EPISODE 10

Embracing imperfection and the unknown with Michelle Cox

I have many amazing guests on the show to share their stories, knowledge and inspiration. My next guest is no exception and I’m so excited to be talking with her today. She’s a multi-talented, passionate, courageous and resilient person who has overcome adversity to help others have raw and honest conversations about every topic we hide away from. 

In this episode, I’m chatting with the remarkably gifted and diverse Michelle Cox. It can be hard to define Michelle as she wears so many different hats and projects. She has a portfolio career that includes being an author, speaker, entrepreneur, non-executive director on four boards, host of a podcast, and makes beautiful pottery. She has 13 different streams of income and no two days are ever the same! 

Michelle openly chats about her career, the books she has written, the challenges and adversity she has overcome, and how she pulls herself out of hard times through self-awareness and perspective. 

Michelle has a passion for having difficult conversations that others shy away from. In her books she has written about challenging topics including, not having kids, death, grief, and how doctors are not Gods. Through her podcast, The Wabi Sabi Series, she frequently has guests on to have honest and raw conversations to spark people to open up in their lives. 

I’m very grateful to be chatting with Michelle today. Her experiences, skills, knowledge and wisdom will inspire and motivate you in every area of your life.

Topics discussed:

[1:24]: Michelle talks about her many jobs. She has 13 different income streams within a portfolio career where she sits on four boards, is a non-executive director, has a podcast called ‘The Wabi Sabi Series’, has written a series of books, and is a speaker at events. She also has a candle company ‘Knox Cox Candle Co.’, started a maker studio and began pottery last year. 

[3:27]: Wabi Sabi is a Japanese philosophy that resonated with Michelle. It means embracing imperfection. The concept started with ceramics and pottery in Japan. Michelle overcame a lot of adversity and didn’t let it define her or hold her back. 

[5:53]: Rebecca went on Michelle’s show and discussed how we let other people define our beauty and make us feel a certain way. Check out the episode below. 

[6:16]: Michelle wrote her first book ‘It’s okay to not have kids’. It discusses how we are more than our parental status. 

[7:19]: Michelle did a speech on the Ted X stage in the Opera House in front of 2,500 people about how it’s okay not to have kids.

[7:44]: Michelle was often asked if/when she was going to have kids without knowing her story. She had cancer and was unable to have children. She reframed this to enjoy and live a life without her own children. But she was still judged by others. 

[9:29]: Michelle deep dives into every conversation topic that people shy away from. 

[10:15]: Michelle’s 3 books are: ‘It’s okay to not have kids’, ‘Death doesn’t have to be morbid: Life, death, learning to grieve’, and ‘Doctors are not Gods’. 

[11:33]: Michelle’s second book ‘Death doesn’t have to be morbid’ was inspired by Michelle almost dying at 31 which led to her looking at things differently. We need to talk about this topic more to live more fulfilling lives. 

[13:09]: Michelle is absolutely loving everything she is doing now. She’s worked very hard, came from no money, and was the only one in her family to go to university. She loves working on all of her projects and is dedicated to reframing any adversity. 

[15:43]: Michelle shares her family history. She is skilled at both business and creativity. 

[17:00]: When she’s feeling grief, anger, and sadness she has the self-awareness to take a step back. 

[17:45]: The toughest time for Michelle was in January 2020 when she was surrounded by a dark cloud. She recommends the book: Many lives, many masters by Brian Weiss, a clinical psychologist who talks about regression therapy. She went to the doctor and found that there was something wrong with her thyroid. 

[19:34]: During the lockdown last year in Northern Beaches in Sydney, Michelle felt terrible and couldn’t see her step sons for Christmas Day. After 3 days of feeling awful, she gave herself a wake up. 

[20:09]: Travelling to 3rd world countries has given Michelle perspective and reminds her how amazing her life is. 

[21:00]: Michelle discusses turning 50 years old and how this is such an amazing time that she never thought she would make it to. 

[24:10]: Michelle and her guests talk about many topics that make people feel uncomfortable in her podcast. We all need to work harder to understand each other's views. 

[26:18]: Rebecca reflects on her experience on the podcast and how it made her feel to share. 

[27:34]: Michelle is a very curious person who wants to learn and know more about people. 

[28:43]: Michelle is passionate about bringing these conversations to the forefront so people can feel more confident talking about them with others. 

[29:48]: Where to find Michelle.

Links & Resources:

Connect with Michelle: 

• Book: Many lives, many masters by Brian Weiss

  Previous podcast episode: KEEPING UP APPEARANCES with Rebecca Saunders - Wabi Sabi Series

   

  Connect with Michelle: 

  Website: The Wabi Sabi Series | Knox Cox Candle Co. 

  Michelle’s Books: Products – Wabi Sabi Series

  Instagram: @michelle.j.cox | @thewabisabiseries | @_wabisabiceramics

  Facebook: @wabisabiseries

  Podcast: Wabi Sabi Series

Thank you for listening!

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About the Show:

The Rebecca Saunders Show is your place to discover how to build resilience, craft confidence and have a huge impact on the world. This podcast is for female business owners wanting the skills and knowledge they need to show up and stand out in a noisy, digital world.

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