What happens when you check all the boxes life told you to check - school, marriage, job, house, kids - only to discover the script you were following wasn't meant for you? Britt Holmes knows this story intimately. After years of climbing the corporate ladder, enduring the thankless grind of agency life, and rushing through the "checkbox life" to hit arbitrary timelines, everything changed at 24 weeks pregnant. What was supposed to be a fun extra ultrasound turned into a devastating genetics appointment where she was told her unborn child had zero chance of survival - and she had to decide that day whether to continue the pregnancy. That traumatic experience delivering a stillborn baby while battling hyperemesis so severe she couldn't keep pain medication down, then leaving the hospital with an ugly painted box instead of a car seat, broke her wide open. But it also taught her that everyone is fighting an invisible battle. Four pregnancies, two living daughters, a loveless marriage where she did 90% of the parenting, the loss of her best friend (her dog of 13 years), and finally the courage to leave after 18 years together - Britt's story is about getting knocked down repeatedly and choosing to get back in the ring every single time. Now as a divorced single mom running Merit Media Inc., she's rewriting what success looks like by asking herself daily: "If I could do anything today, what would I do?" Her journey from corporate robot to loud, outgoing entrepreneur who refuses to dim her light is a masterclass in resilience, intentional living, and the power of choosing differently every single day.

Key Takeaways:

• The "checkbox life" (school, marriage, job, house, kids, happily ever after) isn't a guarantee of happiness
• Everyone is fighting an invisible battle - be kind, because you never know what someone is carrying
• Child loss and pregnancy trauma change you at your core and teach profound compassion
• Going from 100% time with your kids to 50% custody requires relearning your entire identity
• Financial independence gives you the power to leave situations that no longer serve you
• If you have the same problem for six months, it's not a problem - it's something you've accepted as your truth
• Small daily choices about how you spend your time compound into a completely rewritten life
• Build a life you don't need to escape from, rather than constantly planning your next vacation
• Your mom's wisdom: "You're a fighter. Get back in the ring." - Ding, ding.

Learn More About Britt:

Britt Holmes is a loss mom, corporate dropout, and divorced single mom of two who's rewriting what success looks like. After walking away from the agency world where she spent years being told her work wasn't good enough while working 12-16 hour days, she built Merit Media Inc. from the ground up. Her agency specializes exclusively in advertising, using her corporate experience to cut out the BS and provide cost-effective solutions for small businesses - particularly in the health and wellness space. Juggling motherhood, healing, and entrepreneurship, Britt shows the unfiltered reality of building a business and life that doesn't fit the default script. Her ultimate dream? Building her business to the point where she can work as a recreational coordinator at a retirement home, planning pub nights and crafts with elderly people.

Connect with Britt:

• Website: meritmedia.com
• Instagram (Personal): @britthomeslive - "the fun one that's really bright and colorful and says it like it is"
• Instagram (Business): @meritmediainc
• Specialization: Advertising for small businesses, particularly health and wellness