Manifesting Big Dreams and a Lindsey Vonn Guest Appearance

February 17, 2026

Dana Grinnell

Starting and running a business is not for the faint of heart. Remaining humble, keeping a strong mindset even when things feel really hard, and staying open and allowing forces greater than you to open doors and create opportunities is an everyday exercise. My first attempt at a business after I left the comfort of a corporate career in 2018 was called prettysmart+bada**. It turned out to be more of a passion project to connect experienced professional women with rising stars. And while passion is important, you also need a solid business plan which I didn’t, and you can probably guess how that business ended. It did produce many valuable lessons including the importance of a sound business model and proof that manifesting actually works!

To kick off the business I had a brilliant idea to create a one-of-a-kind launch party experience and rented out the Denver MOMA’s Dior exhibit. I had engaging speakers, food, bev, and of course Dior! I also invited Lindsey Vonn to attend. I wrote her name in my journal everyday for months - from concept to the day of the event - and while she never replied, a small part of me expected her to walk in the door the night of - she didn’t.

However, almost exactly 6 months later I co-hosted a (much larger) headline event at Denver Startup week with another founder of a women’s organization boasting over 700 guests - and all be darned - if Lindsey Vonn wasn’t our keynote speaker and guest of honor! Manifesting works, journaling works, when things don’t go exactly as you plan them to, you may just be surprised that they end up going exactly the way they were meant to. And let me just tell you - Lindsey is all the prettysmart+bada** that you think she may be and more!

Heal up Lindsey - can’t wait to see what this curve ball inspires you to do next!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does manifesting and journaling actually work for entrepreneurs?

Many successful entrepreneurs report that consistent journaling and visualization played a meaningful role in helping them stay focused, recognize opportunities, and maintain a growth mindset through difficult periods. Whether you believe manifestation works through mindset conditioning, clarity of intention, or something less tangible, the practice of writing down your goals daily has documented benefits for focus and follow-through. The outcome may not arrive exactly as written — but it often arrives in a form that matches the intention behind it.

What can a failed first business teach you?

A failed first business is one of the most effective forms of entrepreneurial education, precisely because it is personal. It reveals where passion ends and sustainable business models begin, forces an honest look at what resources and skills you actually have, and strips away the romanticized idea of what building a company feels like versus what it actually is. Most founders who go on to build successful companies point to an earlier failure as the experience that clarified exactly what they needed to do differently.

Who is Lindsey Vonn and what is her connection to this story?

Lindsey Vonn is one of the most decorated alpine ski racers in history, a multiple Olympic medalist and World Cup champion known for her tenacity and resilience both on and off the slopes. In this story, she represents the power of manifesting a specific goal — journaling her name daily for months without response, only to have her appear as the keynote speaker at a much larger event six months later than originally intended. It is a vivid illustration that persistence and clear intention sometimes deliver results through unexpected doors.

How do you stay resilient when a business is not going as planned?

Resilience in business comes from staying connected to your original motivation while remaining genuinely open to evidence that the path needs to change. This means distinguishing between a temporary hard stretch (which most businesses go through) and a fundamental misalignment between what you are building and what the market or your own life actually needs. Journaling, community, and maintaining physical and emotional health are not optional extras for entrepreneurs — they are part of the infrastructure that keeps decision-making clear when conditions get difficult.

What is the origin story of Free Living Co?

Free Living Co grew out of founder Dana Grinnell’s earlier entrepreneurial journey, which included lessons learned from a first venture that was passion-driven but lacked a sound business model. That experience clarified what a sustainable, mission-aligned business would need to look like — which eventually led to Free Living Co, a curated clean living marketplace built around ingredient transparency, education, and accessibility for real families. The business has since grown to include a flagship store in Park City, Utah, partnerships with over 200 brands, and an in-house skincare line.

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