We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Misha Battiste a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Misha, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?
I was laid-off from my last job at the top of 2023. During that time I was planning a cross-country move from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA. Actually, the same week I was planning to hire movers is the week I was laid-off. I felt a combination of relief, because it wasn’t a job I enjoyed; and utter devastation, because I was losing my financial stability, and would no longer be able to move to LA. Instead, I moved back home with my parents where I am today. I quickly decided after getting laid off that I would not look for a new job, but double down on my effort to become a certified Life Coach and used my severance to complete my coach training and travel through Europe for three weeks. I was determined to not let this situation define me, but instead let it propel me towards my purpose in life. I believe losing my job gave me the freedom I needed to Become My Own Muse, which is the name of my business now. I launched it less than six months after I was laid off and I’m so proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish during that time and the women I’ve had the pleasure of supporting through coaching.
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?
As a Life Coach, I work with women to support them as they ready themselves for new chapters in life and coach them to be confident and empowered to bring their goals/dreams to life. I believe that we all have the capacity to make our dreams come true, it’s something I’m proud of having done for myself and I continue to do it today. After college, all I wanted to do was work in national politics, which as someone who had no political people in her family or orbit, it seemed like a stretch. But, during my senior year of college God brought so many people into my life who provided me with the opportunities and experience I needed. After graduation, I moved to Washington, DC and within a year I worked at two of my dream jobs; the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign. These weren’t easy times, but I went on to have a successful decade-long political career that exceeded my expectations.
Like many people though, we change and therefore our goals and ambitions change. I was ready for a life and career where I could be my most authentic self everyday. Through self-exploration and therapy, I decided that Life Coaching was the career track for me. After 105 hours of training at the CoActive Training Institute, I launched my brand Become You Own Muse. Become Your Own Muse is a call to action to let go of what society or community tells us who we need to be and let ourselves be your own source of inspiration. That’s what muse means, to be a source of inspiration–so why not look inward for inspiration? We are all unique and have our own special God-given purpose in life; by looking within and trusting who we are as individuals, I believe we will be able to find fulfillment and reach our fullest potential.
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?
Faith and self-belief that anything you put your mind to, you can achieve. This is essential for when you are working towards your dreams. It breeds the determination needed to not give up on yourself and let roadblocks stop you. If you can think it and you desire it in your heart, you can achieve it! I also believe it’s important to be on your own side. We often let outside criticism or negativity develop a lack of confidence and low self-esteem within us, but we must develop the habit of encouraging and speaking life into ourselves. No one may know the greatness you hold inside of you, but you do. Be on your own side and keep believing in yourself. Lastly, having a growth mindset, which is the understanding that you can get better. Allowing yourself to be a beginner, practicing and working towards excellence. There are some things we are naturally good at and others we need to take time to become better. Don’t give up on yourself, be a beginner and dedicate time to developing the skill needed to reach your goals.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I work with and hope to continue working with ambitious women. I know ambition can sometimes be a dirty word for women and even I’ve done personal work to accept that I’m ambitious. People who are ambitious and want to do the work of making their dreams come true are inspiring and keep me energized to pursue my own ambitions. There are times when we get lost in our life journey and not sure how we can bring our ambitions to life–that’s where I come in. I’ll be your partner and coach as you lay down the train tracks to reach your goals. I also love working with women who are ready to create a lifestyle that reflects their values, desires, and feel fulfillment. I make sure this is all done with self-love, self-compassion and self-empathy.
Contact Info:
- Website: mishabattiste.com
- Instagram: @mishaabattiste
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misha.battiste
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misha-battiste-573a5566/
- Youtube: @Becomeyourownmuse_
Image Credits
KRT.Photography
