
Show Notes
In this raw, unscripted episode, Michelle shares what happened 24 hours after quitting her job in construction—a career she’s had for 18 years, including 17 years on site and the last two years working in social media for a construction firm.
While working part-time, Michelle has been quietly building her lifelong dream: the She Who Dares Wins podcast. In this conversation, she opens up about: Why she finally decided to walk away from construction for good How her part-time role became a comfort blanket tied to her identity and self-worth The emotional and practical challenges of balancing a “safe” job with a big dream What it felt like in the first 24 hours after quitting—liberation, fear, and excitement Why trusting your gut and “setting yourself free” can be the turning point in your life
This episode is for anyone who is unhappy in their job, working part-time while chasing a dream, or struggling to let go of a stable role that no longer feels right. Michelle shares honestly about money, fear, identity, and the reality that dreams take time—her podcast has been running for two years and is only now starting to feel ready to monetize.
She also talks about the rebirth of this channel: Closing the door on construction content Keeping her old videos as part of her story and journey Inviting you to come along for this new chapter If you’ve been waiting for a sign to back yourself, this might be it. Key Topics Covered Leaving an 18-year construction career Hybrid life: part-time job + part-time dream Identity and self-worth tied to your job Listening to the universe / your gut when it’s time to move on The emotional mix of excitement vs. anxiety Letting go of the “comfort blanket” and taking a bet on yourself The rebirth of the channel and the next phase of She Who Dares Wins Suggested Timestamps (you can adjust based on final edit) 00:00 – I just quit my job Michelle opens with the news that she’s quit her job in construction. 00:40 – 18 years in construction & the shift to social media Background on her career and recent role in social media for a construction firm. 01:20 – Building the She Who Dares Wins podcast on the side How she’s been growing the show while working part-time. 02:10 – Why she decided to quit Culture, environment, identity, and the comfort blanket of a “safe” job. 03:10 – The problem with hybrid roles and divided energy Why part-time work still drains the energy needed to pursue a dream. 04:10 – Trusting the universe and listening to her gut The signs and feelings that pushed her to finally make the move. 05:00 – 24 hours after quitting: how it really feels Liberation, relief, and the surprising lack of panic—so far. 05:45 – Excitement vs. anxiety How similar they feel and why she’s choosing to see it as excitement. 06:20 – A message to anyone unhappy in their job Encouragement to trust your gut and set yourself free. 07:00 – Closing the door on construction Officially ending her involvement in construction and keeping one toe out. 07:40 – Channel rebirth & what’s next Why she’s not starting a new channel, how old videos fit into her story, and what the future content will look like. 08:00 – Final thoughts Thank you to existing subscribers and an invitation to join the new journey.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from She Who Dares, Wins.
In this episode of She Who Dares Wiggles, I'm joined by Stephanie, Olympic marathon runner, one-to-one run coach and mum. She never dreamed of the Olympics, but after a marathon ballot she expected to lose, a pandemic and a run of injuries, she ended up on the start line in Tokyo. We talk about the races, the setbacks, and why starting her own business may have been the bigger dare.
This week on She Who Dares Wins, I'm joined by Squash: adventurer, speaker and high-performance coach.
For twenty years, Leesa was deeply immersed in the corporate rat race—running global sales teams, traveling the world, and earning a living in a high-stakes, money-driven career. But behind the scenes, she was pushing herself to the absolute limit. When her mother passed away suddenly from lung cancer just nine months after diagnosis, and lockdown hit, Leesa faced a severe mental breakdown, burnout, and a prescription for one hundred and fifty milligrams of antidepressants that left her feeling like a zombie. Realizing life was far too short to stay trapped in a career that didn't serve her, she walked away from corporate sales with zero safety net.
In this exclusive mini bonus episode, host Michelle Hands catches up with world-record endurance runner Christine Hobson to ask for one simple, powerful dare for women looking to take control of their health without feeling overwhelmed. Despite running marathons, Christine shares her startling discovery after wearing a continuous glucose monitor: even active athletes can experience major blood sugar spikes after regular meals. Christine reveals how experimenting with a simple 20-minute brisk walk straight after eating completely transformed her glucose levels and metabolic health. Together, Michelle and Christine unpack the power of compounding daily micro-habits, why walking around the block while listening to an audiobook beats sporadic workout intensity, and how stepping out your back gate into nature can bring you right back to basics.
In this completely raw, unscripted, and single-take solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a massive internal battle I’ve been fighting over the last six months: the paralyzing trap of external noise, over-strategizing, and quietly losing your true voice in the social media scroll. After 2.5 years of hosting this show and building a career on storytelling—from construction site cabins to high-production film sets—I recently realized I had fallen into a dangerous vortex. I was buying the courses, reading the books, obsessing over "traditional business formulas," and trying to force my creative brain into boxes where it just didn't fit. In the pursuit of perfection, I forgot who I was, how I wanted to show up, and why I started this journey in the first place.