Day 282: Michelle Leinbach
“… once you get out of your way of ‘I can’t do it, I’m too old, I’m not ‘whatever’ enough,’ fill in the blank, and instead say ‘What if I were?’ I just love that phrase, and I find that a lot. ‘What if I were that type of person, and I just do it?’ So far it works really well.”
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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Michelle, for agreeing to be part of the Project today, and before we begin, can you please introduce yourself?
Michelle Leinbach: Yes, I can. My name is Michelle Leinbach, and currently I work as a training manager for a chemical manufacturing plant.
Toni: Well thank you, and thank you for being here. Those of you who listen and follow the Get Inspired! Project, we’re very, very fortunate to have Michelle on the Project today and she’s my sister, so this will be an interesting interview. So, Michelle, when you think of that word inspiration, who do you think you inspire, and how does that happen?
Michelle: I love this question. I actually gave this some thought over the last 24 hours. I love questions that make you think. I could name, you know, 10 people that inspire me, but instead to have it flipped around and ask who I inspire, I’m going to go with a real easy answer to start, which is, I’ve been a teacher for well over 15 years, continue to work in the field of education, so I would like to say that I have inspired numerous students. I would like to think that I have inspired many student teachers, because I love teaching people how to teach.
I have a son who is in his mid 20’s. We’ve had this conversation about inspiration, and I’ve been fortunate enough that he has shared with me that there are some aspects in my life and my outlook that have inspired him. I think basically friends, you know, your close circle around you. I hope that I’ve inspired them with some of the challenges that I have and my perspective on things.
Toni: And so, Michelle, when you think about those people that you have inspired, and talking about students, student teachers, and so forth, what happens? What happens in that transaction between you and the student or the student teacher, or even your son that you think that inspiration might occur? Do you know?
Michelle: Yeah, I think it’s not something that’s a tangible, but instead it’s a sense that you get or a look in the eyes, or maybe a followup. As far as being in the classroom, you can tell when the shift occurs. You can tell when all of a sudden someone gets it, or they see that they gain the understanding of what it is that you’re trying to impart, if you will. It’s not just knowledge. It’s not just skills. Sometimes it’s an understanding, and they get it.
And with the student teachers, which I really love, the fact that they say “I didn’t get this when I was in college. This wasn’t in one of my courses.” What makes all the difference is, you know, that we’re responsible. You’re responsible for not just helping people, but for helping them to understand and for inspiring them. It’s a difficult thing to put into a tangible, practical, visible way.
Toni: So how do you think you help others then to explore their own potential?
Michelle: I work as a training manager now. I still see that as a teacher. I have people say to me often “Do you miss teaching?” and I always smile at that question because I don’t ever feel like I stopped. I still feel like I teach every day. It’s not just peers and colleagues and the adult learners that I work with here, I work in a discipline, in an area that is very male dominated, and I’m happy to say that there’s a nice exchange there.
I like to think that because I listen to the people who are the experts who have been, you know, in this situation longer than I have, once I feel that I have a voice and I have something that’s valuable to say, they receive it much better. So in some ways, I think that I’ve helped some of the gentlemen here explore the potential of wow, there are other people who can bring new eyes to a project, who can offer some ideas.
I continue to try to be a volunteer and a mentor. I recently made a job change and a logistic change, if you will. I moved from the East Coast to the Midwest, and I volunteer for certain things here just so that I can learn some new things and maybe share some of my experiences as I approach year 50.
Toni: Now let me ask you, Michelle – what do you need to be inspired?
Michelle: I need to be inspired – and again, I thought about this, too – I really enjoy questions that make you think. I need to have affirmation of my faith. I have a very strong spiritual faith in God and in myself. It’s very important to me, and I need to renew that often. Another thing that I need to be inspired – and I love the word need – is to kind of force myself to be aware. I didn’t always used to do that, and now I do. To notice things.
An example I can give you is every single day to come to work I cross a bridge from one state to another. I drive into the sunrise every single morning over the Mississippi River, and when I go home, I drive into the sunset. It’s one of the best parts of my day, and I’m happy that I notice it. Every day, I notice it. I talk about it. One thing leads to another. You tend to now notice other things, and I find that very inspirational.
Toni: Have you always been that way that, you know, “I kind of need to stop what I’m doing right now and pay attention to what’s going on around me?” Or was that a process for you?
Michelle: I think it was definitely a process. I think once you open one door and you realize that you can not only walk through it, but you can walk through it to a better place and be successful, I think now you can open any door and every door, and that was part of the process for me, was in a way to get out of my own way and just allow it to happen. You know, you only go around once. We’ve all heard the cliché, but it is so true.
