty—she’s a 17+ year real estate veteran, mentor, coach, and industry leader who has shaped the careers of countless agents.

Her journey from a $21,000-a-year city job to running a thriving brokerage is nothing short of inspirational.

🚀 Inside this episode, we cover:

✅ How a layoff at 22 pushed Courtney into real estate

✅ The grind, struggle, and hustle of starting out—while raising twin girls!

✅ The turning point that ignited her real estate success

✅ What it takes to build a real estate career from scratch (and why most fail)

✅ Why having a supportive spouse in this business is a game-changer

✅ Her biggest failures and costly mistakes—and what you can learn from them

✅ Why coachable agents succeed (and uncoachable ones become unemployable)

💡 If you’re a new agent, considering real estate, or struggling to gain momentum, Courtney drops some of the BEST advice you’ll ever hear. This is an episode you CAN’T afford to miss!

🚀 Connect with Courtney Embry:

📞 Phone: (256) 762-5995

📲 Facebook: Courtney Embry

📸 Instagram: @courtneyembry

🎶 TikTok: @courtneyembry

🏡 BrickDriven Realty: BrickDrivenCareer.com

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a fellow agent who needs to hear it!

🎙 Thank You for Tuning in to the R.E.A.L. Real Estate Agent Life Podcast!

We appreciate you joining us for another powerful episode where we dive deep into the world of real estate, mindset, and business growth. If you found value in this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network!

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💡 Want to be a guest on the show?...

Transcript

Shane Kilby (00:01)
All right. We're today sitting here with none other than the lovely Courtney Embry on another episode of Real Estate Agent podcast. Courtney Embry is a co-founder of Brick Driven Realty, a seasoned real estate professional with over 17 plus years of experience. know it's hard to tell because you look like you're 23 years old, but

Courtney Embry (00:09)
You

Shane Kilby (00:23)
She is an industry leader and mentor that is passionate about coaching and mentoring agents and helping them achieve success in their real estate careers. She is a local market expert born and raised in the Shoals area with deep knowledge and ties to the real estate landscape in that area. She is client focused with a client focused approach. She has worked with diverse range of clients from first time home buyers to growing families, active

community member. She's involved in the Shoals Area Association of Realtors in many leadership roles, as well as the Alabama Business Associate B &I chapter. She is also dedicated to excellence known for her commitment to clients, her team, and the real estate industry as a whole. We're looking forward to diving into the journey with none other than the lovely Courtney Embry. What's up, girl?

Courtney Embry (01:12)
Thank you. What's up? Happy

to be here.

Shane Kilby (01:16)
Yeah, so we out the best parts, I guess, of your lovely spouse, Micah. We're gonna leave him out. And she is the mother of two beautiful twins, Addie and Lexi. One, we hope to be one of the 40 under, I guess 30 under 30, then the 40 under 40. she is, yeah, so she'll be 19 this July and she is going to pursue her real estate license.

Courtney Embry (01:34)
Yeah, I hope so.

Duane Murphy (01:43)
She going down the real estate path? I remember the last time we talked that there was a chance.

Courtney Embry (01:45)
She is. Yeah.

Mm-hmm. She's all in so far. I haven't scared her off yet.

Shane Kilby (01:55)
He's excited.

He's been role playing and learning the scripts and the whole nine yards. So Courtney, share with us your backstory of how you ended up in the real estate career in the real estate industry.

Duane Murphy (02:02)
exciting.

Courtney Embry (02:13)
Well, it was just one of those things that just kind of happened. I was working for the city of Florence and at the time I was 22 years old and I was like making a whopping $21,000 a year, but I love that job. And since I was so young, I was one of the low men on the totem pole. And so they were having layoffs and my name got put on the cut list and I was devastated because I'd

had no idea what I was going to do. And again, I had just become so close to everybody that I worked with. I mean, it was almost like I had moms and dads and grandparents there that I worked with since I was so young. one gentleman that I worked with, his name was Jimmy, he came in the office one day and he said, said, hon, he said, don't you worry about this. He said, there's other things on the horizon. And I said, I just don't know what I'm gonna do. And he said, I really think you should try real estate.

I don't even, mean, it sounds good. I mean, pretty houses, but I don't know what that means. And he said, well, look, he said, I've bought and sold a lot of houses. And at the time he was probably in his 50s. And he said, you got the personality for it. You have work ethic. I see that in you. He said, you can do this. And I was always intrigued by sales in general. And then I was always intrigued by

just professionalism as a whole, especially with women. But, you know, I didn't grow up as far as being the smartest one in school and having this big degree. So, you know, I knew like corporate world was not going to be for me. So anyway, to tell my age, I flipped through the phone book and I found a real estate school and I called and lo and behold, they had one starting up in a few weeks. So I got home and I told Mike, was like, I think that's what I'm gonna do.

He was like, he's like, I don't, okay, whatever. Well, I don't know what that means, so whatever. And so I did join the real estate school. Of course I was the youngest one in there. I was green. I had never bought a house. I didn't know what title insurance was, nothing. But anyway, it took me three tries to pass the state exam, but I didn't quit. And that's kind of how it just fell in my lap. It was just one of those things that somebody told me they thought.

I would be good at it and I said, okay, let's try it.

Shane Kilby (04:42)
So, but it took you three shots at the state exam. Don't you teach real estate now? Real estate is fucked.

Courtney Embry (04:49)
Yes,

I do.

Duane Murphy (04:53)
Wow, the shots were fired early in this one.

Shane Kilby (04:54)
You've been paid off.

Courtney Embry (04:55)
Boom!

Shane Kilby (04:57)
Now,

that's testament. I mean, that's a testament. It's like, mean, you know, she could have laid down the first time or the second time because, you know, hey, I'm going to do something else. But you didn't. You got back up and you tackled it again and you accomplished it and, you know, and you kept moving forward. So I like it's a testament to say that, you know, not only did I finally, you know, win at that fight, I also took it to the next level to be a real estate instructor.

And that is an extension to say of the real estate commission. Oftentimes that's what they refer to as instructors. Like you guys are an extension of us, which they say that in like, don't mess up. We're looking at that. So you have two beautiful twins, Alexi, right? In the early.

Courtney Embry (05:40)
Yeah, you're supposed to know what you're doing now that you're an instructor.

Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (05:58)
stages of your real estate career. Like take us back to that point, because I know your personal story and I know that it's a beautiful one of trials and tribulations. Take us there to that first, there's a special moment where you were having, you were right there having that first closing, the first transaction. Tell us a little bit about that. I'm not sure if Dwayne's familiar with that.

Courtney Embry (06:19)
Yeah.

