Ep 20: Collaborations—The Good, The Messy, and The "Wait, Did We Agree to That?"

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.

Key Takeaways

• 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

Who This Episode Is For

• 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.

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