We recently connected with Mel Shipman and have shared our conversation below.

Mel, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

In 2018, I was faced with making some major life-changing decisions in order to preserve my peace, happiness and wish for a bright future. At the time, I was in a very unhealthy marriage and it had taken a severe toll on my mental and emotional wellbeing. I was afraid to leave but I knew that if I didn’t, I would find another, more permanent way to escape the pain I was experiencing.

I asked myself, “What is the most important thing to me?” and the answer was to be the best mother for my two kids that I could possibly be. I wanted them to have a healthy, thriving, and successful blueprint of an adult woman who relentlessly pursues her purpose in life. I didn’t want them to have to go look for a role model out in the world because they didn’t have one at home to experience. I made the commitment to align every action and decision under that desire to be the best mom I could be and took a chance on myself.

I left my marriage and my corporate job (that I loved!) all within 30 days and took a position at a non-profit that would allow me to stay at home with my kids. During that time, I began the healing work I needed on my mental and emotional health and also decided to kick myself into high gear and start actively working in the coaching business I had started in 2014. I started off hosting workshops at a local organization, worked on my exposure through social media, and eventually started gaining some individual clients that I could coach on the side of my full-time job. In that same period of time, I also wrote and self-published 3 books and became an executive producer of the documentary “When the Soul Cries: Trauma. Tears. Triumph” (as seen on Amazon Prime). I believe that these opportunities came because I began to see myself moving forward in the direction I wanted to go in and made it clear to the world who I wanted to become. I would have never thought I could have achievements such as these attached to my name, but I am living proof that if you get clear on who you want to be and the specific way you want to impact other people, God will send you everything and everyone you need to support your vision.

When Covid hit, I experienced other challenges and ended up learning how to be in business full-time. It was not easy but 2020 and 2021 were years I needed to go through in order to see what I can get up from. It was tempting to find a job just to have steady income, but I did my best to stay in business and wait to see what my future held. It wasn’t about whether or not I was a full-time business owner or had a side hustle. I just want to make sure that whatever opportunity I am presented with, it aligns with my overall purpose in life and that I don’t make a decision out of desparation but with intention. While it may not have made sense to do it, I also started a social impact organization called Life & Ladle to fight hunger and food wastage in November 2020 and began my doctoral studies in professional coaching.

That season was a period where I sowed all of my energy, effort, ideas, time and money into my future without having an immediate payoff. It’s hard to keep pushing when you are not sure what is going to come out of your efforts and whether or not you will succeed. But this is where faith becomes the fuel you use to keep going forward because you have to learn how to stand by your own side before the world will know to do the same. People who are led by sight will never understand those who are led by vision. I had to learn that we tell the world what we’re worth and what to value our lives for; the world responds in kind according to how you see yourself.

I’m now working in leadership development and growing my two businesses on the side. I’m in no rush to “make it” because my life isn’t just about the benefits I would receive in my lifetime, but also in how I set up the next generation to succeed with the foundation I set up. If you would have told the 2018 version of Mel who was so wrapped up in her pain and struggle that she would live to become all that I have these last 5 years, she would have never believed you. But time is a currency we spend and don’t get back, so we must be intentional with what we do with it. We don’t have to rush it…we just don’t have to waste it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Mel’s unique blend of life coaching and leadership development experience allows her to educate and empower her clients through the behavioral change process. A certified international life coach for 10 years, she has served leaders and entrepreneurs around the world in their personal and professional goals through her coaching practice, NextLevel Life. Mel has been in corporate learning for over 10 years and currently serves as full-time faculty at a global leadership development organization. As the executive producer of the documentary, “When the Soul Cries: Trauma. Tears. Triumph” (as seen on Amazon Prime) and author of 3 books, she uses storytelling to help others through their healing journey. Mel also holds the position of Professor of Executive Coaching at Monarch Business School Switzerland and is pursuing her doctorate in professional coaching studying women leadership.

In 2020, Mel began Life & Ladle, a social impact organization that works to eradicate hunger and food wastage. Through her artisan candle collection and curated gift set offerings, Mel has provided over 1.1k meals to date for hungry families in Phoenix through her partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. She has plans to expand her reach and develop unique solutions that allow people to do good for others while they are being good to themselves. While she loves feeding the hungry, Mel really loves to see people come together to help build and strengthen the sense of community and shared humanity.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started my social impact organization, Life & Ladle, the pandemic was in full effect and I needed something positive to come out of that horrible time. However, the effects of Covid impacted everything including supply chain on practically everything. I had plans to launch my candle line in early 2021 but I couldn’t get all of the raw materials I needed; there were 6-9 month delays on candle jars, lids, fragrances, you name it. Needless to say, I was disappointed that I couldn’t debut the line like I wanted to but it taught me how to be flexible and nimble in my business. I didn’t want to wait until the items I wanted were available because that would delay my ability to execute on the strategy I had set out for my business.

I ended up starting off smaller than I had planned, going with 4 oz. tins instead of glass jars. As a result, my production costs were lower than I had anticipated and my candlemaker (who is phenomenal!) was generous enough to share his wisdom and knowledge of the business, marketing, and everything else I needed to launch successfully. I released my candle line just in time for the 2021 holiday season and was happy to have something I could sell and help the hungry families in Phoenix.

Last year, I was finally able to start offering the large candle jars I wanted and have now added other products to the Life & Ladle product suite. Sometimes, you just have to start with what you have and grow from there!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My biggest female entrepreneur role model is Sara Blakely who started Spanx. Sara’s story started off with her working a job selling fax machines door-to-door when she decided to take a chance on herself and start her own business. What I admire about her journey is the overall theme of having constant belief in yourself, drive, ambition and relentless pursuit of your dream. She started off with hardly anything and turned her business into a global empire, getting married and raising her family along the way. To me, Sara is a modern-day inspiration of a woman who didn’t let anything stop her from achieving her goals and is living proof of the power of a positive mindset.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lifewithcoachmel.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifeandladle
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nextlevellifellc
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-p-shipman

Image Credits
Stuart Jones – photos in purple dress Drea Nicole – photo in beige dress