Episode #85
Trust the Winks, Make the Pivot, & Who TF Decided What “Success” Is Supposed to Look Like? with Tina Stoecklein
What if building a successful business had less to do with following the "right" path... and more to do with getting really fucking clear on what you actually want? This week I'm joined by Tina Stoecklein, interior designer and owner of Silhouette Architecture + Interiors. We talk about trusting your intuition, defining success on your own terms, protecting your time and creative energy, and building a business that supports the work AND life you actually want. This conversation is such a good reminder that you don't have to keep pursuing something just because it looks good from the outside. You get to change your mind, protect what matters to you, follow the little nudges, and keep redefining success until your business actually feels like YOURS. In this episode, we talk about: Tina's journey into interior design, trying entrepreneurship, going back to working for others, and eventually starting her own business again What she learned from working closely with other small businesses along the way How adopting her daughter shifted her priorities and strengthened her desire to create more flexibility Why we wish creative degrees included a whole lot more actual business education Being a HUMAN and a business owner instead of feeling like you have to choose between the two Trusting your intuition, noticing the signs around you, and paying attention when the universe winks at you Leaving a traditionally "successful" career and redefining what success meant for her Intentionally marketing toward the projects and clients you actually WANT instead of simply taking whatever comes your way Why messaging and positioning matter when you're trying to put the magic of what you do into actual words The importance of creative freedom instead of being hired to recreate someone's Pinterest board Why Tina loves being involved in both the architecture and interior design process from beginning to end The similarities between her full-service creative process and my approach to branding, copy, and web design Why we're so damn good at doing our work for everyone else... and somehow always put doing it for ourselves last Setting and holding boundaries to protect your time and energy Why you don't need a "good enough" reason to say no Giving yourself permission to make your own choices instead of building your business around everyone else's "shoulds" Setting expectations with clients and refusing to say yes just because you want the money or don't want to disappoint someone Getting clear on what YOU actually want your business and life to look like Allowing your definition of success to change as you do Enjoying what you've created NOW instead of waiting for "someday" to finally feel successful What we both learned from hiring and managing teams Saying no, changing your mind, and pivoting when something no longer feels aligned (even when other people don't understand it) Never assuming anything in business, getting comfortable saying "I don't know," and communicating clearly without apologizing for giving people the information they need Connect with Tina on Instagram , Pinterest , and her website Private Mentorship with Abby: For the female founder who's built something incredible and is ready to lead at an even higher level, this intimate 1:1 partnership combines deep strategic guidance with identity and embodiment work to help you close the gap between where you are and where you know you're capable of going 2027 RETREATS Aligned Momentum Winter Retreat — January 2027 | Estes Park, CO: For the woman who wants to start the year aligned instead of forcing herself into New Year hustle mode, this intimate 4-day retreat blends identity + vision work, business strategy, masterminding, coaching, embodiment, content creation, connection, and winter FUN so you can get clear on what you actually want and create momentum that feels natural ❄️ Final dates + details coming soon - DM me on Instagram if you want first dibs! re: treat with Abby x Nina — May 19–23, 2027 | Wilmington, NC : A five-day beach house experience for women who know life isn't something to arrive at - it's something to LIVE. Think ocean swims, deep conversations, dance parties, creative breakthroughs, and plenty of space to reconnect with yourself, your desires, and the parts of you that have gotten lost in all the doing 3 early bird spots left before price increases. Embodied Expansion Retreat — September 23-26 2027 | Colorado mountains : For the woman who's ready to expand her business without leaving herself behind, this 4-day immersive experience brings together strategy, identity, embodiment, visibility, genuine sisterhood, and a whole lot of FUN so you can reconnect with yourself, own your leadership, and create what’s next from who you are NOW ️ 4 early bird spots available. WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER Magnetic By Nature Business Mastermind : For the woman who's done everything she's "supposed" to do but knows she's capable of more, this mastermind blends identity, embodiment, visibility, and business strategy to help you own what already makes you magnetic and build a sustainable 6-figure business because of it Brand, Copy, & Web Design : For the woman whose online presence no longer reflects the depth of her work or the vision she's building, we'll create a brand and website that communicates your value clearly, builds trust instantly, and finally feels like you Design & Marketing Power Sprint : For the founder who knows exactly what she needs done but doesn't have the time or desire to DIY it, this focused intensive helps you bring high-impact design, copy, and marketing projects to life - fast ⚡ Payment plans + Affirm available for all offers. → Check out my website for more ways to work together and connect! FREE RESOURCES You know I’m here for YOU and your success. And that includes offering a few different free resources to help you get there! Website Hero Copy Prompts - Your no-BS guide to writing a website header that hooks in less than 7 seconds — complete with fill-in-the-blank prompts, click-worthy CTA ideas, and a quick vibe check so your home page feels like you (not some cookie-cutter template). The Bold Expression Toolkit - Your no-fluff, full-body yes to showing up online like the powerhouse you are. Think: scroll-stopping Canva templates, juicy content prompts, mindset + embodiment practices, and personalized feedback from a pro — all wrapped in a Notion dashboard designed to help you stop holding back and start saying what you really want to say. Sign up for my Newsletter - Where you’ll get first access to any other new resources and opportunities to work with me, PLUS tips, strategies, and stories for how to navigate the online space in a way that feels good. Support my show! I would love you foreverrr if you subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show. Share to your stories and tag me so I can see you tuning in! → Connect with me on Insta: @abbybradetich for alllll the juicy things @theunfilteredceopod for the podcast!
