We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle LaVecchia Odendahl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Let’s kick it back to January, 2021 during our worldwide pandemic. I was six months into my Health Coach Training Course with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I was working my full time career in conjunction to schooling, as an initial way to educate myself and family to step up our health and wellness. These learnings not only taught me the way, it also allowed my to learn that coaching was a true passion of mine. Whether setting visuals in my retail career while training teams or after I resigned that role, I was good at coaching others to see their own light and gifts that they couldn’t see themselves.

At this time, I was half way complete and on my way to developing and branding my coaching practice. As I was reaching out to others to continue practicing and grooming my coaching style, one of my dearest friends on the opposite coast in CA had a brilliant idea. We decided that I would barter my coaching sessions while she designed and branded my newly named coaching business, Health Yeah with Michelle. I thought to myself, “This is great. I’ll get to practice, create offerings of interest and you’ll help me create HYWM branding with the bit of badassery it needed.” At that time she was transitioning into a new role and thought that some wellness infusion was a perfect addition to what she needed more of. This was just the beginning of our health and wellness collaboration.

It was then that Health Yeah with Michelle’s branding, color palette and offerings were born. I created a new website, leveraging old skills that went dormant since graduating from college with a Visual Communication degree. I was able to develop my first website with my husband’s IT assistance, that brought my practice and offerings to life. A place to navigate, answer questions and see what Health Yeah with Michelle was all about.

My practice began with a lot of networking, word of mouth referrals and then offering free events and workshops just to get myself out there. I began renting my commercial office space, which I always called, “my sanctuary.” Ask anyone, (including my landlords) this was a place of safety, peace, and growth. Mustard colored arm chairs with a focal black and white wallpapered wall, was the place to be. While continuing through the remainder of my year long certification, I met endless friends, peers and mentors to allow myself to learn. I offered complimentary 1:1 coaching sessions for those who attended events or workshops of mine, to not only build my clientele, but my coaching style as well.

I graduated IIN in July 2021, and of course this was not enough for this Capricorn. I studied with the International Association of Health Coaches to sit for an exam in September 2021. I then became a Certified International Health Coach.

Little did I know at that time what doors would open for me in the future, just adding that title to my experience.

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.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am passionate about coaching others to see their potential. I really see them, hear them, support them in a non-judgmental space and will always provide them my best advice at the time.

One of the moments I am most proud of will be shared below. It’s not an easy read, but it was my guidance to take a chance on myself and what I could offer others.

While in my previous retail management/visual merchandising career, I was often coaching to the hard conversations. I was coaching to the positive ones too, but because I was open and empathic, I was always given the tough chats. I will be the first to admit, that was wearing on me. Why was I the only one constructing those? I started to know that I was onto something. I knew that I could console, suggest and being the support that so many of my teammates needed.

There was a turning moment for me, but I’d be here all day if I shared it. A conversation I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. One that stung for myself and the other associate. One that was life changing. One that shuck me to know this was what I was meant to do. I’ll share this… everyone makes mistakes. Ones we learn from, ones we wish we never made, ones that feel debilitating at that very moment. As my associate was escorted out of my retail location at that time in handcuffs, for stealing, it hit both of us. As I commended her for being honest, owning her mistakes, and I reminded her that she had the choice to change, do better, and grow from this experience. She looked at me and told me no one ever treated her with such decency, respect, and or time ever in her life. She turned herself around, learned from her mistakes and connected with me later that year to let me know that moment changed her trajectory forever.

I preface with every new client clarity call, that you can ask me whatever you want, whenever you want. But, do know this… I will answer with nothing but authenticity, knowledge and what I feel is best for you at the time, whether you want to hear it or not.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I do not currently have a co-owner of Health Yeah with Michelle, but I do have a business partner that I develop some of the most transformative experiences with.

Remember that dear friend of mine from CA that I mentioned earlier? Not only was she the vision behind my branding, we now host wellness retreats together worldwide.

We met in college while attending Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford, CT. Jenny grew up in CT and I grew up in NJ, but had extended family in CT which made it such a great mix of newness with a safe haven incase I needed them. We were both in the same major of Graphic Design, which was soon after being recognized as Visual Communication Design.

We decided that in our Sophomore year we were going to attend at Study Abroad Program event where we could find out more about the offerings for our upcoming Junior year of school. To say the least we left and fell in love with the idea that we would be going to London, England to study abroad for a semester. There was nothing stopping us, even our parents.

Fast forward with the approval or our parents, we shopped, packed and signed our new schedules abroad in September of 2001. Then 911 happened. We were offered the option to return back to CT where our school would find us housing and get us into whatever classes that were left, while still earning the credits needed. We were devastated, and I mean completely devastated. How could we leave our families, yet follow our dreams? Would it be safe? We would be able to get home later that year? We had so many questions, and of course ache for our country.

Our determination, grit and excitement paved the way. We decided to travel abroad from September-December 2001 full-filling adventure, so many laughs, straight A’s and a friendship that has lasted our lifetime thus far.

Now, Jenny and I partner on creating transformative wellness retreats experiences worldwide. We have traveled to Mexico, and Spain and are currently working on some domestic opportunities. These spaces are our most special project together yet. They are full of so much vision, thought and love. Each experience is designed with a theme, specific offerings and our skill sets infused in both life coaching and yoga. Never would we have thought to be traveling the world together again and sharing our individual passions together, to teach, grow and share besides each other.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I always wondered if having my full-time career was a good idea while trying to grow a new start-up business. Let me tell you, it was vital. While it was shorter than I thought, I was bringing in a constant stream of funds (and a great stream, at that) which allowed me to really think about what I wanted my practice to look like. I wanted to get behind the need.

It was a lot to adapt to at first, but knowing that I could do both was pretty awesome. I could bring my school learnings into my career, while brining my career situations into my course work practice,

My advice is that there will never be a better time, nor better reason, than investing in yourself whenever you’re willing to work for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://healthyeahwithmichelle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyeahwithmichelle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Healthyeahwithmichelle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelavecchiaodendahl

Image Credits

Tatianna Muniz @ghosteditpr
Amber Johnston @mindbodysoul.boudoir