She Had Zero Deals Her First Year—Then Became a Top Agent

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Barbara Isabel, who shares how she went through her entire first year in real estate without closing a single deal—and what she did to push through when most agents would have quit. We talk about the cold calling grind, the expired listing that changed her trajectory, and how persistence turned early setbacks into long-term success. If you're struggling in your first years or questioning whether to keep going, Barbara’s story is a powerful reminder that consistency and resilience are what separate those who last from those who leave. *Barbara Isabel* Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/barbaraisabelre/ Website: https://www.zillow.com/profile/barbaraisabelr *More from Paul & Josh* Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/ Josh: https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/ Forward One Media: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast *Presented by Forward One Real Estate* https://www.,forwardone.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonerealestate/ Timestamps 00:00:00 Meet Barbara 00:02:11 From Law to Real Estate 00:04:51 Cold Calling Grind 00:05:45 First Malibu Listing Win 00:09:16 Learning LA Fast 00:12:01 Expireds vs Door Knocking 00:21:30 Winning Listing Appointments 00:31:28 Reverse Prospecting System 00:34:16 Cold Caller Prospecting System 00:34:48 MLS Filters and Radius Strategy 00:35:49 Emailing Upcoming Listings 00:37:25 Courses and Wealth Tracks 00:38:26 Pivot Into Development Niche 00:40:48 Learn by Doing and Client Loyalty 00:45:09 Open House Standards and Checklists 01:01:27 Rapid Fire and Closing Message