We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Dawnn recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My parents divorced when I was three and I was raised by my mother who quickly remarried before I started Kindergarten. She was dealing with her own personal struggles and I rarely saw her truly happy. Our house was filled with drugs, domestic violence and sexual abuse, I was scared, insecure, ashamed, and ultimately wore a social mask to “fit in” the older I became. The truth was I didn’t understand the value of my self-worth and that led to the crushing pressures of perfectionism.
Once I became a mother myself, I knew I wanted to turn my negatives into positives and give my kids a better life. On my road to self-discovery and healing, I realized that the adversity I faced molded me into the woman I am and that there are no mistakes, just opportunities to learn, grow and course correct.
The majority of women I know or meet feel “less than”, overwhelmed and completely uncertain about the direction of their future. I instantly felt inspired to change that and help them find clarity, express themselves with more confidence, and start living a more joyful and fulfilled life!
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
In 2008, Tony Robbins was big on the scene, I was working yet another 9-5 admin job and found that co-workers were seeking me out for guidance and advice. And because I have a heart for helping others, it was easy to listen with an empathetic ear and naturally guide them in resolving whatever issue they were struggling with. I was a single mom of two little ones at the time and wanted to be a strong role model not only for them but to grow and develop into the leader I always wanted to be.
It got me thinking about how I wanted to make a bigger impact in the world and start living a more purposeful life! I could relate to a lot of the insecurities and doubt most women face so why not teach them how to release overwhelm and start living a life they truly love (without apology). In that moment, I knew I was meant to coach so I got my certification and never looked back.
I started out with just one-on-one coaching but realized that many don’t have a clue what they need to work on, and often aren’t vulnerable enough to address the real issues. My mentor often gave me business advice and encouraged me to incorporate my vision board workshops into my practice. I was hosting them as a yearly girls night and they kept wanting more and even inviting their friends! I’ve gotta say, I didn’t feel qualified, I mean isn’t it a collage of wants you’re hoping to manifest?? Possibly, and honestly some prefer that. But I wanted to create a new approach that would be vastly insightful and give my clients the clarity & confidence to achieve those audacious goals they once thought were unattainable.
It took me a few years to cultivate the exact process, but my Clarity Collage sessions completely take out the guess work and reveal where your focus should be. You can share as much or as little as you like, either way this board quickly becomes your visual roadmap and encourages you to DO all the things you “thought” you couldn’t. The magic of your initial session is we get to the root of what’s holding you back right out the gate, You discover exactly where you are in life, where you’re going, and how to get there which is pretty powerful.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
That you have to work “hard” to be successful and feel accomplished in life.
I was raised in a physically abusive household and taught that life is a struggle. I would never have a fancy car, nice home, six-figure job, luxury vacations, or the ability to do fun things or have what I want without, you guessed it, struggle.
My whole childhood, I heard how expensive things are and how we can’t afford this or that. I grew up believing that average is the best I would be. Everything felt hard and unattainable.
It took me years to get out of that mindset to realize I have the power to make life as abundant as I want it to be. I also attribute this shift to my dad because seeing him on weekends and summers showed me that life doesn’t have to be complicated; instead, it can be fun, luxurious and carefree. Totally against how I felt and what society teaches us.
And let’s be honest, nobody “wants” to work hard. As a coach, I’ve learned words matter and I teach my clients to make decisions from a place of integrity. Meaning their thoughts, actions and words are in total alignment.
So if you’re saying I want a carefree, joyful and abundant life but speaking and thinking words of struggle, you’ll continue to hit roadblocks and feel defeated.
Instead:
💥Work smart and create solutions.
💥 Be honest about what you want and choose positive words that align with those desires
💥Focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t.
💥Exercise your strengths and how to maximize your talents
I always say, life is as hard as you make it and a simple shift in your perception can make all the difference.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth has been a key element to growing my clientele. I’m in somewhat of a “WooWoo” industry as a Clarity Coach which makes some people skeptical or uncertain about what I do and how I can help them. But when a previous client refers someone to me, it only takes one session to get to the root of what’s truly holding them back. It’s such an eye-opening experience that they start telling me all the people they know who could benefit from a session with me. And the real beauty is a majority of my clients choose to work with me long term and become very dear friends. It’s so rewarding to watch them change and grow as they fulfill the dreams truly meant for them and accomplish those audacious goals with total confidence.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmichelledawnn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachMichelleDawnn/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-dawnn-ba07b276/
Image Credits
Julie Ryan Photography 1st four photo Headshots https://www.julieryanphotography.com Amber Weitzel Photography last four photos https://www.amberweitzelphotography.com