Michelle Ward, A Career Coach for Creative Types (and a Former Actress Herself!) 

Michelle Ward has answered the question of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question for herself – very satisfyingly — and as The When I Grow Up Coach, she helps women transition out of soul-sucking jobs and into work that feels like play.

A published author, coach, and speaker, you may have seen or heard her on HuffPo, Etsy, AOL Jobs, Newsweek, SXSW, Freelancers Union, Psychology Today or the Forbes Top 100 Websites for your Career List, or 100+ other media outlets.  She says that “the worst” for her is when people tell you that “work is called ‘work’ for a reason, or that you can’t make a grown-up living doing what you love.”

As she looks for the opportunity in everything, Michelle jumped when I asked her for this interview (my kind of entrepreneur!).

Who are your heroes?
My Mom. Cancer survivors. My daughter’s birth mother. (Wow, this got heavy quick, huh?)

What is your current challenge?
Getting my exercise in! Since I’ve become a new mom in June, it’s gone out the window.

Your greatest achievement?
Becoming the “When I Grow Up Coach” and making it work as a true career – for four years and counting!

What is your motto?
“Baby steps build the strongest foundation.” Also: “Anything that feels almost equally scary and exciting is always worth doing.” And: “Get out of your head and into your hands” (a client of mine coined that one!).

Why are you an entrepreneur?
I came from a musical theater background, and I think being an entrepreneur is like being an actor: because you have to. And if you don’t absolutely feel that you “have to,” then make life easy and just don’t do it.

It’s definitely the tough road, but the rewards encapsulate everything that’s important to me: creating my own opportunities, being a decision-maker, not having to mold myself into something that someone else wants me to be 40+ hours a week. And let’s just say this: I got in trouble at my corporate job (I was an Executive Assistant in 2007-2010 while I was getting certified and building my business) a full two+ years after I was there, for speaking too loudly at my cubicle. Believe me, my voice has always been loud — it didn’t just get that way after working there for two years. I am not cut out for being in a corporate office, that’s for sure!

What problem are you solving?
I’m solving the question, “What do I wanna do when I grow up?” for creative, adult women.

What problem would you like solved?
I want to be able to know what I’m putting on and in my body: food, cosmetics, etc. The FDA allows it all to be kept a mystery, and it’s super-frustrating when you’re trying to keep as many toxins out of your body as you can.

Also, cancer. I’m a boob cancer survivor, and think cancer is the biggest jerk.

Biggest regret?
I’m so hippy-dippy, I don’t really have one. I fully believe that there are no mistakes or failures – just lessons wrapped up in different packages.

Which talent would you like to have?
I’d love to be able to easily play a musical instrument. I played the piano for about eight years, and barely got above an advanced beginner level.  I currently play the ukulele, but feel I should be a better player since I picked it up three years ago!

Best pat on the back you’ve ever received?
Getting accepted early admission to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts musical theater program. That felt huge.

Advice you wish you’d had (or had followed)?
There’s kind of a story it: I was always taught, as an actor, to make smart and unique choices in my audition material, but to blend in generally: wear bland colors so it doesn’t detract from your face, sing “the pretty song” first, etc.

But it was only when I realized that I’d be doing myself a favor, as well as the creative teams I was auditioning for, by showing them how I got cast — before I even walked into the room — that I started getting more callbacks and jobs. And since I got cast as the loud, funny, “best friend” character, I made sure my headshots were shot with a baby blue background in a polka dot dress, and that I led with my loud, funny songs.

Lesson: I brought that “strategic” practice into my business from day one, and I feel it’s made the biggest difference in resonating with my right people and building a successful biz.

Your pitch in 140 characters?
Creative career coach/published author/uke player/loud singer/Jew with a WASPy name/Judge Judy contest winner/boob cancer kicker/wife & mom.

Your bio in 6 words?
“Always following my ever changing bliss.”

The Twitter follower you can’t live without?
Aw, I don’t wanna single anyone out. I love all my Twitter followers!

The J.O.B. you’d actually like?
Musical theater performer.

Biggest misconception about being an entrepreneur?
That I work in my PJ’s all day – or I don’t “work” at all.  Heck no!

Inc. or Rolling Stone or…..? Which magazine cover?
New York magazine! It’s the only one I subscribe to.

What are you reading?
Playing Big by [life coach] Tara Sophia Mohr. I got an advance copy, and it’s scaring me in the best way possible.

What book is your must read?
The Renaissance Soul: How to Make Your Passions Your Life by Margaret Lobenstein. I tell every multi-passionate, creative type that they have to drop everything and pick it up.

What book did you read which would have been put to better use as a doorstop?
What Color Is Your Parachute? I threw it across the room after the third exercise back in 2006.

If I wanted to do what you’re doing…what’s your advice?
Own your “uniquity” and bring it out in all you do.

What conference would you like to keynote?
The World Domination Summit [creative conference]. This was the first year I didn’t attend since it was founded — I miss it!

Short cut, long route, or road less traveled? What’s your roadmap?
Always long route + road less traveled. Not on purpose, necessarily, but it’s always served me well.

One place in time you’d like to visit?
The post-war 1940s. Everyone looked so cute!

Part of the trick to staying focused is…?
Power naps! Know that the thirty minutes you take napping will pay off in many more hours of energy than if you didn’t crawl into bed.

One last thing: what’s the question I should be asking you?
I think you covered it all. Thanks so much for having me!