When Success on Paper Doesn't Feel Like Success: Finding Your Way Back to What Matters
The Bud Collective is a curated series featuring Flower Buds Creative founder Nikki Holbrook in conversation with podcast hosts and clients. Each installment explores the strategy behind branding and web design for service-based businesses, and the stories behind building an online presence that actually works.
In this installment of Flower Buds Creative’s interview series, founder Nikki Holbrook joined host Stacey Kulongowski on Bring Your Big Energy which is a podcast that showcases relatable stories, practical exercises, and expert insights. It aims to empower listeners to shed energy-draining habits, uncover their strength, and embrace limitless potential
Stacey’s Intro: “In this episode of Bring Your Big Energy, Stacey sits down with branding strategist and founder of Flower Buds Creative, Nikki Holbrook, to explore the journey from corporate burnout to building a business rooted in purpose, authenticity, and personal values.”
Nikki Holbrook, brand strategist and web designer, speaking with host Stacey Kulongowski on the Bring Your Big Energy podcast about why authentic branding starts with your values, mission, and story.
For a long time, my career looked exactly the way it was supposed to.
I spent nearly a decade working in corporate marketing and user experience design. I worked for respected companies. I received positive feedback from managers. I was successful by every traditional measure.
But underneath all of that, something felt off.
I kept chasing the next role, the next promotion, the next opportunity that would finally make me feel fulfilled. Every move seemed like it should be the answer. A startup environment. A bigger company. A senior-level position. Better benefits.
Yet no matter where I landed, I felt increasingly disconnected from myself.
The Moment Everything Changed
When I accepted a senior UX role at Vanguard, many people saw it as a dream opportunity.
The company had an incredible reputation. The benefits were excellent. The role looked impressive on paper.
But within my first week, I knew something wasn't right.
As a creative person, I found myself working in an environment that didn't align with my strengths, interests, or values. Then the pandemic hit, and like many people, I found myself navigating overwhelming stress both professionally and personally.
By the end of 2020, after a company restructuring, I was moved into a new position within the organization.
On my first day in that role, I walked downstairs to start work and completely broke down.
I couldn't stop crying.
The thought of logging into my computer felt physically painful.
Looking back, that moment wasn't weakness. It wasn't failure.
It was my body telling me something my mind had been trying to ignore for years.
I was no longer in the right place.
The Cost of Trying to Fit In
One of the biggest lessons I learned during that season is that not every space is meant for you.
For years, I believed the answer was figuring out how to fit in better.
If I worked harder.
If I adjusted my communication style.
If I proved myself more.
If I stayed longer.
But eventually I realized that success isn't about forcing yourself into spaces that don't celebrate your strengths.
The right environment doesn't require you to shrink yourself.
The right environment allows you to fully show up as who you are.
And sometimes, when you can't find that environment, you create it yourself.
Reconnecting With What Makes You Human
During my corporate years, I slowly lost touch with the things that made me feel like me.
Creative hobbies disappeared.
Personal interests fell away.
Everything revolved around work.
When I finally stepped away, I rediscovered things I hadn't made time for in years.
Gardening.
Making art.
Creating simply because I enjoyed it.
Those activities weren't distractions from work. They were reminders of who I was outside of work.
As entrepreneurs, it's easy to believe every waking hour should be spent building.
But some of the best ideas, clearest thinking, and strongest creativity happen when we step away from the computer.
Why Your Values Matter More Than Your Strategy
One thing I often see when working with entrepreneurs is a focus on tactics before clarity.
People ask:
"What should I post?"
"What platform should I use?"
"What should my website say?"
But before any of those questions can be answered, we need to understand something much deeper:
What do you stand for?
For me, helping women build sustainable businesses became my North Star.
As someone who spent years navigating male-dominated industries, I understood firsthand how difficult it can be to build confidence and create opportunities for yourself.
That mission drives everything I do.
And when your business is built on a clear mission, decision-making becomes easier.
You can try different marketing strategies.
You can pivot offers.
You can evolve your services.
But your mission stays the same.
It's the thing that keeps pointing you in the right direction.
Why Strong Branding Starts With Self-Awareness
Many people think branding starts with a logo.
It doesn't.
Branding starts with understanding who you are, who you serve, and what matters to both of you.
When I work with clients, we spend time exploring:
Their values
Their mission
Their personality
Their audience
The emotions they want people to experience when interacting with their business
Only after we understand those pieces do we begin creating visuals.
The logo, colors, fonts, photography direction, and website all become tools that communicate something deeper.
Good branding isn't about looking pretty.
It's about helping the right people instantly recognize that they're in the right place.
The Power of Imperfect Action
One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as both a designer and entrepreneur is that perfection can become a form of procrastination.
For a long time, I kept tweaking.
Editing. Refining. Waiting.
Convincing myself that one more adjustment would make everything ready.
The truth?
Nothing is ever completely ready.
Your website won't be perfect.
Your content won't be perfect.
Your first offer won't be perfect.
But progress comes from movement, not waiting. You can always refine later.
You can always improve later.
You can always evolve later.
The important thing is getting started.
The Most Important Marketing Advice I Can Give
Today, we're surrounded by more content than ever before.
AI-generated content.
Templates.
Copycat marketing.
Everyone is saying similar things in similar ways.
The businesses that stand out aren't necessarily the loudest.
They're the most authentic.
People don't just buy products anymore.
They buy from people.
They want connection.
They want personality.
They want to know who they're supporting.
That's why your story matters.
Your experiences matter.
Your values matter.
The things that make you different are often the exact things that attract the right clients.
Success Looks Different Now
Today, success isn't measured by job titles or promotions.
Of course, financial goals still matter.
But the moments that mean the most happen when a client sees their new brand or website and says:
"I feel so seen."
"This finally feels like me."
"You understood exactly what I was trying to say."
Helping women feel confident enough to show up fully in their businesses is the most rewarding part of what I do.
Because strong branding isn't just about how your business looks.
It's about helping you step into who you're becoming.
And that kind of transformation is worth far more than any title ever was.
To listen to Nikki’s whole interview on Bring Your Big Energy, you can find it in all of these places (and more):
