Life isn't easy

Lisa knows life isn't easy. When she was 24, her first husband discovered he had a brain tumor -- just 9 months after their wedding. The next 4 1/2 years were filled with experiences most people expect to face in their 70s or 80s... being a caregiver, becoming a widow, and starting over... alone.

Difficult times

Throughout her 30s, Lisa experienced a lot of ups and downs. New career(s), new love, new home(s). Grief, depression, and anger were all part of the aftermath of losing a spouse. Then with new love came new challenges -- moving to the other side of the world, starting a business, moving again.... Life wasn't easy. And yet, along with the challenges, there were people and experiences making life less difficult.

Making life less difficult

Choosing new perspectives isn't easy. Lisa works hard to make life less difficult. Some days seem successful... some days, like failures. But every day is a chance to make life less difficult for herself and those around her. She's grateful to share this journey with you.

How to make life less difficult

Life's not easy, but it can be less difficult

The more I learn about myself, the better I understand my reactions, emotions, behavior, and decisions.

The more I learn about others, the easier it is to have empathy, curiosity, and interest in their perspectives and ideas.

Every person is an individual with a unique story. You. Me. Him. Her. They. Them. It's easy to make generalizations, but by doing so we miss so much.

There are practical ways to make life less difficult. Let's start now.

Accepting what is

It might seem simple, but the first lesson is: accept that life is not easy, but it can be less difficult. And it's up to me (and it's up to you) to seek out the ways to lessen the difficulty.

start now

Professional journey

Lisa’s life has been shaped by disruption. Her journey through personal disruption—becoming a widow at 28 and navigating 17 relocations (6 international)—hasn’t just shaped her life—it’s forged her leadership and life philosophy. This lived experience informs how she guides others to transform their own disruptions into catalysts for growth and innovation.

Originally from, and currently based in, the United States, Lisa brings a truly global perspective to her work. She has lived in six countries, conducted professional work across more than 40 nations, and explored an additional 40+ countries through her passion for travel and cultural immersion. This global mindset is reflected in her reach—she’s had participants from over 130 countries in her courses!

As a master storyteller, Lisa equips leaders with the art and science of narrative. Through workshops and retreats, she teaches how stories forge connections, inspire action, and engage the brain in unique ways. Leaders learn to craft compelling narratives that build trust, clarify vision, and navigate change—skills backed by neuroscience and refined through Lisa's experiences and expert guidance.

Lisa’s clients include individuals from private and public sectors, the US Department of State, World Health Organization, US Peace Corps, USAID, US Embassies in various countries, Johnson & Johnson, JG Summit Holdings, and other international organizations.

Lisa is certified in a variety of assessments: the EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 suite of assessments, The Leadership Circle Profile, Pearman Personality Integrator, TESI2.0 – Team Emotional and Social Intelligence Inventory, the MBTI suite of assessments, the Prepare-Enrich Inventory, and Herrmann Brain Dominance Index.

Lisa hosts a podcast, Make Life Less Difficult, that is based on exploring what it means to make life less difficult for each other. She is a paragliding pilot, avid rock climber, and enjoys adventures in the mountains.

The pegasus transformation

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about the logo of Make Life Less Difficult.

The constellation in the logo is the Pegasus Constellation. The flying horse. For me, the pegasus represents transformation. It represents the shift from moving with my feet on the ground to that transformational experience of flying and seeing the world from an entirely different perspective.

When I was a young girl, my neighbor's pony kept escaping from his pasture to come visit my sister's horse. Buddy, this equine Houdini, became my first horse. From 8 years old until my late 20s, horses were the center of my world.

After Eric died, I moved several times and no longer had a place to keep my horse. Unexpectedly, I found solace and healing in challenging myself physically and started trail running with my Great Dane. The running expanded into biking and swimming. I completed the 2015 Chattanooga IronMan Triathlon in memory of Eric, 10 years after running my first race.

Somewhere along the way I was introduced to rock climbing and really loved the new perspectives I had when I was up high looking down over the valley. It was scary and exhilarating!

A few years ago I began paragliding. This took it all to a new level. Flying! Pegasus.

The transformation from horseback riding to triathlon to rock climbing to paragliding reflects the transformation that has happened in my life. It's almost miraculous and certainly has been unexpected!

For a long time, I resisted the transformation. I didn't want to be different. I tried holding onto the old versions of myself.

Accepting and stepping into the transformation has made life less difficult for me. Wearing my wings, embracing the pegasus.

It's fun to fly. Discover your wings and make life less difficult!

Become an ARCHER

The foundation to make life less difficult:

Acceptance
Responsibility
Curiosity
Humility
Empathy
Respect

Learn more