Because what she’s doing isn’t landscaping as usual.
It’s something much deeper than that.

Trista is the founder of Wild Works of Whimsy and Southern Branch Nursery.
And the people she serves are homeowners and communities who are ready to think differently about the land they care for.

Not faster.
Not trendier.
Better.

When I asked her what she does, she didn’t talk about curb appeal or quick transformations.

She said she helps people create resilient, ecologically functional landscapes using native plants.
Through design, guidance, and education.

No shortcuts.

And that stuck with me.

Because in a world that rewards speed,
Trista is committed to doing things the way ecosystems actually work.

Slow.
Site-specific.
Built to last.

She’s a U.S. Navy veteran, which you can feel in the way she approaches her work.
There’s discipline there.
Integrity.
A deep respect for systems that are bigger than any one person.

This isn’t about making something look good for a season.
It’s about restoring balance over time.

And I love who she chooses to support.

She named Emily Benson as a business she believes in.
Not just for what she does, but how she does it.

Clarity, sustainability, and human-centered business.

You can tell Trista pays attention to values, not just outcomes.

Right now, she’s looking to reach more homeowners and nonprofits who want to make responsible land-use choices.

People who are ready to ask better questions.
People who care about long-term impact over short-term aesthetics.

Because visibility for her isn’t about growth for the sake of growth.

It’s about reaching the right people.
The ones who are willing to do this work thoughtfully.

And when I asked her what she wants to be known for, she didn’t hesitate.

She wants to be the person who helps people do native landscaping the right way.
Honestly.
Thoughtfully.
Without cutting corners.

That kind of clarity is powerful.

Because it tells you exactly who she is.
And exactly who she’s here for.

This is the creative economy.
Support circulating. Stories being seen. People rising together.

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With love,

Elizabeth

There’s something powerful about people who choose to sit with others in their hardest moments.
Not fix. Not rush.
Just be there with care, patience, and truth.

That’s the work Melissa does through Mel in the Middle.

She supports people who are seeking healing.
And she does it in a way that honors the fact that healing doesn’t follow a schedule.

When I asked her about her work, one thing stood out immediately.
She doesn’t watch the clock during her sessions.

Because in her world, healing has its own timing.
And she respects that.

Through intuitive sessions, mediumship, energy work, coaching, and guided meditation, she creates space for people to find clarity and feel supported while they move through life’s heavier moments.

But what stayed with me most…
wasn’t just what she does.

It’s how she wants people to feel.

Seen.
Heard.
Honored.

Melissa isn’t trying to be everything to everyone.
She’s committed to being a steady, calming presence when someone feels like everything around them is uncertain.

And that kind of presence doesn’t just appear.
It’s nurtured.

She shared that Tune-In 2 Wellness is one of the spaces that pours back into her.
A place where she can slow down, reconnect, and be fully supported herself.

And I love that.

Because the people doing this kind of work need spaces to exhale too.
They need community.
They need care.

And when they receive it, they’re able to give it even more deeply.

Melissa is also someone who understands that visibility isn’t just about growing a business.

For her, it’s about impact.

Every person she helps find clarity…
every moment of peace someone reclaims…
it doesn’t stop there.

It ripples into families.
Into communities.
Into the way people show up in their own lives.

That’s the real work.

And when I asked her what she wants to be known for, she didn’t hesitate.

She wants to be a source of kindness, love, and support.
A warm, steady light in people’s darkest moments.

Not loud.
Not performative.

Just real.
Consistent.
Grounded in care.

And you can feel that in everything she shared.

Keep going Melissa!

With love,

Elizabeth

I want you to meet Kacie Steinmetz.

Kacie is the heart behind Shine Yoga in Virginia Beach.

Her work is centered on one powerful idea.

Helping overwhelmed adults and their families calm their nervous systems, move their bodies, and reconnect with what matters most.

Not someday.

Right now.

Because when stress builds up in the body, it doesn’t just affect how we feel.
It affects how we live, how we show up, and how we move through the world.

And Kacie has made it her mission to help people find their way back to themselves.

Through movement.
Through breath.
Through presence.

