Her Story
About Michelle
Michelle Baird began her career in the automotive industry as a store manager at O'Reilly Auto Parts, where she worked for 6-7 years. She later spent about a year managing operations at Goodwill before leaving to pursue her own entrepreneurial venture. Michelle is a 1987 high school graduate who earned an associate's degree from the University of Phoenix approximately 10 years later, which helped prepare her for management roles and her goal of starting a business. She is currently developing plans for an online vintage boutique and crafts business that allows for more flexible hours. Michelle attributes her professional success to determination and a willingness to learn from failure rather than fearing it. She values roles that allow her to help others and make them smile, and she emphasizes the importance of supporting other women in the workplace by offering positive encouragement instead of tearing them down.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say realistically any success has just been determination and not afraid to fail and get up and do it again. Like I said if you know our biggest fear is failure and unfortunately we're gonna have to fail to get ahead. It just nothing's ever gonna be perfect in life. We've got to take the good with the bad.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to make changes. Don't be afraid to take a chance. I think that's our biggest fear, fear of failure. If you don't fail you can't figure out how to get back up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Definitely just support other women in all aspects because I feel like women tend to tear women down. That's an immaturity that we all need to grow out of. I think we need to tell people a great job when they're doing a great job and not be jealous and want to bring them down when they're doing good. Influential is exactly that. You want to influence them in a positive way to make their life better and hopefully they can make somebody else's life better.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges are definitely with my age staying up on things because I don't have the physical ability I used to. As we get older we just don't have that energy like we used to. Focus for me is health trying to get in better shape because I want to be around as long as I can for my kids and my grandkids. The age is probably my biggest challenge. On the positive note though the age can be positive because then you have the experience you have the knowledge things to help you get ahead that maybe you didn't have 20 30 years ago. My knowledge is probably my best asset because now I have all the experience.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Value to me is a job that is something that I feel I'm helping others with or at least making them smile. I'm not so much now into worried about money. I think you know we can always make money but it is always what makes you happy. Family is a big thing because I didn't realize how much family's important to me. When we're younger we think oh we've got friends and then all of a sudden forever comes and it's not forever.
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