Shannon Briggs shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Shannon, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, the thing bringing me the most joy is my women’s group led by New York Times bestselling author Tara Schuster. We affectionately call ourselves the coven, and I have been part of this circle for a year. These women have walked with me through some incredibly challenging moments, showing up with support, empathy, guidance, and a whole lot of love. It is rare to find a group where everyone is rooting for each other’s healing and growth, and this one has been that for me.
Right now we are studying Aristotle and what it means to live a flourishing life. It has sparked deep conversations about purpose, joy, and the small rituals that make us feel more like ourselves. The best part is that they are not only wise and thoughtful, they are also funny and sweet as hell, which keeps the heavy work feeling light and human.
We just had our first in person retreat in Santa Fe, and it was the most magical weekend. It grounded me, energized me, and reminded me how powerful it is to be held by a community of women who genuinely care. It may have been the most joy I have felt all at once all year long.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Shannon Briggs, the founder of Campfire Collective, a creative marketing and PR agency built on the belief that community is the most powerful tool a brand can have. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling and connection. I help businesses and nonprofits show people who they really are, what they care about, and how they bring value to the communities they serve.
Campfire Collective is named for the feeling of gathering around something warm with people you trust. That feeling guides everything we do. We focus on community rooted marketing, thoughtful PR, and social strategies that honor the real voices behind a brand. Whether we are elevating a restaurant, supporting a nonprofit, shaping a tourism initiative, or helping a local organization expand its reach, the heartbeat of our work stays the same. Tell great stories. Build real relationships. Create something that lasts.
Right now our team is supporting clients across the country on projects that shine a light on the people and places that matter. It is meaningful work, and I feel lucky every day that I get to help amplify the stories that deserve to be heard.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a funny, nerdy kid with a wild creative streak. I lived for dance, theatre, arts and crafts, music, and anything that let me make something out of nothing. I also had a competitive edge that showed up on the basketball court, where I played for many years and loved every second of it.
I have always carried an old soul energy. I grew up obsessed with The Beatles, convinced I belonged in the Brat Pack, and absolutely worshipping Molly Ringwald. I was the kid who felt things deeply, thought about everything a little too much, and wanted to understand the world in a way that felt bigger than my age.
At the same time, I felt a strong need to achieve. I chased straight As, held myself to impossible standards, and was hard on myself when I fell short. Underneath all of that effort was a kid who wanted to shine, to create, and to feel fully expressed. That version of me is still here. She is the part of me that keeps me curious, keeps me playful, and reminds me that I am at my best when I am bringing my whole creative heart into everything I do.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to believe that hustle was the only path to success. That if I pushed hard enough, stayed up late enough, and carried the entire world on my shoulders, I would somehow earn the life and career I wanted. Now I have started to question that belief. When I hustle, I notice that I make decisions from fear and scarcity. I chase the dollar instead of the work that feels aligned with my values. I react instead of reflecting. It has made me wonder if the hustle mindset is actually pulling me away from the life I am trying to build.
Right now I am in the middle of exploring a different way of moving through the world. When I step back, breathe, and resist the urge to spend every waking hour problem solving, I feel myself thinking more clearly. My choices come from calm and spaciousness instead of urgency. I can see the bigger picture. I have been sitting with a question that keeps opening things up for me. What if rest and balance is the partner to flourishing, not the rival?
I have not mastered this shift by any stretch. I am still figuring it out day by day. But I am beginning to believe that peace and steadiness might be the rocket launcher to ambition and success. Not the antidote. The more I experiment with slowing down, the more I notice that I show up with more intention, more creativity, and more grounded leadership.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is community. I grew up surrounded by people who were not technically family but felt like they were. My childhood was filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins who shared meals, showed up during hard seasons, and celebrated every win. That sense of belonging shaped me from a young age, and it is a value I am intentional about passing on to my daughter.
I reject the idea that we are meant to do life alone. I believe we function better as individuals and as a society when we understand community as a vital piece of our existence. People crave belonging. Everyone needs support at some point. The happiest and most fulfilled people in the world are the ones who are connected to strong relationships, and the science backs that up again and again.
When we come together, we think better, create better, and solve problems in ways that are not possible in isolation. I believe that community is the foundation for personal growth, collective strength, and real change. If we choose connection over individualism, I genuinely believe we can solve anything from the challenges we face in our own lives to the systemic issues in the world around us.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
This is something I am actively working through. I am someone who has often looked outside myself for reassurance, and I am beginning to understand that this is something so many people navigate. At the same time, I am my own harshest critic. No one could ever be as tough on me as I am on myself. Self compassion is a lesson I am still learning, so in many ways giving my best has become my default. It comes from an internal drive to be proud of who I am and to be a strong role model for my daughter.
That intrinsic motivation keeps me going, but it also has its flaws. Because I hold myself to such high standards, I often push harder than anyone around me would ever expect. I work not just to do well, but to quiet the part of me that fears falling short. It is something I am becoming more aware of, and I am trying to approach it with curiosity instead of judgment.
So yes, I do give my best even without praise. But the deeper work is learning how to pair that effort with kindness toward myself. I am very much a work in progress, just like everyone else, and I am learning that the real goal is not perfection. It is growth, balance, and showing up in a way that feels aligned with the person I am becoming.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buildacampfire.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildacampfire
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildacampfire/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildacampfire
Image Credits
Campfire Collective
