For a long time, I believed success meant picking one path, building one business, and making it work.

I spent years chasing that dream - growing audiences, posting and pinning consistent, running ads, networking, and trying to force one of my passions to “become the thing.” But instead of feeling successful, I felt exhausted, burnt out, and always behind.

This summer, I started to see things a bit differently.

Why One Path Didn’t Work for Me

Since diving fully into entrepreneurship with two heart-centered businesses (this one, The Elevated Esthetician, and my mindful wedding planning business, Imperfectly Planned), it’s been a whirlwind.

Some days, I feel aligned and fulfilled. Other days, I catch myself comparing my journey to others and feeling so defeated and discouraged. I’ve spent years building these businesses slowly on the side, and when I finally went all-in this summer, I pushed myself hard with visibility work, pivoting my approach, trying to sell products, and client outreach.

The result? Burnout, a bit of resentment - and very little “success” in the traditional sense (money, engagement, numbers). It made me question if I was even cut out for this.

Discovering My Creative Ecosystem

Around this time, I began giving tours at Springdale Station, a local wedding venue in Austin, Texas. It was part-time, but it felt incredibly rewarding - meaningful work that also paid me.

That’s when it clicked: maybe my career isn’t supposed to be one thing. Maybe it’s a creative ecosystem.

For me, that looks like:
✨ Running my two businesses at my own pace
💌 Doing contract work like venue tours and consulting
🌸 Collaborating with brands I love (like Apoterra Skincare or TRY ARMRA)
🌿 Exploring side gigs and part-time roles that spark joy

It’s not scattered. It’s not “less than.”
It’s simply a different kind of career - one that prioritizes meaning, flexibility, and joy over the pressure to build one big thing. What a HUGE relief.

The Tools That Support Me

When I first started exploring career changes years ago (back in my 9–5 days), I tracked my energy and mood alongside my daily tasks. This simple practice showed me what fueled me, what drained me, and where I felt most alive. Over time, it guided me toward the path I’m on today.

That’s why I created the Energy & Awareness Tracker - so others could use this same tool. It’s a printable PDF that helps you notice patterns in your energy, mood, and self-care, and use those insights to make aligned decisions for your life and work.

👉 Grab your Energy & Awareness Tracker here for $8

(P.S. That same process even led me to discover somatic work - and eventually enroll in IWA’s Somatic Practitioner Certification program. If you’re curious, I have a referral code: use LISA for $50 off your enrollment fee.)

Embracing My Own Pace

I even recently accepted a part-time role as a Marshmallowist (yes, making marshmallows 🍬) - which fits beautifully into my creative ecosystem alongside weddings, digital wellness products, email coaching experiences and content work.

For so long, I thought not making one business “work” meant failure. Now I see it differently. I’m multi-passionate, and that’s something to embrace. Growth might be slower, but I’m building a life filled with flexibility, fulfillment, and creative freedom.

If you’re trying to make one thing work and it hasn’t measured up to expectations, I want you to know: you’re not behind. You’re just building something different - something uniquely yours.