By Author, Lisa Messenger
This year marks my 24th year in business. And if there’s one theme that has defined my journey, it’s reinvention.
I’ve never taken the traditional route, never been content with doing things the way they’ve always been done. At every stage, I’ve pushed boundaries, pivoted when I had to, and created new paths when old ones no longer served me.
That constant reinvention has been both a necessity and a choice. Business is unpredictable — external factors come out of nowhere, and we can’t control most of them. What we can control is our mindset: how willing we are to learn, to adapt, and to stay not just on trend, but ahead of the curve.
Reinvention #1: From Burnout to Books
My first business was a marketing agency. In truth, I was undercharging, over-servicing, and running myself into the ground. After three years of complete burnout, I knew something had to change. In the search for happiness, I wrote my first book — Happiness Is… — which unexpectedly sold 36,000 copies. That pivot into publishing set me on a new path for nearly a decade, helping brands like Lorna Jane and Commonwealth Bank create and distribute their own books.
Reinvention #2: Collective Hub
In 2013, I launched Collective Hub, a print magazine designed to share the story behind the story — bringing together extraordinary thought leaders from around the world. Over five years, I published 55 issues across 37 countries, featuring everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Martha Stewart.
It looked glamorous, but behind the scenes I was scaling too quickly. The business ballooned into tens of millions in turnover, but without the right systems in place, I was hemorrhaging cash. Bigger wasn’t better. I pivoted again, decentralising my team and writing books that documented the raw reality of entrepreneurial life.
Reinvention #3: Products Everywhere
From there, I moved into physical products — journals, affirmation cards, stationery — over 100 in total. At one point, we were selling more than 100,000 units a month across 40 US states. But once again, I found myself at the helm of a global logistics business when what I really craved was creativity and freedom.
So I broke it all down. Again.
Reinvention #4: AI and a New Way Forward
When AI exploded onto the scene, I felt the same fear and confusion that so many of us did. The headlines were overwhelming, and for years I’d always outsourced anything remotely technical. Tech was my mountain.
But for the first time, I had the space to learn. Instead of resisting, I dove in — and fell completely in love. I became a certified prompt engineer through Vanderbilt University, and I now use AI every single day. It’s not about replacing humans. It’s about working smarter, finding efficiencies, and freeing up space so we can lean into our genius zones.
AI has become my creative collaborator. I use it to brainstorm, to structure, to strategise. I treat it the way I’ve always treated my teams — with clarity and direction — and in return, it gives me speed, precision, and new perspectives.
And perhaps most importantly, it has allowed me to build a lifestyle business. After 23 years of always having at least three full-time staff (and sometimes hundreds of employees and contractors), I now proudly run with zero staff. As a mum to a two-year-old, that freedom matters more than ever.
Bringing It All Together: AI Retreats
What began as a personal learning curve has become something I now teach. I run immersive three-and-a-half-day retreats in Byron Bay, where founders, creatives, and working mums come to explore AI in a safe, hands-on way.
We cover around 20 platforms, but the real magic is helping people see that AI isn’t scary or technical — it’s intuitive, playful, and powerful. I show attendees how to use AI to:
- Create more time and space in their day
- Build business strategies, content, and systems faster
- Scale what’s working without burning out
- Stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape
The retreats blend AI with the things I’ve always been passionate about: wellness, creativity, connection, and purpose. Yes, there’s deep learning, but there are also ocean plunges, yoga, fire circles, and space for reflection. People leave not just with new tools, but with clarity, confidence, and community.
Why It Matters for Working Mums
For working mums, the juggle is real. We want to do it all — be present with our children, grow our businesses, live fully — but time and energy are limited. AI has become the ultimate co-pilot for me. It doesn’t take away the human element, but it does strip away the busywork and give me more space for what matters.
And that’s what I want to share. Because if I can move from being the least “tech-y” person in the room to running AI retreats, anyone can.
If you’d like to learn more about my AI retreats in Byron Bay — and how they could help you work less, live more, and create greater impact — you can email me. I’ll be running retreats every month in 2026.
Big Love,
Lisa
