We were lucky to catch up with Colleen Burrill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Colleen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?
In the creative industry, there’s a widespread misconception that success requires constant hustle. Churning out new content, working long, often unbalanced hours, and being endlessly available to make “quick edits” or last-minute changes—all to meet expectations that don’t always honor the creative process itself. What many don’t see are the unseen hours: the research, the intuitive brainstorming, the drafting and refining that happen long before anything goes live.
For years, I truly believed that constantly doing more—sacrificing sleep, skipping meals, saying yes to everything—was the only path to success. But over time, my body, spirit, and life began signaling that this pace was not only unsustainable—it was unraveling me.
It took years—and a lot of unlearning—to realize that boundaries aren’t just helpful; they are sacred. Without them, you can’t stand tall in your purpose. You’re left feeling depleted, energetically scattered, and disconnected from your own rhythm.
I have come to understand that it is possible to provide incredible value to others without sacrificing your well-being in the process. That’s exactly why I created Digital Holistic Media—from a deep love for self, and a desire to work with my creative energy, not against it.
Yes, entrepreneurship demands dedication. But honoring your creative flow, setting clear expectations, and cultivating mutual respect—these are the foundations of a sustainable business. When you lead from that space, you don’t just preserve your energy… you elevate the experience for your clients, too.
Colleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember. From an early age, I was immersed in the arts—drawing, dancing, photography, and expressing emotion through movement and color. I trained classically in ballet and danced other genres as well competitively throughout high school. I was always captivated by the artistic and imaginative—and as a child, I remember dreaming of one day publishing my own neighborhood magazine.
I grew up in front of a screen—literally. I still remember the day my dad brought home our first Apple computer. It felt magical. I spent hours exploring programs (and yes, playing Lode Runner and Power Pete, iykyk), creating ClipArt designs, and falling in love with digital expression. It felt only natural that I’d eventually pursue a creative path that blended both art and technology.
That path led me to earn a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications Technology from Bowling Green State University, where I completed three co-op internships that helped shape my early professional experience. My final co-op turned into a serendipitous opportunity. After graduation, I was invited to continue working for a well-known beverage company, managing print operations for the Great Lakes Business Unit. There, I oversaw both large- and small-format print production for internal branding, sales collateral, and regional campaigns.
It was a secure position, but life soon presented a turning point—one of those moments that seems disruptive at first but turns out to be a divine invitation.
Following a referral from a former colleague, I relocated from my lifelong home in Ohio to coastal North Carolina to work for a niche startup publication company. Over the next five years, I grew into a Creative Director position. But as the company expanded rapidly, I began to feel a tug—an inner knowing that I was meant to build something of my own. Something that honored my values, vision, and natural creative rhythm.
With the encouragement of my partner—who is an artist himself, expressing his creativity through the mixed martial arts—I took the leap. I left the comfort of a steady paycheck and officially launched my entrepreneurial journey in 2017.
At the time, my life was chaotic. I was navigating challenges in my health, home life, and relationships, all of which pushed me to search for deeper meaning. That’s when I was introduced to holistic wellness—a divine meeting I wouldn’t fully understand until later. I began listening more intently to my body, tuning into synchronicities, and unlearning the toxic culture I had once subscribed to. Slowly, I began living in deeper alignment—with my intuition, values, and purpose.
One day, while shopping at a local grocery store, I discovered a free community magazine called Natural Awakenings. I held it in my hands and thought, This is what I’ve always wanted to be part of—something meaningful, intentional, and deeply rooted in well-being. That quiet moment planted a seed—one that would later blossom into the mission behind Digital Holistic Media.
I began working with locally based businesses and entrepreneurs to create custom digital content—copywriting, ad campaigns, funnel designs, branding assets, and social media management. In 2021, I briefly returned to agency life as a marketing coordinator, but I felt the same misalignment I had been moving away from. I knew I was being redirected toward something more grounded, more sacred, and more sustainable.
Then came a turning point that reshaped everything: in September of 2021, my father passed away unexpectedly.
My dad was such a special person—full of life, laughter, and generosity. He had a way of making people smile, no matter what he was going through, and he always encouraged me to try new things and put myself out there. His passing reminded me just how sacred the now moment truly is. It reignited the fire in my soul to pursue my purpose without holding back. Once again, I found myself surrounded by powerful synchronicities—guiding signs that affirmed I was being called to something greater. I suddenly had no choice but to go all in on my purpose. And from that moment, Digital Holistic Media was truly born—not just as a business, but as a mission and a legacy. A soul-led movement to bring more truth, intention, and light into the world.
Over the past four years, the journey has been transformational. I’ve worked alongside incredible mentors and clients, earned a certified apprenticeship through Acadium, helped build a professional online networking cohort, became a Certified Creative Marketing Assistant with NGNG (No Guts, No Glory), and currently I co-facilitate monthly soulful talk shows, and serve as a Social Media Expert and Digital Marketing Advisor for iFEL (Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership) through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.
