Let’s talk about that sinking feeling you get on Sunday night…the one where your stomach tightens, your brain starts spiraling, and the thought of Monday makes you want to cry into your wine glass.
Yeah, that.
Emily Claire Hughes felt it too. And instead of pushing it down, numbing it out, or blaming herself for being “too sensitive,” she did something different.
She listened.
In this week’s episode of Possibilities with Monique de Maio, Emily breaks down how she went from Broadway dreams to burnout… and then built a thriving, joy-filled business helping women grow their own brands with email marketing that actually works (and feels good to send).
This episode is about so much more than marketing. It’s about what happens when you stop waiting for the perfect time—and finally bet on yourself.
Emily had a “good” job. The kind people envy on LinkedIn. But it was draining the life out of her.
She’d open her laptop Monday morning and feel… trapped. She knew she was capable of more—but the path forward wasn’t clear. Until she started asking different questions:
Emily didn’t have a business plan. She didn’t have a huge audience. She didn’t have investors, spreadsheets, or “10X” goals.
What she did have?
➡️ A belief in her ability to figure things out.
➡️ A desire to help women communicate more clearly and confidently.
➡️ A willingness to keep going even when it felt messy.
From that mindset, she built the 10K Email Club—a high-touch membership that’s helped hundreds of women grow their list, sell with soul, and build communities that convert.
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation was when Emily said:
“You don’t have to build it fast. You just have to build it real.”
She’s proof that you don’t need 10,000 followers or a blue checkmark to succeed. You need:
Oh, and email. Email helps too.
If you’re waiting for permission to start, this is it.
Whether you’re thinking about quitting, pivoting, launching, or just speaking up a little louder, this episode will remind you of one thing:
The next version of your life doesn’t require a map.
It just requires movement.
🎧 Listen to the full episode with Emily Claire Hughes
📬 Check out the 10K Email Club
🛑 Feeling the Sunday Scaries? That’s your sign.
🔥 It’s your turn now.
With fire and possibility,
~ Monique ✨
PS Because this part got edited out as a result of being part of a sound issue in post-production, my shout out to my BFF Maureen VanBloem was cut out of this episode. I will be forever grateful to her for introducing me to Emily Claire Hughes! 🙂 Thank you MoMo!
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