Welcome back to Tea Time with Erin, where we share real, honest conversations about money, mental health, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Erin sits down with filmmaker and entrepreneur Elisa Trentham of Sherwood Media for a deeply insightful conversation about the relationship between feelings and financial data in business—and why so many entrepreneurs rely on emotion instead of numbers to make decisions.

Elisa shares what happened when she finally sat down and looked at her profit and loss statement after years of running her business based mostly on how things felt. What she discovered surprised her—and completely shifted how she views success, growth, and her financial story.

Together, Erin and Elisa explore the emotional side of entrepreneurship, including financial shame, comparison, uncertainty, and the tension of being in a season of transition. They also dive into how numbers can actually ground you, tell a more accurate story than your feelings, and help you make clearer, more confident decisions in your business.

This episode is a powerful reminder that your financial story is not always what it feels like—and learning to look at your numbers can change everything.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why many entrepreneurs rely on feelings instead of financial data
• What happened when Elisa finally reviewed her profit and loss statement
• How numbers can tell a different story than your emotions
• The role of rejection and perception in how we evaluate business success
• Why financial shame can show up even when things are going well
• How comparison (especially online) distorts your view of your business
• The reality of building a business through different life seasons
• What it looks like to navigate a major transition in business and life
• How grounding yourself in facts (not feelings) can change your decisions

Key Takeaways

• Your feelings about your business are not always an accurate reflection of reality.
• Financial data (like your P&L) tells a factual story that can ground your decision-making.
• Many entrepreneurs avoid looking at their numbers due to fear or shame.
• Comparison can distort how you perceive your success, especially on social media.
• Business growth happens in seasons—and numbers can help you see that clearly.
• Learning to separate identity from financial outcomes is key to long-term sustainability.

Learn more about Elisa: https://www.sherwood.media/

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

Erin’s Tea for This Episode

Erin is sipping Pinky Up Tea – Golden Spice Tea during this episode.

Keep the Conversation Going

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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.