44: Michelle Jones: Redefining Education with The Wayfinding Academy

The Life Purpose Advisor Podcast with Angie Swartz

In this episode, Michelle Jones discusses opening a new college, the Wayfinding Academy, and the related crowdfunding campaign plus how to find and follow your life purpose.

“It's hard to feel like you can explore in college anymore. Every time you're exploring or taking a class that's interesting to you, you feel like it's a waste of money that will add additional time or debt.”– Michelle Jones

About Michelle Jones

Michelle D. Jones, Ph.D. Organizational Psychology & Leadership, Claremont Graduate University

is a former traditional model college professor who is starting her own college, The Wayfinding Academy. Her 15 years teaching leadership and organizational behavior courses at colleges and universities across the country has prepared her well to re-imagine what higher education can be with this new endeavor. She is also drawing on her experience organizing events and communities with TEDxMtHood and the World Domination Summit and founding non-profit organizations such as SuperThank.

....In this show….

Michelle Jones' Life Purpose

• To make the world a better place by helping people find their way as early as possible in life.

Life Purpose Ah-Ha Moments

• Around the end of her undergraduate career, Michelle Jones realized she wanted to be a teacher. As soon as she got into her role at the age of 24, Michelle Jones realized the teaching system was not what she thought it would be, therefore she committed herself to changing the educational institution.

Major Life Events that Hinted at Your Life Purpose

• Meeting a mentor after finishing her undergraduate studies helped Michelle select the most efficient process of becoming a teacher.
• Being a professor at a traditional university allowed her to understand the institution and how she could build her own.
• Michelle Jones has collected people from her experiences working at the World Domination Summit, Ted Talks and more to build a community of minds that makes up the Wayfinding Academy.

Spiritual Belief

• The energy of the Universe helps us accomplish what we are meant to be doing.

Recommended Personal Growth Resource or Practice

• Walk
• Have a day with nothing scheduled at least once a week

Michelle Jones' Wisdom on Igniting Life Purpose and Personal Growth

"Finding courage to make difficult decisions. If that means quitting something to follow your purpose, it is always worth it and it always works out."

Interview Links and Special Offers from this Episode

• Wayfinding Academy website
  • Visit this website to donate to the crowd funding campaign and to sign up for the email list
• Wayfinding Academy Facebook page
• Recommended Reads and Movies
  • "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo
  • 'The Way" directed by Emilio Estevez

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