Meet a Founder: Steph Silver | Hill Country Moms
Steph Silver
Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in the area?

I was born in Oklahoma, just outside of Tulsa but quickly moved to California. I actually moved at least once a year until I was about 23 when I purchased a house in south Austin. I lived there for 10 years and then moved to Driftwood. I’ve been in the area for almost 8 years now and have been in Wimberley for almost a year.

Tell us about your business.

I’ve been in marketing for almost 20 years and love it. After working in and helping to build an Austin agency for 12 years I started my own business in 2008. I did this for many reasons. One of which was that I wanted to spend more time with my kids and family than in traffic. Thank goodness I made that choice! The other reasons had more to do with feeling like I was serving the right clients and serving them well. My mission is to help humans thrive. With branding and marketing as one set of skills, that’s where I began with my business, Vine Collective. It’s become clear to me over the years that I have a greater mission and set of skills to share that helps to achieve that mission. I now coach people and businesses to thrive and move toward their own missions, and I host or plan workshops and retreats that heal, restore, and move people and organizations forward. I’ve partnered with Creekhaven Inn and Spa as the location for most of those retreats and workshops because I love the owner and it’s a perfect respite for wellness, growth, and reset. These workshops and retreats span from art and music workshops, to complete wellness, or corporate offsite meetings. The goal is always to overcome any blocks and move forward with clarity and ease.
I’m also the host of MVP Business podcast. I interview leaders who live through their Mission, Vision, and Passion so that we can all learn from the challenges and successes of business owners who continually bring themselves back to their mission and work hard to serve their customers and employees with kindness. The podcast is international but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know and showcasing Wimberley Valley businesses because we have so many that do a great job of taking care of our awesome community.
What brought you to open your business? What did you do previously? 
I kind of answered this already but the truth is that I was completely burned out. I was giving all of my energy to large corporations and some of them had no respect for my time and efforts. I was experiencing panic attacks and my work was more than affecting my time and relationship with my family…I didn’t realize it until later but it was affecting my relationship with myself too. I needed to realign. Though helping people succeed in business is a great and noble effort, I needed to know that I was helping good businesses thrive, not just any business. That led me to realizing that my passion is for helping people thrive. It’s all tied together. Business doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If leadership isn’t happy and clear the business will be murky as well. So from branding to coaching, I then forged on into wellness because that is the core of all success.
When did the idea of creating your business start? How long have you been in business? What was your
inspiration to start?
I actually had the flu and was caring for my two young boys. They were 2 and 4 so “the caring” for tasks were 200%. Once I finally got them into bed at the end of the day, I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep in my comfy bed. That is not at all what happened. Instead, I lay awake until 2am thinking of this business model. It’s funny that the workshops and retreats were forefront in my “dreaming” because it’s taken me a few years to bring those to fruition. At first I settled into what was comfortable for me – helping others build their brands. It wasn’t until I fully processed the deaths of my parents (2008 and 2009), and went through a divorce and I did the work of healing myself that I fully embraced my skills and leaned into the fully encompassed business model that now exists.
What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
I love the flexibility of being able to shift as I see fit. I’ve been working since I was 8 years old and have been lucky to be considered as a confidant and partner in a lot of those jobs but at the end of the day, major business decisions were not mine. To be honest, it’s scary and tough at times but I think it’s definitely worth it.
What makes you unique?
I truly care about the success and wellness of all who strive to do good things. I help businesses discover and portray their unique gifts, and I get to help people find their way through struggle, let go of fears, and be the people they are meant to be.
Can you tell a few things you offer?
Branding: story, logo, website, and other communication needs
Coaching: Helping leaders and individuals define and reach goals and also enjoy life the way they want to.
Workshops and Retreats: art, wellness, and growth for individuals and businesses
What is your favorite part about what you do?
Making people happy.
What does the future look like for you and your business?
The future is always unfolding. I hope to bring more wellness and corporate retreats to Wimberley. I love this amazing town. It has a great energy and I think it’s a perfect place for individuals to settle into their unique gifts. I’m hoping to really grow the corporate and organizational retreat and mastermind area of my businesses. I love seeing organizations blend wellness and business growth together. Being amongst nature brings so much more creativity and feelings of safety for communication.
What advice would you give to others that want to start something new?
Don’t let fear hold you back and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Any advice for juggling all the things in daily life?
One thing at a time. That’s all that can be done….and when you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and think of something that lights up your heart. I think of the sound of my children laughing.

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