Good day, everyone. Welcome to her comeback.
This is a special episode that I'm bringing to
you this week. I wanted to take some time and
share with you a little bit about my story. We
talk about women over 50, transforming their
lives and creating for themselves a life that
they want. So I'd like to share with you my journey
and bring you into the experiences that I've
had and the things that have made me the person
that I am today. Five transformations that changed
everything for me. At 37, I thought my life was
over. I was drowning in a bottle. I was stuck
in patterns that were destroying my career, my
family, my soul. But today, at 54, I am living
a life I couldn't have imagined back then. And
if you're at a place in your life where you've
had enough who's hit your own rock bottom and
you're ready to look outside yourself for help,
I want to share with you five transformations
that took me from hopelessness to absolutely
living my best life. So let me ask you something.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought
yeah, this is not the life I planned How many
of you have felt stuck? Invisible or even like
your best days are behind you At 37 alcohol was
controlling every aspect of my life it was holding
me back in my career It was destroying my relationships.
I was twice divorced at that point And it was
just crushing my spirit. I was hopeless, desperate,
and completely powerless. But in that rock bottom
moment, here's what I've learned. That bottom
has become a solid foundation, which I've been
able to rebuild everything. And the message that
I have for you, maybe your rock bottom moment
doesn't have anything to do with alcohol or addiction.
It could be whatever that looks like for you.
The point is that your lowest point isn't your
end point. It's your starting point. And when
you finally had enough, you have the motivation
finally to do whatever it takes to change. You're
sick and tired of being sick and tired. That
transformation for me at 37 was foundational.
Without it, I would not have been able to move
on and move forward in my life with all of the
wonderful things that have followed. The next
transformation I want to talk to you about is
just the power of taking action despite fear.
What if I told you that at age 47, as a single
mom, working full time, I decided to go back
to school to get my MBA. And this was not an
online course. This was in the classroom two
nights a week for three hours for two years.
This was a serious commitment. Working full time,
going to class, studying, doing small group.
Two kids at home. My boys were teenagers at this
point. It was crazy. People thought I was crazy.
Why are you doing that? But I knew if I wanted
to advance my career and go further in business,
this was something that I wanted. It was something
that I found would really help me grow and develop
in the business world. And I had to do it. I
wanted to do it. And I had to bet on myself.
It required incredible time management, getting
everything done, being able to do what needed
to happen, sacrifice and commitment. But those
two years gave me not only just education, which
was fantastic. There was a lot that happened
from when I was in college to 25 years later
in business, the whole thing with the internet,
digital marketing, e -commerce, all of that happened
since the last time I was in college. So it was
just wonderful being able to learn and understand
more about how things work in today's world.
So it's not just that education that I received
but it was invaluable connections and most importantly
It was proof my first proof that I had that I
could do hard things and I'm so glad I stuck
with it and finished it was an amazing accomplishment
for me and It all came from just taking the action
in spite of the fear, walking through the fear,
having the courage to walk through it. The key
message is after 50 we often think it's too late
to do this, too late to make big changes, but
what if now was actually the perfect time? You
have the wisdom, you have the experience, and
you have nothing left to prove to anyone but
yourself. Go for it. Step out of that comfort
zone. Do that thing you want to do, whether it's
further in your education or that new business
idea, whatever that looks like for you, take
action and walk through that fear. The second
transformation I want to talk about is following
your heart, not your fears. That fear comes up
in a lot, right? It certainly has for me. So
following my heart. So at 49, I made a decision
that everyone thought was probably impulsive,
but I moved to Florida. It was just before my
50th birthday. My 50th birthday would be later
that year. And for me it felt like the stars
had aligned. This was in 2020 during COVID. My
youngest son graduated from high school and we
were sent home to work and there was no reason
that I needed to stay in North Carolina. I had
been thinking about it for many years. I had
visited Southwest Florida with family and I knew
I loved it down here, but I knew that the timing
wasn't right and at what point the timing was
right, I was ready to go. Well, that happened
for me in 2020. So I said, okay, now's the time.
I don't have anything holding me back in North
Carolina anymore. So I packed my bags and packed
my U -Haul with everything I own and took off
to Southwest Florida. I didn't know what was
going to happen with my job because I knew at
some point they were going to call us back into
the office, which, you know, at that time the
job I had, we had to go to an office and work.
So I didn't know what was going to happen with
that, but I was determined I'm going to go down
there. I'm going to get settled. I'm going to
meet my people, connect, and I'll figure it out.