My personal healing journey has unfolded alongside the growth of my business. Through breathwork, mindset expansion, and herbal nutrition, I’ve deepened my own alignment—insights that now directly inform the way I support and serve my clients.
At Digital Holistic Media, our mission is to amplify the message of self-healing and conscious living through soul-aligned, heart-centered marketing. We work with visionary entrepreneurs, wellness practitioners, and intentional leaders who guide transformation through mind, body, and spirit. But the word holistic in our name is twofold. Yes, it represents the conscious, wellness-centered clients we serve—but it also describes the integrated approach we take. Our unique methodology is a holistic, multi-touch approach that weaves together market research, soulful copywriting, SEO-rich blogging, intentional social media, email nurturing, newsletter design, and custom content ecosystems. It’s marketing that honors the whole business being—transforming scattered ideas into cohesive, high-impact digital experiences. The result is sustainable growth, intentional visibility, and an elevated client journey from the very first touchpoint—allowing brands to grow in rhythm, not in rush
My clients are experts in their craft—coaches, authors, speakers, holistic healers, luxury wellness brands—who are deeply committed to making an impact. But when it comes to marketing, they often feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to translate their vision into visibility. That’s where I come in. I take the guesswork off their plate so they can stay rooted in their zone of genius: transforming lives and elevating consciousness. Digital Holistic Media is for those ready to refine and elevate their presence with clarity, consistency, and heart.
What sets us apart is our mindful pace and full-spectrum support. I don’t subscribe to hustle-based marketing. Instead, I focus on crafting results that are as elevated and intentional as the experience behind them. My clients value excellence, integrity, and intuition—and they deserve marketing that mirrors the depth of their work. For us, it’s not just about visibility, it’s about curating a brand experience that feels as nourishing and aligned as the transformation they offer to others.
I’m most proud of the path I’ve created—one that honors both creativity and consciousness. My work is about creating a ripple effect of empowerment, healing, and alignment through every project we touch. I’m honored to be connecting people who are here to make a difference, guiding others to reclaim their power, and helping unlearn what no longer serves. As holistic wellness becomes more mainstream, I’m here for the awakening. And I’m devoted to building a world where we live in harmony with our mind, body, and spirit.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes—my creative journey is deeply rooted in a mission to live and create consciously. That means being intentional about everything I consume—not just food, but the media I take in, the conversations I engage in, and where I place my attention and energy. Everything we absorb shapes the lens through which we create, and in turn, the energy we put back into the world.
A huge part of my journey has involved unlearning—releasing the conditioned beliefs I once accepted as truth simply because I didn’t know there was another way. Staying open to new perspectives and expanded awareness has been essential to both my personal healing and my creative evolution.
A close mentor and client, Ca’rynaCarj’an, has been instrumental in this unfolding. Her TQE (Transformational Quantum Energy) protocols introduced me to the practice of language tracking—a system that reveals how our subconscious inner dialogue is quietly shaping our outer reality. That awareness has allowed me to refine my intention not just in business, but in how I speak, lead, and serve.
In addition, if you’re interested in exploring this deeper, I encourage you to tune into her YouTube channel (youtube.com/@carynacarjan) for our monthly talk shows on Soulful Thursdays, where we dive into the energetics of transformation, holistic healing, and conscious living.
Ultimately, my mission is to help others become more conscious creators—of their brand, their impact, and their lives. Because when you create from clarity and alignment, you don’t just build a business… you build a legacy that feels as true on the inside as it looks on the outside.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One time, I had a Zoom meeting with a doctor of chiropractic and she asked me a simple question that stopped me in my tracks: “Do you ever say no?” At the time, the honest answer was… not really.
Like many early-stage entrepreneurs, I had internalized the belief that success meant saying yes to everything. I thought trading time for money was the only way forward—pack your schedule, hustle harder, and prove your worth by being endlessly available. But that approach led me straight to burnout.
What I’ve since learned is that time isn’t the true measure of value—transformation is. Clients aren’t paying for your hours; they’re investing in the results, the experience, and the shift you help them create.
That moment became a catalyst for a profound mindset shift. I’ve since learned to stop chasing and start aligning. When you’re clear on your boundaries, your purpose, and your worth, you no longer have to convince or overextend—the right clients naturally find you. They’re the ones ready to invest in themselves and fully receive the transformation you’re here to offer.
Unlearning the time-for-money model has allowed me to build a business that’s rooted in sustainability, integrity, and impact—and most importantly, one that honors my energy while delivering powerful results.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.digitalholisticmedia.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.brl
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-burrill/
Image Credits
n/a (personal images)