We didn’t just want to start a blog for the sake of it. Nope! We felt it needed to serve a PURPOSE and have a VOICE that actually mattered. So, here at Provoke, we decided to talk about our experiences and put our own fresh spin on things—because, honestly, who needs more cookie-cutter content?
As a small business, we’re all about sharing what we’ve learned so you don’t have to fall into the same traps we did. LET’S BE REAL—starting your own company can be a bit of a rollercoaster, with all the pitfalls and potential disasters along the way. Navigating them successfully? Yeah, that’s a skill you’ll want to sharpen right from the start. One of the best ways to do that is by looking back at how your business idea came to life and the journey that got you here.
ORIGINALITY?
Is it original? Who knows! But what we DO know is that we pour our heart and soul into everything we do. We bet some of you have been in that same spot, wondering what the next step is, feeling like you’re stuck in a business limbo. Our hope is that by sharing our stories, we can help light the way to YOUR NEXT BIG ADVENTURE. Have we made mistakes? Oh, you bet we have. We’re human after all. But with every stumble, we’ve learned, grown, and become stronger—both as a business and as individuals. And through these blogs, we want to pass along the wisdom we’ve picked up on the ride.
Take Lisa, for example. After spending 15 years designing stunning logos and websites at agencies, she decided to take the leap into her own thing come January. Like any great idea, hers needed time to take shape, and she had to create space to figure out what her new venture was going to become.
On the flip side, I was working as a software tester, specializing in health-based solutions over at Mohawk College. But in 2012, I felt the itch to LEVEL UP, so I headed back to school. Even though I’d been tinkering with web development since the 90s, I knew there was room for MORE GROWTH. Then, when my contract at Mohawk ended, I hit a bit of a CROSSROADS—totally unsure of what the next move should be.
During that phase of uncertainty, the lightbulb went off for BOTH of us: why not COMBINE our skills and start designing online and media solutions for other companies? We had the SKILLS, the PASSION, and a shared VISION. Being partners in life already, taking this leap into business together just felt like the next NATURAL step.
We knew exactly what we were getting into—we weren’t blind to the CHALLENGES ahead. It was going to be TOUGH and require a TON OF TEAMWORK. Just like in our personal lives, we knew there’d be disagreements (duh!), but we were absolutely committed to keeping WORK and LIFE separate. Are we perfect? HA! Far from it. But we make a real effort to keep that work-life balance in check. Honestly, this could be an entire blog on its own: “Working with Your Significant Other and How We NAVIGATE It.”
PROVOKE IS BORN
And just like that, PROVOKE MEDIA & DESIGN was born. We each bring our own unique strengths (and weaknesses, let’s be real) to the table, but we collaborate in a way that lets us play to those strengths and lift each other up where we might fall short. Above all else, we’re a TEAM—packed with ideas, talent, HIGH standards, and a TON of ambition.
Together, we tackle the wild ride of entrepreneurship, celebrating the wins and smashing through the challenges as they come. Along this journey, we’ve found a shared passion for helping small to medium-sized businesses grow their brands and crush their goals. Our mission? To deliver the top-notch customer service our clients DESERVE, whether it's through DIGITAL MARKETING, SEO, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEB, or GRAPHIC DESIGN.
No matter the service, we believe in one thing above all—communication and collaboration are EVERYTHING. Working hand in hand not only fuels our own growth but also sets our clients up for success.
Oh, and as for us—Partners², Lisa & Shane, we sealed the deal in stunning Cayo Coco, Cuba, this past fall, tying the knot on October 17, 2023. Surrounded by 38 of our closest friends and family, we finally made it happen after pandemic delays in 2020 and 2021, plus Shane’s journey through multiple surgeries to rebuild his left leg. We’re partners in life and in business, and we’ll keep building Provoke together, no matter what comes our way.
Fast forward to WINTER 2026 and while we definitely haven’t figured everything out (does anyone?), one thing is CRYSTAL CLEAR: we make a pretty awesome team.
As we dive headfirst into spring, we’re buzzing with new dreams, goals, and excitement—ready to learn, grow, and create. There are SO MANY small businesses out there just waiting to be empowered, and we’re beyond thrilled to be part of their journey to success. While I can’t spill all the beans just yet, TRUST ME, you’ll want to stay tuned as we roll out some exciting new plans. Blogs? Oh, they’re not going anywhere!
And that’s how we ended up Provoking Ourselves. Stick around, because our adventure is FAR from over—there’s so much more coming in 2026...
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