We’re looking forward to introducing you to Holly Reardon. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Holly, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a lot of people are secretly struggling with the same question: “What do I want to be when I grow up?”
And not in a cute, exploratory way. In a heavy, private way. The kind where you assume everyone else knows their thing… and you’re the only one still stuck.
I’m in that place myself. Even after almost five years of owning a business.
From the outside, my life probably looked great. But 2025 was hard. I felt burnt out by my job, disconnected from community, not great physically, and honestly, pretty empty. I kept thinking, “If I just think harder, plan more, or wait a little longer, I’ll finally know what I’m meant for.”
Surprise! I didn’t.
What finally clicked for me was realizing this isn’t a one-and-done discovery. It’s ongoing. We change. What lights us up changes.
I remember driving one day, listening to a Mel Robbins podcast about decision-making, and it hit me like a ton of bricks: The fear doesn’t go away by waiting until you’re “sure.” You’re never fully sure. Fear only quiets when you act.
Anything before that is usually avoidance disguised as productivity.
That realization led my husband and me to sell our house, put most of our life into storage, and give ourselves space to figure out where — and how — we actually want to live.
We’re planners. This scared us in a big way. It came with guilt, fear, and doubt, especially because it looked nothing like our “old” life.
I think a lot of people are hiding how badly they want to change their lives. They assume that if a decision feels easy, it must be the right one. I’ve found it’s often the opposite.
The hardest, scariest decisions tend to be the ones you need.
So, embrace the unknown. Truly. And know that you are more capable than you give yourself credit for.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the founder of Hapacity Marketing. I spent the last several years building a marketing agency focused on execution — social, video, and content production. It worked. We saved leaders time, produced content they felt proud of, and helped businesses grow.
But over time, my role shifted. What marketing leaders actually needed wasn’t more content; it was a clearer strategy.
That’s where Hapacity evolved.
Today, I partner with mid-sized and larger organizations as a fractional creative and content strategy partner, working directly with senior marketing leaders (you know who you are).
I solve a few core problems every day:
– Too much churn.
– Scattered messaging.
– Low quality creative.
– And difficulty defending to leadership why creative and content decisions matter.
Teams are burned out from constant production. Content gets created, under-promoted, and forgotten. Leaders assume they need more channels and more output — when what they really need is better focus and a cohesive strategy.
I come in to connect the dots. I help reuse what already exists (but make it better), tie creative work to outcomes leadership actually cares about, and give teams the confidence to do their best work.
My role really sits between leadership and execution… Strengthening positioning, guiding decisions, and bringing intention back into marketing.
That’s the work I’m focused on now.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me I’m actively releasing is the version that tied my worth to achievement and output.
For a long time, being high-achieving and money-focused served me. It helped me build a business, create stability for my family, and prove to myself that I was capable. But over time, that mindset started to blur the lines between who I am and what I do. Every hard moment at work felt personal. Every setback felt like a reflection of my value.
I choose not to live that way anymore.
I still work hard (probably harder than most), but I’m no longer motivated by proving anything. I’m motivated by building a life that actually feels good to live. My health, happiness, relationships, and sense of fun matter more than squeezing every ounce of myself into my job.
On paper, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at 29: building and evolving a business, owning two properties, investing in education and coaching, and creating opportunities for others.
But what I’m most proud of now is less visible. It’s my belief in myself, my character, my optimism, and my willingness to choose alignment over pressure.
I’m not at a breaking point anymore, and that feels like a win. I have more energy than ever to put toward the path that actually calls me. And that’s the version of me I’m choosing to lead with next.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was sad or scared as a child, I mostly handled it on my own.
I grew up in a small town, and early on I learned that struggling or standing out publicly could make you a target. Stories spread quickly about people — sometimes true, often not — and I experienced that loss of safety myself. So I learned to stay in the middle of the pack. To be pleasant. Fun. Optimistic. Low-maintenance.
I didn’t really believe in friendship the way I do now… the kind where you can share hard things and still be embraced. I believed my feelings made me unlovable or a burden. I suffered quietly and became very protective of myself. Even alone, I didn’t feel safe enough to fully break down.
So I bottled it up.
What ultimately helped was something I gave myself later in adulthood.
In 2020, I started therapy, and it changed everything. My anxiety had been weighing on me like a heavy backpack worn wrong, pressing on my chest all the time. Therapy helped me rebuild my self-worth and taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness. My feelings weren’t the problem; ignoring them was.
Over time, I also learned how important emotionally safe people are. Not just people who are nearby, but people who can truly hold space for you. I realized that if you want deep connection, you have to be willing to offer your own truth, too. Vulnerability is actually a gift.
Today, I know I don’t have to do life alone. Support exists. And I try to be that safe space for others now, too.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
It’d be freedom to live your life on your own terms. For all, but especially for women.
I deeply believe women should be free to want anything: to build businesses, to change their minds, to be mothers, to lead, to try something exciting and then decide it’s not for them.
There isn’t one “right” way to live a meaningful life. And there definitely shouldn’t be shame attached to exploring what you want.
What breaks my heart is how often women police themselves before anyone else does. We can be our own harshest critics. We talk ourselves out of dreams before they’ve even had oxygen. We worry about how it’ll look, what people will think, whether it’s “too much” or “too late” or “not serious enough.”
You’re allowed to try things just because you want to. Start the business Instagram today and change your mind tomorrow. Who’s really keeping score?
Keep dreaming!!
One question always brings me back to center: If no one knew and no one cared, what would I choose?
That question cuts through the noise of peer pressure, expectations, and all the societal rules we never consciously agreed to. It brings you back to your own voice. And I think listening to that voice (and acting on it) is one of the most powerful things a person can do.
You really can have your cake and eat it too. You’re allowed to want more and want peace. You’re allowed to evolve.
Living authentically is the value I’ll always protect.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I had courage… that I took risks and didn’t live my life trying to keep up with the Joneses.
I know my choices won’t always make sense to everyone. Some people will think I’m too much, too bold, or too chaotic.
But the pressure to live the “right” way keeps so many people stuck. And people regret what they didn’t do far more than what they tried and failed at.
My plan is to try it all. I’ll sign up for things that scare me. I’ll push myself. I’ll change my mind. I’ll keep dreaming.
But more importantly, I’ll keep acting. To me, failing only happens when you quit. And I don’t plan on quitting on life.
If that way of living inspires someone else to take a chance on themselves, and then they go on to help others do the same, that’s the legacy I care about. A ripple effect of courage, freedom, and belief.
That’s what I hope people remember.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hapacity.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapacitymarketing/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hapacity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hapacity/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hapacitymarketing