So I got my license August 2005 and I worked a full-time job because I was trying to figure this real estate thing out. in April, got my real estate license in August, found out I was pregnant with twins in November. So in April of 2026, my doctor recommended going on bed rest. So I said, okay, I don't like this job anyway, I'm gonna quit it.

And so of course that settled in real good with my husband when I said, I'm just quitting this job. I hate it. But I had my first closing lined up. It was a little $52,000 investment home and it was set to close on July 28th, 2006. And that is the day I went into labor with Addie and Lexi. So I had forgotten to tell him to bring a cashier's check. So I was in labor.

And the closing attorney, they were blowing up my phone and I just finally answered and said, I'm a little busy. I don't know what to do. And I finally said, well, you just called the buyer. So needless to say, I didn't get to attend my first closing and it was a hot mess, but had a closing check waiting on me when I got home about a week later.

Duane Murphy (07:46)
Yeah.

Shane Kilby (07:47)
Absolutely.

Courtney Embry (07:50)
So I do say

that my kids were born in the real estate. Literally, they were born in the real estate.

Shane Kilby (07:54)
They're literally born into

Duane Murphy (07:57)
I mean, it

would have been a heck of a story to go to the closing room.

Courtney Embry (08:02)
no, no, no, I'm so glad that didn't happen. I'm so glad I went into labor, wee hours of the morning and not at the actual closing table.

Shane Kilby (08:13)
Now,

knowing the both of you, both you and Micah really well for many, many years, you guys have been a power couple. And the reason I refer to you guys a power couple, because you guys were high school sweethearts, right? from there till now and through the early years and I mean, everybody's had that starting point,

no matter where you see somebody today, like, I wish I had this. I wish I had what they have. I wish I could, you be what they are and have the income that they have and the success that they have. But, you know, they don't see what you guys went through to get to that level, right? And so you guys have always worked really close together in dollars and cents and expenses and what we're buying, what we're investing like in those things. And like I remember

Courtney Embry (08:58)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (09:11)
a detailed part of your story and that conversation about you guys having that talk, the talk, when offices have the talk about, you've done all these things and you're not making that much money. So share with us that little experience of conversation that got you so fired up for success.

Courtney Embry (09:19)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, so I had the closing and then of course I come home and I'm a brand new mom with twin girls, which will just, you know, make your world insane. And so, I mean, I was not diving into real estate and you know, four or five months goes by and we're just trying to adjust with the girls. And so then it's like, do kind of want to, I got to get out there, you know, I'm ready to do something and I'm just trying to get my feet wet and you know, back then, you know, like.

Facebook really wasn't a thing, Google wasn't. I remember I wasn't even texting them. So I didn't really know what to do. And so, I mean, we kind of had a crossroads. We had a come to Jesus where it was like, okay, you're gonna have to figure this out. So you can be a stay at home mom and we can be money ahead, or you're going to have to figure this out because right now we're just spending money that we really don't have. And it was...

It was true. mean, I was, I was throwing money, trying to figure out what would stick, you know, with advertising and building my business. And it was, it was really the turning point because I didn't want to be a stay at home mom, but I wanted to be a hundred percent an involved mom. I wanted to do all the things, all the school activities. I didn't want to have to rely on somebody else to take them to doctor's appointments and all the things, but I still had that burning desire to have a career.

And so I remember I loaded them up in the car the next day. We went to Books a Million and I bought about three or four different real estate books. And one of them was the Millionaire Real Estate Agent. And I just remember sitting in the recliner rocking two babies, trying to get them down for a nap. And I was holding that book and reading. And one part of that talked about farming. And that was probably the first time I was ever introduced to prospecting. And

From there, I just kind of sat down and had my little system every Sunday night. And then I would take the girls during nap time and we'd ride around and we'd look for for sell by owners and I scoured the market for expirers. And, you know, I just did what I could to try to make this work because I mean, I just didn't want to not have my own independence. And I have to say, Michael didn't want me, he didn't want to back me in the corner and say, you're going to be a stay at home mom. Cause I have to say.

He's actually been my number one supporter through all of this because there was times I thought about quitting and when I get frustrated, he will get frustrated because he always says, you don't even see your potential. That's what he used to always say. Like you don't even see what you can do. And Shane, you know this story, but the first time I went on a listing appointment, I came home, I've told you this before, I came home crying because I mean, I bombed it. I didn't know how to answer their questions. I didn't know.

I didn't know how do a net sheet. And so I got home and he says, well, you what did you say to him? And so I said, well, you know, I was talking about this and that. And so he starts asking me some questions and I'm like, I didn't know, Mike, I didn't know what to say. And he was like, my God, I wouldn't list a house with you either. So I'm crying again. And I'm like, but that's just him. He's very blunt.

He doesn't sugarcoat anything, but he's always made me better by being honest. He's not that type of husband that's gonna pet me. that's okay, honey. You didn't need that listing anyway. That will never come out of his mouth. And for any women that are trying to be successful at this business, I have to say, if you don't have a supportive spouse in this, I feel sorry for you. He's never questioned as much as I'm on the phone.

Duane Murphy (13:16)
you

Courtney Embry (13:18)
If he walked in that house and I handed him two babies and said, I'm going to show three houses, he high fived me and said, good luck. Like it was never, it was never, no, no, no, I'm not doing this. You you're going to stay home and keep the kids. I was going on weekends. I actually worked for an auction company too on Saturdays just to kind of get some experience. And then if the house didn't sell at auction that I would get the listing. That was the agreement.

So that was another start in how I got listings. And that's what I was really passionate about. love, and I still do, I love sellers. know, buyers can really wear me down. So sellers was where my passion was. And I really wanted to do good in that area of being a selling agent.

Shane Kilby (14:08)
Yeah.

So, you know, a couple of things that stand out to me, and I've known you for a long time and, and, and for listeners and for viewers at a later date and time, like, like hear her out, like she didn't want to be away from her mom, from her babies. Right. She wanted to be that independent headstrong mom. Like she wanted to, to, to lead those girls by example, she wanted to contribute to the household.

you know, so that they could have a bigger and better lifestyle. And if you saw them then, and if you saw them now, you'd say that, I think you guys pulled it off rather well. Right. So, and, and the other part of that is, and I had a conversation with a young lady this week that's in the process of getting her license and

Courtney Embry (14:45)
Yeah.

Shane Kilby (14:59)
She has a really good spouse. And we went into that conversation about the supportive spouse. Like if you're a guy coming in this business or a female coming in this business, like that support is so critical and not just a support, but you guys, mean, you have to be as one unit. you have to, because you know, the last thing a spouse wants to do is look across the couch or the room and

The real estate agent spouse is, is grinning from ear to ear at 8 47 at night. And they haven't really said four words to one another. So it's like, what are you looking down to your phone for grinning and smiling from ear to ear? And if there's not that connection, like that agent probably is probably looking down and got an offer accepted, right. You come list me appointment and you know, and so a lot of times that's the things that excite us at 8 47 at night at our phones.

