Have you ever scrolled through social media and felt like everyone is passing you by? Whether it’s a milestone in your personal life or a goal in your business, that nagging feeling of being "behind" can be paralyzing. In this episode, I’m getting real about the "C-word"—comparison—and how it acts as a thief of your joy and a blocker to the miracles God is orchestrating in your current season. I’m sharing my own journey of turning 36 and how I’ve learned to embrace the "darkroom" where God develops our best work before it ever hits the spotlight.

I want to help you shift your perspective from what you lack to what is already in your hand. We’ll talk about why your "5 loaves and 2 fish" are more than enough to create momentum right now, even if you don't have a massive team or a huge budget. Whether you are in a "wilderness" season like Moses or just feeling stuck in a cycle of inaction, this episode is your reminder that God is an on-time God who cares just as much about your internal transformation as He does about your destination.

• The "Step 15" Illusion: Why you might be unfairly sabotaging your progress by comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle, and the specific cycle of inaction this creates.
• The Secret of the Darkroom: Why feeling "hidden" or slow is often a sign of divine preparation, and the dangerous consequences of being exposed to the spotlight prematurely.
• Inventory of the Miraculous: How to identify the "5 loaves and 2 fish" you currently possess—and why ignoring these small resources is the very thing keeping your next level out of reach.
• Decoding the "Burning Bush" in Your Everyday: How to recognize the specific patterns God uses to speak to you in the mundane moments, like the school pickup line or your favorite podcast.

Grab your early bird tickets here for the Firebrand Story Room happening on May 1st and 2nd, and don't forget to download your free 3-step Brand Clarity resource to help you get clear on your messaging for 2026!

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Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Social Channels:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

If you feel like you’re putting in massive effort but aren't seeing any momentum or results in your business or calling, you are not alone—I hear this from my clients and community almost every single day. In this episode, we are getting real about the "perfectionism trap" and why more is often actually less when it comes to your impact. I’m sharing four specific reasons why your needle might not be moving and how to discern if you're in a season of quiet, "underground" growth or if you're simply misaligned with where God has called you to be

• The "Needle-Moving" Secret: Why your perfectly curated Canva posts and website tweaks might actually be keeping you stuck, and the one simple "friendship" skill that actually generates real opportunities.
• The Fear of Missing Out vs. The Power of One: How to stop the "throwing paint at the wall" approach and why narrowing your focus to just one platform for six months can lead to explosive clarity.
• The Hidden Growth Season: A shift in perspective for those who feel forgotten by God, revealing how internal character development and "underground" progress are often more vital than external fruit.
• Resistance is Not Rejection: Why a "failed" launch or a difficult path doesn't mean you heard God wrong—it might just mean you're one "tweak" or one "firebrand" connection away from your next level.

Stop letting the "fraud" mindset hold you back. Use this guide to uncover exactly what is driving your imposter syndrome and get the tools to confidently step into the identity God has already given you: https://melissaleahughes.com/authenticity-heart-check

Grab your early bird tickets here for the Firebrand Story Room happening on May 1st and 2nd, and don't forget to download your free 3-step Brand Clarity resource to help you get clear on your messaging for 2026!

Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Connect with me!

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

Welcome to 2026! As we kick off this brand new year, I am feeling so refreshed after a much-needed break spent sledding with my kids and reflecting on how we can show up as exactly who God called us to be. In this episode, I’m diving deep into a struggle many high-capacity women face: that "ugh" feeling of being stuck. If you feel like your momentum has stalled, I want to challenge you to consider that you aren't actually unmotivated—you might just be misaligned with the current season God has you in.

We often try to force "summertime" results during a "winter" season of life, and the result is always frustration and exhaustion. I’m sharing my own journey of learning to trust God’s timing, including the moments I’ve had to surrender successful assignments to simply be a mom. My goal for you today is to help you stop people-pleasing, let go of the "hustle," and start standing boldly in the identity the Holy Spirit has given you.

