Every so often, I have a conversation on this podcast that sticks to my bones.
My recent episode with Michelle Coulson, founder of Remote Rebellion, was one of those conversations. It reminded me why I started this show in the first place: to talk with women who are rewriting the rules of work, life, and leadership on their own terms.
And let me tell you… Michelle does not just preach career freedom. She lives it.
What struck me most during our conversation was this:
So many of us are still building our lives around our jobs instead of designing our work around the lives we actually want.
And I am not judging. I have done it too.
Michelle’s story is a loud, necessary wake-up call for anyone stuck inside an outdated definition of “success.”
Here are the lessons that landed hard.
When Michelle talked about sitting in London, miserable and lonely, and realizing her “happy place” was the ocean and not a promotion, I felt that.
Career freedom begins when you stop pretending.
Most people do not get stuck because they lack options.
They get stuck because they refuse to admit what they really want.
More flexibility.
More autonomy.
More breathing room.
More life.
You cannot build a life you love if you are still performing a version of success that someone else handed you.
Career freedom requires clarity. Clarity starts with honesty.
During our conversation, Michelle said something simple but profound:
“Freedom looks different for everyone.”
For her, freedom is the ability to surf in the morning, live near the water, and work from anywhere.
For others, freedom might be:
picking their kids up from school,
caring for aging parents,
avoiding a draining commute,
or working without nonstop office politics.
Here is what most people miss:
Life design is not about running away to Bali.
It is about choosing the life that feels right for you and removing the friction that keeps you small or exhausted.
You are allowed to choose.
You are allowed to pivot.
You are allowed to redesign your life at any stage.
You do not need permission.
You need intention.
Michelle and I laughed about the myth that total freedom equals total flexibility.
It does not.
As Michelle shared, too much “I can work whenever I want” becomes its own prison.
(I have absolutely been there. Many of my clients have too.)
Real freedom requires structure.
Not rigidity. Structure.
I always say the calendar is your friend.
Boundaries protect your time. They do not limit it.
The more flexible your career becomes, the more intentional your routines must be.
It is not restrictive.
It is protective.
Let’s be honest.
It takes guts to walk away from the predictable path.
It takes courage to say, “I want something different,” especially when the world expects you to stay in your lane.
Michelle quit her job rather than return to an office environment she had outgrown.
That kind of decision is not reckless. It is aligned.
And here is the truth we both know:
People do not stay stuck because they lack opportunity.
They stay stuck because they are afraid to choose differently.
You cannot create career freedom without bravery.
You cannot experience autonomy without boundaries.
You cannot design a meaningful life without making meaningful change.
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
After talking with Michelle, I was reminded of something I have seen throughout my career with clients, leaders, founders, and women at every stage of life:
The life you want is already whispering to you.
Most people ignore the whisper until it becomes a scream.
Michelle did not wait for permission.
She listened.
She chose.
She built.
Career freedom is not a fantasy or a trend.
It is a choice you make over and over again.
Not once.
Not someday.
Daily.
Ask yourself:
What do I want my days to feel like
What am I no longer willing to tolerate
What would my life look like if my work supported it instead of consuming it
What brave decision have I been avoiding
Your job is not your identity.
Your work is not your worth.
Your career should never cost you your life.
You get one life.
Build it intentionally.
Build it honestly.
Build it for you.
And please.
Stop building your life around your job.
If this spoke to you, watch or listen to the full conversation with Michelle.
And if you find value in these episodes, please take a moment to leave a review.
It means more than you know and helps this show reach the women who need it.
👉 Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/6TL7u4NxX4g
👉 Listen on your favorite platform https://www.moniquedemaio.com/podcast/