Courtney Embry (15:45)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (15:55)
But if those spouses don't have that unified connection, it can be divisive, right? It can push those two apart. And when they're pushing one another apart like that, it's very hard. Because you know, the first six months to 12 to 18 months in his business, it's a whole lot of grind and not a whole lot of return. So supportive spouse is so critical.

Courtney Embry (16:17)
A lot of

Duane Murphy (16:23)
Yeah,

I, in several situations with bringing in agents, I've actually invited their spouses to come in as well, right? Cause they were talking about, right. It's somebody that I, that I maybe knew through friends or whoever it was. So, Hey, I'm thinking about real estate. I'm thinking about changing careers, changing professions. And I'm like, okay, so what does, right. What does your husband think? What does your wife think? Right. you know, they're kind of bored. like, how about you both come in?

Courtney Embry (16:31)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Duane Murphy (16:52)
right, and sit down with me, right? And so I've had multiple conversations with both of them. And part of that I actually learned from my old fire chief. So when I had, know, because I don't have a spouse, I, right, I can understand the dynamics, right? But I don't have personally those dynamics. But something that my fire chief had shared with me when I joined the fire service and, you know, and he's like, hey, you know, are you married? Are you seeing someone? Are you dating somebody, right? What's, what's, what's

know, what's your life like? And one of the reasons why I was asking, because he's like, Hey, just so you know, like, and it's a talk that that I've had with, you know, new firefighters are coming up. And now I have it with agents or with new lenders, whatever it might be, is that, like, it's not just you signing on the dotted line, right? Like, like your spouse is going to be right alongside of you. It is

It is a partnership in this, right? If your pager goes off at 3 a.m., you're not just waking yourself up, you're also waking up your spouse and it's not, you know, it's not just a just you thing. the other thing that stuck with me that really relates to real estate specifically is it becomes who you are. Like if you're going to be successful in this industry and in this profession,

Courtney Embry (18:08)
It does.

Duane Murphy (18:14)
You wear what you do all the time and every day. And unfortunately, in the beginning of all hours of the day, and where you two were talking about, if you don't have that spouse or that significant other that truly understands what it is that you're trying to build and do and grow, and they understand that, okay, in the middle of dinner,

Courtney Embry (18:19)
that down.

Duane Murphy (18:40)
Like you have to take that one call because it's the buyer on the other side of the deal calling on something that's falling apart or going together, whatever it may be. And you know, and all of you're on vacation and you're, know, Hey, I got to do a little bit of work in the morning. I got to do a little bit of work in the evening, but then the rest of the time is yours. Like, whoo.

Courtney Embry (18:58)
So I've done,

what I did was I not only had a supportive spouse, but my kids were involved. That's why I say I'm shocked that Addie wants to do real estate because they always said, no, I'm not doing that. You're on the phone too much. But in all honesty, like our beach trips, perfect example, I always had to go back up to the room and I would say, hey, I'm going back to the room. I'll be back in an hour. But guess what? Mama just got a contract. And they'd like, woo hoo!

Duane Murphy (19:12)
you

Yes.

Courtney Embry (19:28)
And then they were kind of part of that process because when they were so little, they didn't want to hear me on the phone or the minute my phone would ring, of course, mama, mama, mama. And so I'd always be like, hey, this is so and so. Remember they're buying that house for me. So shh, just be real quiet. then when I would close them, I'd be like, hey, remember all those calls that I took from so and so? Yeah, I said, we closed today. So let's go get ice cream. Oh, good job, mom. Good job. And then...

So when they were getting into the seventh grade, we decided we would want to take a big trip to Jackson Hole. And so I sat them down and I said, okay, this is what this trip is going to cost us. So this is what we got to do. I said, mom's got to sell X amount of houses. Okay. So that's going to mean that I got to be on the phone. I got to do this. So, you know, like I said, they were going in seventh grade. So like, if you see me stand up at one of your ball games and I just go outside and I'm on the phone and I come right back, that's why. Okay.

And then this is what I need y'all to do. You gotta have straight A's this year. You don't want your room clean. So like it was, we all got involved. And then, so as I was selling the houses or got a new listing, I was like check mark, we're closer, check mark, we're closer. And then when we went on that trip and they'll still tell you that was the best thing that we've ever done. You know, it was the best trip. yeah, just think if you can't get your family involved,

it's going to be very hard to be successful at this because like I said, if it hadn't have been for Micah and he's still like that, every day when he walks in, he's gonna say, what'd do today? And he expects me to tell him something in real estate, whether if I had an appointment with an agent or how many phone calls I made, like he's the best accountability partner there is. And even sometimes I'm like, hey, I don't want you to hold me accountable today. Like I need you to leave me alone, get me a glass of wine and then I might talk to you after a while. So shh.

Don't hold me accountable. He's like, okay, I'll be back. I'm going to the shop and it just works because he knows it's been one of those days. And then, you know, we talk about it and the same thing with the girls too. You know, they just, understand. And, but I really think so my other daughter, she's, she's going into nursing, but she's very headstrong.

Shane Kilby (21:27)
Here it comes. Or a bottle. Or a bottle.

Duane Murphy (21:30)
the

Courtney Embry (21:52)
And I laughed because I'm like, Lexi, you're not very compassionate. How are you going to be a nurse? And she said, I want trauma. I don't want to talk to people. I want to get in there. I want to do my task and I want to see people alive. you know, she's, Micah is very much that way. Get out of my way. I got a project. Let's go to work. Don't give me an excuse. And then Addie has a little bit more of my personality. Like she'll talk to a brick wall. But you know, she also sees

And both of the girls say like, like a challenge and I like to win. I think that maybe has helped, maybe help them with their decisions and what their careers are gonna be.

Shane Kilby (22:34)
Yeah, and so like, mean, the fact that you guys are as strong of a power couple that you are, like, like Michael works, you know, with the government, he works, you know, with NASA. And I mean, more than one occasion since we've been working together, like they, they shut down the government.

Courtney Embry (22:56)
yeah, he's been furloughed several times, you know, and they couldn't pass the budget. So, and when he's, when that happens, there's no pay. So.

Shane Kilby (23:03)
Yeah, it's

no like, hey, y'all gonna be on a draw or like, you you just will keep it on the down low. Like y'all gonna get paid. We're gonna act like you don't like it's like shoot it done. Like so, and it's usually that's a temporary deal, but like the first time, uh, it was like what 2014 or somewhere around that.

