About this episode
In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Emily Guerra. Emily is a Los Angeles native, productivity coach, and founder of The Productivity Flow. The conversation is about navigating unexpected career upheaval, redefining family support systems, and finding mindful balance amid major life transitions. Emily shares her journey from collegiate event planner with a clear path, to a pandemic-induced detour that led her to entrepreneurship and personal growth. Through candid stories about living with ADHD, family dynamics, and pivoting careers, Emily offers hope, perspective, and practical advice for anyone facing life’s curveballs.About the Guest:Emily Guerra is a lifelong Angeleno and founder of The Productivity Flow. With a background in event planning, a passion for systems and mindfulness, and lived experience managing ADHD, Emily now helps individuals and entrepreneurs design balanced, sustainable, and productive lives—especially in the new era of hybrid and work-from-home routines.Main Topics Covered:Navigating the sudden loss of a planned career due to the pandemicRe-examining family support systems and expectations as a young adultTransitioning from event planning to launching a freelance business during lockdownThe interplay between ADHD, systems creation, and productivityBuilding resilience, gratitude, and self-advocacy through therapy and coachingHow the new work-from-home paradigm demands rethinking productivity and boundariesImportance of strong peer, family, and community support networks in young adulthoodQuote from the Episode:"I need to take back control of my life. Like, this is ridiculous. I've really given all of my power away. I am placing blame on everyone but myself. And I need to take some accountability and, like, actually get my act together and see what I am able to do." — Emily GuerraTimestamps:[00:00:04] Emily’s LA roots, pandemic career plans, and rituals for transitioning from work to downtime[00:04:41] Event planning background, childhood influences, and love for systems[00:10:54] How COVID changed her graduation, forced moves, and revealed family realities[00:16:19] Emotional impact of losing parental safety nets and therapy breakthroughs[00:23:08] Reclaiming agency: from stuck to entrepreneurial action[00:26:10] Navigating support, FOMO, and digital community during lockdown[00:29:20] Launching a social media freelance business—and shifting to productivity coaching[00:34:23] The through-line of systems and work-life balance[00:38:05] Revisiting event planning and choosing self-employment[00:40:11] Why old productivity advice doesn’t work in the work-from-home era[00:42:12] Emily’s current offerings, community, and special session for listeners[00:43:41] Final fun questions: LA weather,
