What’s Your Playbook? Erin Lichy’s Blueprint for Balancing Passion, Failure, and Success

Erin Dana Lichy Lichy is a true embodiment of the modern New Yorker: driven, versatile, and unapologetically ambitious. Born and raised in Manhattan, Erin’s deep-rooted connection to the city has shaped her career and entrepreneurial ventures. Last year, she joined the cast of The Real Housewives of New York, adding reality TV star to her impressive resume. She also co-founded her mezcal brand Mezcalum in 2023, expanding her entrepreneurial portfolio and proving her flair for branding and marketing. Whether she’s closing high-profile real estate deals, transforming homes through design, or navigating the spotlight with true authenticity, Erin’s talents are as multifaceted as the city she calls home.?

I had the pleasure of chatting with the entrepreneur-slash-reality TV star recently and took the opportunity to pick her brain. Specifically, I was curious about how she leaned into her personal brand – both on and offscreen — and what she’s learned from her time on RHONY so far. Here’s what she had to say.?

The power of family – and staying true to yourself

“I come from a family of entrepreneurs and rule-breakers,” Erin tells me, diving right in. A story she shared about her grandmother stood out as a testament to courage and determination. “She was completely fearless,” Erin says with admiration. “She wanted her kids to grow up in a good area, so she just went out and made it happen.”?

Married off at 16 and a mother by 18, Erin’s grandmother immigrated to America with a vision for a better life for her children. Despite speaking little English, she took bold steps to secure a home, literally knocking on doors and asking if homeowners were willing to sell. “She was always working hard and breaking conventions,” Erin shares.

This idea of authenticity and working hard for what you want is core to how Erin is — on and offscreen. Who she is in both capacities are, “one and the same,” she says. “I think people who are successful at reality TV are not monitoring themselves. When you start to tailor your behavior on TV and off TV, that's when I think you get into trouble,” she says. ”I am exactly who I am on the show as I am off the show."?

How setbacks can spark growth, resilience, and new opportunities

Balancing multiple careers, raising three kids (with another on the way!), and navigating life in the spotlight isn’t always smooth sailing. “I’m not going to lie,” Erin admits. “Sometimes I have rough days, and I’m like, I’m exhausted. This is too much.” But through it all, she’s discovered that loving what you do makes even the toughest days manageable.

That lesson didn’t come easily. Erin opened up about a business venture that didn’t work out — a handbag line she started with her husband. “I had a business that failed,” she tells me candidly. “We worked in fashion, and we poured so much of our time and money into it, but after a couple of years, I realized I just wasn’t passionate about it.”

Erin acknowledged that part of the struggle to let go was tied to ego. “Neither of us wanted to lose all the money we had put into it, but we also didn’t want to admit that it wasn’t working,” she shares. Eventually, they sold the business. “I just didn’t feel it anymore. It wasn’t exciting for me, and I was just doing it to do it.”

Through this experience, Erin learned one of the most valuable lessons of her career: the importance of genuine passion. “If you don’t truly believe in what you’re doing, it’s hard to make it work. It’s hard to do the job well,” she said.

She also came to understand something often overlooked in the business world: the power of walking away. “It’s okay to start something you believed in and then stop believing in it,” Erin explained. “It’s okay to walk away. That’s such an underrated lesson, and it’s something I think we don’t talk about enough.”

Turning on-screen moments into off-screen opportunities

When Erin was offered the chance to join RHONY, she didn’t miss a beat. “I didn’t really think about it,” she admits. “Whenever people ask this question, I’m always stunned that I didn’t sit down and weigh the pros and cons. It just happened so quickly, and I’m a yes person. My family was like, ‘Yeah, it’s a great opportunity,’ and I just went for it. I figured I’d deal with everything else after.”

Though some family members questioned whether she was “dramatic enough” for reality TV, Erin embraced the challenge, turning her time on the show into a strategic opportunity. For her, RHONY wasn’t just about being in the spotlight — it was a chance to expand her entrepreneurial ventures. “Absolutely,” Erin says when asked if she leveraged the show to boost her businesses. “Mezcalum was actually born out of the necessity to expand my portfolio.”

Prior to RHONY, Erin was deeply embedded in service-based industries like real estate and interior design — fields that required close client interactions and significant time commitments. “Interior design is incredibly intimate and professional,” she explains. “I was picking out screws for someone’s door, and I realized I just didn’t have the bandwidth anymore.”

Erin remembers the conversation with her husband when she decided what her next business would be. “I told him, ‘I need a product to put out there — something I’m passionate about.’ And we thought about the mezcal we’d been talking about starting for the past 12 years. That was it. We came up with the name in the car on the spot.”

Through this process, Erin also learned the importance of collaboration and seeking expertise. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she advises. “If you need to hire someone who’s more experienced, do it. It’s worth it.”

I loved my conversation with Erin. She was refreshingly honest about the bumps in the road she’s faced and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Her story isn’t just about success — it’s about perseverance, self-awareness, and knowing when to pivot. I’m pretty excited to see what this multi-hyphenate rockstar does next!