Melissa Colleret: Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur

Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is life coach Melissa Colleret, who has built a life for herself that she loves every single day by helping others do exactly the same. We felt the inspiration after just one interview…

Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I’m a life coach and entrepreneur. I inspire and empower people to live lives that they love every single day. I help clients clarify what it is that they truly desire from life, be it in their career, health, or personal life. I help them build action plans and hold them accountable in order to turn their dream life into their real life. I am both a cheerleader and ass-kicker at the same time. I love what I do. 

Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I started laughing when I decided to become a life coach. Suddenly everything that I had done up until that point made sense. As a kid I had promised myself that I would do something that I loved and that I would make a difference in people’s lives. Coaching wasn’t something I knew was possible until I realized I had been doing it for free for years. I knew that this was “it” for me, so I launched. 

What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part of my job is seeing clients realize the goals that light them up. Seeing them succeed and fall in love with their life is what I live for. Getting an unexpected call from someone thanking me for inspiring them is golden. I get to work with people from different backgrounds and professions. I love that I get to learn something new every day and be creative with how I offer my services.

The biggest challenge is having so many things that I want to accomplish but not enough time or resources to do it all. I have to trust the process, stay focused, and stick to my priorities. I have the tendency of filling my plate with several things at once! At the same time I am grateful to have so much that I want to do; it keeps me excited about what’s to come.

What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
I know that I am off balance when I start retreating from communicating with friends and family. If I catch myself avoiding a call from someone that I love, I know that it is time for me to re-evaluate. I generally just need a good night’s sleep, sometimes a good cry, or a venting session with my best friend. I have gotten faster at getting back on track over the years. I call these off balance moments “breakdowns to breakthrough.” 

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I love this question. The future is what keeps me present. In five years I see myself married to the love of my life with a growing family. I love kids. I see my business thriving. I am training coaches, speaking in front of engaged audiences, and look forward to getting up every morning. I also want to write a book. It will be published by then.

What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
One of my biggest challenges was when I left my first business. I opened a yoga studio a few years back. When things weren’t working out between my partners and I, it was hard to think about what my next move was going to be. I made the call to step out of this dream business that I had created from nothing. I didn’t have a plan, I just knew that I needed to leave. It took a long year to get over that experience. I hustled. Introspected. Took chances. Everything was worth it in retrospect. Life is too short to stay somewhere that doesn’t feed your soul. You need to trust your instincts. Leap. And most importantly, keep moving forward no matter what. 

What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Success looks like waking up in the morning feeling excited to take on your day. It looks like doing something that you love so much that you have to pinch yourself. Success looks like having time and financial freedom. Money doesn’t equal happiness. But it sure does help!

What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Wow. There are so many. I love to celebrate the little wins. However, I will never forget coaching my first official client. I couldn’t believe that someone was paying me to do something that I enjoyed doing so much. 

A more recent milestone was when a client called me late at night asking me to create a life coaching certification program. I had previously shared my vision with her of this program that I wanted to launch three to five years from now. Having someone literally call me to do something that I had planned for the future is a beautiful thing. The inaugural program starts on May 12th and I couldn’t be more excited to lead the participants through this journey.

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Take the time to discover who you are, what your strengths are, and how you want to contribute. Don’t ever settle. Don’t wait to do the things that you dream of to a later date, do them now. Be scared and do it anyway. Stop giving a shit what the naysayers are saying, chances are they aren’t doing much anyways. Do it because you love it. 

The money, it will come. Fall in love with money, let it be your partner in crime. If you want it to have your back, you have to have its back too. 

Remember to ask for what you want. 

Spend less time worrying about WHAT you do. Be clear as to WHY you are doing it. 

Take care of yourself. Your health is your greatest wealth. The world needs you to bring your best self forward. 

Be great. Mediocrity has been overdone.

Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
That is a hard question. I love food. I love wine. This city has so many great spots. Plus, I used to manage a restaurant. Currently, however, I’d have to say Satay Brothers. I could live on their pork steam buns and chicken Laksa soup. The charming hipster servers are a plus. Those guys make great food and know how to have a good time. Winning combination in my books!

When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
I love going outside by the water. I live by the Lachine Canal and long walks at sunset are one of my favourite things in the world. I love living room dance parties at my parents’ place in the Laurentians. I also love hosting dinner parties at my place, a long savasana on my yoga mat, or a hot bath with epsom salts at the end of a long day.

Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
British Columbia. My brother lives on Vancouver Island with his wife and two beautiful kids. Visiting them feeds my soul. Surfing in Tofino is bliss. Visiting friends in Vancouver is something I always look forward to. If I wasn’t living in Montreal, I’d be on the West Coast.

If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Awake My Soul by Mumford And Sons. “Where you invest your love you invest your life” are one of the most beautiful lyrics that I have ever heard. I believe that people should invest their love in everything that they do.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
I’d be torn between going back to Osteopathy school, opening another yoga studio, or focusing on my USANA Health Sciences business. I might even dabble with the idea of opening some sort of restaurant boutique. Whatever I’d be doing, I’d be running a business with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to to do what they love.

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I support the USANA True Health Foundation. It is USANA’s not-for-profit charity that helps people in need around the world. It’s mission is to provide the most critical human necessities—nutrition, clothing, shelter, medical assistance, and health education—to those who are suffering or in need. It’s important to me because of the foundation’s vision and focus on health.

What to you is notable?
Living on purpose. Passion. People who put their heart into everything that they do.

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other? 
iPhone all the way. 

#NOTABLE

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