For the past five years, I’ve closed out each year with a special episode where I invite my husband to join me. Together, we’ve reflected on the learning lessons, wins, and everything in between. But this year, I’m doing things differently. I’m recording this solo, and with that comes a new perspective. This year has been transformational, and I fe…

Have you ever hit a wall? And I don't mean just a bad day, but a full on stop, like your body and your mind are just done if you've been there? Well today's episode is all about how you can tap into your energy while avoiding a complete stop burnout. ----- Connect with Erin King: Take the Energy Exam: https://info.theenergyexam.com/a/2147929576/eLX…

As business owners, we’ve all been there—those million ideas a minute, right? Some of them make it through the "friends and family board of directors," and then we decide, let’s go for it! But here’s the thing: have you ever had an idea that felt amazing at first, only to later ask yourself, What the heck am I doing? Maybe you’ve poured time, energ…

Last week, we gathered with 14 incredible members of The Planner’s Vault at our latest Workation retreat, held in a stunning lakeside home near Charlotte, North Carolina. As always, I was joined by my COO, confidante, and “work wife,” Gina, to lead our community through three transformative days of business-building, personal growth, and focus. In …

Clients don't just want great service. They value and prioritize experiences that stand out, that feel personalized, and that make them superfans of a brand or business. So how can you create unforgettable experiences that your clients will rave about to their friends? Today, Megan and Gina share some memorable experiences from the consumer side, a…

Should you expand your business to service new locations? It makes sense, right? If you have a business that's thriving in one area and you've already got an established brand, website and systems in place, it could probably work in another market, too, and everyone involved can make some more money. Yet it's not quite that simple. You personally c…

In part one of our conversation, Hannah Abad talked through the signs of burnout and how our nervous system reacts to stress. Today is a special mini-episode where she's giving you some actionable tips on what you can do when you're overwhelmed and sliding into panic mode. And I can tell you from experience that these strategies work. So let's take…

Today we’re diving into a topic that affects so many of us in the wedding industry: resilience and burnout. This summer, we shared several episodes on burnout, where I openly discussed my own experience from last year and hitting a wall at the beginning of 2024. My train was moving 200 miles per hour, and I just couldn’t see a path to slowing down.…

Last week, Gina and Megan gave their insider tips on how to plan a workcation. With the planning done, they went to the beach with a lot on their plates. And today - recorded on the last night of their workcation - they share their reflections. What did they accomplish? Was it worth it? And was it amazing to wake up with much fewer responsibilities…

How do you plan an effective workcation for your team? Today, Megan and Gina give us the inside scoop on orchestrating the perfect balance of productivity and relaxation! They discuss the importance of curating workations that blend revenue-generating ideas with essential updates to team processes, plus goal setting and productivity tips. And of co…

If you're anything like me, you've got all the ideas - to grow your business, to generate a viral social media post, or to wow your clients. The problem is, we don't have time to stop whatever it is that we're doing and focus on the new shiny object every time. We've got tasks and payroll and the next appointment and a to-do list that keeps piling …

Colleen Carswell is ridiculously busy, but she has all the amazing tips on time management, which she actually calls energetic alignment. On part 1, she gave us an introduction to the four pillars of alignment - physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. And she talked about the importance of focusing on small changes to build momentum and avoid b…

As busy professionals, it can be a never ending journey to try to figure out how to structure your day, tackle your never ending to-do list, and shake that constant feeling that everything is piling up. Oh, and let's not forget about wanting to actually have a life outside of work. So if you can relate, you're in the right place, because on today's…

Back in 2019, photographer Jillian Knight asked me to coffee to talk about an idea she had for her business - requiring a planner at ALL of her events. What this meant was that if couples didn’t have a planner or want to hire a planner, she simply wouldn’t work with them. As a planner, I absolutely loved it of course. And for the photographer, I th…

Actually, Ask US Anything, as Gina Johnston from The Planner's Vault joins the podcast today to tackle some big topics, like navigating a cash flow crisis, planning your exit strategy, making smart investments in your business, and reflecting on what we might have done differently at each stage of the journey. And of course, how in the world do we …

