What does it take to build a thriving business when your body demands rest in unpredictable ways? Michelle Wieger, founder and CEO of Venture Creative Collective, offers a masterclass in turning limitations into your greatest advantage.
Michelle's journey began not with confidence, but necessity. Diagnosed with narcolepsy after years of overwhelming fatigue, she realized traditional employment would be impossible. Rather than abandoning her ambitions, she created a business model that worked with her condition rather than against it. This pivot led to the creation of her Ottawa-based agency known for "website-in-a-day" magic that transforms digital overwhelm into elegant, functional solutions.
Throughout our conversation, Michelle shares the reality of her diagnostic journey—the confusion of falling asleep at microscopes during university, the failed career dreams, and the friend who finally suggested the test that changed everything. Her candid revelations about narcolepsy symptoms, from hypnagogic hallucinations to cataplexy (temporary muscle paralysis triggered by strong emotions), create profound awareness about this often misunderstood condition.
Most powerfully, Michelle reveals how she's translated personal energy management into revolutionary business practices. At VCC, flexibility isn't just permitted—it's encouraged. Team members structure their days around health needs because Michelle understands firsthand that sustainable productivity requires honoring our bodies. Her approach to automation and efficiency, born from necessity, has positioned her as a pioneer in business innovation.
Michelle's bestselling book "Don't Snooze on Your Dreams" and her mission to speak on 100 stages in two years are dismantling stereotypes about chronic illness while providing practical tools for anyone facing limitations. Her story proves that boundaries create the intersection where ambition and rest can coexist—and sometimes, what seems like your greatest weakness becomes the foundation of your unique success.
Join us for this inspiring conversation that will forever change how you view limitations in your own life and business.
