Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Marie Morton.
Lisa Marie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Great question! My story has many beginnings, but for the sake of this specific interview I’ll begin my story at the age of 14 when I met my husband. We were high school sweethearts and inseparable.
Our love developed quickly and we became young parents. I gave birth to our first born at the age of 16 years old.
Having a child so young lead to me getting on the quickest path to success. I got my Realestate license and sold timeshare at 18 years old.
My husband and I were very successful at selling timeshare. We enjoyed the early work hours as well as the social aspect of the business. Although, we enjoyed selling timeshare our interest turned towards the marketing aspect of the industry. An opportunity opened in the marketing department so we decided to merge into the marketing aspect of the industry and give it a try. We quickly fell in love with timeshare marketing.
After learning the ins and outs of marketing in our corporate positions, we took a leap of faith and branched out into our own business in 2010.
Our marketing company Five Star Resort Marketing Inc has earned millions of dollars in revenue since it’s inception.
We became one of the most successful timeshare marketing companies in Orlando.
During the highest level of success in our company our marriage and home life suffered.
We gained everything we wanted financially, but at the cost of our marriage and family.
Work was our priority…
By this time, my husband and I had three beautiful children.
We loved our family and each other, but we just didn’t know how to maintain a marriage, a business, and financial success.
Our home life and marriage suffered through everything you could think of.
My husband and myself became more like business partners versus a happily married couple.
The marriage problems became unbearable and we ended up in divorce.
The heartbreak and pain from the divorce left me feeling broken and confused.
During the time of separation and divorce, I focused on my children and myself.
God lead me on a journey of healing.
In my brokenness, I found the light which is Jesus Christ.
I went on a journey of healing, growth, and restoration with Jesus.
I found identity and purpose in God.
My children and I were in a broken situation, but God kept us whole and in our right mind. We had peace and joy in a time when we should’ve been depressed.
Along my journey to self-restoration, God told me HE would restore my marriage even though my husband and I were divorced.
I held on to the word of God and partnered with Him throughout the process.
Our marriage was restored after being divorced only six months!
We were able to restore our marriage and family by partnering with God, having faith, and going to counseling.
In counseling, we learned the proper techniques on how to maintain a successful loving marriage. We put in the essential work!
The same work ethic and passion we applied to our business for so many years to make it successful , we adopted it and applied it to our marriage and family.
Our marriage and family became our top priority and endeavor.
All along I thought I was supposed to be like what I saw on reality tv shows and social media. I thought success was measured by what you accumulate. With God I realized success is measured by the stability of our minds, home life, values, integrity, and morals. Money comes easy with dedication and a great work ethic, but what’s more important is the health and welfare of a family. Family is our legacy. Make your family your number one priority, apply your successful work ethic to your family, and you will reap true success and legacy.
Our marriage has been restored for six years now and it’s better then ever.
We are now founders of a nonprofit organization called Let There Be Light Worldwide Ministries which is a 501c3.
Our mission is to save marriages, families, and individuals through a free counseling program called THRIVE.
Our free counseling services are provided through licensed professional counselors, therapists, and life coaches.
We’ve been able to restore many families and individuals thanks to donations and volunteer counselors.
In addition to our program THRIVE, we also serve the community through outreach programs as well as leadership and entrepreneur conferences and workshops.
Through our mission, we intend to help people THRIVE in every aspect of their lives; assisting them in discovering who God has called them to be in life, Marriage, family, career, and business.
We help build the leaders of tomorrow and teach them how to succeed in every aspect of their lives so they can avoid the hardships we endured in our marriage and business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No…
I would say there was challenges with the divorce as well as financial issues due to scaling back our business to restore our family.
We faced many ups and downs with finding our way on our new path to success as a family and as business owners.
The ride wasn’t smooth, but it was well worth it!
God doesn’t say the ride will be easy, but He promises to give us strength in the process so we can endure and Thrive in the end!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Five Star Resort Marketing Inc?
We specialize in the tourism and hospitality industry.
We help people with their travel needs when it comes to accommodations and attractions all over the world.
We provide discount vacation packages.
In addition to our tourism and hospitality business, we also have a nonprofit 501c3 organization Called Let There Be Light Worldwide Ministries which serves the community through outreach, professional licensed free counseling services. And career assistance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck, but I can say that we’ve been extremely blessed!
I have been blessed in the restoration of my family.
The restoration of my business.
The forming of my nonprofit organization.
And most definitely through relationships.
The healthy relationships God leads you to will bless you in numerous ways.
I once heard a very wise person say relationships are the new currency.
I have found that to be very true.
We should honor and appreciate the relationships that we have.
Love makes the world go around! Our time is limited here on this earth, let’s use it wisely!
Don’t waste time with bitterness, or unforgiveness. Forgive and let it go! We never know what God intends to do through relationships. If I didn’t choose to heal and forgive my husband, I would’ve lost out on the biggest blessing of my life!
I would like to close with this…
As you go after your goals in career and business, don’t neglect those closest to you! You may be neglecting your biggest blessing and legacy.
May God bless you and keep you always.
Contact Info:
- Email: Lisamarie@belightworldwide.com
- Website: www.fivestarresortmarketing.com / www.Belightworldwide.com
- Instagram: @lisa_marie_morton/ @let_there_be_light_worldwide
- Facebook: Lisa Marie Morton / Let There Be Light Worldwide Ministries
- Other: www.lisamariemorton.com
Marlena Morton
January 20, 2022 at 2:18 pm
A beautiful story.