We recently connected with Michelle Nirumandrad and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
The two things that developed my confidence and self esteem most are the two things that used to scare me the most – my gym (Lifetime Fitness) and my skydiving (Spaceland Dallas). Neither of which I initially felt I wanted to do so much as felt I needed to do, to say “I tried.” The gym because I was tired of being big and insecure and the skydiving because it seemed like this impossibility I wanted to overcome. But then, as it turned out, these two terrifying things, things that I use to have to force myself through, ended up being responsible for growing my character the most. In both these spaces I found community and accountability. Things I think humans need. I certainly needed them. But the experience also taught me a very important lesson – the best things in life lie beyond the highest walls, so lean into the steeper climbs.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a professional skydiver turned aerial artist – I enable the Sky to create art in attempt to take a tangible object from the heavens. I call her windblown works, Captured Sky. They are composed entirely above the Earth, within the Sky, by the Sky. They are her fingerpaintings, if you will.
I’ve since expounded on this original concept by repurposing the excess materials from these jumps to create ‘Sky-Kissed’ works as well. Sky-Kissed art are my own works, composed on the ground by my hand, but crafted using paints remaining after Captured Sky jumps – paints which have been in freefall and flown amongst the heavens.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the three skills that have made the biggest impact in my journey have been reasonable risk taking, goal setting, and commitment. If you want to be an entrepreneur or small business owner, or really anything, means taking on some sort of risk. Risk of lost time, lost capital, lost opportunity, or more. So you needn’t be afraid of the loss, losses are going to happen, it’s inherent. But you need to be upfront and reasonable about the risks you’re willing to take. Being able to balance risks with reward is an invaluable tool in business and in life. The finer you can tune this ability the further you will go.
I think the other two skills are fairly self-explanitory. If you want to be successful you need a way to measure growth. That comes through setting quantifiable goals and remaining committed to meeting, then exceeding those goals. Benchmarking your progress helps keep it from getting lost in the wind.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The person most influential in propelling my journey forward has most definitely always been my husband, Frank Cole. He is my biggest supporter and fan. He’s always fueling my creative flames. I say something crazy and off-the-wall and he says, “I think you can do it!” He’s always been in my corner and there’s a special type of assurity that comes from having that. Which is what you need; someone who encourages and motivates you to do more and be more. I found mine at the drop zone in case you’re wondering where to get your own Frank Cole!
Contact Info:
- Website: capturedsky.com
- Instagram: @capturedskyart
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063494889793/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCnAPLjIml6fGw7j2nR47gVw
Image Credits:
William Franklin Cole
