How to Trust Yourself When Building a Business | Anna Wiggins' Entrepreneur Journey

How to Trust Yourself When Building a Business | Anna Wiggins' Entrepreneur Journey

Content Note: This episode includes a conversation about suicide, grief, and mental health as Anna shares part of her family's story. Please take care while listening and skip this episode if now isn't the right time for you. Welcome back to Tea Time with Erin, where we share honest conversations about entrepreneurship, money, mental health, and the stories that shape the way we build our businesses and lives. In this episode, Erin sits down with entrepreneur Anna Wiggins, owner of Surseen Style, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, financial decision-making, risk, grief, and learning to trust yourself through seasons of uncertainty. Anna shares her journey from working in nonprofits and philanthropy to opening a bridal boutique, selling that business, navigating a season of transition, and eventually launching her newest venture, Surseen Style. Along the way, she opens up about family influences, money lessons from childhood, business loans, entrepreneurship, and the challenge of balancing financial security with pursuing a vision. Together, Erin and Anna explore what it looks like to trust your instincts, embrace the unknown, and build a business that aligns with your values rather than someone else's definition of success. In This Episode, You'll Hear: * Anna's journey from nonprofit work to entrepreneurship * How a difficult first job helped redirect her career path * The inspiration behind opening her bridal boutique * Why she chose not to pursue a franchise model * The emotional process of selling a business she loved * How writing and reflection helped her navigate a season of transition * The realities of funding and growing a small business * How childhood experiences shaped her relationship with money * Why paying yourself matters as a business owner * The importance of trusting your intuition in business decisions * How nervous system regulation impacts entrepreneurship Key Takeaways * Entrepreneurship often requires trusting yourself before you have all the answers. * Seasons of uncertainty can create space for creativity and growth. * Business growth often requires financial investment and calculated risk. * Money beliefs formed in childhood can influence business decisions later in life. * Paying yourself should be a priority, not an afterthought. * Success doesn't have to look like constant growth—it can look like alignment. Learn More About Anna on Instagram: @‌surseenstyle [https://www.instagram.com/surseenstyle/] Connect with Erin Learn more about Erin’s work around money mindset, financial therapy, and building businesses that support your life. * Book a free financial clarity call with Erin: https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9 [https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9] * Instagram: @‌erinthemoneytherapist [https://www.instagram.com/erinthemoneytherapist/] Erin’s Tea for This Episode Erin is drinking Soothsayer Teahouse [https://soothsayerteahouse.com/] Masala Chai during this episode. 15% off your first order! Use code WITHERIN at checkout. Keep the Conversation Going If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with another entrepreneur who might need to hear it. New episodes of Tea Time with Erin drop every other Tuesday, where we share honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Grab your drink of choice, take a deep breath, and join us for the next Tea Time.

Generational Financial Beliefs Part 2: Why Paying Yourself Triggers Fear, Guilt & Stress

Welcome back to Tea Time with Erin, where we share honest conversations about entrepreneurship, money, mental health, and the stories shaping the way we build our businesses and lives. In part two of Erin’s four-part series on generational financial beliefs, Erin dives into one of the most emotionally charged topics for women entrepreneurs: paying yourself. Why is it so difficult to move money from your business account into your personal account—even when the numbers say you can? This episode explores the hidden emotional and behavioral patterns that impact how entrepreneurs handle money, especially first-generation wealth builders. Erin breaks down two major patterns she sees constantly in her work with women business owners: economic mobility guilt and the absence of financial modeling. Together, these patterns create hesitation, shame, confusion, and fear around taking profit, paying yourself consistently, and building personal wealth through business ownership. Erin also shares personal stories, client examples, and practical insight into how childhood experiences, family systems, and generational money beliefs continue showing up in entrepreneurship today. From inherited scarcity mindsets to never being taught how to read a P&L statement, this episode helps listeners understand why financial decisions can feel so emotionally heavy—and why awareness is the first step toward change. If you’ve ever avoided looking at your finances, felt guilty paying yourself, struggled with profit, or questioned whether you deserve to make more money, this conversation will likely hit close to home. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: * What economic mobility guilt is and how it affects women entrepreneurs * Why paying yourself can feel emotionally difficult even when your business is profitable * How generational financial beliefs influence business decisions * The difference between emotional money patterns and practical financial skill gaps * Why many entrepreneurs struggle to determine how much to pay themselves * How scarcity and inherited money beliefs impact entrepreneurship * The role financial modeling plays in financial confidence * Why community and financial conversations matter for future generations * How nervous system responses show up around money and financial stress * Why awareness is the first step to changing financial behaviors Key Takeaways * Financial decisions are often driven by inherited beliefs, not just logic or math. * Many entrepreneurs experience guilt when earning more than previous generations in their family. * A lack of financial modeling creates knowledge gaps—not personal failure. * Avoiding financial decisions often stems from emotional and nervous system responses. * Building wealth as a woman entrepreneur can create both opportunity and emotional conflict. * Awareness of financial patterns is the first step toward healthier money behaviors. Connect with Erin Learn more about Erin’s work around money mindset, financial therapy, and building businesses that support your life. * Book a free financial clarity call with Erin [https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9] * Instagram: @‌erinthemoneytherapist [https://www.instagram.com/erinthemoneytherapist/] Erin’s Tea for This Episode Erin is sipping Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee [https://www.everydaydose.com/?_gl=1*3ztqq6*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjw5s_QBhAdEiwADD_gBtqC8AacMVXjZT5U64H4YeJUoHuXiqgNanqEK33K-USryDJVrjg2JhoCbx8QAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAABoFrKm8d57nWlBIJCODWhuZjjb80] during this episode. Keep the Conversation Going If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with another entrepreneur who might need to hear it. New episodes of Tea Time with Erin drop every other Tuesday, where we share honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Grab your drink of choice, take a deep breath, and join us for the next Tea Time.