Let me take a peek into your small business owner brain. You feel the pressure to be active and showing up regularly on several (all?) of the social media platforms. And you know there's a need to consistently put content out there in the form of blog post or on Instagram or maybe a newsletter. And then you need to think about word-of-mouth marketi…

You asked the questions, and here are the answers! It's time for another AMA - a candid, no holds barred, ask me anything episode where I'm going to be tackling your burning questions that were submitted inside our free Facebook group or through the call for questions over on our Instagram page. Whether you're managing challenging vendor relationsh…

Let's face it, this is one of the busiest seasons of your career. It feels like you don't have time for anything other than your clients, but in this solo episode, I'm giving 9 tips for you to become a better wedding pro. Pick a couple to focus on now, then come back once it slows down to implement the rest! Here’s the link to our 25+ Helpful Email…

As the CEO of Walk West, a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 award winner, wife, and mom of 2, Abha Bowers was seemingly on top of the world. Until she discovered a new passion that would completely transform her career and way of life. --- (00:03:21) Abha fell in love (00:04:30) "If I wanted to make moves, I had to learn." (00:13:18) "What are…

Grieving is unfortunately a universal part of the human experience. Whether it's hit us yet or not, grief will bring us to our knees. So while we can't avoid it, how can we honor our grief without letting it define us? Today, ESPN sideline reporter Lauren Sisler shares her story of losing her parents at 18. Initially, she ran as fast as she could f…

How can we navigate burnout by recognizing survival brain, dismantling decades-old beliefs, and prioritizing self-awareness? It's not easy, but today we continue last week's conversation about burnout, and what it truly means to press the pause button. Recent burnout episodes: 272. Burnout: My Old Habits Die Screaming Story 274. Burnout Red Flags: …

Recently, I’ve been sharing my personal journey with burnout in episodes 272, 274, and 275, and I've heard from so many of you who resonated with these stories. We don't talk enough about the hardships of trying to do it all and be it all as entrepreneurs. There's a lot to navigate, and there's a lack of conversations around what to do about it and…

Back when I was starting my planning business in 2010, things were a lot different than today. Community over competition wasn’t a thing. Instagram wasn’t a thing yet. TikTok obviously wasn’t around. Podcasts weren’t around. And you know what else hadn’t taken off yet? The coaching boom. Back then, we didn’t have wedding pros telling us what they h…

Today we're sharing some easy financial wins for you to be able to save more money, unlock some amazing perks, and gain greater control over your finances and your time. AMEX My Favorite Things Honeybook Weddings For Real Episode 259 - 5 Tips So Taxes Don't Keep You Up at Night, with CPA Tatiana Podel Weddings For Real Episode 241 - Double Your Rev…

As entrepreneurs, we carry a heavy load. We're leading our teams, we're planning for more growth, we're handling setbacks, trying to build profitability, we're making sure we're serving our clients, we want to market to reach a wider audience. It's exhausting. And then, as women, I feel like the load is even greater. We strive to create opportuniti…

On last week's episode, Megan took you on a behind the scenes journey to the beginning of this year when she was on a two day workation retreat with her friend and business coach, Rachel Sheerin. She brought a whirlwind of ideas, enough for a 30-day retreat, but along with the excitement and the ideas, she also brought lots of overwhelm, exhaustion…

If you listened to episode 272, you heard about Megan's burnout and why she took a pause from recording new episodes of the podcast. But that's not quite the whole story. Back in January, Megan went on a weekend retreat with her coach, friend, and business partner Rachel Sheerin. It was there that Rachel realized this wouldn't be a normal workcatio…

One of the quickest routes to burnout (see episode 272) is doing the same thing over and over, staying on that hamster wheel until you're running so fast, you’re exhausted, and realize you’re not even sure you like this hamster wheel anymore. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the routine that we forget to pause and reassess if it’s still working fo…

Megan here. I'm back, and I'm inviting you into a personal reflection and behind-the-scenes look at what burnout can look like—not just as a business owner, but as a human - a human who needs to stop fighting and pushing through burnout but instead heal the root cause. I’ve talked about burnout before on the podcast: 194: Ask Me Anything (About Bur…

Lisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean? Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette --- This episode is br…

