Text Emily!

Since 2014, Kristy's been pivoting, innovating, and doing things differently as she stays visible in a highly competitive industry.

In this episode, I sit down for a candid conversation with Kristy Ouellette, founder and owner of Mickey Guru Travel Company. We get into all the twists, turns, speed bumps, roller coaster rides, and magic of entrepreneurship:

• How Kristy and I met (the power of showing up)
• Travel agent myths and misconceptions, busted!
• How Kristy's stayed afloat navigating pandemics, team member challenges, tough client situations, overwhelm, and more!
• Why it's important to invest in yourself and your team for growth
• And more!

About Kristy

Kristy Ouellette is the owner of Mickey Guru Travel Company, where she and her team of travel-obsessed agents help families and friend groups book Disney, cruise, and all-inclusive vacations they’ll be talking about for years. In an industry where everyone is selling the same destinations, Kristy has built her brand by zigging when everyone else zags, including launching Talk Travel to Me, the podcast where no travel question is too basic, too bold, or too “wait, can I actually ask that?” Fair warning: listening may cause an immediate urge to book something.

Website: mickeyguru.com
Instagram: instagram.com/mickeygurutravel
Facebook: facebook.com/MickeyGuruTravel
TikTok: tiktok.com/@mickeygurutravel
Talk Travel to Me Podcast: talktraveltome.buzzsprout.com

About Me, Emily Aborn

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more.

Successful marketing starts with a big-picture approach and a genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU.

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Substack

Text Emily!

With limited bandwidth and a desire to reduce digital distraction, all while INFINITE options tug at you...

How do you decide where to actually put your time, energy, and efforts?
Is social media for the birds at this point?
How do you make time for more showing up in real life?
How do you choose things that won’t make you completely exhausted?

In this episode, we’re going to answer all of those questions (and then some) as we walk through where to show up online and off and how to be intentional with our limited time and energy.

• The power of showing up in real life
• Where to show up online and off based on your unique needs and goals
• Questions to ask yourself to gauge time, energy, and interest
• And more!

Links & Resources

Networking Episode with special guest, Ande Lyons: buzzsprout.com/2160062/episodes/18146270

New England Podcasters Group: newenglandpodcasters.group

About Me, Emily Aborn

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I believe that sharing your work goes beyond strategies, frameworks, content for content’s sake, more social media posts, more, more, more.

Successful marketing starts with a big picture approach and begins with a genuine connection as you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU.

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Substack

Text Emily!

The best advice I ever got was just six words: "Get out there and meet people!"

A former business advisor nudged me out of my retail shop and into the community over eight years ago. Her words changed my entire life. And today, I hope they change yours too!

No matter what you're seeking: growth, clarity, connection, new friends, next steps, the answer is almost always in the people you meet.

We're all just walking ripple effects, creating more ripple effects.

In this episode, I'm sharing how meeting people has transformed my life and business. You'll learn how:

• Meeting just one person can exponentially increase who you know (Alex Sanfilippo & PodMatch)
• Meeting people creates long-term support systems (Kristy Ouellette of Mickey Guru Travel Company, a decade-long friendship)
• Meeting people transforms who you are and who you're becoming (Karen Kenney, a life-changing podcast guest and now a long-time collaborator and friend)
• Meeting people helps your business grow (Jessica Mercier, mutual collaboration that elevated both our brands)
• Meeting people opens doors you didn't know existed (Melissa Snow of Powerful Women Rising shows how connections can led to unexpected opportunities)

You'll also hear:

• Why we avoid meeting people
• 5 Simple ways to start connecting and building real relationships
• Why showing up is always worth it, even when it's uncomfortable

Next week: You'll hear from all five of these incredible people sharing their insights on increasing visibility through consistency, creativity, collaboration, cohesion, and connection.

The next person you meet could change your life. But you have to meet them to know HOW.

About Me & Let's Connect:

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 122+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Website: Emilyaborn.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/Emily.CatherineGrace/

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/EmilyAborn

Substack: Smallbusinesscasual.substack.com/

If you loved this episode, I welcome you to share your thoughts and aha’s with me at emily@emilyaborn.com AND I also would love for you to give me five stars and write me a review on the Apple podcasts app. Go to the show, scroll down a little, and find the little pencily thing where it says “Write a Review”.

Text Emily!

"I can't post unless I'm adding value."

Sound familiar?

We've all said it (or thought it) at least once or twice. "Delivering value" has become a silent gatekeeper for our content, and the idea of what "value" means can stop us cold.

We hold off on emailing our list, posting on social, or pitching that podcast until we have the perfect freebie, tip, how-to... something valuable to offer before we're allowed to show up.

Value isn't only found in a commodity.

It's not always educational, and it doesn't have to come in the form of a template, swipe copy, or prompts.

Sometimes value is making someone laugh or showing up consistently. It could look as simple as sharing your way of thinking. And sometimes, it's just being YOU.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what value actually means and five ways you might already be offering it, even without realizing it!

We cover:

• Why "value" has become a gatekeeping word
• What value actually is
• 5 Ways you're already adding value
• +1 Bonus way of offering that doesn't get nearly enough air time
• Why your presence and connection matter more than information
• And more

About Me & Let's Connect:

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 122+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Website: Emilyaborn.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/Emily.CatherineGrace/

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/EmilyAborn

Substack: Smallbusinesscasual.substack.com/

If you loved this episode, I welcome you to share your thoughts and aha’s with me at emily@emilyaborn.com AND I also would love for you to give me five stars and write me a review on the Apple podcasts app. Go to the show, scroll down a little, and find the little pencily thing where it says “Write a Review”.