• The Hidden Value of the "Bare" Seasons: Why feeling like "nothing is happening" is often the most productive time for your soul, and how to identify if you’re currently in a period of underground growth.
• The Identity Shift: The simple question you can ask God today that will completely reframe your calling and release you from the fear of "missing" your purpose.
• The Faith to Quit: Why being "faithful" doesn't always mean staying put, and how to recognize when an old assignment has lost its life so you can move into the new thing God is springing up.
• The Power of the T-Chart: A practical journey to take with the Holy Spirit to identify what is actually draining your energy and how to delegate your way back to joy.

Grab your early bird tickets here for the Firebrand Story Room happening on May 1st and 2nd, and don't forget to download your free 3-step Brand Clarity resource to help you get clear on your messaging for 2026!

Have your content done for you at Rise Social Media Agency: https://melissaleahughes.com/rise

Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Connect with me!

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

Happy New Year, everyone! As I wrap up 2025, I’m reflecting on the raw and transformative lessons that shaped my business and faith, from the gut-wrenching necessity of hard endings to the surprising peace found in saying "no" to scaling. I’m getting vulnerable about why I walked away from a high-level mastermind to prioritize being a mom and how I’ve learned to navigate the "people-pleaser" trap by implementing radical boundaries. Whether you’re a leader facing a tough confrontation or a high-capacity woman feeling the weight of "more," this episode is an invitation to stop conforming to the world's pace and start leaning into the specific, anointed path God has for you in the coming year.

• The "Faith to Quit": Why ending a partnership, a program, or even a successful project isn't a sign of failure, but a prerequisite for the next fruitful season God has for you.

• The Contentment Trap: We’re often told that "more" is always better, but I’m sharing the specific moment I realized that scaling my business was actually stealing my joy—and why I told my business coach I’d rather "go color" with my kids.

• The Secret Language of Resentment: How to identify where your boundaries are leaking and why your feelings of burnout might actually be a roadmap to where you need to draw a harder line in your home and business.

• Leadership as Confrontation: Why loving people well sometimes means having the backbone to let them go, and how "graceful endings" can produce the most fruit in someone’s life.

Apply for fireBRAND 2026 Here: https://melissaleahughes.com/firebrandacademy

Free Resource: Social Media Content System

Have your content done for you: Rise Social Media Agency

Let’s Connect!

Website: melissaleahughes.com

Instagram: Personal | Rise Agency

More Content: TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! As we wrap up the year, I’m continuing my "Lessons I Learned in 2025" series. Last week, I shared the first four revelations that shaped my year, and today, I’m diving into the next three. These lessons were born out of moments of total frustration, sweaty-palmed fear, and those "God-smack" realizations that happen when you're just trying to solve a problem in your business.

In this episode, I’m getting vulnerable about the moments where my own internal chaos was actually the "bottleneck" in my ministry. I share a story about a terrifying amusement park ride that changed my perspective on fear forever and why I decided to plan a major in-person event in just two months—despite everyone telling me it was a bad idea. If you’ve been feeling burnt out, stuck, or like you’re waiting for a "sign" to take your next big leap, this conversation is for you.

• The Mirror Effect: Why your business, ministry, or organization is a direct reflection of your internal world—and how to identify the specific mindset shifts needed to sustain your next level of growth.

• The "Ripcord" Revelation: Why I forced myself to swing from a massive tower at an amusement park to save my business, and how your fear might be the only thing keeping your feet on the ground while God is trying to take you to new heights.

• The Strategy of "Stupid" Ideas: How to distinguish between a "good" business move and a "God" idea that sounds completely illogical (like Noah building an ark or me hosting an event in 60 days) but carries the grace you need to succeed.

• Tuning into the Divine Frequency: Practical ways to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit versus the voice of condemnation, and how to stay within the "pleasant boundary lines" God has set for your life and work.

What lesson resonated with you most? I’d love to hear from you!

Treat yourself to an early Christmas present—a ticket to the Firebrand Story Room this May. There is something transformative about getting in the room with other faith-filled women, and I’d love to see you there.

Free Resource: Social Media Content System

Have your content done for you: Rise Social Media Agency

Let’s Connect!

Website: melissaleahughes.com

Instagram: Personal | Rise Agency

More Content: TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

Join me for the first part of my special 3-part series where I pull back the curtain on the tears, hard conversations, and unexpected lessons that made 2025 such a transformative year. Today, we dive into four tactical insights on knowing your true value, finding crystal-clear messaging, and a game-changing strategy for launching any new offer. You definitely don't want to miss the shocking story of the $150 video that's been viewed millions of times, proving why you might be severely undervaluing your own genius!

