The Photographer's Couch

Megan Gioeli
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We don't just talk business we talk life. This is the podcast for entrepreneur who want to success not just in their work but in every aspect of their life. Join me on the couch as we dive deep into conversations about entrepreneurship, photography, mental & physical health and everything in between. Whether your hustling to build your dream business, striving to stay connected with your love ones or looking to achieve that perfect balance between work and wellbeing, this place in for you. So grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable and let explore how to live a fulfilled healthy life while creating a business of your dreams. This is more than just a podcast. It is your weekly dose of inspiration, motivation and real talk. Welcome to the photographer's coach where we are living life to the fullest one conversation at a time.

  1. Community Over Competition — But Only If It’s Real

    6D AGO

    Community Over Competition — But Only If It’s Real

    Community Over Competition (But Only If It’s Real) In this episode, Megan talks about one of her favorite business values: community over competition — and why it only works when it’s genuine. Supporting other business owners has led to friendships, growth, referrals, and opportunities throughout her career. But lately, she’s noticed something important: Community has become a phrase… instead of a behavior. What Real Community Looks Like True community isn’t just networking — it’s relationship. It includes: Sharing knowledgeEncouraging during slow seasonsHelping shift perspectiveReferring inquiries that aren’t the right fitSupporting others without immediate returnMaking business feel less isolatingSometimes the best service you can provide a client is: Not booking them — and connecting them with someone better suited. That builds trust, not competition. When “Community” Becomes Marketing The phrase gets misused when it becomes one-sided. Warning signs: Only asking for helpTaking information but never giving backShowing up only when needing somethingWanting access instead of relationshipTreating people like resourcesCommunity cannot exist if it only flows one direction. Mutual Benefit Matters Healthy relationships aren’t perfectly even — they’re reciprocal over time. You don’t keep score daily. But both people invest. The real question becomes: How can we both grow from this? Not: What can I get from you? A Practical Example Megan offers complimentary mini branding sessions to small business owners during slower months. They receive: Photos and videoA sample of working togetherShe receives: Portfolio contentPromotion opportunitiesA chance to build relationshipsThat’s community — a win-win, not a transaction. Why One-Sided Community Fails When imbalance continues: Resentment growsBoundaries disappearGenerosity becomes burnoutBut when it’s real: Trust growsCollaboration happens naturallyOpportunities expandChoosing Your Circle Community doesn’t mean including everyone. It means investing intentionally. Not every relationship aligns — and that’s okay. Focus on people who: Show upReciprocate over timeValue relationship over accessClosing Thought Community over competition still matters — maybe more than ever. But it works only when practiced, not posted. Community isn’t proven by what we say about each other. It’s proven by how we show up for each other.

    11 min
  2. Why the Work Makes the Win Feel Good

    FEB 6

    Why the Work Makes the Win Feel Good

    The Work No One Sees Is The Work That Matters In this episode, Megan reflects on watching her kids play sports and noticing something familiar: They love the game. They want the win. They want the scoreboard moment. But they don’t always want practice. And honestly — adults aren’t much different. We want success… without repetition, patience, or discipline. Yet the parts we try to skip are the very parts that make success meaningful. The Outcome vs The Process We love: The winThe growthThe recognitionThe visible resultsWe resist: PracticeRepetitionConsistencyWaitingBut success without effort fades fast. When there is no cost, there is little satisfaction. Why “Going Viral” Isn’t The Goal Quick results don’t create lasting success. A viral moment without continued effort disappears. Sustainable growth comes from what most people avoid: The unsexy work EmailsEditingPlanningBloggingSEOSystemsPosting consistently when no one reactsOften nothing happens immediately. And right before progress compounds… it feels pointless. Why We Avoid The Work The effort feels: BoringUnnoticedUnrewardedSlowThere’s no instant feedback or recognition. But enjoyment doesn’t come before effort. It comes after commitment. Where Real Confidence Comes From Confidence isn’t built from big moments. It comes from keeping promises to yourself. Doing what you said you would doShowing up repeatedlyFinishing what you plannedThe reward becomes: Self-trustPrideLess anxietyCalm confidenceAnd that feeling lasts longer than the win itself. Loving The Game Means Loving Practice Kids want to love the game. Adults want to love success. But success is mostly ordinary days repeated over and over again. The people who enjoy winning the most are the ones who showed up when no one was watching. The Instant Gratification Problem Modern life teaches us to expect quick rewards: Social media likesGaming winsHacks and shortcutsBut real life requires sustained effort. When we skip the work, we also skip the joy. Closing Thought Don’t chase fake wins. The work you do when no one sees you is what makes success actually feel good. Put in the effort — not just for the result, but because the effort is what creates the meaning.

