Meet Elina: Inner Success Project
Elina is a Rockstar ladies. Most importantly, she is giving other women and space and place to share our stories. She is focused on women producing actions that change their life- not just inspiration- this is something that Elina and I share at the core of what we do. I also love that is empowering both men and women- at their upcoming cruise she has a variety of key notes speakers, both men and women, that are incredibly diverse from various industries. I am so honored and humbled that she dedicated her time to an interview with The Everyday Series. I hope you find actions you can commit to for your business through her words!
Can you share a little bit of your journey with us and who you are?
My name is Elina Lee. I am a full-time mother, mental health advocate, self-made millionaire by the age of 24, high school and college drop-out, event producer, speaker, author, real estate investor, and adrenaline junkie: just a few words to describe me.
Since I was a child, I was never afraid of risk or a challenge; in fact, I always embraced it, welcomed it and searched for it. This adrenaline addiction is what led me to drop out of college and go into business for myself.
I started my first company at age 20. During this time, I was a broke, full time college student and single mother. Although, I had plans to become a doctor, it didn’t feel like “enough” for me. It wasn’t fulfilling and it didn’t set my soul on fire. I didn’t feel inspired or excited or passionate to pursue that route; all I knew was that, one day, I wanted to become successful, travel the world, empower, and inspire others. I wouldn’t be able to do that being a doctor. So, I dropped out and ventured out on my own.
Fast forward a couple years, and I ended up building a multi-million-dollar industry from a broken laptop that I used on someone else’s kitchen table while living on a mattress behind someone else’s couch. During this time, my companies produced nearly 500 events in 10 different countries and my companies were featured in countless magazines, news outlets, television appearances, and publications around the world.
For years, all of the success, traveling, and busy non-stop schedules distracted me from what I knew was of true importance and value: happiness, family, love, and inner peace. After privately and quietly battling with depression, anxiety, and an unhappy marriage for nearly a decade, I finally gathered the courage to stand up for myself and leave everything behind, including the successful companies that I loved and helped build, in order to embark on my own personal journey toward inner success, writing my first book, and starting a new company that absolutely sets my soul on fire: The Inner Success Project.
With nearly ten years of experience in event production, I am now overjoyed to be passionately working on The Inner Success Project’s Cruises, Life Mastery Retreats, and Success Coaching Programs, as well as, having my first book published.
2. Tell us about the mission of your brand. how does it empower women?
The mission of our brand is to inspire and empower people to tap into their full potential and live life the way it’s supposed to be lived: enjoying and embracing every single moment. I spent so many years of my life stressed out, wasting time, focused only on materialistic and superficial goals as opposed to intrinsic and emotional goals. That’s where it all begins; from the inside out. If you are able to master your mind, you can master your life. You can control your reaction to the circumstances around you and, through this concept, you can literally design and create your own reality. It is our mission to spread this way of life to others so that they can become the best versions of themselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially, too.
We do so by creating a positive environment and community where other like-minded people can come gather, grow, learn, and enhance themselves in every way possible. Our events take place in multiple countries. Each year, we produce 4 5-Day cruises to the Caribbean, as well as, stateside retreats throughout the year.
How can you not become inspired and empowered when you’re in a beautiful destination with beautiful, like-minded, positive people? It’s the perfect combination to inner and outer success!
3. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a female entrepreneur? What are the steps you’ve taken to overcome it?
I’ve been in the event production industry for nearly 9 years. I was the only female in a lead position throughout our industry. So, working alongside nothing but successful and egotistical men, I felt that I always had to overcompensate to earn their respect and for them to hear my voice.
I was very young when I jumped into this industry and most of the men we did business with were in their late 30’s to 60’s, so, I felt that I was automatically judged and not given the credit that I deserved since I was basically this stereotypical 20 year old kid with fake boobs walking into board meetings. I didn’t let that stop me. I treated them exactly as I expected to be treated: a successful and respectable business professional. It took a few years to earn that respect across the industry, but I eventually earned my keep and my company became the top producing event production company in our entire industry from 2012 until I decided to leave the company in 2018.
4. What sets your brand apart from others?
ISP is a place for EVERYONE to come gather, grow, learn, and become empowered and inspired. Our events, retreats, and books aren’t necessarily geared or targeted toward a specific genre or demographic. ISP is basically designed for any human being who wants to enhance themselves in any way, shape or form; whether it’s mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, or financially.
5. How do you collaborate with others working towards a better world?
At ISP, we produce multiple events throughout the year that feature numerous keynote speakers, inspirational business moguls, trauma survivors, and success stories. Our goal for these events is to create a community and place for positive, like-minded people to gather, grow, empower and support one another while traveling the world, as well as, to create a solid platform for motivational keynote speakers, life coaches, and “come-ups” to share their stories through our #SHAREYOURSTORY project.
Our #SHAREYOURSTORY project takes place during the event. During this day, we open up the stage for anyone and everyone to come up and share their story in a safe and secure environment where they won’t be judged, ridiculed, or frowned upon. At ISP, we are all about support, empowerment, community, and positivity.
Each ISP Cruise and Life Mastery Retreat features exciting daily and nightly themed events, charity galas, soirees, adventures, group excursions (like kayaking, zip lining, ATVing, cave diving, hiking, etc.), group activities, workouts, workshops, and so much more! And, better yet; each of these events are family friendly so the kids can come along!
We also have ISP Success Coaching Programs which are led by Certified and Professional “Results Coaches” around the country. Each one-on-one program, in-person program, and online program is individually customized and designed by an ISP Success Coach to fit the needs, goals, and visions of the client in any area from “health and fitness” to “business and finance” to “personal growth and development” to “marriage and relationships;” and more.
6. What advice would you give to a female entrepreneur in the beginning stages of launching her brand or business?
Always, always, always believe in yourself and remind yourself of your “Why.” Why did you start this journey? Why did you want to get into business for yourself? What is your end goal?
Starting and building a new business is very challenging, exhausting, and discouraging at times. Most entrepreneurs don’t know what they’re getting themselves into when they go into business for themselves. Being a business owner is a 247 job. It is the complete opposite of the typical 9 to 5 that the majority of America is accustomed to.
There are going to many, many times when you’re going to feel like giving up or you won’t feel motivated or you may even forget why exactly you’re doing this. Keep going regardless. Keep fighting. Keep pushing forward. Remind yourself of why you started; especially on the days that you don’t feel like working toward your goals. Never give up. Ever.