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Welcome to
The meraki collective
Grab a cup of coffee, a matcha latte or a glass of wine and let’s chat!
/ MERAKI [may-ra-kee] IS THE ESSENCE OF YOURSELF THAT IS PUT INTO YOUR WORK
HI! WE’RE MARISSA & EDDIE!
We are life partners, opposites on The Enneagram, dog parents and entrepreneurs passionate about helping you launch your dream website!
We create modern and strategic websites so you can establish your online presence, grow your personal brand and make more income.
launching your website should be easy
If your superpower is not branding or tech then you shouldn’t spend months pinning, brainstorming or watching free tutorials to launch your site.
Marissa is a website + brand strategist and Eddie is a tech + systems expert fluent in making things work behind the scenes. We’re here to help you launch a brand + website you’re finally proud of!
Imagine what you could accomplish if you focused on ONLY the work you love?
let's WORK TOGETHER
Launch the website of your dreams!
get to know us
The duo (plus one furbabe) behind T.M.C
Hey yo’! I’m Marissa!
Photographer | Brand Coach | Website Strategist
- Enneagram/Personality type: Enneagram 8 (also 3 & 4)/ ENFP
- LIFE MANTRA: self-awareness, passion & gratitude
- OBSESSED WITH: the enneagram, branding, fitness, blogging about vegan stuff and taking pictures of my dog
- FAVORITE PLACE: Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
- CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: iced matcha latte, my phone, my dog and my man
- BIG DREAM: fund animal sanctuaries around the world
- FUN FACT: I’m a group fitness instructor, marathon runner and content creator at marissarodriguez.com
- FAVORITE THING ABOUT EDDIE: He’s dedicated, loyal, and never walks away from a challenge. He’s my dream enabler, solid anchor and adventure partner<3
Hello, I’m Eddie
OPERATOR | WEBSITE DEVELOPER | TECH GURU
- Enneagram/Personality type: Enneagram 5/ ISTJ
- LIFE MANTRA: slow down, but don’t stop
- obsessed with: fixing stuff, building computers, working on cars, finding ways to optimize things from website speeds to daily activities
- favorite place: Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
- can’t live without: google and fast internet
- BIG DREAM: take care of our parents financially and support them in any way that we can
- fun fact: I’m a pretty good cook and I went vegetarian in 2018
- favorite thing about marissa: I love how passionate she is, not just when it comes to her work ethic but her passion about life.
Aloha! I’m Cilantro!
chief happiness officer | good boy | ig @alohacilantro
- LIFE MANTRA: Be happy every single second of every single day. Play, eat, sleep, repeat.
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ME: I’m obsessed with mommy & daddy, if they move, sneeze, laugh, cry or even breathe, I investigate. My main job is to make sure that they take me on walks at least three times per day and constantly play with me throughout their “busy workday.” I love llamas, mommy’s chin, daddy’s toes, sweet potatoes, naps, running, peeing on every single tree outside, all my toys, finding sticks and making sure daddy knows that I’m mommy’s favorite.
- FAVORITE THING ABOUT MOM & DAD: I love that I can get mommy’s attention whenever I want. Once I make eye contact, it’s game over. And I love that I can wrestle with daddy, I simply bring him a toy and boom, it’s game time.
you've got to start somewhere
Hi! Marissa here 🙂 Have you ever felt like everyone in your industry is going from “zero to six figures” in less than six months while they work three jobs, start a chart-topping podcast, raise a family and singlehandedly save the Amazon rainforest and you’re still sitting in front of your laptop trying to figure out what to say on your website…
I get it. Giiiirl I so get it. But I’ve learned that the experiences, both good and bad, the skills and lessons we’ve collected along the way have all prepared us to create our own definition of success in this very moment.
WHEN YOU HOLD YOURSELF BACK
After a decade of second guessing myself, worrying about what other people thought and playing small I gave myself permission to step into my power, unapologetically.
I wake up every morning ready to take imperfect action, eager to go full-force and grateful to share my journey… my hope is that my story inspires you to stop waiting, planning and dreaming… it’s simply time to DO.
THE TIMELINE... THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY.
The timeline: Eddies “activity” is not included below because for over a decade his “timeline” has been incredibly linear… He’s been making things work behind the scenes in more ways than one.
I hope that reviewing this timeline reminds you that TODAY is a good day to take action, you’ve got a team of people eager to help you succeed!
- married my best friend
- decided I wanted to be a wedding photographer
- didn’t own a camera
- shot my first portrait session
- created a super simple website
- continued shooting/practicing as much as possible
- continued shooting portraits & weddings
- second shot weddings with some amazing photographers
- loving every second of it
- traveled from Hawaii to California shooting weddings
- got burned out
- joined Instagram
- ran my first marathon
- loved my job, fell in love with my team but missed shooting & having my own business
- dreaming about starting The Meraki Collective
- completely torn between what I wanted to pursue
- photographed stock photos for health & wellness
- became a culinary nutrition expert
- ran another marathon
- after shooting almost 100 weddings, I shot my last wedding
- launched The Meraki Collective
- Eddie quit his job. we started working together full-time
- created our first course; Instagram for health & wellness
- moved to Arizona, traded island life for desert life
- launched a WordPress template shop
- created a DIY brand & website course
- dreaming, planning and DOING more than ever before... we’re just getting started
- my aunt (who was also my boss) bought me my first camera
- practiced a lot, a.k.a took tons of really bad photos
- started my photography business
- shot my first wedding
- started a blog (I wrote about photography, adventures with Eddie & my cats)
- still shooting, second year of business growth
- moved to Hawaii (best decision ever!)