I don't know how it's going to work out, but
I'll figure it out. And that was my attitude.
And that's exactly what I did. And I just can
tell you the move, the Florida was absolutely
one of the best things, one of the best decisions
I've ever made today. I feel like I'm a native
Floridian. I've only been here five years, but
I still, I just love it. And the beauty around
me feels my soul. I wake up grateful every single
day that I'm able to live in what I believe is
a paradise. So follow your heart. Not your fears.
Stop waiting for the perfect time or the perfect
plan. There's no such thing. Sometimes you have
to just take a leap and build your wings on the
way down. And that's really what I did in this
scenario. Your intuition knows things that your
logical mind haven't figured out yet. So follow
that gut. Listen to it. Do it. The third transformation
I want to talk to you about is rewriting the
story about what's possible. After moving to
Florida, I went in for an annual physical. And
at that point I was 50 pounds heavier than what
I am right now. And during that physical, my
doctor told me that given my family history and
heredity, I have heart disease. It's rampant
on both sides of my family. With that and the
weight that I was carrying around, I was not
on a good trajectory with my health, but my doctor
said, listen, if you can lose this weight, you
will significantly change your circumstances
and you'll be able to put yourself in a better,
healthier place. But you've got to get rid of
this weight. And when she told me that. Lose
40 50 pounds. Yeah, right that can't happen.
I'm over 50 My metabolism is way slower than
it was when I was 25 my age my genetics It's
just it can't happen and I believed that belief
It was as true to me as the sky is blue. You
know, I can't lose weight 100 % I believe that
but After that conversation with her, I had just
a little bit of willingness. I was like, you
know, maybe I can try this thing for a month.
She had given me recommended a particular diet
regimen just to try and see how it worked out.
And it's like, you know what? I'll try it just
for a month. And if somehow I'm able to lose
10 pounds, that'll be great. I'll give it a shot.
So I was pretty skeptical to say the least when
I went out here. and tried this. I lost those
10 pounds. And what was incredible is I felt
amazing. I felt so much better. I had energy
that I hadn't had. over the next few months I
didn't just lose the 50 pounds I actually got
down to a size four. I had told myself long ago
oh you'll never be a size six and for years I
kept these clothes hanging in my closet that
were size six and then at some point I don't
know how many years ago I gave that up. I'm getting
rid of the size sixes that is done that will
never happen for me again and then here we go
through this experience not only did I get down
to that size six I actually made it to a four
so That journey in weight loss was so illuminating
for me because it truly showed me how I hold
myself back. I tell myself things that are true
and accept them as truth that are a hundred percent
not true. So what is it that's holding you back?
The biggest barrier to transformation, it isn't
your age, it isn't your circumstances, it isn't
your past, but it's those limiting beliefs that
you've accepted as true. What stories are you
telling yourself today that's keeping you stuck?
Think about it. The next transformation I want
to talk about is discovering your body's amazing
potential. With fitness, I never have had a gym
membership. Just wasn't my thing. I'm not a gym
person. It just wasn't something that interests
me. I would take walks now and then do some yoga
here and there. I had a few things, but there
was never a serious fitness regimen for me. But
at 53, I had a situation where I was facing incredible
stress. I was still working at that corporate
job where I was working from home, but there
were some things that happened there that just
were not working for me. A promotion I should
have gotten, a new boss, yet leadership changes.
And so there's just some things that way beyond
my control that I wasn't happy about. And it
was just stressing me out so much. I was just
crazy with how. the stress from this job was
affecting me. And so I was talking to a friend
of mine and she said, Michelle, I know I hear
your stress. You're so stressed out. What are
you doing to let this stuff go? How are you releasing
your stress? I'm like, oh, what a good question.
Absolutely nothing is what I'm doing. But that
comment made me really think. I'm like, okay.
I have got to do something. She's absolutely
right. Maybe if I can do some type of physical
release, I'll feel better. So I started looking
around and then came across this place that was
new to me. A particular gym has been around a
while, but I hadn't heard of it before. And the
format is that you sign up for classes and then
you have a coach that's there and you have a
group and they guide you through different things.
Whether you're doing some time on the treadmill,
doing some time on a rower, doing some time with
weights there, there's someone there to guide
you through and a larger group of people that
you're able to follow each other in the particular
workout for that day. So let me give it a try.
So I showed up and again, pretty skeptically,
I didn't know this is going to be my thing at
all or not, because it never really clicked with
me before. And I did that first class. And I'll
tell you that first class absolutely kicked my
butt, but I can tell you this, when I walked
out of there, I felt mental freedom, clarity
that I haven't felt in months. It's really true
what they say, the endorphins you get from exercise.