Text Emily!

"Authenticity" used to be one of my favorite words of all time! It meant something real, genuine, original, of the utmost quality. It offered permission to show up as yourself, not perform or pretend!

Then... #internet.

Suddenly, everyone was "stepping into their authentic self." From every coach, in every caption, selling every course, the word was everywhere. And when a word is everywhere, it becomes a bit generic and loses its intended depth.

In this episode, I'm questioning this buzzword (and a few others) to figure out what we're actually trying to say, and by doing so, showing how to bring the real meaning back.

We cover:

• What "authenticity" means to me
• When and how it lost its meaning
• Other words/phrases that have suffered the same fate (hustle, community, vulnerable, curated, human-centered)
• What people are actually looking for when they say they want authenticity
• What it looks like to show up authentically without needing the word
• Whether we should retire "authentic" entirely (or just stop using it as a placeholder)

We don't need more people talking about authenticity. We need more people actually showing up authentically.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Karen Salmansohn on Instagram @NotSalmon: https://www.instagram.com/p/DW_4gttDibS/

Quote by Sue Fitzmaurice:

“What it means to be authentic:

To be more concerned with truth than opinions. To be sincere and not pretend. To be free from hypocrisy: "walk your talk". To know who you are and to be that person. To not fear others seeing your vulnerabilities. To being confident to walk away from situations where you can't be yourself. To being awake to your own feelings. To being free from others' opinions of you. To being accepting and loving yourself”.

About Me & Let's Connect

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 122+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Got a Question for the Show? Email Me! emily@emilyaborn.com

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Substack

emilyaborn.com

facebook.com/Emily.CatherineGrace/

linkedin.com/in/EmilyAborn

smallbusinesscasual.substack.com/

If you loved this episode, I welcome you to share your thoughts and aha’s with me at emily@emilyaborn.com AND I also would love for you to give me five stars and write me a review on the Apple podcasts app. Go to the show, scroll down a little and find the little pencily thing where it says “Write a Review”.

Text Emily!

3 Years ago, when I started this podcast, I decided to go 100% in on myself. The first of many times I would show up for ME.

I’ve learned since that when you take a bet on yourself, when you’re willing to go “all in”, you end up showing up even more fully for others.

Today, to celebrate the 3-Year Podiversary of Small Business Casual (previously named “Content with Character”) and my 40th bday, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing behind-the-scenes truths, learnings, and fun factoids about running the show and SO much more. I share honestly what it’s like to start a podcast, share consistently, and wonder whether or not anyone is actually even out there…

You’ll hear:

• Why I started a podcast (and what others had to say about it)
• My favorite podcast resources
• How I deal with creative blocks and self-doubt
• What to do when you have to pivot drastically
• What I’d do differently if I started over today
• Why I keep showing up week after week
• The weird ingredient I add to my Yerba Maté
• And more!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of this journey with me! Let’s celebrate OUR milestone, together!

Resources & Links Mentioned:

PodMatch: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/emilyaborn

New England Podcasters Group (NEPG): https://newenglandpodcasters.group/

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2129309

Episode that Flopped: "Are You Running Your Marketing, or is it Running You?" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2160062/episodes/14219002

Good Hang Podcast with Amy Poehler (on all major listening apps)

The Big Four Oh with Stephanie McLaughlin: https://thebigfouroh.com/

The Karen Kenney Show: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast

About Me & Let's Connect:

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 122+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Website: Emilyaborn.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/Emily.CatherineGrace/

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/EmilyAborn

Substack: Smallbusinesscasual.substack.com/

If you loved this episode, I welcome you to share your thoughts and aha’s with me at emily@emilyaborn.com AND I also would love for you to give me five stars and write me a review on the Apple podcasts app. Go to the show, scroll down a little, and find the little pencily thing where it says “Write a Review”.

Text Emily!

Instead of overthinking, what if you experimented about it instead!?

“Don’t get stuck with where you have not succeeded. Go on to something else. You don’t know what will unfold.” - Natalie Goldberg

In this episode, we get into where experimentation and "just trying it" fits into life and business, and how a try-before-you buy mentality can end up being a winning strategy for success and happiness.

In the episode:

• What does experimentation look like in business? Why it might be worth giving a whirl
• How experimentation improves revenue, happiness, and chances of success
• Why failing faster is a winning strategy
• How experimentation helps make better decisions
• Examples of experiments in life and business
• 5 Steps to experimenting
• And more!

Links & Resources Mentioned

Karen Kenney's Podcast Episode: Find Out For Yourself

My Pinterest Experiment

My Substack: 104 Experiments

Link to Stats Source: "According to Booz & Company's 2011 Global Innovation 1000 report, more innovative companies showed 11% higher revenue growth and 22% higher EBITDA growth compared to less innovative companies."

https://www.viima.com/blog/innovation-stats

How to Undergo YOUR Next Experiment:

1. Identify: What are you curious about? What haven't you tried but want to?

2. Keep the Stakes Low: Don't commit forever, set a time limit, and try it for a given period

3. Pick a Metric to Track: What would success look like for this? What do you want out of it?

4. Debrief: Did you like it? What did you learn? Would you do it again/keep going? What would you change?

5. Decide: Keep, pivot, or quit

About Me:

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 122+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Got a Question for the Show? Email Me! emily@emilyaborn.com

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Substack