Courtney Embry (23:07)
Mm-mm.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

Yeah,

I can't, I can't really remember.

Duane Murphy (23:28)
First one was a long... I was like, I was gonna say it was over, yeah, over a month.

Shane Kilby (23:29)
You know, it's like 20 days. Yeah.

Courtney Embry (23:31)
It was a long one. It was almost a month.

Shane Kilby (23:36)
It was several days. Um, and, uh, you know, but, but your success in the business, it's like, you know, well, anytime there's a hiccup like that in the household, let, mean, it just, catches off guard. Of course you prepared for that. You, you, you, you put things back for the storm. you, capitalize on opportunities when you can and you prepare for those.

Courtney Embry (23:36)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (24:04)
weather storms when they take place and you stepped in and just went to work just like usual, producing results just like usual. Now, of course, Mike is not one to sit in recliner, watch ESPN until he goes back to work. think he went, am I mistaken to say he went back to, to Boilermaker, in Pike Fishing Lake and buddy's sound ready to go back to work.

Courtney Embry (24:20)
Pop fitting,

He said, I'm too old for this manual labor.

Shane Kilby (24:29)
So,

and that's a part of your story too, because he was pipe fitting while going to school, trying to get, know, in his position on the career path that he's on now, then done well with, you know, and you guys were, you know, with the twins, and you're trying to get into, get your footing into real estate stuff. I mean, that's a big testimony in itself. So share with us, you know, thus far, whatever that might be.

You know, what's been your biggest success in business thus far?

Courtney Embry (25:04)
Yeah.

Shane Kilby (25:08)
herb balls.

Courtney Embry (25:09)
Yeah, I mean, of course I could sit here and tell you all kinds of different, you know, clients that stand out to me that I think, you know, that was a great moment.

You know, I don't know if there's just that one thing that I can pinpoint except for the fact of I just like to see people happy. I like to see others succeed. You know, I like to see that agent who's brand new and they get that check and it's so exciting to them. And I think that's what really kept me in the game is because

There was so many different transactions that I didn't care what I made. It was that hug at the closing table and they cried and they told me they couldn't have done it without me or I saved them in a situation or I just think back like that's just kind of what kept me going. It's just the privilege of making somebody happy. I just, you know, I just love being a part. I just love being a part of people's lives in that way. And I know it's just real estate, but then again, it can be such a

life altering thing, like especially if you help somebody from foreclosure or, you know, if it's a death situation or, my God, we're having twins, we need a big house, you know. I just, love the different situations that it brings. I don't, but I mean, honestly, like I'm very independent when it comes to, I don't want, I don't, I don't depend on anybody.

You know, I don't. Yes, my guy has a great job and if I wanted to hang up real estate today I could, but our lifestyle would change. I'd probably sell my house. I don't want to do that, you know, and I want to contribute and I. I want to go by.

Shane Kilby (27:00)
just not

see Micah. Micah's not gonna stop badgering you about working. Not because of the money thing. It's just like, I can just hear like, are you gonna do? Like, what are you gonna do with your day? Like, I'm out of work.

Courtney Embry (27:07)
No.

Neither one of us can.

It's our toxic trait. Neither one of us can just sit there and, I guess, relax. Like, working is relaxing to us. I can't just sit in the house. know, it makes me crazy. I gotta have something and that's fulfilling to me. You know, helping others. That's why I do what I do.

Duane Murphy (27:23)
just be.

So I have a question. We're gonna allow Courtney to answer this one. Because you both probably could answer it, but... So you both work together, have a brokerage together, have built an amazing company, amazing culture, all that. Who's good cop? Who's a bad cop?

Courtney Embry (28:01)
I'm the bad cop.

Duane Murphy (28:07)
You're the bad cop.

Shane Kilby (28:13)
It is what it is!

Courtney Embry (28:14)
Precious. Him so precious.

Duane Murphy (28:18)
I would have almost guessed it the other way, but then with no one both, right? With no one both of you though? Hmm.

Courtney Embry (28:20)
Mmm, you would, Whitney.

No, I tell people this all the time. The reason Shane and I, why our partnership works so well is because we're so different. But then again, like yesterday, like he sent me a message and I literally was thinking the same thing. And it's almost like we have like that twin telepathy like my girls have. Like sometimes he and I, we're literally thinking the same thing, but the way it comes out, it's totally different. But

I I kid that I'm the bad cop and it's literally, it's just because when things hit the fan and when I've had enough, then I'm done.

Shane Kilby (29:06)
You hear it?

Tonality change, went to a deeper, darker tone like this.

Courtney Embry (29:14)
Yeah, and then so I have Shane in my ear like we should do this and I'm like, well, okay, this is what I'm gonna do

Duane Murphy (29:15)
Yeah.

Boom! Dropping the axe.

Courtney Embry (29:25)
And then

I say, I did that. He's like, okay. Well, right. And I'm like, well, don't you agree? yeah, I got your back. I'm like, I thought this is what we were doing.

Shane Kilby (29:35)
yeah.

Listen, there's been, mean, she knows this is, mean, we've always shared this philosophy. If I'm not here or you're not here, like make the best call for the other one that possibly can be made and we're going to figure it out. It may be the perfect answer. It may be absolutely like what in the hell, but we're going to figure it out.

Courtney Embry (30:00)
you

Duane Murphy (30:03)
Yeah.

Shane Kilby (30:05)
Right?

Duane Murphy (30:05)
Well, the fact that I'm blessed to have both of you in my life and know you both, I've known Shane a little bit longer, but, you know, Courtney, you're my favorite brick driven person, just don't tell anyone. Yeah. So, you know, even though you say you're different, you might have some different styles and whatnot, the core principles and values and the...

Shane Kilby (30:18)
My favorite bird-drip person.

Courtney Embry (30:18)
Okay, thank you.

Duane Murphy (30:31)
the things that matter, you two could not be more alike. mean, it just, truly is.

Courtney Embry (30:35)
That's true. Our vision

is very much in line. There is no curve ball in our vision whatsoever. It's just, yeah, it's just.

Duane Murphy (30:43)
Yeah. No, without a doubt. It really, it really

is a, is it's a case study, perfect example. And again, no relationship, whether that right is, is personal and or business or whatever, right. It's perfect, right. There's always something, right. It's never perfect, but, but honestly with, with, what the two of you have with, with what you're doing with business, is, is something that

everybody who's looking at a business partnership can learn from without a doubt, without a doubt. So it's, it's something to see. So Shane got to, you know, bat you up with this, you know, awesome, like, Hey, what's your biggest success in business? So on the opposite side of success, right? There's some bruises, there's probably a big old failure somewhere in there.