Oh my gosh, how fantastic. I couldn't believe
the difference. So I wasn't going to look back.
I knew I had found this the best thing since
sliced bread for me at the time. And I was going
to run with it. And I continued. And today, as
I sit here, I work out three to four times a
week, same gym. It is part of my regimen. Wouldn't
do without it. And I can tell you, I went from
literally couch potato someone who did not exercise
who did little to nothing at 53 15 months later
there was a particular competition that they
were doing at my gym that involved a 5k tread
a 2000 meter row and 300 reps with the weights.
And I did that all in under an hour. I think
my time was 52 minutes or something like that.
If that's not transformation, I don't know what
is. Your body is not done surprising you. Age
is not a limitation. It's just information. When
you're willing to be a beginner again, you can
discover capabilities you never knew you had.
their stories like mine I talked to a lot of
women and I hear other women say similar things
and for them maybe it's not the gym it's pickleball
oh I play pickleball and I'm in the best shape
I've ever been or whatever it is it doesn't matter
what the fitness activity is just do it your
body will surprise you your capability is amazing
all you got to do is be willing to give it a
shot the fifth transformation that i'm going
to talk to you about today is choosing courage
over comfort my most challenging transformation
so far leaving my corporate job to build my own
coaching business man i was locked in those golden
handcuffs it took a lot for me to walk away from
the steady paycheck, the benefits, all the security
that came with a corporate job. It took a lot
for me to walk away from that, but I was done
letting someone else control my potential and
my growth and someone else assigned or determined
my value. I refuse to start over in another corporate
job just to end up in the same place where someone
else gets to decide how far I go and what I get
to do. So I took a bet on myself. I explored
the area of passion that I have, which is helping
other women do things that I'm talking to you
about today. I got my life coach certification
and I started building this business and every
day I wake up excited about what's next. This
chapter is still being written but I can tell
you this last year has been the most amazing
journey for me. I never would have imagined having
a podcast getting to know a beautiful network
of women, so many people I've crossed paths with
this last year, speaking opportunities that I
get to go and share my story and encourage other
women to not settle for less, to know that you
can have that life of happiness, purpose, and
fulfillment. It's waiting for you just outside
your comfort zone. This is what I'll say about
starting my own business. The scariest transformation
often leads to the most fulfilling life. And
for you as well, you didn't survive everything
you've survived in your life to date just to
settle for something that doesn't excite you.
What's that passion you want to follow? What's
that dream you're ready to chase? Start today.
It's not too late. You're not too old. The time
is now. And I want you to hear this. You're exactly
where you need to be to start this new chapter
in your life. There's three questions that I
want you to consider for your own transformation.
What rock bottom moment can be your launching
pad? Think about it. And the second question,
what story about what's possible at your age
needs to be rewritten? What is it that you're
telling yourself? And number three, if you knew
you could not fail, you had unlimited resources.
Money, time, there were no constraints. If you
knew you could not fail, what would you do in
the next 90 days? Brainstorm, write down some
things. No constraints. What would you do in
the next 90 days? So in closing today, years
ago, I thought my best days were behind me. I
thought My life was over. Fun was over. It was
just downhill from here. And what I can tell
you is that that is the absolute furthest thing
from the truth. Today, I know my best days are
right now. I am living my best days right now
in the present. And I know that the days are
going to get even better ahead. So your transformation
doesn't start when you have it all figured out.
No It starts when you've had enough of where
you are and you're willing to take that first
step Towards where you want to go? The woman
you're meant to become is just waiting on the
other side of the decision. You're afraid to
make Your time is now Your life is waiting Let's
make it happen. Contact me today to begin your
journey. As your life coast, I'll be there every
step of the way giving you the support, the inspiration,
the encouragement, and the confidence that you
need to make for your comeback. Thank you so
much for spending time with me today. I am truly
grateful that you chose to listen in and I hope
that this conversation sparked something meaningful
for you. Please take a moment to subscribe, leave
a review. It helps other women to find us who
need to hear these stories too. And if you know
someone who is ready for their own comeback,
share this episode with them. I'd love to connect
with you beyond the podcast. Visit me at hercomebackpodcast
.com. That's HerComebackPodcast .com to learn
more about how we can work together. I have a
gift for you. Get your free copy today of five
powerful shifts to reclaim your life. Remember,
your comeback story is waiting to be written.
The question isn't, can I transform my life?
The question is, are you ready? Let's go.