The only other example that I can give, and I love examples, is I picked up guitar in the last year. Once you get past the “I’m too old, I can’t read music, I’m never going to be a rock star” and just figure why not and take a couple lessons, I can’t tell you how that inspires me. It gives me moments of calm to just sit and work my way through music and hear the guitar. So, those types of things.
Toni: Wow, well that’s fantastic! When you are maybe stuck in a rut, or we all have days where we’re like “Oh, you know, I could use a little inspiration today,” do you find yourself reaching for the same tools and resources on a consistent basis? Are there things that are your go-to type things?
Michelle: I just want to make sure I’m answering the right question – you’re saying if I’m feeling less than inspired?
Toni: Yeah, like you’re looking for some inspiration. You think “I could use a little inspiration at the moment.”
Michelle: You mean that happens to all of us?
Toni: Only a few, I’ve heard.
Michelle: You know what I personally have found … and I’ve also, you know, spoken to many people that I consider very, very wise in different things other than myself, and interestingly enough I get a lot of the same feedback which is, when is the last time that you read a book or played some music? You get so busy in your job and in succeeding and achieving and you forget the things that very much ground you and give you the strengths to keep succeeding and achieving. You know, I force myself now to put the radio on every time I get in the car; it’s amazing what a difference it makes. So yes, again, get out of my own way and do something that makes you realize the reason why I’m here in the first place.
Toni: Right, right. So really kind of get out of the routine into the awareness. I had someone say to me one time that your comfort zone is not the place you should live in; however, it’s the place you should launch from.
Michelle: Well, I think that’s awesome … and get back to, right? It’s not just launching, but then again landing, because that’s what I’m finding. I love getting out of the comfort zone. Don’t know many people who pack up and move 900 miles away by themselves – talk about going out of a comfort zone – but it really forces you to try different things, to be different things, to try a couple different things on and see how they fit. For the moments of loneliness or the moments of “Uh-oh, what am I doing,” you know, touch base with your faith, with your favorite music, with someone that you trust, and not only launch, but go back to. Yeah, that’s great, I like that, whoever said that.
Toni: I think that came from Jim Reece.
Michelle: Excellent! That’s good!
Toni: So how do you explore your own potential so that you can continue to get out of your own way and be on this journey of awareness and discovery that you’re on right now?
Michelle: I like that, too. I love the word discover. You know what you need – at least what I need – certainly time. We can all say that, but not just time age-wise, but time, making the time. You know, it’s one thing to talk about it, to dream about it, you know, but you really need to actively make the time to pursue the things that you want to pursue.
An example that I’ll give you is Facebook. I can’t even tell you how many people … “What’s your Facebook account? Are you on Facebook?” And my answer is no, and the reason no — and this goes to being honest, which I really, firmly believe in — is I only have time for so many things, and Facebook isn’t one of them. It’s a conscious choice not to spend any more time on a social venue when I can be out doing something that I really want to be doing. That may not be very popular, but that’s what I need.
A second thing is fearlessness. I love that word, and it’s something that I continue to work on, because I don’t consider myself totally fearless, but I sure am better than I used to be. Again, once you get out of your way of “I can’t do it, I’m too old, I’m not ‘whatever’ enough,” fill in the blank, and instead say “What if I were?” I just love that phrase, and I find that a lot. “What if I were that type of person, and I just do it?” So far it works really well.
Toni: That’s fantastic. You’ve really given a lot of insight into the courage. I mean, that’s the word that I’m writing down here for you is courage. It took a lot of courage to leave and launch from your comfort zone of the location where you were and then move, like you said, 900 miles away, you know, and then in the process of discovery knowing how important it is for you just to be aware of what’s going on around you has opened many doors, and that’s awesome, and what a great story to share with other people all around the world in a 15-minute interview.
Michelle: Thanks, I appreciate it, and it definitely was the right move and to be more aware and more appreciative and more grateful. I pause a lot more now than I used to before, and I think when you allow yourself an opportunity to pause, then you do notice, and then when you see what’s around you, God, you can be inspired to do just about anything.
Toni: Well thank you so much for being part of the Project. We’re in the final 100 days, and I’m really … I just think it’s great to have you on the Project.
Michelle: Thanks. I appreciate it. It’s been a lot of fun, and I wish you continued success. It’s a really great idea. I am anxious to see what you do next.
Toni: Yeah, me too! All right, take it easy, Michelle.
Michelle: Okay, thanks.
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Jim Sullivan, Reading, Pennsylvania
On August 30, 2010 at 1:46 pm
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