Courtney Embry (31:17)
Thank you.

yeah.

Duane Murphy (31:42)
maybe a big lesson, what in business, what's yours?

Courtney Embry (31:49)
I mean, I've made a lot of mistakes. I've made a lot of failures. I've bought refrigerators because the data sheet was wrong. I bought a tankless water heater for $2,500 because my data sheet was wrong. I thought I was doing the nice thing. That's what we try to do here in the South, try to do the nice thing.

contingent on a contract the buyer asked for. was representing the seller. So I came back to the seller and said, hey, you care if they do this? And they did it. And basically to keep us out of court, my seller lost $30,000. But he's my favorite client because he has had an amazing story, which I didn't know at the time, but he had went from homeless to starting his own consulting company. He was a millionaire and I didn't really know that.

So money really wasn't a thing for him. It was really no big deal. Like seriously, no big deal that he lost 30,000. Cause this was a high dollar waterfront property. I was crushed. Like I literally questioned my whole real estate career when this happened. And he, basically did that because he knew if we went to court, it was going to come back on me. He knew that. And, he, he just, it was such a life lesson. and I didn't want to take the commission.

I was like, no, no. And like I I this was going to be like a 10 or $12,000 commission that I was about to get. And I was going to turn it down because of what he had done. And really and truly, like I should have, he agreed to do this situation, but I should have said, no, don't do that. That's not what our contract says. So long story short, that was kind of a pivotal moment in my career because not only did he do something for me,

but it was such a lesson to know that somebody like that believed in me and to know where he came from. And he actually moved to Florida after I sold his house and he kept in touch with me about every quarter. He would call me, ask me how I was doing. And then, when, when Shane and I were thinking about starting the company, of course I was scared and he was one of my biggest fans. Absolutely. You should do that. You're crazy not to do that, that kind of stuff. So, you know, I,

I look back and I think to myself, God, what a train wreck. I'm sure some of my deals were train wrecks, but I have no regrets. I was not one of these to constantly call my broker and, hey, will you look at this? Hey, are you sure I'm doing this right? I was just so gung-ho on figuring it out. I wanted to figure this out. And any of the deals, I just...

just willing, wasn't willing to just let it fall, you know? So there was a lot of things that I probably could have done better, but I don't have any regrets because I feel like all those hurdles is what got me here today as far as School of Hard Knocks. You know, that was my education in real estate. And I have put a lot of time in as far as conferences and education and GRI and instructors and that kind of stuff. But at the end of the day, I just felt like

You know, just got down and dirty with it and just I made some mistakes, nobody died. That's a good thing.

Shane Kilby (35:22)
I love that. But did you die?

Courtney Embry (35:24)
But did you die? Nope, we made it.

Duane Murphy (35:25)
That's a great way to look at

some transactions that go south. Like, did anyone die?

Shane Kilby (35:32)
That's awesome.

Courtney Embry (35:32)
Yeah,

but did we die? Nope, we good. So let's roll on.

Shane Kilby (35:39)
I

want to, for the listeners and the viewers, I want you to understand and listen. So a lot of you guys and gals that may hear this or watch this may have lived through what she has just said, right? And a lot of new agents or those who want to go down the career path of real estate, they see a lot of stuff on social media, right? Everything you touch turns to gold.

Everything's money. It's just money everywhere. Money, money, money, money, money. It's not always profit. There's a lot of mistakes, right? But you live and you learn and you dust yourself off and you put one foot in front of another. And there's a difference in intentional misrepresentation, unintentional misrepresentation. And then just the honest mistake. I mean, it's an honest mistake. No matter

how much education you go through in real estate, you're not going to learn it. I don't know it all. I've been 20 years in the whole hell of a lot of mistakes. I'm still a new student every day. If you come down this path, if you travel down the path of real estate success, understand that the only way to get better, the only way to even get close to perfection is through failure.

Courtney Embry (36:49)
Mm-hmm.

Yes.

Shane Kilby (37:06)
And like, that's a testimony there because those are the, those are the trying times where you do question yourself. You're like, did I just completely overlook that? did, did I just miss something I should have known? Like for me, is this my sign? I should be going down a different path. And it's not right. That what could have been a pivotal turning point in a negative light turned out to be one of the greatest mentors.

Courtney Embry (37:20)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (37:36)
you know, business influences that you've ever had, right? That's just, and when you dove deeper into that story, like you realize that $30,000 is a chunk of money, $300 is a chunk of money. If I lose $30 out of my pocket, I can't find it. I'm agitated, right? But the fact that this guy put, you know, put it into perspective, what the difference was from being homeless to the point of being blessed to have that lake property.

Courtney Embry (37:37)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Yes.

Shane Kilby (38:05)
So you know what she made an honest mistake that she didn't intentionally make, intentionally do, is $30,000. What we do at the end of the day, we started down this path to pay our bills and to build wealth or build a career or whatever. But what keeps you here? It's never about the money. It's never about, you said it earlier, it's the hugs and the handshakes and the.

Courtney Embry (38:09)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (38:31)
You save someone from foreclosure. And we were just on another episode earlier that we were recording and that same conversation came up and it was like, you know, know, Brittany Boatwright. She said, you know, I looked at my executive assistant. I said, we would just be a whole lot more profitable if we just walked away from everything else and it was just us, but it's not challenging enough. It's not challenging enough.

Duane Murphy (38:33)
You

Courtney Embry (38:53)
No,

no, it's not. I love a challenge. And I tell my dad all the time, I said, you cursed me with leadership.

Shane Kilby (38:56)
Filming. Filming.

Yeah, so you know, I'm glad you brought Danny Jones up into the conversation. Share with the listeners and the viewers the conversation that you and him had when we were going to go down his path. Now, I know Danny a long time now, but I didn't know him before that, right? And Danny is one of the greatest guys I know. Share with everyone the conversation that you guys had before we went down this path.

Courtney Embry (39:22)
You

Shane Kilby (39:32)
business together.

Courtney Embry (39:35)
So I went over to his house and I said, I was going to run something by you real quick. And he said, okay, what's that? And I said, well, I've been approached by a friend of mine to partner and possibly open up our own real estate company. And he was like, oh, sounds like a great opportunity. Yeah, I think so. He's like, what's going on? Like, why do you have doubts? And talked to me and I said, I'm just scared. He said, scared of what? I said,

Failure? He said, have you ever thought about what if you fly? What if you're great? What if it's the best thing that you've ever done? I said, no, I didn't think about it that way. He said, maybe that should be your way of thinking about it instead of failure. I said, maybe you're right. So that was, I said, okay. think I might've called Shane that day and I said, I'm in. No, but.

