Meet Amy Vogel | Houston Writer, Speaker and Book Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Vogel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
The biggest piece of advice I’m afraid I disagree with is the idea that you have to grind yourself into dust to succeed. What I am experiencing and what I’m seeing those I admire do is have a schedule of activity that is project-based but, within that schedule, have flexibility and fluidity to do what feels right that day. After experiencing massive burnout and depression in 2021-2022, my approach today is much different. I don’t work 8-10 hours a day. My maximum productivity is around the 6-hour mark, so I strive for that, especially as I have a lot going on in my personal life.

This helps me feel I am at the level of productivity that I need to be to have the success I want and work with my energy and boundaries. I don’t want to end up burnout, so I weekly (sometimes daily) look at what is not only the most pressing thing for me to do today but also what I have the capacity for.

Knowing it will take many days of consistent, focused work instead of thinking I must do it all – all the time- has helped me build a foundation for success that will be scalable and fun! I am called to help people; if I’m not having fun and feeling good about it, that won’t translate well to the people I want to connect with.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is focused on helping others. I write books, speak to groups, host podcasts, and seek to help others craft their voice to tell their stories. I want nothing more than to change the world through telling stories because it is the most impactful way to leave a legacy. I have often experienced where my spoken or written words helped someone else. I have a passion for assisting others to have that same creative experience. There is magic in stories; they stay with us long after we’ve heard them. They can affect the generations to come, negatively or positively. My vision is to craft stories that make a tremendous positive impact.

The development of the vision of my business was organic but certainly not easy! As I started to pursue writing and speaking full-time, the other piece – the story coaching – took a while to take shape in my mind and my heart. It took several fits and starts. While it is the least developed piece of my business lines so far, it is also the most long-range of the three parts of AWV Publishing. I have learned I need to research and understand what I’m getting into while balancing. This is new, so I have a lot to learn! Finding a mentor has been very helpful as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start with viewing James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace at Rice University. It’s so ethereal and meditative, a very moving experience. Then, we would have dinner at one of Houston’s many fantastic Tex-Mex restaurants. For a day visit, we would visit the Houston Museum of Fine Art, then Discovery Green for some outdoor time and delicious eats at the Grove. We could then visit the Texas-shaped pool at the Marriott Marquis Downtown then round out our day at the Sunset Rooftop Lounge.

We could then explore all the wonderful outdoor spaces along the Bayou and Parks as you move west out of Downtown, even enjoying a kayak along the Bayou before lunch or dinner at Truth BBQ in midtown. There is so much to do in Houston, so it very much depends!! There is something for everyone but those are a few of my favorites.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shout out to three people who knew before I did that what I am doing now is what I am meant to be doing. The first is my mentor and friend, JJ Simmons. She not only models the kind of impact I want to have, but also she is a genuinely incredible person. She has helped guide and direct me from the start, and now we are looking into partnerships to maximize the impact we can use both our giftings.

Next, I want to thank my friend Erika Pomares, who works for MD Anderson on their Health Equities Research Team. She also knew before I did that this was what I was supposed to do and the business I’m growing. She is also successful in her own right, and the impact she makes on black and brown communities for health equity is critical work.

Finally, I want to thank my friend Blair Overman. She is a BCBA Autism specialist for a school district in the Greater Houston area. Not only does she tell me the truth about my focus, but she daily impacts our educational system with a focus on the most vulnerable kids and their families.

All three of these ladies have been critical in my efforts to start, keep doing, and lean into my purpose with intention. Their support is unwavering and I would not be pursuing this fulfilling dream without them.

Website: https://amywvogel.my.canva.site/

Instagram: instagram.com/@awvogel

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywvogel/

Facebook: facebook.com/amywvogel

Youtube: youtube.com/amywvogel

Image Credits
All personal pictures