    7 min
  3. I Didn't Book A Personal Retreat -- Now I Am Regretting It

    JAN 30

    I Didn't Book A Personal Retreat -- Now I Am Regretting It

    The Retreat I Didn’t Plan (And Why It Matters) In this episode, Megan talks about something she didn’t do this year — her usual beginning-of-year retreat — and how missing it revealed just how important intentional time away really is. Because sometimes you don’t realize what anchors you… until you skip it. What the Retreat Normally Does Every year in Quarter 1, Megan schedules intentional time away to: Zoom out from daily responsibilitiesClarify yearly and quarterly goalsCreate systemsPlan content and directionMake decisions proactively instead of reactivelyIt isn’t about luxury. It’s about focus. And a retreat doesn’t have to be a big trip. It can be: A weekend awayA full day aloneEven a few protected hoursThe purpose: thinking time What Happened This Year January looked different: Kids home moreRoutine offNo shootingNo retreatAnd the result? Feeling scattered instead of anchored. Not because work wasn’t happening — but because clarity hadn’t been created yet. Why Retreats Matter Without stepping away, you stay inside constant motion: Laundry Kids Messages Tasks Decisions You stay reactive. But intentional time allows you to be proactive. Even changing one system can: Reduce decisionsSave timeIncrease freedomImprove family lifeImprove business flowThe Big Lesson Missing the January retreat didn’t ruin the year. It just changed the timing. Instead of: “I missed my chance.” The better question is: “What’s the next best thing I can do?” The Power of the Next Best Thing You don’t throw away a goal because the timing changed. You adjust. You can still: Schedule the hoursPlan the weekendCreate clarityRealign directionProgress doesn’t depend on perfect timing. It depends on taking the next available step. Action Step When this episode ends: Look at your calendar. Schedule intentional thinking time — however that works for your life. Because clarity doesn’t appear during motion. It appears during pause. Closing Thought You’re never behind. You just need the next intentional step.

    7 min
  4. Motivation is Fake - Systems Are Real

    JAN 23

    Motivation is Fake - Systems Are Real

    Motivation Is Not a Strategy In this episode, Megan shares a major mindset shift that changed both her life and her business: She stopped waiting to feel motivated. Because motivation feels powerful — but it’s unreliable. And when motivation controls your actions, your progress becomes inconsistent. The Problem With Motivation We often believe successful people are simply more motivated. So we wait to: Feel inspiredHave more timeBe in the right moodLet life calm downBut motivation is an emotion — not a plan. It depends on: SleepStressWeatherKidsEnergyLife circumstancesPerfect conditions rarely exist. So we stay stuck. The Big Realization Motivation doesn’t create action. Action creates motivation. You don’t feel motivated → then act You act → then feel motivated Example: You never want to go to the gym before going But after you go, you’re glad you did And that feeling motivates the next action Until the next morning… when motivation disappears again. Why Waiting Keeps You Inconsistent When motivation leads: Work gets delayedRoutines never stickTo-do lists pile upProgress resets constantlyYou keep thinking: “I’ll start when…” But life replaces old problems with new ones. What Actually Works: Systems The biggest change came from removing negotiation. Instead of deciding daily: You pre-decide once. A system means: You don’t decide whether You only decide how today Examples of Systems Business Systems Set posting days for social mediaWeekly newsletter scheduleDefined workflow from inquiry → bookingEditing routines after sessionsPersonal Systems Drop kids off → drive straight to the gymGratitude practice each morningChores happen after schoolFamily rules already decidedThese remove decision fatigue. What Is Decision Fatigue? You make hundreds of decisions daily. Every extra choice drains mental energy. Systems remove: Internal negotiationOverthinkingEmotional resistanceAnd replace it with: Automatic action Why Systems Reduce Stress Systems create: Less mental loadLess guiltLess starting overMore predictabilityFor business owners: Clients trust consistency. For families: Kids trust clear expectations. Flexibility Without Quitting Systems don’t require perfection. They allow adjustment. You don’t ask: Am I doing it? You ask: How am I doing it today? Even during chaotic seasons — caregiving, weather, busy schedules — small effort still counts. Identity Matters Systems protect identity on hard weeks: You remain: Someone who shows upSomeone who cares about healthSomeone who runs a business consistentlyEven when effort is smaller. The Truth You don’t need: A new plannerA new yearMore inspirationYou need: One small repeatable action Motivation might start something. Systems carry it for years. Closing Thought Stop waiting to feel like it. Progress comes from repetition — not emotion.

