Host Leslie Pagel interviews her friend Michele Meyer about living “to the beat of your own drum” and pushing against social norms. Michele attributes her assertiveness to impatience and self-reliance. She paid her own way through college, then joined the Peace Corps for nearly two and a half years, working in sustainable agriculture and environmental education with kids and farmers. Michele discusses gender and work as a woman in road construction. She emphasizes moving forward despite fear, practicing daily kindness and interconnectedness, and not letting social norms define one’s reality—“be the author of your own life.”
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:57 Pushing Social Norms
04:16 Wild Childhood Freedom
06:54 Catholic School Clash
10:07 Choosing Peace Corps
14:00 Life in Nicaragua
16:04 Parents Reaction and Support
18:07 Women in the Workplace
22:47 Street Cred in Construction
23:31 Intimidation as Advantage
24:16 Always Moving Forward
25:45 Fear Fight or Flight
26:38 Gut Instinct vs Planning
29:20 Contentment and Retirement
30:40 Dark Period and Purpose
32:46 Choosing Change to Survive
34:16 Interconnectedness and Kindness
38:20 Smiling Leadership Style
39:15 Rejecting Social Norm Scripts
41:15 Stoic Closing Reflection
Purpose Project is a research study on the topic of life’s purpose. You can follow along in the making of Purpose Project:
Instagram: @purpose.project
LinkedIn: @purposeproject-media
TikTok: @purpose.project
Purpose Project is a research study on the topic of life's purpose. You can follow along in the making of Purpose Project:
Instagram: @purpose.project
LinkedIn: @purposeproject-media
TikTok: @purpose.project
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