Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Nicole.
Hi Marisa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi! My name is Marisa Nicole. I am a single mom who was raised by a single mom.
Which is a huge part of what makes me who I am today.
Mental health awareness is my absolute biggest passion in life and I am so grateful to share a bit about who I am and why I started my company, Tried & True, xo.
I had grown up around addiction, abuse, severe mental health issues within my family, incarcerated loved ones, etc.
I experienced a lot of mental and emotional abuse long before I was an adult.
As an adult, I found myself repeating cycles. Living life & handling situations the only way I knew. I found myself in abusive relationships, I experienced sexual assault, loss, and more trauma.
The thing is, I didn’t even know what “mental health” was. I had no idea what it meant to heal, what trauma was, or how it affected me and my life. I didn’t know what I needed, but I knew that I was hurting & I knew that something was not aligning.
Then I became a mom.
Everything changed. Something seemed to “click” is the only way I can describe it.
I knew that what I grew up with/my experiences emotionally and mentally as a child were not what I wanted my daughter to experience. I finally felt and clearly saw the “cycles” that were repeating from generation to generation.
I also finally saw that it wasn’t just about me as a parent. These cycles were affecting my friendships, my romantic relationships, my family as a whole, etc.
I saw and felt other people’s pain and trauma in a different light too and it sparked so much concern about mental health and creating community within that.
Since I was a kid, I always wanted to own my own business. Every hobby/interest I had, I always thought “how can I make this into a company?” As an adult, I genuinely did not EVER like being an employee. I didn’t like working for someone else. I wanted something that was mine. Where I made the decisions, had the responsibility, had the VOICE I deserved to run things.
Eventually, fighting imposter syndrome/self-doubt, I took the leap and started this company.
Where I could turn that passion for mental health awareness into a COMMUNITY. Where I could actively spread mental health messages, start conversations amongst people, remind people they are not alone in what they are feeling/experiencing, validating people’s experiences with mental health struggles, and create something bigger than myself.
I am working as hard as I can to turn Tried & True, xo into a brand.
The podcast, the clothing, the website, the resources, the social media.
Still being in the beginning stages of this company- I do still have to work a full-time job.
On top of that, I am a single mom. But not just any single mom. I work extremely hard to be as mindful & present as I can be with her – because I am single-handedly breaking GENERATIONS worth of trauma & toxic cycles. Not just as her mother, but for myself. Reparenting myself, while also parenting her, is one of the hardest (but most beautiful things) I have ever had to do.
But it’s also the fire behind my business.
I am always working towards the growth of this community & company. Truly endless late nights & early mornings. Weekends. Any spare second, I get.
I am also an extremely transparent person online. Before ever even starting my company, I had created such a beautiful community of people who resonated with my story, who understood what I was going through, and who shared the same passions about mental health awareness. And that has pushed me further than I ever thought I would be able to go. The support, love, and encouragement along the way has been such a driving force.
When people tell me that my posts, designs, and messages within my company have saved their life. helped heal some of their family traumas, and made them a better parents. I am reminded exactly why I started this. I am reminded that no matter how tired I get, no matter how loud myself doubt screams at me, no matter how much I may struggle along the way. the company & community I have started is much bigger than me. And it’s reaching exactly who it was meant to. That’s all I can ever hope for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been anything but a smooth road. There have been the expected “business” related struggles of course. (Website issues, hiccups with manufacturing, financial hardships, deadlines, etc.)
But I think even more of a struggle than ANY of that is, ironically, remembering to take care of myself. Both my physical and mental health.
I have ADHD and CPTSD; which are a daily battle mentally.
I struggle with time management, triggers, motivation, and waves of dissociation. Just to mention a few.
Finding that balance with the business is definitely the biggest struggle.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Tried & True, xo is a mental health awareness clothing/merchandise line.
I made sure to learn how to use design software, and all of the ins and outs of business (taxes, building a website, inventory, manufacturing decisions, etc.) so that this entire company is truly ME.
All of it comes from my heart, my mind, and my hard work.
I make sure to always remain as transparent as possible & I have made it a priority to focus on the messages themselves. It’s not about the clothing itself. Although the quality of the merchandise will always be a main priority, the entire purpose of my company is COMMUNITY.
It is to reach as many people as possible. To make sure people feel seen, validated, supported, and loved.
My website has mental health resources that range across so many different needs. And my social media has always/will always remain a safe space for people to learn, grow, and express themselves.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Social media is the BIGGEST tool I have used.
I reached out to other small business owners, I followed people that I felt I aligned with, I asked a lot of questions, and watched a TON of YouTube videos of people who are experts in the topics I was researching.
I encourage people to never stop learning or asking questions.
And do not compare yourself to others. You are YOU.
Learn, grow, and find support in others, but use them as tools – not blueprints.
Always be open to mistakes & bumps in the road. They are going to happen. Learn from them. Remind yourself that it is not an indication of failure. None of us have it figured out. we are learning as we go! Seek community & support.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.triedandtruexo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triedandtruexo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triedandtruexo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVsm2vetHo36RgqMY9MKDbA
- Other: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1874378
Image Credits
@triedandtruexo
