Prioritizing Accessibility & Equity with Erin Perkins | Episode 23

This is an unedited transcript and the timestamps don’t match exactly with the final audio. Thanks for your understanding!

Okay, awesome. I’m going to hit record then so that We can actually air this to the public.
Alright, Erin, thank you so, much for joining me. I can’t wait to dive in.
Thank you for having me, Ashley.
Yeah, so let’s kick things off with what is your personality from any framework you know or like.
Okay.
So I was like, alright, I know I have all these results everywhere. So one of them thing that .
Hmm.
The N. I have strong type one and then put in, I’m an EFJ. Or an ISF.
Also, my personality very much in So what I like to tell people, I usually am like. 50 50 on like nearly everything in my life because That’s just how I will.
I a middle child. And my birthday is also on the July 20 third so it’s like a character by Billy wanna be a Leo.
Yeah. Okay, that’s hilarious. I’m July 20 s. So I’m also right at the cutoff, but I think I definitely have more cancer vibes.
Hmm.
I think I’m much more sensitive. Yeah, although I don’t know. I don’t know much about the Zodiac, but I do think someone has told me that I have Leo vibes once.
Anyway, yeah, that’s awesome. And I love that. With personality and in business and in life.
We’re able to choose how we want to show up when we want to show up. So I love that you just own that.
But sure. Yeah.
So let’s talk about your life and your business a little bit. What is your current trajectory.
What’s your vision for how you’re life and your business intersect?
Well, for my life, I’m like, hopefully there’s gonna be a lot more like traveling in the near future.
I feel like And I’m just like hoping that there can be a little bit more flexibility for. Both me and my husband to travel with.
Everywhere with her. I saw my business. I feel like I kind of like tumbled around for like the first 5 years of business and now like now that I have like own exactly what I’m doing related to acceptability.
It’s almost like the end of snowball and all at one. And it’s really exciting because I’m meeting the people that I need to meet.
Hmm.
And there’s a lot of collaboration happening and partnership that are being. Because I think it all these people are like.
The white people that I wanna be in support of and they wanted to put me so I’m really excited.
Hmm.
For all these like collaboration because I think just think it like a keep. Key point to my business being to test for.
Yeah.
Oh, that’s so exciting. And it is so funny how more often than not. That specificity that really putting a stake in the ground that saying, okay, now I’m that accessibility expert, it feels so scary and we try to do all the things and sort of like tiptoe around and then the second we actually lean into
Yeah.
it, things finally fall into place. So I’m so glad that’s the case for you as well.
Yeah, for sure. I mean, it was like terrifying to be like, I took that back from one of my clients and I was like, I cannot work with you anymore.
I was with her before you and wasn’t like bad or anything, but it was like, her business took up that.
Now I have, to put time in my brain space. Lee, I can now contribute all of that energy into learning and teaching all about acceptability and it’s just type.
It would the back to, and I made this year.
Oh, that’s amazing. That actually that leads me to my next question and maybe you just answered it, but maybe there’s something even What was the one decision or experience?
That change the trajectory of your life? Was it cutting ties with that long-term client or was there something else that you’ve decided or live through?
Hmm.
It would definitely be laid off from the corporate job. After I’ve been there for 11 years and like I would really add a lot.
Of what I looking to do. I never had a business. In the back of my mind. Oh, I’m gonna start off my own business.
It was more like, well. If I don’t do, if I do apply and work for another company, I’m gonna end up in the same.
Hmm.
Hands the wheel again and I did not want that to happen. I was like, let me try this hand at Only my own.
It introduced me to so many more people that I otherwise would have never met.
Yeah, that’s one of my favorite things about entrepreneurship. You know, we know each other.
From online introductions from other online business owners and every single guest I’ve had on the podcast, except for one local friend.
Yes.
Every single guest has been someone that I’ve met through through the interwebs and through this amazing network of People who care about running an awesome business and doing good in the world.
Yeah.
It is so exciting because I feel like you’re like in the bubble and then all of a sudden the bubble both.
Hi. And it’s just like, oh my god, look at all the wonderful meeting human that.
And I just find it so, so exciting. Hmm.
I have a patch in and like could I feel like when I was in corporate I was so stuck. It would just like you, I was stuck in the mind.
I wasn’t making any movement. I would apply. Because I am deaf. And one of the thing, They put me in a manager.
But when they restructured, I feel like. They would just lie. Oh, we have so many with.
I might, but you put me in this position. I think they just didn’t want to have to pay for an interpreter every time.
Hmm.
So I’ll say forget that, right? This is not the energy I want in my life.
Hmm. Yeah, that leads me to. My next question around. Energy, I feel like it’s a really great way of putting it.
I call them values. Maybe people call them guiding principles, however you want to frame it.
What are some of your guiding values that you live out now in your business?
One is definitely collaboration because I believe that leave to growth. A lot.
