The Altitude Ripple Effect: Finding Perspective in Business and Motherhood

When you’re running a business, it can be difficult to step away without thinking about everything that might need your attention. But sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what helps you return with a clearer head and a different way of looking at things.

In this episode of Market Like a Mother, Radiant Founder & CEO Karen Cummings sits down with Amanda Long and Stephanie Long Turner, sisters and co-owners of Hot Air Expeditions, to talk about leading a family business while protecting their relationship and making room for life outside work.

From working together to recognizing burnout, Amanda and Stephanie share what they’ve learned about building a business that leaves room for joy.

Watch the full conversation below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfLnKeGHoPY

A change of scenery can change how you approach your work

Amanda and Stephanie have seen first-hand how stepping outside a routine can inspire ideas that wouldn’t necessarily come from another hour at a desk.

During one trip, seeing a drone capture a camel tour in Mexico prompted them to consider how something similar could enhance the hot air balloon experience. Other changes, from refreshed passenger vans to more inclusive breakfast options, grew from thinking about how to make an established experience even better.

For business owners, inspiration can come from being a customer somewhere else. Paying attention to how another company welcomes guests, communicates, or creates a memorable moment can help you see opportunities within your own business.

Sometimes that shift happens on a trip, but the sisters also talked about how a walk or a short break can make a stubborn problem easier to approach.

Clear roles give a partnership room to work

Taking over their parents’ company wasn’t a carefully planned career move. After their mother unexpectedly passed away, Amanda and Stephanie found themselves learning how to keep the business running while navigating a deeply personal loss.

Over time, their responsibilities developed around their strengths. Amanda handles marketing and group sales, while Stephanie oversees finances and insurance. Knowing who owns each area helps them make decisions without constantly stepping into each other’s work.

That trust shows up in everyday situations. Stephanie described waiting for Amanda to answer a group-sales question rather than making a decision without the context her sister has.

For anyone working with a business partner, clear ownership makes collaboration easier. You can contribute ideas and offer support while respecting the experience the other person brings to their responsibilities.

Protecting the relationship takes honest conversations

Amanda and Stephanie enjoy working together, but they’ve also learned that being sisters doesn’t remove the need to communicate clearly.

Amanda recalled sharing her frustration about a work situation and being surprised when Stephanie said it felt like she was being yelled at. Having that conversation helped Amanda understand how her delivery was affecting her sister, even though that wasn’t her intention.

They also try to keep work from taking over every dinner or outing together. Their relationship matters beyond what they’re building professionally, and they want time to enjoy each other as sisters.

For family businesses, making room for those conversations can help prevent small misunderstandings from becoming lasting resentment. It also gives people permission to say when something needs to change.

Boundaries work better when everyone understands them

Running a balloon company means early mornings and situations that genuinely need immediate attention. Amanda and Stephanie acknowledged that disconnecting completely isn’t always realistic, so their boundaries account for how the business operates.

One practice is keeping nonurgent group messages until at least 8 a.m. They also communicate when they’ll be away from their phones and who can handle anything urgent during that time. When taking a vacation, Amanda makes it clear that urgent matters should come through by phone rather than relying on her to check email.

Those expectations create room to step away without leaving everyone guessing.

The conversation also touched on what it means to build a business that can function without your constant involvement. Giving people the training, information, and responsibility they need makes it easier to enjoy time off while trusting that the work is being handled.

Small wins deserve a place in your definition of success

Motherhood has changed how Stephanie recognizes progress. While finishing a major project or reaching a business goal still matters, celebrating her son’s everyday milestones has made her more aware of the smaller wins along the way.

She also described how returning to daily morning walks helped her feel more like herself. That time gives her a mental reset, which she notices in her patience at work and at home.

Amanda shared a similar practice through her gratitude journal, focusing on things she appreciated within the previous 24 hours and setting an intention for the day. Karen added her family’s “rose, bud, and thorn” exercise, which makes space to reflect on a challenge, something to look forward to, and a favorite moment.

These habits give everyday experiences some attention, especially during seasons when it’s easy to focus only on what still needs to be done.

Make room for a different perspective

For Amanda and Stephanie, the reward of hot air ballooning is watching guests experience something that surprises them. Someone who was nervous before takeoff can find themselves absorbed in the view, enjoying a moment they almost talked themselves out of having.

Their conversation with Karen offers a reminder to leave room for that kind of wonder in our own lives. Trying something unfamiliar, taking a walk, or spending time with someone you love can help you return to your responsibilities with more perspective and appreciation.

If you’re ready to take a fresh look at your brand’s direction, book a Discovery Call with Radiant to explore how a thoughtful marketing strategy can support your next stage of growth.

For more conversations about leadership, business, and the lives we’re building alongside them, subscribe to Market Like a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss a new episode or idea, with more conversations and new seasons ahead.