Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Kuei.
Hi Michelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ironically and almost comical, my coaching business journey started when I wanted a six-pack summer beach body. Seriously! This is how it all began. It was a horrible lightbulb moment. One day, I was sitting in my car outside a shopping mall and realized my belly had been rubbing against the steering wheel, leaving a stain on my white T-shirt. I’m sure we’ve all had a small but awful moment where we think, “That’s it. Something has to give.” That was mine. What appears to be a fitness journey turned out to be a transformational journey that led to where I am today. You see, I’ve been living with a permanent disability since I was 11, thanks to a car accident. I’ve spent most of my life feeling small, feeling unseen. At just 4’4″ and using crutches to get around, the most challenging part of my visible disability wasn’t the physical struggle. No, I carried the heavy weight of shame and unworthiness in my heart and mind. Comparing ourselves to others is a one-way ticket to holding back, avoiding risks, and shrinking our steps instead of striding boldly forward. Everyone I knew was going to Machu Picchu to climb the 26-mile vertical summit when I had my first realization and lightbulb moment.
Ever think to yourself, but wait, what about me? Don’t I deserve to be like them? Well, I did, too, and “I want in!” So, I ended up hiring a personal trainer. When I told my trainer my goal, I saw his jaw drop and eyes wide open. He asked me, “Michelle, you know people die and fall off cliffs there, right?” However, the gauntlet was thrown. I decided I was going to either die or conquer Machu Picchu. I got myself into that gym for 2 hours every day. People who cared about me tried to talk me out of it. I tuned out the doubters and set my mind to climbing over 10,000 stairs and making it to the top. I booked my ticket, packed my pink crutches, and flew to Peru. I hiked up the 26 miles of ascending trail 8-10 hours a day. I had to bandage my wrists so they wouldn’t break, as they took a load of my body weight with every step on my crutches. According to my Fitbit, I averaged 40,000 steps each day. The first night, when I got to camp long after everyone had finished dinner, the trip guide offered to get me off the mountain. I responded, “I didn’t come this far only to come this far.” The last thing I wanted to do was go back. This is the mindset I carried after coming home from this trip. Life always gives you options: Go forward or Go Back. And going back is never the option that I choose. We can remember the past, but it’s always the future we’re moving towards from where we are today.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After my Machu Picchu trip, I pursued certification as a professional coach through an International Coach Federation-accredited program. I launched my coaching business with dreams of becoming the next Tony Robbins. However, I quickly realized that the success we see from celebrity coaches is the result of hard work and dedication. One crucial lesson I learned early on was that more than having a passion for helping others and a love for coaching is needed; it isn’t to sustain a business. The key is knowing how to sell effectively. Selling didn’t come naturally to me, and my first year in business was a significant struggle. Although I had the skills to be an excellent coach, I needed more marketing and sales expertise to succeed.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Elevate Life Coaching?
I am the founder of Elevate Life Coaching and the creator of the Profitable Coach Formula. Our program is the leading visibility marketing coaching service for female coaches and course creators, simplifying marketing to make it the easiest part of their business. We help you get seen, get heard, and get paying clients in the online space. Imagine every piece of content you create—a video, blog post, social media post, or reel—working like a 24/7 sales force for your business. With our approach, you attract the right clients eager to pay for your expertise, allowing you to finally focus on what you love. Our step-by-step, heart-centered, and easy-to-follow formula helps you stand out and become unforgettable to your potential dream clients. It’s your business’s unique fingerprint. By honing in on your one-of-a-kind brand identity, you’ll transform from just another coach to the go-to coach everyone is talking about. Next, we build an emotional bridge that connects with your dream clients through strategic and engaging content. This approach inspires your audience to take action, making them more likely to click, like, and buy from you. It’s about turning followers into paying clients consistently using a simple, proven marketing formula that delivers sustainable results.
Have you learned any interesting or essential lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
Yes! One of the biggest shifts I’ve noticed is how many business owners, including myself, are transitioning their marketing approach online. With billions of people constantly active online, it’s an easily accessible and free platform for everyone. Whether you have a product-based or service-based business, building visibility online is no longer optional; it’s essential for sustainability and expanding your reach. It provides the freedom to work remotely without relying solely on a physical location, allowing you to serve more people within your niche and industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://elevatelifecoaching.org
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/elevatelifecoach
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/lifecoachingbyelevate
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekuei/
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/michellekueispeak
Image Credits
Photo: Lauren Comes