And here’s something I love about her.

She doesn’t just teach movement.

She lives it.

Kacie loves to dance.
She’s also a professional singer.

So there’s this beautiful thread running through everything she does.
Rhythm. Expression. Energy.

The understanding that the body was never meant to stay stuck.

It was meant to move.

When I asked Kacie about a business she loves supporting, she immediately mentioned Astraea Coffee Shop.

She described it as a warm, joyful little spot with incredible food, smoothies, and of course great coffee.

The kind of place where community naturally gathers.

Those spaces matter.

Because the creative economy isn’t just about what we build.
It’s about where we gather and who we lift up along the way.

And Kacie is doing that in a big way.

She estimates that $5,000–$10,000 of her spending goes directly into supporting other small and creative businesses.

That’s what circulation looks like.

That’s how ecosystems grow.

Right now, more visibility would help Kacie take an important next step.

She wants to move her business into a space that gives her more autonomy.

A space she can shape fully.

A space where people walk in and immediately feel safe.
Welcome.
Grounded.

The kind of place where healing doesn’t feel intimidating.

It feels human.

And when I asked her what she wants to be known for, her answer stopped me for a second.

She said she wants to be known for turning stress into movement so people can find their way back to what matters most.

That’s powerful.

Because so many people are carrying stress they don’t know how to release.

And sometimes the first step back to ourselves…
is simply moving our bodies again.

Kacie is creating that doorway.

And I’m grateful she’s doing it in this community.

This is what we’re building here.
Not just businesses. Not just visibility.
But people who take what they’ve lived and turn it into something that makes the world better.

With love,

Elizabeth

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Not consume it.

Today, I want you to meet Erica Rice.

Because Erica is someone who believes the point of entrepreneurship isn’t to create another system that burns you out.

It’s to create something that works for you.

Erica runs Erica Rice Digital Consulting, where she helps small service-based businesses use technology in a way that actually supports the life they want to live.

Not the other way around.

When I asked her about her work, one thing stood out immediately.

She blends heart and strategy.
Wellness and technology.

Because a business shouldn’t just run well on paper.

It should feel good to run.

That perspective shows up in everything she does. Erica is someone who helps people step back, get clear, and design systems that support their energy, their goals, and the reality of their lives.

Not someone else’s version of success.

And I love this about her.

Because Erica is also someone who deeply supports the small business ecosystem around her. She didn’t name just one favorite business.

She laughed and said she buys from friends in business all the time.

But one thing she especially loves?

Local farms near her home.

The honey.
The apple butter.
The stands at the farmer’s market.

That kind of support matters. It’s how local economies stay alive.

Right now, Erica estimates she circulates somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000 each year back into small and creative businesses.

That’s real impact.

And when we talked about what more visibility could help her create, her vision got even bigger.

Yes, she does digital consulting.

But that’s just the beginning.

She wants to expand into in-person workshops, speaking, coaching, writing, and hosting events. The kind of spaces where people can step away from the noise and rethink how their businesses are structured.

And long term?

She has a dream of creating a workshop and retreat center on her land in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

A place where people can gather.

Learn.

Reconnect with their work in a healthier way.

But dreams like that require community.

Connections. Visibility. Conversations that open doors.

And at the center of it all is what Erica wants to be known for.

Bringing clarity.

And encouraging people to break the mold and do what’s genuinely best for them.

Even when it doesn’t fit social norms.

I respect that.

Because the creative economy needs more people willing to question the default settings.

People who remind us that there are many ways to build a meaningful business and a meaningful life.

And Erica Rice is doing exactly that.

This is the creative economy in motion.

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And this one is personal.

Amber is the owner of The Cookie Cottage-VA.
She’s also my assistant.
Which means she’s helping run her dream while helping me run mine.

And she does both with heart.

Amber creates home baked cookies for cookie lovers.
That’s the simple version.

But what she’s really doing?

She’s creating moments of joy.

You can taste it.
You can feel it.
It’s in the way she shows up.

Before she ever launched her baking business, Amber was a successful video game streamer on Twitch. Yes. Really.

From gaming headset
to oven mitts.