Shane Kilby (40:30)
Yeah, it was.

Duane Murphy (40:30)
my. Does he have

a does he a telephone number that can be published because there's a whole lot of people in this industry in this world that could that could use that type of advice and that type of guidance. my.

Courtney Embry (40:46)
Yeah, yeah. My dad's

always been like that. know, he, when I, I mean, I played sports and I, he made it to like all my games and stuff. And of course, anytime I come off the softball field and, know, maybe I hadn't had the best of game or something like that, he's always going to correct me. But the one thing I always got told by him is, I had your talent.

But if you had had the heart and the passion for the game, if you'd step up and be a leader, you'd be a lot better. Well, as a teenager, I didn't know what the crap he meant by that. I just wanted to hit home runs. I want to be a leader. What does that even mean? But I got the same speech constantly about being a leader on that softball team. Do everything that you have with your heart. Do everything that you have with passion or don't do it at all. That's what he constantly told me.

Duane Murphy (41:27)
You

Courtney Embry (41:44)
And that sticks with me through this, you know? So I've always said that when I lose my passion for people, that's when I know that it's time to retire. So that's what just, you know, again, I just like to see people happy. you know, my father-in-law, he has an amazing company. I love his story. I love to, I've seen what he's been able to do. he's...

He's been a mentor of mine and he doesn't even know it. But I like to pick his brain even though our companies are completely different. But I love to see he's a true entrepreneur and he did an amazing job in his company. My mom at an older age, she decided to be an entrepreneur and start her own company. So it was amazing to see. I think something that she had wanted to do forever, but she didn't have the opportunity because she was raising kids and then she was working another job. She got an opportunity I think.

Wow, when she was maybe around 59 or 60, she started a wedding venue. So that was amazing to, you know, watch somebody at her age do that and just be passionate about it and love it. wasn't like it was a job. It was fun to her. So, you know, it's kind of what I've just told the girls. Like you got to be passionate about whatever it is you're doing. Don't go into something that just because it's a job and it's going to pay the bills, the money will come. If you love what you do, you're good at it. The money is endless.

And I truly believe that.

Duane Murphy (43:13)
Yeah, I'll say to agents and people looking to get into the business or agents, right? People looking to individuals looking to become agents. And I said, there's two types of agents or two type of people that get into real estate. Those that really love it and those that don't. And it's probably a little simplified, but it, it, it leans into what you were just saying, right? And the passion and loving what you do and

Courtney Embry (43:33)
Mm-hmm.

Duane Murphy (43:44)
Boy, I tell you what, right? The money will come, the success will come, right? The raving fans, every bit of it will come if you are truly passionate about what you're doing and you just love it, right? And right now you still have to do what you did, right? And get the extra education and attend the conferences and seek out the mentors. And you have to pour into your craft and your profession what you do, but man, you got to love it. I mean, you just, have to have that passion and that zest for it. And if you have that,

Courtney Embry (43:54)
Mm-hmm.

You do.

Duane Murphy (44:14)
right, your clients are gonna feel it, everybody around you, right, whether that's the agents now that work for you, mean, they can feel it, they know the difference.

Courtney Embry (44:26)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I truly believe that too. And I tell our agents that like some of this is not, it's not for you and that's okay. Like it's not a failure. It's just, this is not for you, you know? And we've got such a diverse group, you know, we've got young, we've got seasoned, we've got agents who, you know, right now they're just real deep into their family. And so,

you know, they're not crushing real estate and that's okay. They're great people. They're still assets to our company. You know, and then we do have the ones that are all in, it's all in real estate. So, you know, that's kind of the beautiful thing about this career too is you can have an amazing year and then life happens and you got to switch gears and you got to take care of a loved one or whatever you got to do. But you can still have the residual income coming in from your referrals or

You know, it's just real estate just really is just so broad in what you can do with it and the ways that you can generate money and you know, the relationships that you make and I just honestly think you always have to be a student. If you don't, that's when you get passed up.

Shane Kilby (45:38)
That's a fact. You always be coachable, always be a student. what you hung this quote, I meant to, I was going to use it the other day. I just thought about that actually. You posted in the office one day, it was a picture of a coach. I think it said, what did it on coach?

Courtney Embry (45:39)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

and coachable

kids become unemployable adults.

Shane Kilby (46:02)
You think about that, uncoaching? Yes.

Courtney Embry (46:03)
Yep. And I have drilled that into my kids.

Duane Murphy (46:08)
Repeat that one more time.

Courtney Embry (46:10)
uncoachable children become unemployable adults.

Shane Kilby (46:16)
That's a bomb. That's one of those Bradley numbers. That's gone.

Duane Murphy (46:18)
That's that. Brad, Lee, Bob. In case you're wondering,

Courtney Embry (46:20)
Yeah.

Duane Murphy (46:22)
Courtney,

we've outlawed Kilby from having any sound effects and buttons because...

Courtney Embry (46:27)
good, because his ADHD couldn't handle all the rockets and all the other things flowing around.

Shane Kilby (46:33)
Yes. We have

Duane Murphy (46:33)
Thank you. Thank

Shane Kilby (46:35)
a lot of reference music.

Duane Murphy (46:35)
you. There's verification of that.

Courtney Embry (46:39)
Hehehehehe

Shane Kilby (46:40)
Yeah.

So, but yeah. So let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. If you were looking back at a younger version of yourself or to someone else that's straddling the fence or maybe they've been in the career path of real estate for a short period of time, what's one thing that you could say to your younger self or someone else in that younger version, you know, thinking about coming down that path?

What's something you wish that someone at this point in their career path would have turned back and said to you that would have been so beneficial and helpful to your journey?

Courtney Embry (47:18)
Well, you actually sent me that meme today and I responded to you the price of victory is high but so are the rewards. And that's Paul Bear Brunt, roll tide. But I really wish somebody, and I say this because, and I don't know if I would have listened, but maybe if somebody would have said, look, this is not going to be easy.

There's going to be sleepless nights. You're going to have tears. You're going to question every single thing that you do. You're going to have haters. You're going to lose, but it's going to be okay. I kind of wish somebody would have drilled that into my head a little bit, but let me switch gears too. So back then, you know, almost 20 years ago, there wasn't teams. There was no such thing as teams in a real estate brokerage. That is my number one advice.

Join a team or a coach or a mentor your very first year in real estate. Do not even try to make a dollar. If you don't, so what? Be a sponge, learn everything you can be, good at what you can be, know your strengths and weaknesses. Like find somebody that will mentor you, get on their coat tail, do all the dirty work, put up their freaking signs for them, make the...

whatever they want you to do. If you need to spit-shine their shoes, do it. That's what I wish I would have had. I had nobody. That's why I said, you know, I went to Books-a-Million and bought books because, you know, I didn't know what else to do. There wasn't anybody who was willing to say, you know, come on, I'll show you or hey, you want to hold this open house with me or, you know, hey, this is how you fill out a contract. Like, that is my advice to somebody who's thinking about getting into real estate.

