Own Your Business

You’re wiped. Or maybe just wildly uninterested in your own business. That’s not always burnout—it could be bore out, and it’s a real problem. In this episode, Sam and Katy unpack the difference between doing too much and not being challenged enough, and how each one quietly derails creative entrepreneurs.Inside this episode:Why burnout isn’t the only reason you feel stuckHow to recognize bore out before it tanks your motivationThe business moves people make when they’re bored (and how they backfire)Practical ways to reignite your energy without burning everything downThis is the episode you need when your business feels more like a chore than a calling.

Transform your website with simple fixes that boost performance! Discover how to guide visitors like a conversation and leverage testimonials effectively without falling into the carousel trap. Learn to craft a services page that captivates and simplifies your contact form to increase inquiries. Katy highlights the importance of matching hero images to emotional motivations, while Sam stresses the website's role as a sales tool. Get ready for impactful changes that attract better clients!

Today we’re diving into a conversation I know so many of you in mid-size and mid-market regions have been craving. Because while Instagram might make it look like luxury only happens in New York, LA, or destination hot spots, the truth is that real growth, real demand, and real opportunity exist everywhere — including the places where the industry often assumes it doesn’t.And few embody that better than today’s guest: Kate Turner of Kate & Company. If you’ve been in the wedding world for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard her name — or worked with someone she’s impacted — because Kate has built something remarkable out of St. Louis, Missouri. She’s grown a planning and design firm that serves high-end clients, produces destination events around the world, and still leads with an unapologetic honesty about what it actually takes to make it in this business.This episode isn’t just about design or pricing or scaling a service. It’s about what happens when you’re building a business in a mid-market that’s under-resourced, under-estimated, and sometimes flat-out resistant to change. We talk about being the first in your market to raise your prices, the confidence gap so many wedding pros struggle with, the messy reality of striving for more, and how vulnerability — real vulnerability — can become the thing that finally unlocks deeper connection with clients and peers.I've worked with Kate for years now, and she’s generous, candid, and incredibly grounded. And if you’ve ever felt alone in your market, or unsure if you can build a luxury-level business where you live, this conversation is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.Let’s get into it.

In the wedding industry, your clients don’t get a test drive. They have to hand over control, spend a lot of money, and trust that it will all work out. That means your real job in the sales process is not to impress people. It is to make them feel safe.In this episode, we talk about what actually builds trust fast. It is not perfection. It is proof, transparency, and humanity. You will learn how to use both direct and indirect trust builders to help clients feel seen, secure, and confident saying yes. We cover how to show credibility without sounding salesy, how transparency builds trust faster than polish, and why consistency across your website, calls, and emails matters more than you think.By the end, you will have a clear framework for building trust in every step of your sales process so clients feel at ease choosing you.Takeaways:Clients do not buy perfection. They buy trust.Trust comes from empathy, authority, and consistency.Direct trust builders include testimonials, press, metrics, and clear process steps.Indirect trust builders include calm confidence, active listening, and transparent communication.Transparency builds trust faster than polish ever will.Every interaction should communicate, “You can trust me to take care of you.”

Most websites don’t fail because of bad design. They fail because the pages don’t have jobs.Every page on your website should do something specific to move the buyer forward — build trust, create clarity, or drive action. In this episode, we break down the six essential website pages that actually sell. You’ll learn how each page fits into the buyer’s journey, what kind of content belongs on it, and how to design your site so it guides visitors naturally from curiosity to commitment.We also look at how to use social proof strategically across your site, why the Services page is often the missing link between interest and inquiry, and how your full site should tell one clear story instead of six disconnected ones.Takeaways:Most websites fail because the pages aren’t built with purpose or strategy.Each page has a specific job: empathy, connection, clarity, proof, or action.The six essential pages are Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Case Studies or Blog, and Contact.Every page needs proof points that build trust and reduce risk.Your website should tell one cohesive story that leads buyers toward a confident yes.

Explore how your website serves as a critical decision-making tool for buyers who arrive already interested. Learn to prioritize clarity, empathy, and proof over broad education. Discover the importance of strategic integration with social media to convert interest into inquiries. Hear insights on the value of testimonials in revealing buyer concerns and creating transformation narratives. Plus, gain practical tips on crafting compelling homepage hooks and effective About pages that resonate with visitors.

Most people think the magic of Engage happens once you arrive, but the truth is your success starts long before the welcome party. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of showing up to a major industry event, this episode will help you feel prepared and confident from the start.After attending eighteen Engage events and coaching dozens of clients through their own experiences, I’m sharing exactly how to plan ahead so you can show up intentionally, connect authentically, and make every conversation count. From refining your online presence to setting goals and mapping out follow-ups, these strategies will help you get the most out of your investment — and actually enjoy the experience while you’re there.Takeaways:• Define your “why” for attending so you stay focused and intentional• Update your online presence before you step into the room• Prepare your talking points to make networking feel natural• Plan your follow-up strategy before the event even begins

If it feels like couples are taking forever to book right now, you’re not imagining it. Across the industry, wedding pros are seeing the same thing: inquiries come in, great conversations happen — and then everything slows down. Couples wait weeks, even months, before making a decision. Some ghost. Some circle back at the last minute ready to move.What’s happening isn’t just procrastination — it’s buyer behavior shifting. Today’s couples are juggling busy lives, endless choices, and a constant stream of content that makes every option look good. Planning a wedding has become a second job, and decision fatigue is setting in fast. When people are overloaded, they don’t make confident choices. They stall. They scroll. They default to “not yet.”That’s why, in this episode, we’re unpacking what’s really behind the slowdown — and how you can adjust your process to match the way modern buyers actually make decisions. Because the reality is, you can’t sell to this year’s couples the same way you did even a few years ago. Their brains are working differently. And if you want to keep momentum in your pipeline, your sales approach has to evolve too.We’ll talk through the three big behavioral forces driving the delay — ego depletion, analysis paralysis, and loss aversion — and show you how to design your client journey to guide couples forward with less friction and more trust. It’s about removing obstacles, simplifying choices, and creating an environment where the “yes” feels easy and natural.And while this episode first aired last year, it’s one worth revisiting. The challenges we talked about then have only intensified — and the insights are even more relevant now. So whether you’re listening for the first time or the fifth, take notes. Because understanding what’s really going on in your buyers’ heads is the first step to helping them move from “thinking about it” to “booking it.”

Explore why quick fixes in business often lead to disappointment. Discover that real growth comes from consistent learning and practice rather than chasing silver bullets. Learn about the importance of a robust website and effective social media that goes beyond just pretty pictures. Sam and Katy highlight mastering discovery calls as crucial for success, stressing the value of practice and preparation. Focus on high-impact marketing strategies to boost bookings and prices for a stronger business.

Most wedding pros are treating AI like a shortcut for captions, blogs, and emails, but that’s not what gets clients to say yes. The real opportunity with AI is using it to sharpen your sales game. In this episode, we dig into how AI can help you read your clients better, position yourself against competitors, and keep momentum alive in the sales process. Instead of saving time, you’ll learn how to use AI to close more bookings.TakeawaysWhy treating AI like a content machine is keeping you from stronger salesThe real risks of relying on generic captions, blogs, and emails to win businessHow to use AI for smarter sales insights drawn from feedback, competitors, and your own notesWhat it looks like to shift from busywork to bookings with a Sales IQ approach