Motivational speaker and award-winning storyteller Kelly Swanson advises wedding professionals (and all business owners who want more sales), "Don't sell the service. Sell the story." But how do we do that when we're not sure what story to tell. Is it the story of me? Is it the brand story? Is it the couple's story? The thing is, if we can merge th…

Lindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant. She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses. Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if …

When you hear the word "belonging", what do you think of? Maybe you think of wedding pros, because we're welcoming, ambitious, kind-hearted, and badass business owners. Maybe it's finding your people to share your goals and dreams with - it's that positive feeling we get when we feel respected. As a business owner, I want my team, my clients, my ve…

Fill out this survey and give us your feedback for a chance to win a $50 Amazon.com gift card and be part of shaping the future of Weddings For Real! https://www.megangillikin.com/podcast-survey -- One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? O…

When you're pitching your services to potential clients, are you using Luxury Language? Or are you using Discount Dialect? Today, Quinn Conyers tells us the difference, and how strategic word choice can make pitches irresistible. She also introduces the concept of a "verbal business card" that captivates potential clients - as long as you can artic…

Do you have money mindset blocks that are preventing your business from growing and preventing you from leading your best life? Maybe you believe that you don't deserve to charge more yet. Or maybe you believe you shouldn't charge more because you love what you do. Or maybe you think there's a new competitor popping up every day who charges so litt…

Rachel Sheerin, keynote speaker and Megan's first business coach, is guest-hosting this episode. She comes from a wedding background before shifting into corporate events and eventually speaking on the biggest stages. Today, Rachel brings on Carrie Davenport to discuss how wedding vendors can start adding corporate events to their portfolios and re…

"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay Ash Keep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros. --- Today's ep…

On this episode (listen to part 1 here), we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like: How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok? Do you need to see pricing on the website? Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email? How do yo…

On this episode, we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like: How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok? Do you need to see pricing on the website? Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email? How do you determine budget? And …

The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Inez Ribustello, whose unraveling started back on September 11, 2001, when she lost nearly all of her colleagues in the terrorist attacks. At 25 years old, Inez had hustled her …

With finances, I still have blocks (listen to the intro) preventing me from fully feeling comfortable and empowered when it comes to things like tax planning, KPIs, and projections. I’ve learned through conversations with wedding pros and my own real life experiences that overwhelm can lead to avoidance, so my goal is to make conversations like thi…

Today we're tackling engagement and booking season, and I'm going to share three strategies and mindset shifts that will help your business stand out, resonate more with your ideal clients, and help you book more easily this year - no matter what vendor category you're in. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership …

At the end of last year, I sent out a survey to my email list asking them to share what they want more of and what they want less of in 2024. And at the end, I had a spot for them to share openly about anything they had on their mind, or share a question they want me to answer. There were so many great questions that I decided to kick off this year…

Megan and Jason Gillikin talk about their wins for 2023, their misses, most memorable moments, and goals for 2024. Tune in and reflect along. Share your 2023 reflections on social media @weddingsforreal. Past Year-End Recaps: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planne…

This week, we're taking a little adventure to explore the not-so-glamorous side of balancing entrepreneurship with personal life. I'm thrilled to share an episode with you where for the first time ever my husband Jason and I teamed up as guests on another entrepreneur podcast called Hustle + Gather. This is a behind-the-scenes look at being busy en…

Today we’re sharing an episode of the Own Your Business Podcast, which I was a guest on earlier this year. My friend Sam Jacobson and I talk about how wedding pros can book more couples at higher packages. This has nothing to do with "sales tactics". It’s all about empathy and understanding customer needs, creating an effective pricing proposal, an…

The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Amber Melanie Smith, the Founder and Executive Director of Activate Good, a non-profit she has run for her entire adult life. As you can imagine, fighting the good fight can be …

It's Hot Takes Time. I'll be talking about some common business advice that I think is garbage, my best advice for hiring new team members, one hard lesson I had to learn this year in business, the goal strategy I swear by, and the biggest mistake I see business owners making right now. Previous Hot Takes Episodes: 224. Wedding Industry Hot Takes w…

I’m getting lots of DMs and questions about building relationships and superfans and thought that sharing an episode I was a guest on from earlier this year would be a great listen for you this week! So if building more meaningful relationships that fuel your business growth is on your radar for 2024, this episode is for you! So today, you’ll be he…