• Discover why the thing you find easiest might be the very thing you are severely undervaluing in the market. You’ll hear the hilarious, real-life story of how one simple video earned me just $150 but has been used countless times by a major company, forcing me to rethink my true worth.

• Uncover the emotional journey all content creators face—from Imposter Syndrome to the "cringey stage"—and why mastering your own message is "King" before you even think about outsourcing your content.

• Find out the smart way to test your big idea (like writing a book or creating a new offer) and how you can prime your audience for a successful launch before you've even finished the product.

• Learn the single most powerful strategy I used to sell out my first in-person event, and why taking a simple step before you launch anything will eliminate your anxiety and boost your confidence.

Don't forget to look out for the next two parts of this series where I'll dive into more internal, uncomfortable, but incredibly valuable lessons I learned this year!

And, if you're ready to add fire to your brand, come join me at the Firebrand Story Room event on May 1st and 2nd! Early bird tickets are on sale now, but with limited seating, you’ll want to grab yours before they sell out! https://melissaleahughes.com/firebrandacademy

Connect with me!

Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Social Channels:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

In this empowering episode, host Melissa guides you through a crucial reset and alignment process to help you create a work-from-home life and business that truly fulfills you. She shares a profound personal story about learning to trust God's vision over her own limited view. If you feel stuck, unfulfilled in your job, or are waiting for your prayers to be answered, this episode will help you align your dreams with God's best plan!

In this episode, you will learn how to Reset and Align Your Business by:

• The Power of Trust: How the famous "Dump Truck vs. Barbie Dreamhouse" story teaches us to trust God's superior plans, especially when our prayers seem to be met with "No."

• The Identity Shift: Why it’s crucial to stop letting shame hold you back and start seeing yourself through God's eyes—as His "ferocious babe."

• Deciding What YOU Want: Why finding your true desires isn't selfish, but the very first step in aligning with the blueprint God has already placed inside you for your career.

• The Must-Do Step for Online Business: How creating simple content around your passions (even if it's just country music or gardening!) is the key to attracting job opportunities and building a profitable income.

Apply for fireBRAND 2026 Here: https://melissaleahughes.com/firebrandacademy

Grab the free social media content system here: https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

Book a Clarity Call: https://melissaleahughes.com/clarity-call

Have your content done for you at Rise Social Media Agency: https://melissaleahughes.com/rise

Connect with Melissa Hughes:

Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Social Channels:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

This week, I'm bringing in the best! I'm thrilled to introduce you to my incredible social media genius, Miccaela Alair (Ella B to me!), the woman behind all the beautiful, purposeful content you see on my channels.

For over a year and a half, Ella has helped me build a brand that changes lives, and now she’s here to share her secrets!

We’re diving deep into what’s actually working on social media right now, and Ella—a true expert with an inspiring story of resilience—is breaking down the critical difference between posting and having a winning strategy.

• Is it possible to outsource your brand's unique voice without losing yourself? We reveal the secret to a successful agency partnership and how our collaborative process ensures your content always feels authentic, whether it's "fun, goofy, compassionate, or convicting."

• Tired of feeling like the algorithm is against you? Ella shares the crucial, often-missed elements of your content—beyond just following trends—that can make the algorithm your biggest cheerleader and help you break free from the "200-view jail."

• The biggest mistake people make when creating content (and the one thing you need to prioritize instead). Learn why consistent showing up, even when you're tired or unmotivated, is the key to building trust and how to overcome the fear of sharing your full, real story.

• Stuck in the 'what should I post today?' time-suck? Find out the key indicators that signal it's time to hire a strategic partner to get your time back, allowing you to focus on the big-picture goals that will truly grow your business.

Apply for fireBRAND 2026 Here: https://melissaleahughes.com/firebrandacademy

Grab the free social media content system here: https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

Book a Clarity Call: https://melissaleahughes.com/clarity-call

Have your content done for you at Rise Social Media Agency: https://melissaleahughes.com/rise

Website: www.melissaleahughes.com

Social Channels:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes