Tag Archives: Michelle’s Memoirs

Apr 18 2013

I Quit My Day Job: The 3 Year + 1 Month Update!

OK OK, so after 3 years I’ve finally come to terms with not saying this is I Quit My Day Job: The 37 (!) Month Update. My business is a full-fledged toddler now and I’m absolutely treating it that way!

Click Play below to hear what it’s like being a freelance family, who I’ve hired to leverage and expand my biz, and why the next 6 weeks might make my head explode:

Links of peeps I mentioned in the video:
* Luke’s post about quitting his job
* Juliana
* Arwyn
* Halley
* The Declaration of You
* Emilie

And if ya want first dibs on any of the goings-on I mentioned here, make sure you’re signed up for my VIP List by clicking here. You’ll also get immediate access to my VIP Library, with worksheets and presentations galore!

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Apr 09 2013

Why I Became The When I Grow Up Coach

Don’t Settle by Britni Wilson

When I was writing my 20 Jobs in & 7 Years post last month, I realized that I have yet to tell you a big part of my story. Every time I tell it, I gloss over a big part: making the decision to become a life coach.

It didn’t come easily. By now, you might know that, when I finally came to terms about not pursuing acting as my career any longer, that my first stop was to a $250/hr career counselor/MSW who told me to get a nose job. And how after that, I hid under the covers for a while, convinced nobody would understand me or could help me.

But, thanks to NYU’s School of Continuing Education and their career change workshop, I started putting the pieces together. You’d expect this to be the part where I inform you of the when, where and how I found life coaching, and that when I discovered it, the birds sang and the clouds parted and the sun shone and the angels fluttered around me blowing horns.

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Mar 19 2013

I Quit My Day Job: The 3 Year Update(!)

Last Sunday I spoke to a dozen whip-smart, super-sweet, way-driven JFEW Scholars from Macaulay Honors College so they can articulate their awesome to friends, family, HR people and prospective bosses. This is such a visual of what I want Year 3 to look more like. (photo by Deb Cooperman)

Traditionally, these posts have been videos, but I just felt the need to write this one instead of recording it. And while I was resistant to that at first, I’m listening to it because, well, I’m the boss! And I have been for 3 years. Today. Which blows my mind.

Year 1 was about finding my footing, my rhythms, my Hells Yes’ and Hell Nos, my Say Yes To It All because I was set on building building building. Then, Year 2 was going to be one of Investment, but instead it became one of Taking Care, of Relief and Release, thanks to my boob cancer.

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Mar 05 2013

20 Jobs in 7 Years

Create Your Own Dream by Happy Deliveries

How have I never told you guys that I had 20 jobs in 7 years time pre-2007. 20 jobs! In 7 years! Part of the job-hopping was because I was doing actor-friendly, freelance-y things…and part of it was because I was a Renaissance Soul and, once I got comfy somewhere, I got bored and wanted a new adventure…and part of it was because I was in sales and sometimes it cost me more to stay put than jump ship…but no matter – it’s all part of my story, and on the cusp of my 3rd Entrepreneuriversary (it’s March 19th!), I just have to share it with you.

Shall we set the stage? First, my 2000-2002 jobs, which I had to solely to support my auditioning habit. Just writing this makes me exhausted:

• administering temporary tattoos at parties and events, some as far away as Deep New Jersey until 3am (it was a “safe” prom, whatever that means).

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Feb 12 2013

I Got a Golden Ticket (The Recap!)

The start of the day included (clockwise): an interview with Tanya and me for our video, shot by Show & Tell Stories (pic by Monica McCarthy); waiting for the Golden Goddess under the garland that Tiffany made us (pic by Kylie Bellard); the Welcome Table included goody bags stuffed with treats from Kitchen Letters, Two Rubies, Linda Tieu, Kris Oster, Laura Kelly, & Francesca Marano  (pic by Kylie Bellard).

Well, it’s been a full week + 1 day from the whirlwind that was the first ever Golden Ticket event, and I don’t think I could’ve done this any sooner if I tried.

For 3-ish days I could barely even talk about it. Luke and my Mom were all, “What was your favorite part of the day?” and I couldn’t give any specifics other than, “All of it!” and then point to the pictures that were pouring in from our Goddesses.

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Jan 28 2013

Going Back to My Roots (and what you can expect from me in 2013)

Illustrated Theodore Roethke Quote by Satchel and Sage

Despite my creative brain and Renaissance Soul tendencies, I am A Planner, A Reviewer, An Organizer (see my 3 years as an Executive Assistant). And with the dawn of a new year comes a Blank Calendar, which is something way too seductive for me to not dream on, write on, and plan on.

In a word: Growth.

Which is actually making me smile a bit, because in order to move forward…I think I need to go backwards.

Allow me to explain. When I started working as The When I Grow Up Coach, I ran a scholarship that allowed me to get a loud-and-clear message from 23 applicants. In reading into why they wanted to work with me, I got 3 very distinct reasons:

• they didn’t know what they want to be when they grew up
• they knew what they wanted to do, but couldn’t see how to actually make it work while keeping a roof over their heads and putting food in their (and their kids!) bellies
• they were doing what they wanted to do, but it wasn’t going as well as they thought and they needed a push

It was a HUGE realization for me, and I immediately went to work courting all those groups.

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Jan 17 2013

I Quit My Day Job: The 34 Month Update!

I can hardly believe it, but it’s time for my I Quit My Day Job update. I do these myself every 3-ish months and it always feels like I just did it. I think time goes much faster when you’re 2 months shy of your 3rd Entrepreneuriversary! That snuck up on me super big time. Any ideas for a celebration? I’d love to hear how you’d wanna party with me!

Click Play below to hear all about what I’m working on in my 34th month (!) as a Woman of the World (aka full-time entrepreneur)! (And apologies for the points where the sound doesn’t sync to the video very well – I was having big time iMovie problems. Hopefully it ain’t too distracting!)

Can’t see the video? You can watch on YouTube here.
Prefer to listen to this update? You can find the MP3 here.

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Jan 14 2013

35 Things I’ve Learned in 35 Years

Learn from Yesterday by Gayana

{in no particular order}

35. Wearing black is never any fun.

34. Being called “weird” or “different” or “unique” is the best compliment you can get – once you’re coming up into your 30s. If you’re smart, you’ll see it as a compliment from the get-go.

33. Don’t marry someone you know is gay. They won’t change for you.

32. Don’t be wary of meeting people on the Internet. One of them will be your husband (thank you, Friendster).

31. Healthy relationships don’t consist of extreme compromise or the surrendering of your dreams. If you find yourself thinking, “But this is what someone does in a relationship” (romantic or otherwise), it most certainly means the opposite. Cut those ties.

30. It’s better to be alone than to be with someone who’s not right for you.

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Jan 09 2013

Fear of Giving up on Your One and Only Dream

Hallway is a Bitch by Aga’s Box of Miracles

So thrilled to be included in Srinivas Rao’s Skool of Life blog this week, taking myself back to The Time I Gave Up On My Dream. When Srini asked me to be part of his Fear series, I knew there was nothing else to write about (even boob cancer seemed less scary, to be honest!). I’d love for you to swing by and take a peek into the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make for myself. (Thanks for having me, Srini!)

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Jan 08 2013

2012 By the Numbers (and what’s changed from last year)

Last year, I wrote this post, sharing my 2011 numbers in terms of where I spent my time and made my money. This year, I wanted to do the same because, well, so much has changed and it’s really helping me celebrate as well as shape my 2013 plans.

Can you read it OK? As is my way, I made this as a card for my Box o’ Business Brilliance, and because I made it myself off of my 2012 Types of Income Report from Outright, it’s definitely “handmade” – and possible a bit illegible. Here are the highlights:

In 2011, about 85% of my income was from personalized coaching, and I freaked because I knew I’d have to cut back on it.  In 2012, my personalized coaching made up for 54% of my income, and that’s fab for me as I really wanna diversify my offerings and income streams.

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Know Who I Follow

BLOG BADGE to BESTOW onto your BEAUTIFUL BLOG

Creative Commons

Basically, what this means is that everything I write is my own property (duh), but you can use it on your blog or in your newsletter or as skywriting as long as you don't change nothin' & you add the following : "Michelle Ward, aka The When I Grow Up Coach, helps creative people devise the career they think they can't have - or discover it to begin with! A certified life coach by the International Coach Academy, a musical theater actress with her BFA from NYU/Tisch, and a Corporate America escapee, Michelle has served as an expert source and contributor for such outlets as Newsweek, Forbes, and Psychology Today, as well as leading workshops and seminars at SXSW 2011 and the sold-out Etsy Success Symposium. She could be found coachin', bloggin' & givin' away free stuff at whenigrowupcoach.com."

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