I love that about her.

She knows how to build community. She’s done it in digital spaces and now she’s doing it through butter, sugar, and flour.

And let me tell you something about Amber that you won’t see on a website.

Her kindness is real.

It’s how she supports my business behind the scenes.
It’s how she handles details most people would overlook.
It’s how she makes sure things don’t fall through the cracks.

She wants to be known for that. Her kindness.
And maybe, just maybe, as THE cookie girl.

I fully support both.

Amber is already circulating between $1,000 and $5,000 back into small and creative businesses. That matters. That’s impact.

She also intentionally supports Summer Paradiso because she values authenticity and generosity in business. She’s drawn to people who lead with heart.

And here’s the dream.

More visibility would bring her one step closer to owning a stand alone bakery in her community.

Not just a cottage kitchen.
A storefront.

A space where people walk in and instantly feel at home.
A place where kids press their hands against the display case.
Where regulars are known by name.

I can see it.

And I can see how she’ll run it. With warmth. With excellence. With that steady kindness that makes people come back again and again.

Amber isn’t just building a baking business.
She’s building a future in joy.

And I’m grateful I get to witness it up close.

This is what happens when we stop building alone and start building together.
Connection creates dividends!

With love,

Elizabeth

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I want you to meet Rocky Kitzmiller.

We talk a lot about visibility in this community.

But sometimes visibility isn’t about marketing.
It’s about remembering who you are.

Rocky is the founder of Tune-in 2 Wellness.
And she helps adult women who’ve lost themselves find their way back.

Back to their voice.
Back to their power.
Back to the version of themselves that feels whole.

Through community, hypnotherapy, and intuitive Reiki, she supports women in healing the root wounds. Not the surface stuff. The deep stuff. The things we carry quietly.

When I asked her what she really does, she didn’t give me a résumé answer.

She said she helps women reclaim their power and rise into their most unapologetic, soul-led selves.

That tells you everything.

And here’s my favorite part.

She says she can turn a room full of strangers into a circle of soul sisters in under ten minutes.

I believe her.

Because women don’t need more small talk.
They need safe space.
They need someone who knows how to hold the room.

Rocky also intentionally supports The Holistic Treehouse. She believes in pouring back into spaces that nurture healing and connection. That’s creative economy in action. Circulating support inside the ecosystem.

And she’s not dabbling. She estimates that between $5,000 and $10,000 of her spending goes toward small and creative businesses.

That matters.

When women like Rocky grow, entire communities feel it.

When I asked her what more visibility would help her do, she didn’t say “grow revenue.”

She said she wants to build her community and elevate the vibe of our world.

That’s the work.

And when she talks about what she wants to be known for?

She said she wants to be the gal who helps women come home to themselves.

Not impress them.
Not fix them.
Not save them.

Help them come home.

That’s powerful.

Because so many women are walking around disconnected from their own truth. And when one woman finds her way back, she gives other women permission to do the same.

That’s impact.

That’s ripple effect.

That’s why we tell these stories.

This is the creative economy in motion.
Support circulating. Stories being seen. People rising together.

With love,

Elizabeth


Join us inside the creative economy!

Because what she’s building isn’t just a salon.

It’s Hex&Hair.

And it’s something entirely its own.

Before we talk about business, let’s talk about intention.

So many of us are craving spaces where we can be fully ourselves. Not edited. Not toned down. Not explained.

Jennie created Hex&Hair as a metaphysical salon suite and community space where hair artistry meets spiritual practice. Where you can sit in the chair, transform your look, and also feel your spirit settle.

Hair. Energy. Expression. Growth.

All in one room.

When I asked her who she helps, she said, “Anyone really. Spiritual people.”

And I love that.

Because what she’s really saying is this: if you’re on a journey of becoming, you’re welcome here.

Jennie has been practicing witchcraft since middle school.

Let that sink in.

This isn’t a trend for her. It’s not aesthetic. It’s lived experience. It’s devotion. It’s years of exploration and curiosity and claiming her own path.

That grounding shows up in her work.

Hex&Hair isn’t just about how you look when you leave.

