Michelle Velan, CEO and Co-Founder at Wonder Source: A New One-on-One Virtual Coaching Platform

Wonder Source is a global platform enabling individuals to easily book one-to-one virtual coaching and wellness services, from a global community of handpicked and carefully vetted experts. We currently have 37 experts from more than six different countries on the platform, in areas of business and life coaching, wellness and healing, nutrition and fitness.

Everything we do is to make a positive difference in our users’ lives. We strive to empower and motivate our users to work on their self-development to thrive and actualise their full potential.

We care about our community and encourage everyone to value and nourish their health and happiness. Health is of the utmost importance to us, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual health, and we aim to live mindfully and intentionally, in all that we do.
 
 
Wonder Source | LinkedIn
 

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

 
The world is hectic enough as it is, so we started to think what if we could eliminate some of the hurdles that keep us from achieving things like better health, overcoming mental blocks, and rising up in our careers. We realised there was often a disconnect between people wanting to reach their goals and actually being able to reach them, whether it was due to lack of time, resources, or knowledge.

The idea to develop a one-stop online marketplace that connects people with the best global coaches was born out of a desire to serve our own needs and that of our friends. When we started to research, we quickly noticed how hard it’s to find a place that provides one-to-one personalised coaching sessions across multiple key areas of life, all in one place. Not only that, but a marketplace that at the same time connects users with a well-curated selection of vetted experts.

We launched the online marketplace, Wonder Source last year with the mission to remove some of the hurdles that people face when trying to find credible and vetted experts. People often don’t know how and where to start on their journey towards greater success, health and fulfilment.

One of my goals is to “normalise” seeking support from someone and to remove the stigma that still exists around getting help, whether it is for mental or physical health or professional issues. I want to make it easier for people to be more proactive about their health and wellbeing.

Making real lasting changes to one’s life is hard but is so much more achievable with 1:1 coaching. When people partner with an expert and feel accountable to someone, they usually find it easier to move forward and avoid getting stuck or caught in limiting beliefs. My hope is that people appreciate the benefits of working with a coach and getting the support they need to thrive and live a healthier and happier life.
 

 

What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?

 
Think of your career or business as a marathon, not a race. We can’t do everything at once. As Bill Gates said, “most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” Instead of trying to do everything at once, think long-term and be mindful about where you want to go and how you want to add value.

Believe in yourself more. Dreaming big would serve a lot of people more. Even if your limiting self-belief gets in the way, try to recognise it as just that, and allow yourself to aim high. As Henry Ford said, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” – I love his quote and believe it to be true.

Reframe “rejection” and “failure.” If you want to live a rich and full life, you will make mistakes and fail along the way. Think of these as stepping stones. Have a good attitude, be professional, do the research and don’t waste people’s time, but don’t be so precious about being rejected or failing (the latter is still hard for me in certain areas!).

Cultivate a willingness! Approach your career and business endeavours with a willing vs. a willful attitude. Willful is the forcing, the impatient and pushing side of wanting and going after goals. It is characterized by worry and not trusting. You can often feel it as tension in your body and it doesn’t feel good. Willing on the other hand is the ease, the guidance, the trust and acceptance of the process and the pain it takes to get where we’re being led. You can feel it in the acknowledgement of signs, not failures. There’s a subtle distinction between the two, but the difference is profound.
 

What can we hope to see from Wonder Source in the future?

 
To continue to grow our community of the best experts around the globe, improve the user experience on the platform and ultimately help people live healthier and happier lives.