I think that it often miss in the corporate world because they believe a lot of people look at empty as a corporate world because they believe a lot of people look at empty as your week, but it’s really, Having a better understanding of what the other person is going to without not to tell you you go into it yourself, but it’s
Hey, I get it. Alright, so how can we like adjust to me? Like change it and I think that’s a huge.
Especially when it comes to accessibility and people with disability, it’s like. It’s not that we’re feeling tired for people and I don’t want people to ever feel sorry for me is I’m both deaf and blind but I want them to have a little bit of.
I’m put a better part. To be like, hey, this person needs a little bit more help.
Then the average person, so how can I make seemed a little bit easier for them so that they can navigate the world.
But.
Yeah, that empathy piece is so important because It is seen as quote unquote a soft skill or seen as something maybe that’s womanly or something like that.
But it’s actually such a powerful business tool as well. If you can be an empathetic leader, manager, service provider, community builder, etc.
If you can understand the people that are working for you, the people that are working with you, the people that are paying you money to do a job.
You are going to not only build trust more quickly, you’re also going to be super referable and you’re able to make that impact you want to have.
In a really human way. So yeah, I think empathy is very often overlooked and such an essential element to showing up.
And being a good steward of whatever skills and life experiences you have. For sure.
Yeah. Yeah, it’s funny because like
I’ve had people that like in my corporate job, I definitely feel like I was a lot more like.
Hmm.
Blind and be like, all right, let’s get thing done. Move on. Go. But that’s how thin.
In the corporate world, but I had only my own, it’s more like I have to like teach.
Alright, let’s take some grace. You can’t just be like, nope, that’s it.
You. You’re not following the world or whatnot. No, you’ve gotta like reflectable.
And I think that Having that in this business. Really had made people feel more comfortable. You know what?
I didn’t know any better. I need to make my business. How do I do that? And I show them and then like, oh man, I feel so bad.
And I’m like, whoa. My intention is not to make you feel bad. My intention is for you to take.
Hmm.
That you now met me. You are learning from me. So you’re taking what you learn and apply it to your business.
So that you are creating a better experience. However, the, oh yeah, sure. I’ll do that.
Then they don’t. I don’t want that in my life.
And it’s because it’s so important and like definitely I need a dose of my own medicine.
I can live in my head all day every day. I am a thinker. Researcher, I go down the rabbit holes and Sometimes it’s that imperfect action toward that really brings progress, much more than how can I perfectly research this and then, you know, it sits on hard drive forever and ever.
And
So I love this and my husband obviously is Eve Dopin and he’s like a pretty and good word for affectability.
Yeah
You’d like, which is, inclusivity and equity and another value in mind because Right.
It not about everything being fair. I mean, the way I can explain this. That is my parents have 3 daughters.
Hmm.
Have they treated us a hundred percent fair? Throughout how they wait each one of us. If one of us has need more than others though like you know my parents had to contribute to me more financially because you know.
Hmm.
I need a hearing aid. I need a left it. I needed to have peace class. I needed all the thing.
Hmm.
Well, my youngest sister Hotel and she didn’t need all these things. So like they helped her more in a different way.
Hmm.
Go is like, it’s not that it’s about being very fair. You get this, you get this, you get the, it’s more of like, all right, what do you need so that we can wait.
That you are all on equal ground in different ways.
Yeah, yeah, there’s a really great visual that represents equity. Like this is the first time I really understood equity.
It’s like kids peering over a fence or something and they’re all different heights and they’re all on different blocks.
Yeah.
Right.
So that their heads are all the same level across the fence, but all of their blocks are different heights to compensate for their different physical heights.
Yeah.
So yeah, and that the analogy you just gave with. Siblings too is important and I feel like the same thing translates to.
Partners to, clients to Yeah, really getting clear on how you want to show up, how you want to make people feel that that end goal.
Yeah.
Exactly, exactly.
Is maybe what’s the same, but the path to get there can be really unique. So how have your value sparked action in your business?
Well, I feel like it ties in to the equity part is like not every business.
Type the same path where they have, the same way of doing something like every Everybody had their own work flow develop.
And so like when I come in and do an audit. I still want to integrate it into how the work flow is rather than be like, nope, I’m gonna tear down your workflow and rebuild it because this is the way they do thing, right?
Now, if more of like, How do we build accessibility and slide it into where it makes done?
With how they struck your thing because I think that just may. That give people much more peak to mind.
It’s like explaining to them like, not my intention to come and tear down everything you’ve already built.
If my attention to teach you how to weave. Acceptability into your business with how you’ve already structured it.
Yeah, and I think that makes accessibility so much more accessible to rather than, you know, squeezing everyone into the same box, you.
Yeah.
Incorporate you weave. I think that’s really beautiful. That That’s very similar to how I approach brand messaging strategy and values work.
It doesn’t all need to look the same. Doesn’t it all need to sound the same?
In fact, it should look and sound different for every business. But the be sort of, in tension behind it and the philosophy.