Find you a team, a brokerage, somebody that says, I'll take you in for a year. Be coachable. I don't care how quirky it sounds. It's going to sound great when they're telling you these things to do. Just follow the process. Follow the process and then the money will come. And that's what I wish I would have had the opportunity.

Duane Murphy (49:29)
Yeah.

Yeah, I would, I would, I would add onto that with, with the team. And you said with a, you know, or with a brokerage or a team ridge almost as what, you know, each of us have. Right. It's a little bit of a hybrid, right. Rather than just a traditional big box brokerage. There's like when I started and no offense to where I started way back when about 20 years ago, right. It would literally was there's your desk. There's a phone.

Courtney Embry (49:42)
Rock.

Duane Murphy (49:59)
good luck, like that was it, right? There wasn't, yeah, there wasn't what we provide, what you provide to your agents and the care of seeing them succeed, right? It literally was you are a number and hey, I'm gonna have to go hire, I'm gonna have to go hire 20 agents and one of you will make it and the other 19 don't care, right?

Courtney Embry (50:00)
Yeah, I was handed I was handed two folders.

Duane Murphy (50:24)
you know, because it's going to be, you're going to be like a curvy vacuum salesperson. You're going to sell home to two or three of your friends. And I want to make my money off of you and you're going to wash out. don't care. I'll just get 20 more. Right. And it's such a different mentality than what, than what I see the two of you pouring into your agents and the amount of, of right. The amount of training and time and care and it just every bit of it, right. Take out, you know, leads or opportunities, but you just take that

Courtney Embry (50:28)
Yeah.

Thank you.

Duane Murphy (50:53)
how much you pour into them is absolutely amazing. there, and any agents, right, looking for, you know, for an opportunity, no matter where they may be, whether that's your market, my market, I mean, they really do need to do their research on which agency, right, which firm, which team, which family, right, really pours into new agents and embraces them and is willing to train them, teach them, guide them, coach them, right?

versus the

Courtney Embry (51:23)
But you know on the

Duane Murphy (51:24)
other companies, because there's a lot of them that really don't want to deal with new agents. They'll still bring them on, but they don't have anything for them. They are not going to invest their time into those agents. And the difference between it, it's not always as easy to see as it should be, but it's a huge difference maker, and if they're going to make it in this industry.

Courtney Embry (51:29)
They don't.

And I will say this, I don't blame some of those brokerages to say, nope, I'll take you, but I'm not doing anything. Because you know what? It's a lot of work and then it's not reciprocating. That's probably my biggest pet peeve is with agents, they just want me to do it all for them. I need to see what, show me your calendar. Show me what you've done.

Duane Murphy (51:53)
A lot of work. Woo!

Shane Kilby (52:09)
There

you go.

Courtney Embry (52:12)
Well, I don't know what to do. Okay. Well, I didn't either. So.

Shane Kilby (52:17)
and you didn't have the roadmap that you provide all of your.

Duane Murphy (52:20)
it wasn't chat

GPT to tell you that by step how to be a successful real estate agent. wasn't, there wasn't YouTube videos. There wasn't now there was cassette tapes. Cause I listened to some pretty rock star cassette tapes the day, but, but right there wasn't there. There's not the amount of info there is now to be successful. And then you back that up with, with talent, with, know, with, with experience, you know, that they can.

Courtney Embry (52:21)
Yes, no.

Yeah. Yeah.

Duane Murphy (52:49)
that they can get from someone such as you and my gosh, I mean there almost should be no reason other than the person looking in the mirror, right, of why they're not successful.

Shane Kilby (52:58)
They, it

comes down to the slide. It's not even, it's not even the information. Like I mean, my honest opinion, there's too much information. There's too many easy buttons. There's too many shiny nickels, right? They have come, and I won't say they all, like the whole, new agents in general, but, but a lot of agents and new agents and newcomers down that career path, they fail to forget.

Courtney Embry (53:09)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (53:27)
you have to take action. You have to implement what you learned this morning, this afternoon. You can't learn for six months and then expect to know what you learned six months ago. It's like, it's information overload. The three of us came through the business at a different time. All of the information that we all have today has just been regurgitated 100,000 different ways, right? That's how ChatGPT was as...

Courtney Embry (53:35)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Shane Kilby (53:57)
learned all that information anyway. But now it's like, nobody takes initiative or not a lot of people take initiative. We had to, it was the books, right? Or some cassette tapes, you know, or wherever you got that information, a mentor from here, you know, from time to time or a coach, but they all say the same thing. Take action, take action. Nothing happens if you don't move forward, if you don't take that action.

So it's a lot, know, and agents have to be very careful because we see this all the time, talking about your number, there's your phone, there's your cards, right? Hire 20, one succeeds, the other 19 wash out. But we have to be very careful as an agent, even when we came through the business, is the fact that there's nothing wrong with competing brokers and owners, nothing wrong with it all. You know, that leads by example. That's in the trenches. Chet Black says it better. Get in the trenches, get out of your ivory tower.

Courtney Embry (54:50)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (54:57)
Right? Prove the concepts, show what you know. But there are also those who spend 99 % of their time in their own production, which leaves you no time to lead, guide, direct, grow, and develop others. Right? So you got to be very careful about that. You know, it's not all about the bells and the whistles. It's definitely never about the split. And some will debate me on that. But you guys already know it's not about the split.

Courtney Embry (54:57)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (55:26)
We had a conversation with Steve Murnin, right? And we're going to do that episode here very soon. And Steve, when he started, it was a 50-50 or 40-60, 50-50. It was a 50-50 split. And the broker said, I'm paying you more than what you're worth. You're going to show up at the office dressed to the nines. Before I get there, you're going to be there after I leave.

Duane Murphy (55:37)
Yeah, it was less than that. think. Yeah. Oh yeah. It was 50 50. Yep.

Courtney Embry (55:37)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (55:56)
You're going to do everything I ask you to do and you're going to do it to the best of your ability. And if I feel like you're not, I'm going to give you the ax and you're gone. He said, but I'm going to teach you how to do this business and be the greatest success in this business that you could ever possibly be. What did he say? The first were like 57 listings and like 60, and 87, but he's so, he's so wise of a person. He's like,

I don't care what the split is. I'm coming in for the education. I'm coming in for the education. It's priceless. It's priceless. Well, Courtney, you have been an absolute wealth of not like I've known your story. And I'm like, we got to get on your calendar. We got to get on your calendar. Cause I want to share this with the rest of the world, because everyone that's ever met, you just know that you're the beautiful person inside and out. You're a great leader, great mentor, great business partner, great.