It’s about how you feel.

It’s about self expression that feels aligned.
It’s about growth that feels supported.
It’s about connection that feels real.

And she doesn’t just create space. She supports space.

One business she loves uplifting is The Holistic Treehouse. She’s an affiliate with them and speaks about them with genuine care. She values how they create room for so many different ways to grow, tend to your spirit, and connect with others.

That’s what the creative economy looks like.

Not competition.

Circulation.

Jennie estimates she supports between $1,000 and $5,000 in small and creative businesses. That’s money moving intentionally. That’s values in action.

When I asked what more visibility would help her do, she didn’t talk about numbers.

She talked about people.

Reaching more people.
Building more community.
Connecting with those who would truly find value in what she offers.

And when I asked what she wants to be known for, she didn’t say “expert.” She didn’t say “innovator.”

She said she wants to be known for being kind, encouraging, and empowering.

That’s leadership.

That’s legacy.

Not just what you create.
But how people feel in your presence.

Jennie is building something brave. A space where spirituality isn’t hidden. Where creativity isn’t separated from identity. Where your outer expression and inner life get to meet.

And that matters.

This is what happens when we stop building alone and start building together.
Connection becomes currency. And everyone benefits.

With love,

Elizabeth

This community exists because visibility changes things.
It brings the right people closer.
It helps good work travel further.
And it reminds us we don’t have to do this alone.

Jennifer is the founder of Fempreneur Collective, and at her core, she’s a relationship builder.
Not the surface-level, collect-business-cards kind.
The real kind.
The kind rooted in accountability, collaboration, and showing up for each other when growth gets uncomfortable.

She works with established women entrepreneurs who are tired of doing business in isolation.
Women who know they’re capable of more momentum, more credibility, more sustainability.
But who don’t want success that costs them their health, their joy, or their values.

What Jennifer offers isn’t hustle culture dressed up in community language.
It’s execution with support.
Growth with follow-through.
And relationships that actually move the needle.

One thing I love about Jennifer is how human she is about connection.
She’ll tell you she’ll drive hours for the right person, the right adventure, or even the right Costco run.
And somehow turn it into a core memory every time.
That tells you everything you need to know about how she approaches business too.

Jennifer is also deeply committed to the creative economy.
She consistently invests thousands of dollars back into small and creative businesses.
And she’s intentional about who she supports, including communities like High Vibe Women, where collaboration and energy come first.

When I asked her what more visibility would help her do, her answer was clear.
She doesn’t want just more people.
She wants the right women.
Entrepreneurs who are ready for accountability.
Ready to follow through.
Ready to grow in a way that’s sustainable and aligned.

And what she wants to be known for matters.
Jennifer is here to change how women entrepreneurs think about growth.
To prove that sustainable execution actually works.
Not someday.
Not in theory.
But in real businesses, with real lives attached.

This is what we’re building here.
Not just businesses. Not just visibility.
But people who take what they’ve lived and turn it into something that serves.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to become more of who you are but weren’t sure where to start,I want you to meet Shannon Dillon.

This community exists because visibility changes things.
When we see each other clearly, growth gets easier.
And stories like Shannon’s remind us why this work matters.

Shannon is the heart behind Boldly Becoming.
She works with women who are ready to stop abandoning themselves in the name of responsibility, expectation, or survival.
Women who know something has to change, even if they’re still figuring out how.

When I asked her what she does, she didn’t dress it up.
She helps women prioritize themselves.
She helps them push through fear.
She helps them move again when life feels stuck.

Because stagnation isn’t an option.
And growth doesn’t happen alone.

One thing I love about Shannon is how deeply she believes in reflection as a tool for transformation.
She doesn’t just talk about journaling.
She lives it.
So much so that she’s getting certified in journal therapy because she’s seen, firsthand, how powerful it can be when women finally give themselves space to tell the truth.

That commitment to inner work shows up in how she supports others too.
She’s a strong supporter of Tunein2Wellness, a business she credits with radically improving her own quality of life through meditation and journaling.
This is what the creative economy looks like in real life.
Care flowing both ways.
Support that actually changes how people live.

