What if by holding on too tight...you’re holding yourself back?

Hey there, rainmakers!

This week I sat down with mortgage coach and powerhouse mortgage banker Denise Donoghue, aka The Mortgage Nerd, for a raw and inspiring conversation about growth, leadership, and the sometimes brutal journey of building a sustainable business.

Denise Donoghue, known as "The Mortgage Nerd," is one of Dallas’ top 3% producing mortgage professionals voted by D-Magazine.

We got real about what it means to be in the grind phase of your career—and why most people don't realize that you don’t graduate from it permanently. 

Denise shared how burnout became a wake-up call, forcing her to rethink how she led, hired, and communicated with her team. She walks us through the pivotal moment she realized that doing it all herself wasn’t leadership—it was survival mode. And she talks us through how she was able to scale her success and manage a sizeable operation – 

without the stress or the time-suck.

What we talked about:

✨ The “grind phase” is real—and it often returns. You’re never above doing the work.

✨ Burnout is a red flag, not a badge of honor.

✨ Leadership is about asking the hard questions and being open to feedback, even when it stings.

✨ Building a team means letting go of control and investing in training, not just hiring fast.

✨ You can’t scale a business if you’re still trying to do everything yourself.

Guest Links:

The Mortgage Nerd

Denise on LinkedIn

Denise on Instagram

Denise on YouTube

If you liked what you heard, leave me a five-star review and tell me what hit home for you!

PLUS—if you’re done chasing the next shiny idea and want real, proven strategies that actually move the needle, then it’s time to join my free weekly newsletter, Rainmaker Insider.

Every week, I share one key lesson from my billion-dollar career in mortgage lending—from sales psychology and leadership to mindset and systems that create true freedom. No fluff. Just real-world insights that help you close more deals and lead with confidence.

Subscribe now at shaylagifford.com and start leading like the Rainmaker you’re meant to be!

Connect with Shayla:

Shayla on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/shaygiff/

Shayla on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-gifford-3019396/

Show Links:

Shayla's Website:

https://shaylagifford.com/

The Mortgage Rainmaker Podcast:

https://shaylagifford.com/podcast/

The Catalyst Coaching Community:

https://shaylagifford.com/catalyst/

Guild Mortgage:

https://www.guildmortgage.com/