From News Reporter to Chick-fil-A Operator | Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Financial Legacy

Welcome back to Tea Time with Erin, where we share honest conversations about entrepreneurship, money, mental health, and the stories that shape how we build our lives and businesses. In this episode, Erin sits down with her lifelong best friend, Sarah Jane, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, financial legacy, leadership, and the long road to becoming a Chick-fil-A operator. From selling painted computer art as kids to leading teams through Chick-fil-A's Leadership Development Program, Sarah shares the reality of chasing a vision that didn't always make sense to others. Sarah opens up about her journey from TV news to late nights in the Chick-fil-A kitchen, taking pay cuts, navigating uncertainty, and learning to think long-term. Erin and Sarah also explore how generational money beliefs, family influence, and mentorship shaped their approach to work and financial stewardship. This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship often starts long before business ownership — and that success is built through consistency, preparation, resilience, and vision. In This Episode, You'll Hear: * Sarah's transition from journalism and TV news into the Chick-fil-A leadership path * Why entrepreneurship often begins with vision before confidence * Childhood entrepreneurial moments that hinted at future leadership * The financial realities of working in journalism and taking career pay cuts * What Chick-fil-A looks for in future operators financially and personally * How Sarah navigated uncertainty while pursuing the Leadership Development Program * The role mentorship, personal growth, and faith played during waiting seasons * How generational financial beliefs shaped both Sarah and Erin's views on money * Why stewardship and long-term thinking matter in entrepreneurship * The importance of partnership and support in entrepreneurial marriages * How leadership is built through serving and caring for people well Key Takeaways * Entrepreneurship often starts with small moments of initiative long before owning a business. * Waiting seasons can become opportunities for growth and preparation. * Financial stewardship and long-term vision are essential for sustainable success. * Generational money beliefs shape how we approach work, risk, and entrepreneurship. * Strong mentorship and community can help entrepreneurs stay resilient through uncertainty. * Building a meaningful business often requires sacrifice, humility, and consistency. Learn More About Sarah Jane Chick-fil-A Glasgow, KY [https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/ky/glasgow] @cfaglasgow [https://www.instagram.com/cfaglasgow?igsh=aGk4NjAwbzg2YnU5] Connect with Erin Learn more about Erin’s work around money mindset, financial therapy, and building businesses that support your life. * Book a free financial clarity call with Erin: https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9 [https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9] * Instagram: @‌erinthemoneytherapist [https://www.instagram.com/erinthemoneytherapist/] Erin’s Tea for This Episode Erin and Sarah are sipping Honey Lavender Tea from Pinky Up Tea [https://pinkyuptea.com/products/11690?_pos=1&_psq=honey&_ss=e&_v=1.0] during this episode. Keep the Conversation Going If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with another entrepreneur who might need to hear it. New episodes of Tea Time with Erin drop every other Tuesday, where we share honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Grab your drink of choice, take a deep breath, and join us for the next Tea Time.