Courtney Embry (56:27)
Exactly.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Shane Kilby (56:51)
community figure, community asset, right? So if anyone out there in the podcast

Courtney Embry (56:54)
Thank you.

Duane Murphy (56:57)
Hold on

before we get to that I have a Courtney question

Shane Kilby (57:02)
Ooh, I like that when we pause.

Duane Murphy (57:04)
Yeah, we hit the pause button. I have a Courtney question. So, Miss Courtney, as you know, I host this podcast with Mr. Shane Kilby.

Courtney Embry (57:05)
boy.

Shane Kilby (57:08)
Scoot, scoot.

Courtney Embry (57:11)
Okay.

Yes, doing.

Shane Kilby (57:21)
Co-host

Duane Murphy (57:23)
Co-host yeah, he's the host I'm probably the coal. Let's just be real What's What's one thing about Shane Kilby? That you know that maybe our listeners don't know and By the way, this is well, we're getting a little peek behind the curtain right now Just let you know this is a family Station so, you know, we have to keep it clean. But what's something?

Courtney Embry (57:33)
You

Shane Kilby (57:38)
This podcast ain't about me.

Courtney Embry (57:40)
Ha

Duane Murphy (57:53)
What's something that you know about Shane Kilby that maybe he doesn't, maybe most people would not know and or realize?

Courtney Embry (58:02)
Shane has the biggest heart of anybody and he comes across as very maybe hard shell, unapproachable sometimes, but that's because he has a big heart for everybody and he hates to see females cry and if he thinks he's hurt your feelings then it's gonna bother him for a really long time. He will dwell on it.

Shane Kilby (58:13)
of God.

Best of

Courtney Embry (58:32)
Yeah, so he's a teddy bear. Yeah.

Shane Kilby (58:32)
yeah, I'm still mad.

Yeah,

she's shooting you straight like she is the bad cop.

Duane Murphy (58:38)
He is

he is like that. He's like that meltaway chocolate You got that hard crunchy chocolate outside, but then inside is just is just buttery Yeah

Courtney Embry (58:41)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

It's just caramel.

Shane Kilby (58:52)
Man, I said, we'll get all ready. Y'all

Duane Murphy (58:54)
Hahaha

Courtney Embry (58:56)
No.

Shane Kilby (58:58)
But really though, mean, at the end of the day, you come in this business, you generate income from buyers successful in that transaction for the home that they want, the home of the dream, maybe the first, maybe the last, and the same thing for sellers. That's how we create income. And then it's like when helping agents, you want to see them succeed.

You know, the dreams that you had in the, in the vision that you had when you come in this business. And I, and I have, I'm still guilty of this, of thinking that all agents have that same dream and have that same vision. Almost 20 years later, I know that a lot of agents do not have a dream or vision or much less a work ethic. so that's probably, that's a guilty trait of mine that, that there are oftentimes that.

And I still can't correct myself and wanting it more than they want it for them. Right. I think that's something that leaders always struggle with is like, where do you, where do you, where do you crop? Where's the line at? Right. You go like, I'm done. I bet I've said that a thousand times. Like I'm not, I'm not going to be, I'm not going to, I'm not going to want it for someone else more than they want it every year. We have those agents that we part ways with and I'm like, I'm not doing it again.

Courtney Embry (1:00:07)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (1:00:23)
not doing it again, not doing it again, and we do it again. We always do it again. But that's, you know, I think that's just part of at least that journey.

Courtney Embry (1:00:25)
Mm-hmm.

Duane Murphy (1:00:32)
Well, it's your fabric. mean,

it's like with both of you, right? With knowing both of you, it's woven into the fabric of your being.

Courtney Embry (1:00:34)
Yeah.

Duane Murphy (1:00:42)
You're both servants right with a servant's heart and you you see the best in people even if they don't You want the best for people even if they don't right in and says like literally cut that from the cloth that you are is impossible, you know and and You know, and that's that's what makes what makes both of you so so special. So that's pretty awesome

Courtney Embry (1:00:52)
Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

Shane Kilby (1:01:08)
I love you too, my precious.

Real parts.

Courtney Embry (1:01:16)
there they went.

my. Dwayne, did you turn his effects back on? I told you not

Shane Kilby (1:01:22)
That was okay.

Duane Murphy (1:01:22)
gosh I hope not like where's that button like I know that's off

Shane Kilby (1:01:28)
I've

got to go back and practice that. was pretty cool.

Courtney Embry (1:01:32)
That was cool. That was good timing.

Duane Murphy (1:01:32)
Yeah.

Shane Kilby (1:01:34)
Well,

and thanks for the kind words. But Courtney, how would everyone that listens to this, because this will go across all major podcast platforms here in the near future. how would anyone reach out to you, connect with you, pick your brain, answer any questions or refer business to you or talk to you about getting in the business?

Duane Murphy (1:01:48)
Worldwide.

Courtney Embry (1:02:00)
Facebook just Courtney Embry come on Instagram tick-tock I love to tick-tock as long as it's gonna be up for a little bit longer maybe And of course my phone number is two five six seven six two five nine nine five So I answer my phone way too much That's a running that's a running joke Dwayne

Duane Murphy (1:02:23)
Yeah, Yeah, we.

Shane Kilby (1:02:26)
L, my phone.

Duane Murphy (1:02:28)
We never give out Shane Kilby's number, because he ain't going to answer it anyway.

Courtney Embry (1:02:28)
Mm-hmm. You're not going

to get it. That's right.

Shane Kilby (1:02:32)
But if you text me, I'm going to

Duane Murphy (1:02:35)
You can text him.

Shane Kilby (1:02:35)
text you back. And Duane does not know how to text. He must be on a Blackberry or a racer or a football owner or a cricket.

Courtney Embry (1:02:37)
Sure.

Duane Murphy (1:02:44)
My flip

phone doesn't text.

Shane Kilby (1:02:47)
I figured that out by now. Ladies and gentlemen, appreciate so much for us having the opportunity to sit down with the lovely Courtney Embry to share her story with you guys and gals. If you found some value in this episode, please like and share it. And if you don't mind, us five-star rating if it does help with all of the podcast algorithms. And until we get an opportunity to sit down with you again, we do appreciate you so much and have a blessed day.

Courtney Embry (1:02:50)
Mm-hmm.

Shane Kilby (1:03:17)
Take care.

Courtney Embry (1:03:18)
Thanks guys.