We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michaela Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Michaela, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose as a writer at a very young age. I went from writing for essay contests to becoming the editor-in-chief of my high school yearbook. From there, I went on to write for a few online magazines in college until I started my own inspirational blog. As a blogger, I really dived into my passion for writing. I soon realized that I wanted my words to actually help people – I wanted to write blog posts, articles, and even books that would encourage others. I always knew that I was destined to use my gift of writing as a ministry to bless others.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a faith-based writer and creator who is passionate about crafting inspirational content that feeds the soul and glorifies God. I moved to Atlanta in 2012 for college and have since received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in Marketing. While pursuing my graduate degree, I began my career in marketing and communications working in various industries such as government, higher education, sports and entertainment, and more. Aside from my full-time roles, I have been on an entrepreneurial journey as a creative writer specializing in helping brands tell their story.
A few years ago, I started my journey as an author by ghostwriting two novels and editing other bodies of work. While I enjoyed helping others create their stories, I wanted to see MY name on the cover of a book one day. This desire led me to write my very first children’s book, “Payton’s Little Prayers,” a story about a little girl who prays her way through an unpredictable day. My dream is to create even more stories that will teach children about the power of God!
When I am not writing, I am serving as the leader of RAWCove, a women’s community that I launched in February 2023. RAW stands for Restoration of Ambitious Women and our goal is to connect women of all backgrounds as we journey with God together.
As you can see, inspiring others through writing and building community is what keeps me going!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’ll call these my Big 3: faith, consistency, and remaining open to learning. These are the top three areas of my life that have helped me press on professionally and personally.
I would tell anyone to remember that consistency doesn’t always look like doing the most every day. It is sometimes doing just one thing towards your dream a day or even taking time to rest. The most important thing to remember is that your journey is yours and no one can tell you how to embark on it. Keeping the faith will help you remain hopeful even on the days when your motivation and consistency feel low. I try my best to affirm myself often and remind myself of God’s truths to keep my faith strong.
As far as remaining open to learning, you have to sharpen your skillset to be successful in anything you do. Without learning new things or seeking opportunities to learn more about your craft, you won’t make it far. Keep your mind open – you never know what you can gain to take you to the next level!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
This past year, I have definitely learned how to pivot in unfavorable situations. It is still a challenge for me because, let’s be real, who likes it when their plans don’t work out? Becoming more flexible has helped me succeed in my 9-5 and also in my business endeavors. My entire author journey was a pivot because I actually wrote my children’s book eight years before it got published – many obstacles took me off course with that project. Experiences like that have taught me the importance of leaning on God’s plan for my life and not my own. Being adaptable to change will ease the tension that comes with having rigid plans.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adashofmichaela.com
- Instagram: @adashofmichaela and @littlemisspaytonstories
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlemisspaytonstories
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cartermichaela
Image Credits
JaLeah Jordan Erika Swift