    11 min
  5. Stop Looking To Other People For Validation

    JAN 16

    Stop Looking To Other People For Validation

    Stop Waiting for Validation In today’s episode, Megan talks about something many business owners quietly struggle with: Not confusion. Not lack of ideas. Waiting for permission. We often run decisions — even small daily ones — past an imaginary audience before acting. What to post. What to offer. What to say yes or no to. How to spend time. And without realizing it… we delay action while searching for approval. What Waiting for Validation Looks Like Checking reactions before decidingAsking multiple people hoping for the same answerMeasuring worth by engagementDelaying action until someone agreesFeeling confident alone — then doubting after opinionsThe problem isn’t asking for advice. The problem is outsourcing the final decision. Why We Seek Validation We think it gives us: CertaintyReassuranceProtection from regretShared responsibilityLess personal failureValidation feels like confidence. But really… You’re borrowing certainty instead of building it. What It Creates Relying on outside approval leads to: In business Slow decisionsConstant pivotsMessaging changesConfused audienceInconsistent directionIn life Less self-trustSecond-guessingStarting over repeatedlyMental exhaustionThe more opinions you collect, the harder it becomes to hear your own. What Real Confidence Actually Is Confidence is NOT knowing the perfect answer. It is: DecidingAdjusting laterTaking responsibility for the outcomeYou build it by: Making small decisionsActing before consensusLearning through experienceEvery situation is unique — experience teaches you what advice never can. Confidence = trusting you can handle the result A Better Way to Use Advice We still need people. But instead of asking: “What should I do?” Ask: “What might I be missing?” Advice should inform your decision — not make it for you. The Truth About Doubt You don’t eliminate doubt. You shorten the distance between doubt and action. Confidence grows when: Decisions happen fasterAction comes soonerValidation becomes unnecessaryClosing Thought The moment you stop waiting for agreement is usually the moment you start moving forward. So today — move without permission.

    5 min
  6. Comfort Isn't Peace

    JAN 9

    Comfort Isn't Peace

    In this episode, Megan talks about a realization she had after a slower January season — how comfort can feel good in the moment, but often delays clarity, growth, and confidence. We often think peace should come before action. But most of the time… peace actually shows up after the decision. The January Feeling Winter made it easy to stay comfortable: Staying in pajamasAvoiding routinesNot making decisionsWaiting to startChoosing rest over actionSome of that rest was needed — but it also revealed something important: Comfort didn’t create peace. It just delayed movement. Comfort vs Peace Comfort is: FamiliarPredictableLow effortAvoidance disguised as patienceTemporary reliefExamples: Staying in a routine that no longer fitsAvoiding hard conversationsNot choosing yetResearching instead of startingKeeping options openScrolling instead of actingComfort removes pressure today But often creates anxiety tomorrow What Staying Comfortable Costs You Not dramatic losses — slow ones. You slowly lose: GrowthClarityConfidenceMomentumSelf-trustYou don’t crash… You just gradually stop moving. Discomfort Is Often The Start of Peace Discomfort looks like: Setting boundariesMaking the decisionStarting before readySaying noConsistent routinesHard conversationsAt first it brings: DoubtTensionAwkwardnessBut action gives something comfort never does: Information. Once you move: You gain factsYou gain clarityYou can adjustYou build confidenceThe Big Shift We wait to feel peaceful before acting. But usually: Peace follows alignment and action — not avoidance. Comfort feels calm because: Nothing changesNothing is challengedNothing is decidedBut that’s not peace. That’s postponement. A Better Question to Ask Instead of: “Does this feel comfortable?” Ask: “Will this bring me peace later?” This changes: Parenting decisionsBusiness decisionsLife decisionsBecause often we don’t want peace… We want relief. And the fastest path to relief is usually the thing we’re avoiding. Closing Thought Comfort keeps today easy. Peace makes tomorrow lighter. So ask yourself: Are you staying comfortable to avoid something hard — when that hard thing is exactly what will give you peace later?

