Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Marie Kaiser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laura Marie, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I used to think “Moxie” was my only identifying one-word character trait, but I’ve also learned that “resilience” is also perfect for me.
I come from a dysfunctional family where my emotional needs were not met as a child, and I’ve since learned that those same family members do not know how to love me as an adult. I’ve learned to understand that this is a fact and not an attack on me or a personal insult… It just is what it is. Moving on from emotional pain is resilience.
As a single mom to a now 22-year-old son, I have learned so much about how to love, how to put ego aside and how to want the best for someone who learns from everything they’ve seen along the way. My son is a 2025 graduate of my alma mater, UW-Madison, and I could not be prouder of the man he already is and can’t wait to see what’s in store for him. Single parenting is 100% resilience.
I’ve been in many industries along my journey, predominately starting with banking while I finished up my degree in Sociology and English. I wanted to go into counseling. Life had other plans, and I found out right before I applied to grad school that I was expecting my son. My priorities shifted. My journey was more about parenting than a career, so I turned back to banking and worked at several different places along the way – retail branch manager, commercial cash management, etc. I loved my clients, I loved my colleagues, and I loved solving problems. Some of those jobs did not love me back. I currently own a small social media business, along with a small confectionary. In addition, I work for a an amazing boutique law firm as the finance department. Bouncing back with confidence after losing a job is resilience.
Lastly, my health journey. I have had migraines since my late teens and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when my son was a year old. That autoimmune journey has spiraled into several other accompanying issues that affect my ability to be my best physically each and every day. I have Hashimoto’s, (which actually caused my hypothyroid), Raynaud’s, gluten and lactose issues, genetically high cholesterol, sleeping issues, chronic fatigue syndrome and sadly, the list goes on. Dealing with health while being productive and giving myself grace is resilience.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The biggest goal for me professionally is to gain a couple of great clients going forward. Not everyone who needs social media is going to be a great fit with my small firm. But for the right client, Engage Social Media is exactly what they need: organic social media growth with curated, targeted graphics. The goal is to maximize the visibility to potential clients while increasing professional reputation.
I’ve also started offering branding sessions (low-cost, low-tech, budget-friendly) as well as capturing events through my ESM Photography. I love showing people having a great time, and showing up authentically.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Growing up a GenX kid, we were taught independent living skills way too young! We were the 10-year-old latchkey kids, the kids who were left to our own devices from morning until dinnertime. Our parents had zero idea where we were, who we were with or what we were doing. On the bright side, there was no social media to document our stupidity.
We learned resourcefulness – there was no one telling how to do most things, so we just figured it out. I didn’t have the internet through high school, we learned to research the hard way with a card catalog, Dewey Decimal System, and being really kind to the librarian. Our generation went from no tech to now having and embracing AI. We went from corded rotary phones to smartphones. We adapt like no other generation. Lastly, I worked HARD for everything I ever had. I moved out at 17 and never looked back. Hustle and heart will set you apart.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I am overwhelmed often. I take on a lot and that means that sometimes it all collides. I try to focus on deep breathing, taking one project at a time, and realizing that I cannot do it all at once. Learning to prioritize between my clients, my law firm work and my health is an ongoing journey. I have an amazing support system of colleagues and friends that I’m able to lean on when needed. I’ve gotten better at scheduling bits of downtime into each day, regardless of my schedule. I do better work when I can approach with clear eyes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @msmoxiemadison
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmk1975/
- Twitter: @LaurainMadTown
Image Credits
n/a – images are all mine.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