- decided to take a brake from traveling & shooting weddings
- started working for an environmental company
- got into a really nice groove of having a “normal job”
- quit my amazing, stable and well-paying job to pursue my own thing (still unsure of what “my own thing” was going to be)
- ran another marathon
- deleted my website & blog (almost 500 posts *face palm* not recommended)
- started shooting weddings again
- became a dog mom
- unsure whether to pursue blogging or go full-force with photography
- ran another marathon
- started teaching group fitness
- expanded the direction of TMC
- continued to teach fitness
- ran my fifth marathon
- after 8 amazing years in Hawaii, we moved back to the mainland to be closer to family
- married my best friend
- decided I wanted to be a wedding photographer
- didn’t own a camera
- my aunt (who was also my boss) bought me my first camera
- practiced a lot, a.k.a took tons of really bad photos
- shot my first portrait session
- created a super simple website
- continued shooting/practicing as much as possible
- started my photography business
- shot my first wedding
- started a blog (I wrote about photography, adventures with Eddie & my cats)
- continued shooting portraits & weddings
- second shot weddings with some amazing photographers
- loving every second of it
- still shooting, second year of business growth
- moved to Hawaii (best decision ever!)
- traveled from Hawaii to California shooting weddings
- got burned out
- joined Instagram
- ran my first marathon
- decided to take a brake from traveling & shooting weddings
- started working for an environmental company
- got into a really nice groove of having a “normal job”
- loved my job, fell in love with my team but missed shooting & having my own business
- dreaming about starting The Meraki Collective
- completely torn between what I wanted to pursue
- quit my amazing, stable and well-paying job to pursue my own thing (still unsure of what “my own thing” was going to be)
- ran another marathon
- deleted my website & blog (almost 500 posts *face palm* not recommended)
- photographed stock photos for health & wellness
- became a culinary nutrition expert
- ran another marathon
- started shooting weddings again
- became a dog mom
- unsure whether to pursue blogging or go full-force with photography
- ran another marathon
- started teaching group fitness
- after shooting almost 100 weddings, I shot my last wedding
- launched The Meraki Collective
- Eddie quit his job. we started working together full-time
- created our first course; Instagram for health & wellness
2019
- expanded the direction of TMC
- continued to teach fitness
- ran my fifth marathon
- after 8 amazing years in Hawaii, we moved back to the mainland to be closer to family
- moved to Arizona, traded island life for desert life
- launched a WordPress template shop
- created a DIY brand & website course
- dreaming, planning and DOING more than ever before… we’re just getting started
the hard + beautiful truth
It’s time to stop hiding your gifts
You must show up, you must share your gifts and you must carve out space online. We don’t just say this because it’s the only way to keep your business thriving in a digital world but because there are lives out there that need exactly what you do and how you do it.
I’m passionate about brand experiences and people’s uniquely powerful stories. Eddie is all about logistics, tech, making things work behind the scenes. The Meraki Collective is the way we get to live out our strengths and support those who, like you, are changing lives.
It would be our honor to help you share your story, grow your brand and establish the online home your business deserves.
Behind the Scenes
When I’m not coaching, designing or writing for The Meraki Collective, I’m a group fitness instructor, marathon runner and content creator at marissarodriguez.com. If you’re into fitness, plant-based food or simply want to see what it looks like to build a personal brand in a crowded space, I’d love to see you there!
Behind the Scenes
Previously described as a “silent bulldog” and “secret weapon” by coworkers in the construction industry, Eddie is the reason things function and succeed, no matter the industry. When he’s not creating websites or doing tech support he uses his 15+ years of experience in the stone industry as a consultant at The Stone Academy.
Behind the Scenes
When he’s not napping or counting his toy collection Cilantro makes sure everyone is happy and productive. He quickly earned the title of Chief Happiness Officer as a puppy and continues to take his job very seriously (a.k.a if there are tears, tense energy or deep sighs, he is in your face within two seconds… he simply wants everyone to be happy, always).
Behind the Scenes
In 2010 we visited Hawaii and within one year we moved to the island of Oahu. Our intention was to head back to California within two years… We’ve since learned plans are like rules and they’re meant to be broken… we stayed in Hawaii for 8 years and it was the adventure of a lifetime. It changed our hearts and inspired our lives and even though we traded island life for desert life in December 2019, Hawaii will always be home, until we meet again, mahalo nui loa.
more QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.
Book a free consultation to see how we can help! You’ll be surprised with how much we can cover in 30 minutes, you’ll be buzzing with ideas and excitement to launch your brand and website ASAP!
We’ll chat soon, xoxo -M
P.S. Need a new brand and website but don’t have the budget to work with us yet? Click here for our Free 3 Day Brand Challenge!
P.P.S. Not into video calls and still not sure where to start? Click here.