See a photo of Melissa, her bio, Part 1 of this Q&A, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
Q&A with Melissa Wells, Questions 5 and 6:
Q: If you could share just one piece of advice or wisdom about story/storytelling/narrative with readers, what would it be?
A: A gripping story has changes and growth. You must realize this, and not be afraid to change, even when others see you as a success. Stagnation is not good, not for your mind and not for your story.
Q: On your blog, you say you draw inspiration from “explor[ing] remote areas to find unexpected stories about cool creatures.” In what ways do these unexpected stories inspire you, and how do you pass on that inspiration to your clients?
A: I spend a considerable amount of time in nature looking at things that most people never have the chance to observe or simply ignore. There are illuminating parallels between human behaviors and the actions of glaciers, leafcutter ants, howler monkeys, elephants. I am inspired when I stop and experience these creatures and environments, which can be powerful inspirations for people-totems, if you like. My job in the field, too, is to capture stories. I have video camera in hand and work with scientists to understand the unique behaviors of creatures. Then I craft a story on film.
Ultimately the stories that inspire me are unexpected. Did you know that a glacier is not, in fact, slow, but noisy and constantly in flux? How similar is that to the human experience of identity shift? Often I find humor in creatures. All of it serves to entertain, inspire and make clients know they are not alone.
The most important aspect of my transition from consultant to career coach and videographer is credibility. I spent over 12 years as a management consultant. I experienced much of what my clients go through each day — long hours, lots of airports, managing difficult projects, politically complex situations, struggling for balance. Because I changed my life so dramatically, my clients look at me and gain confidence and hope. They see that the leap they want to make is less dramatic and that I have the experience to guide them in creating something new in their life, to pursue their own definition of success.