    6 min
  7. The Next Right Thing

    JAN 2

    The Next Right Thing

    🎙️ Episode Title: The Next Right Things Episode Description: Do you ever find yourself stuck—replaying a mistake, sitting in guilt, or continuing a pattern simply because it feels comfortable? In this first episode of 2026, Megan shares the phrase that’s helping her move forward when life feels heavy: The next right thing. Instead of striving for perfection or getting trapped in regret, this episode invites you to pause, breathe, and ask one simple question that can shift everything. Whether you’re navigating parenting struggles, business mistakes, financial slip-ups, or just feeling behind, this episode is a reminder that progress doesn’t come from fixing everything at once—it comes from taking the next step forward. This conversation is gentle, honest, and meant to meet you exactly where you are. ✨ In This Episode, We Talk About: Why we stay stuck in problems instead of moving forwardHow comfort can keep us repeating the same patternsWhat “The Next Right Thing” actually means in everyday lifeLetting go of guilt after mistakes—especially in parenting and businessWhy you don’t need a perfect plan to make progressHow small, intentional steps can change the direction of your year🧠 A Few Moments That May Hit Home: “We can’t go back—but we often sit in that space too long.”“The goal isn’t perfection. It’s forward motion.”“The next right thing after a mistake is learning—not spiraling.”💛 Take This With You: You don’t have to fix everything today. You don’t have to be perfect to move forward. All you need is the next right thing. Sometimes that’s apologizing. Sometimes it’s resting. Sometimes it’s showing up again tomorrow. 🎧 Listen If You’re: Feeling stuck or behind as the new year beginsStruggling with guilt after a mistakeTrying to balance parenting, business, and personal growthLooking for a gentle, realistic way to move forward

    5 min
  8. What Is Next

    12/31/2025

    What Is Next

    In this episode, I’m reflecting on why this podcast began, what this first year has taught me, and where I’m heading next. What started as an idea that lived in my head for nearly two years turned into a space for honest, real-life conversations — the kind you’d have on the couch, in the car, or across the table with a cup of coffee. This year wasn’t about perfection. It was about experimenting, showing up imperfectly, and figuring out if podcasting truly had a place in my life and business. And the answer is yes. As I share this episode from the car while driving between North Carolina and Maryland during a big family transition, I open up about why these conversations matter so much to me — and why I believe they shouldn’t stop with just two people talking. Conversations that make us feel less alone, more inspired, more motivated, or simply understood deserve to be shared. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m excited to commit more fully to this podcast with: Weekly episodesGuest conversations (at least one per month!)Continued discussions for moms, business owners, creatives, and women navigating full, meaningful livesThis next season feels like a full-circle moment — both personally and professionally — and I’m grateful to bring you along for the journey. Whether this is your first episode or you’ve been here from the beginning, thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of The Photographer’s Couch. Here’s to growth, potential, and meaningful conversations in the year ahead. ✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode The original vision behind The Photographer’s CouchWhy starting is often harder than continuingLessons learned from a year of podcastingWhy conversations help us feel less aloneReflections on purpose, potential, and personal growthWhat’s coming next for the podcast in 2026

    5 min
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About

We don't just talk business we talk life. This is the podcast for entrepreneur who want to success not just in their work but in every aspect of their life. Join me on the couch as we dive deep into conversations about entrepreneurship, photography, mental & physical health and everything in between. Whether your hustling to build your dream business, striving to stay connected with your love ones or looking to achieve that perfect balance between work and wellbeing, this place in for you. So grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable and let explore how to live a fulfilled healthy life while creating a business of your dreams. This is more than just a podcast. It is your weekly dose of inspiration, motivation and real talk. Welcome to the photographer's coach where we are living life to the fullest one conversation at a time.

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