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 PodelWeddings For Real Episode 241 - Double Your Revenue, Not Your Work: A Guide to Affiliate Income, with Kendra Swalls --- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are...

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 opportunities that might not come as easily to us as our male counterparts. We're working to balance societal expectations, we're managing the mental load,...

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, and panic to get it all done.  She was in deep burnout, and Rachel saw right through her. And then, she made an offer to help. Today, we dive...

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 workcation. Today, Rachel and Megan share what happened, how Rachel identified the signs of burnout, and tips for what to do when burnout starts to set in...

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 for us. So, let’s talk about making those intentional changes to get you out of personal and professional ruts. Our guest is KT Merry, a global...

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 Burnout, Selling My Business, New Market, and More)55: Rachel Sheerin on Preventing Burnout and the 80-20 RuleBut this episode will be different and...

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 brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking...

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 those 3 stories together, we're creating a powerful connection where couples will be drawn to work with us. Today, Kelly shares her expert...

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 YOUR idea is really something to go after, that feeling of imposter syndrome you are sure to have when you’re doing something new, and how...

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 vendor partners, and you listening to this to have that supported positive feeling around you. So how can you boost belonging on your team - in...

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?  Or even before getting on the preferred vendor list, how do I even get the venue coordinators to know who I am?   It’s not as simple as sending an...

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 articulate your value clearly. Tune in to learn about tailoring pitches to different audiences and the significance of continuous improvement in...

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 little, it's not worth it to raise your prices. I had some major money mindset blocks - until I discovered our guest today, Denise...

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 revenue streams. Carrie Davenport is an accomplished event planner, speaker, leadership coach, and writer with extensive experience in the corporate...

"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 episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be...

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 you determine budget? And how has it evolved?What's something you wish wedding vendors would do differently? Every year we do this, and every year this...

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 how has it evolved?What's something you wish wedding vendors would do differently? Every year we do this, and every year this is one of our most...

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 way up the ranks to be the beverage director at Windows on the World, a restaurant and entertainment venue located on the 106th and 107th floors...

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 this one easy to digest and not something you run the other way while covering your ears. Because as business owners, we really can’t do that....

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 site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest...

The Planner's Vault Doors are Open! So what is The Planner's Vault Challenge, which runs from January 16th to 18th?  Is it for wedding vendors who aren't planners? YESIs it for vendors who want to generate new partnerships? YESIs it for wedding pros who want more leads? YESIs it for vendors who are feeling burned out by clients they don't want? YESIs it for wedding pros who find networking or reaching out to other vendors intimidating? YES If you're any of the above, come join me!Free...

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 with a few of those questions in an ask me anything style podcast episode! We'll get into:(04:15) How can wedding pros do a better job of selling...

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 planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics...

No Fluff, All Action Planner's Vault Visibility Growth Challenge, January 16th-18th, 2024 at ThePlannersVaultChallenge.com. 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 entrepreneurs and...