Maxie McCoy and I met in 2012 when we worked together at Levo League. To say that Maxie is inspiring and captivates a room is an understatement. Maxie is a writer and speaker at her eponymous company, Maxie McCoy, and a curriculum and talent consultant at Levo. Her mission is to give people the tools they need to believe in themselves. She leads audiences across the world, delivering motivational messages and practical action to tens of thousands of individuals so they can go on to create extraordinary careers. Maxie was previously director of Local Levo at Levo League where she developed and lead more than 30 Local Levo communities globally and before that she was on-air with Fox Sports.
What inspired you to start your eponymous company?
Everything came from a deep love for writing. It was a way to capture the universal truths of the experiences and conversations I was having with women around the world. It was never anything I “planned” on per se, but I kept listening to my gut and the baby steps along the way turned into this full-fledged business that brings me joy every day.
What is Maxie McCoy’s mission and how do you achieve it?
I’m on this planet to give women the tools they need to believe in themselves, which I believe will lead to the global rise of the feminine…being unabashedly ourselves and not letting anything stop us. I spend my days writing and speaking to get those messages out into the world.
What is a day as Maxie like? Please walk me through a day!
Oh gosh, every day is so different. On the days I’m actually home in San Francisco, I try and start slow with a smoothie, tea, and some non-work moments before things get crazy. And regardless of how my day plays out it always ends the same no matter where I am, which is jotting down the three things I’m grateful for that day. I carry around this tiny moleskin that comes with me everywhere. When I continuously remind myself of all that I’m #batshitgrateful for, no matter what’s happening in my life I feel anchored.
What are your responsibilities as a writer, speaker, and workshop creator?
Every day requires something different of me. Some days I need my “creative” hats on, working on new curriculum or writing, other days I need my external hat on which requires me to be fully present in a room or on a stage. I need to be very “on” and engaged with the women I’m there to connect with. Behind the scenes, I’m also doing everything from scheduling social media to negotiating contracts with the brands I’m partnering with. It’s a lot of hustling!
What has been the proudest moment from your career so far?
I’m the proudest when I know the work I’m doing has created real meaning in another woman’s life. When I get letters, tweets, or personal stories of what my work has helped someone create in their own life, I’m the proudest. It’s often small moments but they mean the most to me.
What have you learned about yourself since founding Maxie McCoy?
That I’m capable of way more than I thought because of a really deep connection to the why of my work. It’s amazing how when something way bigger is pulling you, you can do things that used to seem like major mental blocks (like forgoing security, dealing with taxes, and standing in front of rooms of hundreds of women.)
What is the most important characteristic for entrepreneurs to have?
You have to fiercely believe in yourself. Whether you’re running a small business or a venture-backed company, there are so many challenges and hiccups that will cause you doubt. But when that doubt starts to creep you have to pull the strategic levers that bring you back to a fierce belief in yourself and what you’re creating.
You spent time traveling the world. What was your main takeaway from that experience and how did it lead you to start Maxie McCoy?
When I first started traveling it was to build out the global communities for Levo, which I did for about three years. That experience is what led me to first begin writing. I was spending so much time in conversations with women seeing how universal all of our experiences are that I started writing about it. Small step by small step that led me to today. I even spent over half a year living in Bali to get this business launched because I knew the time, space, and life-change would be what I needed to take the plunge.
You’ve been featured in a number of press outlets. What is your advice for other entrepreneurs who want to be in the media?
I’ve been really fortunate to work with some incredible press teams and editors that have led to that press. The one thing that I’ve found to be an amazing lesson is to partner with PR teams that really get your voice and your reason for being. When you’re being fully you, not just something the press wants to hear, it results in big wins for everyone.
What is on your desk right now?
I don’t have a desk! Anywhere my MacBook is, is a desk to me. But my work essentials that go along with it is my tiny nomad planner which is this bit size weekly layout, a super inky black pen, earbuds to listen to The Vitamine String Quartet while I write, and my phone charger (because that dang thing ALWAYS dies).
What are you reading right now?
Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu, Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World by Kelly Hoey, and The Big Life: Embrace the Mess, Work Your Side Hustle, Find a Monumental Relationship, and Become the Badass Babe You Were Meant to Be by Ann Shoket. They’re great books by truly inspiring women.
What is your career advice for other young professional women?
Be the most of you. Not the least of it. There are so many messages out there of how to be better or different but all we really need to be is the very highest expression of ourselves. Only make the changes that allow you to be more of the truest you. Not less of it. When you’re the highest possible expression of yourself, all the right opportunities and people will be drawn onto your path.
Image courtesy of Maxie McCoy.
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