Every single person has a reason to celebrate. Every single person has small joys and accomplishments that fill their day. Every single person is awesome. Acknowledging and accepting those three statements for oneself is the foundation of entrepreneur Michelle McKown-Campbell’s philosophy.
Michelle wears many hats at the Hurt Hub, but her journey began with simply looking for somewhere to work outside her home after moving from England to Davidson. “I suppose initially I just thought it was a working space, somewhere to go and work,” she remembers. What began as a coworking membership quickly became something deeper. She showed up, said yes, and built relationships that would shape the trajectory of her business.
That business is Activate the A.W.E.S.O.M.E., a people development company that creates transformational experiences, helping individuals and organizations reconnect with their strengths, contributions, and potential. From doing sessions with elementary school students to corporate leaders, Michelle delivers interactive, high-energy sessions that build confidence and momentum. Her mission is simple: help every person proudly declare their awesome. Every member of a team has value, and her workshops allow individuals to tap into what they’re capable of and gain the confidence to best contribute to their communities.
Two years ago, Michelle’s business launched forward when she applied for and won the CATS Pitch competition, but winning was never the plan. Her first goal was to submit the application, and the rest snowballed from there. When her name was called, she was stunned, but it was the exact push that she needed. Being one of three winners not only allowed Michelle to gain visibility for her business but also to become an integral part of a close-knit community with a built-in network. The mentorship and new conversations that came after winning the competition launched her business forward as she was finally able to become known and impact others.
Michelle didn’t just focus on growing her own business. She saw a gap in the entrepreneurial community and stepped in to fill it by helping other founders recognize their wins in their personal journeys. By facilitating the Solopreneur Circle, she created “a space where you could actually turn up and be real.” This monthly gathering, where entrepreneurs can learn, share, and talk through anything and everything they are dealing with, is filled with conversations meant to serve as an outlet from networking events. Whether one has hit a roadblock, needs help taking the next step for their business, or just wants to celebrate launching a book, the circle serves as an opening for any conversation. The only requirement is showing up as yourself.
Michelle’s roles within the Hurt Hub also set her up for success in her recent TEDxSugar Creek Women Talk. She expressed her nerves going into this talk, as her whole life has been about getting to know other people and recognizing their potential. It was going to be an unfamiliar environment for her to speak in front of 400 people. She shared that the most rewarding part of the experience was the journey it took to get to the stage and the lessons she learned about herself along the way. She used to be most comfortable hiding in the background and observing others, but she realized that this was her opportunity to be herself and take it at her own pace. She didn’t need to be loud or fit the prototype of a TEDx speaker. All she needed to do was share her message and influence others to recognize the power of celebration.
Celebrating the small, ordinary accomplishments of everyday life is what got Michelle to where she is today. Her first celebration was hitting submit, and now she’s celebrating activating the awesome in over one million people. There are two main drivers of her achievements: recognizing the awesome in herself and the Hurt Hub’s help. She had to look in the mirror and see her own power before she could even think about empowering others. Additionally, none of this would’ve been possible for her without walking through the doors of the Hurt Hub. Michelle shares that “the Hurt Hub has been part of every bit of [her] journey.” The people and the community waiting inside can’t be found anywhere else.
So take the leap, recognize your potential, and believe that you are capable of greatness. Don’t know where to start? The Hurt Hub’s doors are open for you, and Michelle is waiting inside, eager to help you see your possibilities.
