ABOUT
Hi, I'm Melissa Eick!
(pronounced "ike" :) )
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My favorite quote is actually a song lyric:
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“Let’s be outspoken, let’s be ridiculous, let’s solve the world’s problems.” —Alanis Morissette, So Pure
That line lit something up in me the first time I heard it—over Napster, in my college dorm room at the University of Northern Iowa, circa 1999. Looking back, I realize the spirit of that lyric had already taken root in me as a kid: the faith that conversation, creativity, and bold ideas can change lives.
​​That faith led me to connect with students when teaching in English in Poitiers, France, and French at Des Moines Area Community College. It drove me to attend University of Tulsa College of Law and become an attorney to advocate for justice. And in 2016, it fueled the launch of Dragonfly Human Trafficking Victim Services in Oklahoma City, where I’ve served as co-founder and Director of Advancement ever since.
I didn’t know how to build a nonprofit from scratch, but I learned. Website design, grant writing, fundraising, public policy, podcasting—I figured out whatever it took to make our mission a reality. Alongside extraordinary women from every field, we scaled Dragonfly into something far greater than I imagined. What a gift.
But here’s the truth behind the highlight reel: I was in constant survival mode.
The deeper the dream of building Dragonfly took root, the more it demanded of me. I was exhausted, emotionally drained, and running on empty.
I knew I had to make a change—not just for myself, but for the people and mission I cared about deeply.
That’s when I started identifying my pain points and building adaptable systems to relieve them.
First came my personal lifestyle. I developed Mega Meal Prep and Weekend Systems—tools to ease daily life without rigid rules. Then, I tackled my unpredictable work life. I stopped trying to create the “perfect” plan and started designing systems that could adapt to each day’s needs. My productivity became more intentional, more strategic—and more impactful.​
​Did these systems make stress magically go away forever? Heck. No. That’s not real life.
But now, even on my hardest days, by returning to the systems I created, I can break out of survival mode, ease back into sustainable productivity, and get my spark back.
The results spoke for themselves: record-breaking fundraising, legislative and policy wins, a thriving organization that’s helped thousands of trafficking survivors, not to mention a clean house (most days), healthier habits, and a few drafted books along the way.
People started asking me how I did it. So I began sharing: through team workshops, one-on-one coaching, and energizing team sprints that mix fun with forward momentum.​
I’ve helped others shift from constant overwhelm to more breathing room through my sustainable productivity methods–and now I want to help you do the same.
Whether you're a creative, a change-maker, a nonprofit professional, or someone just trying to make it through the week, I’m here to help you make space for what really matters.
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for time management or productivity.. Life is too real for that.
But you can build A Life That Actually Works–one that fuels your fire and empowers you to live out your purpose with less burnout and more joy.
If that sounds like what you’ve been looking for, you’re in the right place. Let’s build it—together.
Q & A!
Interview with Melissa
Q1: Have you always been this organized and productive?
A1: <laughs out loud> Um, no. I've been through waves of organized productivity, depending on the season I was in. But when I transitioned from life as a law student and more structured jobs to a demanding, unpredictable role, I struggled.
For years, I felt like I was constantly behind, juggling too many responsibilities with not enough time or energy, operating in pure survival mode—especially while co-leading a fast-growing nonprofit. I still feel that way sometimes, but much less often. What changed wasn’t some magical discipline gene—it was building adaptable systems that work with me instead of against me.
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Q2: What do you mean by “a life that actually works”?
A2: It means a life where your systems serve you—not the other way around. Where you can meet your goals, live out your values, and still have enough energy left to be a human. I think that's what we're all aiming for.
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It doesn’t require perfection. It doesn't mean that we won't struggle when life throws curveballs. It means systems that are real and sustainable, easy to maintain and easy to pick back up if you have to hit pause during a hard time.
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Q3: I’ve tried productivity systems before and couldn’t stick to them. How is yours different?
A3: Oof, same. I tried allll the typical, cookie-cutter time and task management techniques. I tried to shape my life around them. They might have helped for a little while, but they were too rigid to make work long-term.
It wasn't until I learned more about how I work best and figured out how to adapt systems around my reality that I actually started making progress!
Most of these systems assume your days are predictable. I wanted to create systems that are made for real life: the interruptions, the shifting priorities, the emotional weight of your work. My approach adapts to your energy and reality, so you can stay grounded and still move forward.
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Q4: What kinds of people do you work with?
A4: I work with people who care deeply—about their work, their communities, their families, their purpose—anyone juggling a lot and trying to make it all work. Nonprofit professionals, educators, creatives, entrepreneurs, caretakers, young adults, and college students often resonate with my trauma-informed, realistic approach to sustainable productivity.
My clients are often the go-to people in their world, the ones others rely on, but they’re tired of barely keeping up. They want to stop running on fumes and start building a life that feels both impactful and sustainable. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’m here to help!
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Q5: What’s one thing you want people to know?
A: You don’t have to choose between your mission and your wellbeing. You can do meaningful work without losing yourself in the process. You just need systems that finally see you!