Generational Financial Beliefs (Part 1): Where Your Money Story Begins

In this episode of Tea Time with Erin, Erin begins a powerful new series on generational financial beliefs—unpacking how our earliest experiences with money shape the way we think, feel, and behave financially as adults and entrepreneurs. This Part 1 conversation focuses on where these beliefs come from and how they are passed down through families, culture, and lived experiences—often without us even realizing it. Erin shares how money beliefs are formed in childhood, why they can feel so deeply ingrained, and how they silently influence our relationship with money long before we ever start a business. From scarcity and fear to control and avoidance, these patterns are often inherited, not chosen. If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why do I feel this way about money?”—this episode helps you start connecting the dots. This is the foundation for understanding your financial behaviors so you can begin shifting them with intention in future episodes. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: * What generational financial beliefs are and why they matter * How money beliefs are formed in childhood and early experiences * The role family, culture, and environment play in shaping money patterns * Why many of your financial habits may not actually be “yours” * Common inherited beliefs around scarcity, security, and success * How unexamined money beliefs can follow you into adulthood and entrepreneurship * Why awareness is the first step to changing your financial story * The importance of creating space to question what you’ve always believed about money Key Takeaways * Many of your beliefs about money were formed long before you had control over finances. * Generational patterns often shape how you earn, spend, and think about money. * Financial behaviors are learned—and they can be unlearned. * Awareness creates the opportunity to rewrite your money story. * Understanding where your beliefs come from is the first step toward change. Connect with Erin Learn more about Erin’s work around money mindset, financial therapy, and building businesses that support your life. * Book a free financial clarity call with Erin [https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9] * Instagram: @‌erinthemoneytherapist [https://www.instagram.com/erinthemoneytherapist/] Erin’s Tea for This Episode Erin is sipping Soothsayer Tea House – Oracle's Daydream [https://soothsayerteahouse.com/] during this episode. Use code WITHERIN for 15% your first order! Keep the Conversation Going If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with another entrepreneur who might need to hear it. New episodes of Tea Time with Erin drop every other Tuesday, where we share honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Grab your drink of choice, take a deep breath, and join us for the next Tea Time.

From Ireland to the U.S.: Building a Business, Raising Kids & Redefining Success

In this episode of Tea Time with Erin, Erin sits down with Aimee Puglisi for a real, honest conversation about entrepreneurship, motherhood, and what it looks like to build a business through life transitions. Aimee shares her journey from Ireland to Scotland and eventually the United States during COVID. After stepping into a corporate job for the first time, she quickly realized the traditional 9–5 didn’t align with the life she wanted—especially as she entered motherhood and a blended family. That realization led her into entrepreneurship, where she built a virtual assistant business supporting women entrepreneurs with social media, while also growing a second business in health and wellness. She opens up about inconsistent income, balancing roles, and redefining success in a season that requires flexibility and grace. Erin and Aimee also dive into how childhood money beliefs shape how we approach finances—from scarcity and strict budgeting to more intuitive approaches—and how those patterns show up in marriage, parenting, and business. This episode is a reminder that building a business as a mom isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about aligning your life, values, and finances with your current season. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: * Aimee’s journey from Ireland to the U.S. and how that transition shaped her career *  The cultural differences between European and U.S. work environments *  Why the traditional 9–5 didn’t align with her goals as a mom and entrepreneur *  How she started her virtual assistant business and built income from home *  The realities of balancing multiple businesses while raising a toddler *  What entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes (income, capacity, trade-offs) *  How motherhood shifts your priorities, time, and definition of success *  The importance of giving yourself grace in different seasons *  How childhood money beliefs influence financial decisions *  Navigating money conversations in marriage, blended families, and parenting Key Takeaways * Entrepreneurship offers flexibility—but also requires navigating uncertainty and changing capacity. *  Building a business as a mom is about aligning your work with your life, not sacrificing one for the other. *  Your financial behaviors are often shaped by what you learned about money growing up. *  There is no “perfect” way to balance motherhood, money, and business—only what works for your season. *  Giving yourself grace and adjusting expectations is essential for sustainable success. Learn more about Aimee at: @apuglisi.va [https://www.instagram.com/apuglisi.va/] or @apuglisi92 [https://www.instagram.com/apuglisi92/] Connect with Erin Learn more about Erin’s work around money mindset, financial therapy, and building businesses that support your life. * Book a free financial clarity call with Erin HERE  [https://calendar.app.google/bTLBrJFex9KHpFKz9] * Instagram: @‌erinthemoneytherapist [https://www.instagram.com/erinthemoneytherapist/] Erin’s Tea for This Episode Erin is sipping Honey Lavender Rooibos Tea [https://pinkyuptea.com/products/11690?srsltid=AfmBOop-qU-0b7Km0dnz5a8XHNxivK75o9rGvsGB4K2etgycH9YKrBBj] during this episode. Keep the Conversation Going If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe and share it with another entrepreneur who might need to hear it. New episodes of Tea Time with Erin drop every other Tuesday, where we share honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Grab your drink of choice, take a deep breath, and join us for the next Tea Time.