Collaborations can be magic—or they can turn into the group project where you do all the work. We dive into:

When collaborations work (and when they don't)

Mutual benefit isn't just a nice idea—it's the foundation. If you're the only one promoting, marketing, or caring about the outcome, that's a problem.

The danger of unsaid expectations

Erin shares stories of podcast guests who treated her platform like a free marketing service without reciprocating. The lesson? Say the things you think don't need to be said. They need to be said.

Working with family and friends

Erin works with her husband Steve as well as her father, John. We talk about why closer relationships sometimes need more formal agreements, not fewer—and how to have hard conversations without ruining Thanksgiving.

Theater taught us everything

Collaborations in theater have hard deadlines (the curtain goes up whether you're ready or not). Business owners could learn from that urgency and shared ownership.

What makes this podcast work

We got explicit about expectations from day one: fun over perfection, casual over polished, and we can skip weeks if we need to. Low stakes, high trust.

The marriage metaphor

Collaborations are lowkey marriages. You need open communication, regular check-ins, and the ability to say "this isn't working" before resentment builds.

• Sit down and say all the things you think don't need to be said—that's where the problems hide
• The closer the personal relationship, the more formal your collaboration agreement should be
• You can test collaborations with low-stakes projects before committing long-term
• If someone's not taking ownership, check whether expectations were actually explicit
• Collaborations aren't less work than solo work—they require communication skills and check-ins
• Have something to point to (even informally) when things go sideways

• Anyone considering a collaboration with a colleague, friend, or family member
• Entrepreneurs who've been burned by unequal partnerships
• People who want to know how to set boundaries without sounding like a lawyer
• Anyone curious how we make this podcast work

Drinks: Peppermint hot chocolate (with a minor overflow incident) and a spiritless Seedlip cocktail with orange, San Pellegrino, and rosemary

Erin Aquin is a Master Certified Life Coach and co-author of the #1 bestseller "Superabound: Live the Life the Universe is Dreaming For You." She provides whole life coaching for business owners, integrating success and personal fulfillment through her unique all-in-one approach.

Learn more at besuperabound.com

Elana McKernan is a Master Certified Life and Creativity Coach who specializes in helping perfectionists create more by treating themselves better. You can check out her free content here and learn more about coaching with her here.

What happens when you mix almond milk "holiday nog," espresso martinis, and two seasoned coaches talking shop? You get a masterclass in building a business that actually respects your soul . In part two of this deep dive, Erin and Elana move past the "Goal Swamp" of Facebook ads and cold metrics to explore what it really means to nurture relationships and lead with a pure heart . From the library of 700 books to the literal "pointy witch hat" Erin wears for coaching sessions, this episode is about shifting from "how do I make money?" to "how can I truly help?" .

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Espresso Martini Experiment: Why Elana is "doctoring" drinks with holiday nog and why staying awake past 9:30 PM is the ultimate entrepreneurial challenge .

• Beyond the "Lead": Moving away from "robot empire" terminology and focusing on the people already in your orbit .

• Creating Safety in Marketing: How working backwards from "what does someone need to feel safe spending their time with me?" is more powerful than any $300k revenue goal .

• Old Lady Wisdom on Rejection: Why rejection isn't personal or final—it’s often just a sign that you haven't created enough safety yet .

• The Luxury Car Sales Experience: What high-end car sales can teach us about non-pushy, high-integrity invitations .

• Wearing the "Magic Hat": Why Erin mentally (and sometimes literally) separates "business building days" from "coaching days" to keep the space sacred for her clients .

Memorable Quotes

• "Are we growing people right now? Like, what are we doing? People are not leads." — Elana

• "There's nothing I can do or not do that's going to bring this person closer if they're not the right person." — Erin

• "My coaching hat is on... it's a pointy witch hat and we're doing magic with clients." — Erin

For full show notes and to learn more about Erin and Elana's work visit https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-19-espresso-martinis-magic-hats-and-why-leads-are-actually-people

In this episode of The Coaching Mixer, Erin and Elana sip espresso martinis while exploring business growth, coaching, and the myths that keep people stuck.

They start with a listener question: why so many coaches believe there’s a “right” formula for growing a business—and why that belief often gets in the way.

Erin and Elana unpack the fantasy of the perfect funnel, the overreliance on marketing tactics that don’t fit, and the avoidance of the most basic (and uncomfortable) truth: clients come from talking to people.

You’ll hear thoughtful reflections on:

• Why chasing growth formulas can be a form of procrastination

• How trust, not tactics, is the real growth engine for service businesses

• Why introverts aren’t broken at business, and why “visibility” doesn’t have to mean performing online

• The overlooked power of your existing network and small, human invitations

This episode is for coaches and service-based business owners who feel pressure to market in ways that don’t feel like them, who suspect there’s something simpler underneath the noise, and who want permission to stop forcing themselves into someone else’s blueprint.

For full show notes, visit: https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-18-how-coaches-actually-get-clients