Is your unique value add. That’s awesome. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
I try to prepare for that but I feel like
You can name a couple like top 3 too if they’re quick whatever comes to mind first.
I mean
Hmm.
Well, one in that you can definitely not alone in that even at an independent business owner, you have the opportunity to really meet other people and they exercise and be like, oh my god, like how do I get help and support in the and people, you need people in there.
In this even as a individual business owner. The other thing is I had it on my tongue. Oh my god, the pivoting.
Hmm.
I have to, I hate the word pivot. We can have been used a lot in the past.
Hmm.
Like 3 years with the pandemic but I feel like Pivot a pumping that you need to have an open mind tool because sometimes if companies not working I’m not saying give it up after like 1 2 months is like.
If it’s not working after like this point to a year, or it’s okay to pivot.
It’s okay to adjust because I thought in my business in a completely different. Yeah, I was like, you know, graphic designer because that’s like my background, like that’s what I’ve done like my entire career.
And I’ve done, and I was doing virtual assistant and online business manager. And realizing that might not be my business.
It totally okay.
Yeah, and whether you wanna call it pivoting, whether you wanna call it flexibility, open mindedness.
Yeah, if you’re not evolving. Then you’re going to fall stagnant.
Yeah.
Yeah.
If you are not paying attention to Changes in the quote unquote marketplace or feedback from clients or even like the inkling in your gut of, hey, you know what?
I can do graphic design, but I meant to be a community leader or whatever it is, right?
Exactly.
If you’re not paying attention to the signs, if you’re not seeking outside perspective to get things bounced back to you, to get ideas validated, then you’re gonna fall flat really quickly.
That’s So yeah, I think that’s a super important lesson.
Yeah, one of the quotes I keep on my phone every day. I do a reminder, a to stain longevity.
You have to evolve.
Hmm, yeah.
No, I read that quote every single morning. And it’s a huge for me for sure.
Yeah, and because most of us are in it for the long run, even if we start a business to then sell, that’s still a long-term goal and that goal is still contributing to some other big picture.
Right? So yeah, I think that’s that I on longevity is. A really powerful thing to anchor ourselves in.
So what advice do you have for women to take confident meaningful action in life, in business, in whatever way they show up?
Hmm.
Honestly just do it because like you just not
You don’t wanna stay and spend your time wondering and like what if I did this like just do it?
You’re gonna fall flat on your feet. I tell you, you’re gonna fail. You’re gonna,.
Hmm.
You’re gonna do all the thing. But you’re not gonna know until you do it. And I mean, last year, black June, it basically a year ago was.
Hmm.
When I launch something and it completely fell flat. And I was like, I’m not doing this again.
And I started working with a coach in June in January. And she was like, we need to, we position this often.
And I’m like, I don’t wanna do this often. Like this was a terrible idea and she kept like pushing and pushing me.
And finally I would say fine, I’ll do it. Well, but then. I all of a sudden had a light bulb moment and was like.
Hmm.
Now I get I wasn’t really to post launch this last year. It this is the time for me to launch it in a completely different perspective as well.
So, like, dividing do it, I wouldn’t know.
I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Yeah, that’s so powerful that repositioning sometimes externally, sometimes it’s, you know, our marketing positioning and sometimes it’s repositioning thoughts, ideas, intentions in our own mindset.
Yeah.
And sometimes more often it’s that combination of both. I’m so glad you have that outside perspective to guide you along the way.
Yeah.
So what’s a message that matters to you?
One of my favorite quotes. W the line. Being disabled is the one group you don’t have to be born into.
Hmm.
You can become disabled at any time. So your fight and my fight for equality and just totally justice. Could be a fight that we do.
So that’s the one thing I think people. Don’t have the. Of like you can be disabled at any time, whether it’s a temporary disability.
Hmm.
Well, a permanent disability. When we all get older, you are very likely to have, So what you do now in terms of creating access is honestly so so important.
And like my biggest fear is being left behind if I lose my more on my hearing if I do more my vision.
Hmm.
I want to ensure that I’m not just left behind in the That’s why I do what I do.
Yeah, and that others aren’t left behind either. Yeah. It’s that ripple effect.
So beautiful. So how can people connect with you? How can they learn more from you? I know that so many of us myself included have so much to learn on the accessibility front.
How can people get and stay connected with you?
So one is definitely on. The, I, I teach a lot about adaptability on Instagram, Mabel, on the school queue, or MA, B, L, Y, and of course Q.
And you can just email me at aaron@mabeliq.com. And I have a bunch of like good.
Stuff for you. I have this awesome social media adaptability core card that I think is very juicy.
Okay.
And then I also have launched a platform that. It for businesses that day that they are committed to acceptability and the platform it meant to help guide you through and take me to the like however long you but
Awesome. All of those will be linked in the show notes. Aaron, thank you so so much for sharing your perspective and part of your story and I can’t wait for people to connect with you.