Melanie MacIntyre, Founder of Mel MacIntyre Coaching
Melanie MacIntyre is the Founder of Mel MacIntyre Coaching. Melanie took some time to talk with The Industry Leaders about how burnout led to her walking away from a successful career to start over at 36, and how the ripple effect of her work excites her.
How did you end up sitting where you are today?
I have always had an insatiable curiosity about what makes people tick and began my career in the corporate world. I climbed the career ladder holding interesting and exciting roles in transformation and change until I had an almighty burnout. How I was achieving success wasn't sustainable; so, at the age of 36, I walked away from my corporate career and life as I knew it, to start over again. I've since set up my own business as a coach and mentor, helping others create successful AND sustainable change in their lives and careers.
What kind of work does your role involve?
I work with women who know they are here to have a bigger impact and don't want to struggle or make sacrifices anymore. I use coaching and a proven research-based curriculum blending cutting edge strategy, science-based tools and spiritual practices. It's a recipe that unlocks your unique genius and enables my clients to become wildly successful by being authentic. It's the antidote to imposter syndrome, self-doubt and allows my clients to rise up and lead at their highest level with ease. You raise your consciousness and create a new way of being filled with abundance and authenticity.
What gets you excited about your industry?
Possibility, impact, and longevity. I sincerely believe you hold within you all the answers you could ever seek. A great coach will help you unlock these answers for yourself and upgrade your operating system.
So, the level of long term sustainable growth and transformation created is life-changing on many societal levels. The transformation at an individual level then becomes a ripple of change throughout the wider systems and relationships that each person is a part of, i.e. family, clients, friends, and colleagues. This allows you to clearly see how coaching changes the world for the better - it makes my heart sing!
What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"Mel, they will never want what you have to give." One of those simple comments that sets your life on a completely different trajectory.
I was working in a senior leadership role. I was constantly plate-spinning, crippled with self-doubt, failing as a leader, and caring for my dad while he went through chemotherapy. Deep down, I so desperately wanted to make a meaningful difference through the work I did, and I was so limited by the corporate constraints. It was the comment that led to me walking away from my life as I knew it and starting over.
What, or who inspires you?
People who create Post Traumatic Growth - using your setbacks and challenges to your advantage. Using the worst of times to discover the best of yourself.
I would also have to say nature. The way it always knows exactly what to do, when. The flowers don't bloom depending on who walks by. The trees let go of their leaves each year, trusting in the new growth that will come from the space that's left. There is a lot we, as humans, can learn from nature.
How do you keep up to speed with what's happening in your industry?
I love to work with the most exciting coaches and mentors in the industry. I have always invested in myself and my own growth and development, which gives me a real edge in the work I do. You can only take a client as far or as deep as you have been willing to go yourself, so I go all-in on my own learning and transformation.
What was the most challenging project or situation you've overcome?
Myself! Learning how to be me again after my breakdown and burnout. Letting go of the life long habits of procrastination, crippling self-doubt, constant worry and anxiety, using food and alcohol as coping mechanisms. I had to learn how to re-wire my neurology, redesign my life and create a rhythm and routine to my days that would enable me to fully realise my ambitions. I did this in the backdrop of caring for my dad while he had terminal cancer. It was an incredibly potent period of transformation and growth, for which I am eternally grateful.
You finish work today and step outside the office to find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
My life wouldn't really change, as I've designed it exactly as I want it. However, I would definitely build the retreat centre that is part of my vision. I live on a small, remote Hebridean island, and I have a magical plot of land which borders the coast. I would create a beautiful structure that blends with the landscape and offers incredible views of the wild sea. I would bring my clients here to reset, replenish and redesign their own lives. They would leave completely transformed, with a new lease of life and a plan to create it.
How do you switch off after a day at work?
A long, hot soak in an Epsom salt bath with copious amounts of rose oil, listening to beautiful music or a guided meditation from one of my favourite spiritual teachers - Rebecca Campbell. Also cuddles with my son Maximilian as we read bedtime stories, and he wraps his little arms around my neck. I savour these simple moments and never take them for granted. It fills me with love, strength and resilience no matter what is going on around me or what challenges I face.
If you had one wish for the future of your industry, what would it be?
More and more people access coaching, which helps them understand how their mind works and how to manage that more effectively and learn to journey deep within and connect with the infinite wisdom, peace, and ease that resides there.
What book or podcast should everyone know about?
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A Singer is an incredibly interesting and refreshing read; it's an autobiography of sorts. In it, 'Mickey' describes his journey of first noticing the 'voice in his head' as separate from another aspect of his consciousness. So he realises that he is not only his thoughts. There is an aspect of him witnessing his thoughts. This moment sends him on a lifetime journey of self-discovery and unprecedented achievements. It's such a page-turner and really wonderfully describes the connection between the mind and the soul (which is the essence of my work!).
How should people connect with you?
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