257. When Your Dream Grows Beyond You: Family Brand® Has Been Adopted

Welcome back to the podcast. Today's episode is a little different because we're sharing some really exciting—and honestly, emotional—news. If you've been with us for a while, you probably know that Family Brand has been a huge part of our lives for the last seven years. It's been a dream, a calling, a business, and in many ways, something we've grown right alongside our own family. So today, we're sharing that Family Brand has officially been acquired by Libertas. Before we go any further, though, I want you to know this: we're not going anywhere. Chris and I are still very much part of Family Brand, and we're more excited than ever about what comes next.

As we've reflected on this journey, I keep coming back to where it all started. Years ago, I found myself at a crossroads, wondering whether I should return to nursing or pursue this little idea that just wouldn't leave me alone. I couldn't fully explain it, but I felt this persistent impression that I was supposed to help build stronger families. I had no idea what that would look like. I didn't know how to start a podcast, build programs, or run a business. I just knew I needed to take the next step. Looking back now, it's incredible to see what can happen when you simply say "yes" to something that feels bigger than yourself.

When the opportunity came to partner with Connor Boyack and the team at Libertas, I honestly wrestled with it. Family Brand has felt like one of our children. We've poured our hearts into it, celebrated victories, worked through setbacks, and watched it slowly grow. One day while I was journaling, an analogy came to me that brought so much peace. It felt like giving a child up for adoption—not because she wasn't loved, but because she could have opportunities we simply couldn't provide on our own. And the beautiful part was realizing we weren't saying goodbye. We would still get to watch her grow, cheer her on, and continue being part of the story. That perspective changed everything for me.

What makes this transition feel so right is the alignment. From our very first conversations with Connor, it became clear that we shared the same heart: helping families become stronger. We weren't looking to sell Family Brand, but we were looking for ways to reach more people. Seeing Family Brand become part of an organization that already serves families in so many incredible ways feels less like an ending and more like an expansion of the original mission. And already, we're watching ideas we've dreamed about for years begin to take shape with resources and a team that can bring them to life.

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this episode, it's this: don't let not knowing how stop you from saying yes to what you're being called to do. So often we think we need the whole roadmap before we begin, but that's almost never how it works. You take the first step, and then the next one appears. Family Brand exists today because we were willing to start before we felt ready. And now, this next chapter exists because we were willing to trust that sometimes the greatest act of stewardship is letting something you've built become even bigger than you imagined. We truly can't wait to see where this journey goes next—and we're so grateful you've been on it with us from the very beginning.

LINKS:

• stan.store/familybrand
• familybrand.com/quiz
• familybrand.com/retreats.

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – A big Family Brand announcement
• 01:45 – How an introduction to Connor Boyack started everything
• 03:20 – Discovering the alignment between Family Brand and Libertas
• 05:00 – Chris's bold phone call: "Family Brand should be part of Libertas"
• 06:45 – Why this opportunity felt different from the beginning
• 08:00 – Melissa shares the emotions behind the decision
• 10:30 – The journal entry that changed everything
• 11:00 – "It felt like giving my baby up for adoption"
• 13:30 – Why Family Brand found the right home
• 15:00 – Watching dreams become reality with a bigger team
• 16:00 – Looking back on seven years of saying "yes"
• 17:15 – The lesson: answer the call, even when you don't know how
• 18:45 – Chris and Melissa reflect on building Family Brand together
• 19:30 – Family Brand 2.0: what's next and a thank you to the community