Shannon estimates she’s invested over $10,000 into small and creative businesses.
Not out of obligation.
Out of alignment.
Because she knows the kind of world she wants to build, and she puts her resources there.

More visibility for Shannon means more clients.
But more than that, it means more women seeing permission modeled in real time.
Permission to choose themselves without guilt.
Without apology.

And if there’s one thing she wants to be known for, it’s this.
Helping women prioritize themselves fully.
Not halfway.
Not when everything else is done.
But now.

This is what happens when we stop building alone and start working together. Women helping women.

Thank you Shannon!!

With love,

Elizabeth

Megan Feken is the heart behind The Holistic Treehouse, and everything she builds starts with one thing… safety.

She creates space for spiritual seekers and entrepreneurs who want to gather, heal, grow, and feel supported while they do it. Sometimes that looks like hosting group events and collaborative experiences with other practitioners. Sometimes it looks like one-on-one support for people navigating grief, transition, or spiritual curiosity. Always, it looks like community over isolation.

One of my favorite things about Megan’s work is this. Some of her most transformative client relationships have been with women ten to thirty years older than her. That alone tells you everything you need to know. Leadership doesn’t come from age or credentials. It comes from presence. And Megan has it.

She’s also incredibly intentional about where she pours her support. One organization she loves is Rachel’s Gift, a nonprofit that provides resources for families impacted by pregnancy or infant loss. As a stillbirth mama herself, Megan knows this work isn’t theoretical. It’s personal. It’s lived. And it’s deeply meaningful.

Over the last year, Megan has invested between $1,000 and $5,000 supporting other small, creative, and women-owned businesses. This is what the creative economy looks like when it’s rooted in care, not competition. When support moves in circles, not hierarchies.

When I asked what more visibility would help her do this year, her answer wasn’t about growth for growth’s sake. More visibility means more spiritual seekers and entrepreneurs she can support. More people finding their way through hard seasons. More opportunities to raise collective consciousness, one connection at a time.

And when she shared what she wants to be known for, she said this:

Someone who took pain and alchemized it into positive power and purpose.

If that doesn’t stop you in your tracks, I don’t know what will.

This is what we’re building here.
Not just businesses. Not just visibility.
But stories like Megan’s… seen, shared, and honored.

This is This Week’s Creative Economy Impact.
And it’s just the beginning.

With love,
Elizabeth

Here’s what I choose to believe.

Creativity has always been one of humanity’s most powerful responses to hard times.

Our work reminds us of our shared humanity.
Being in our purpose helps us process what we can’t name.

Building something meaningful is a way of choosing hope without ignoring reality.

In moments like these, creativity is not about escape. It’s about contribution.

When you create, you are saying, “I’m still here. I still believe in connection. I still believe we can make something better together.”

And when creatives support other creatives, something extraordinary happens. We stop waiting for permission. We stop shrinking. We build our own tables, our own stages, our own economies rooted in integrity, and possibility.

You don’t have to have the perfect words.
You don’t have to take on everything.
You just have to keep showing up in the way only you can… in your magic.

If you’ve been wondering how to lead when times feel tough, start here.
Create something honest.
Support someone nearby.
Choose contribution over silence.

This is how we shape the future. Quietly. Collectively. Creatively.

And you’re not alone in it.

Happy Friday my beautiful friends.

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Thanks for being here!

As 2026 kicks off, I’m excited to continue this creative economy movement where women support women in business. I’m currently working our our first visibility project of the year.

Why substack?

I want the Creative Economy to feel different than my normal Marketing Emails. I want it to feel like community and I have heard substack is the place for that!

We are stronger together

I stand by this, and I appreciate you being one of our first 25 members. I promise to lead the way by taking crazy actions like this to see what possibilities we can unlock together!

Storytelling

Storytelling is powerful. I can’t wait to share your story!! Hint Hint at what might be coming this quarter 😍

Reminder our LIVE event is happening in April

Get $100 off if you register now. Use the coupon “EARLYBIRD100”

I have no idea what I’m doing 🤣, cheers to learning new things!

With Love,

Elizabeth

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