We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michele Lando. Check out our conversation below.
Michele, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Routine has always been important for me, particularly because I’ve worked remotely for the last decade. I start my morning by skimming newsletters to see what’s happening in the world, taking inventory of my email, then if I have a few extra minutes, I will usually read on my kindle. I definitely look at instagram, but try not to spend too much time scrolling, which is why I often reach for a book when I have extra time.
From there, I walk my dog, make some coffee, then jump into work.
The first thing I do for work is tackle emails. I always find that responding to emails first thing helps me set up a clean slate for the rest of the day. From there, I look at my daily to-do list and prioritize which projects I work on whether that’s starting on a new client project or sending out deliverables.
This helps me methodically get through my check-list and tackle incoming inquiries as needed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Michele Lando, a certified professional resume writer, LinkedIn optimization expert, and personal branding strategist enabling professionals to attract the right career opportunities. I help people tell stories and communicate their accomplishments whether that’s through targeted resumes, LinkedIn profiles, personal branding, or copywriting.
Coming from a background in personal styling and recruiting, I started Write Styles to help people present the best version of themselves both on paper and in-person by providing resume writing, career development, and personal branding resources that help build confidence. Over the last 10 years, I’ve supported over 1,000 individuals from entry level to C-suite within startups to Fortune 500 companies.
I offer content on my website (writestylesonline.com) that provides insight on how to enhance your resume, LinkedIn profile, personal brand, and articulate your value to succeed in today’s job market, or clients can work with me directly for one-on-one support. I specialize in helping people navigate uncertainty amidst career transitions, RIFs, and unexpected market shifts to identify the value in their abilities, and assist with putting their best foot forward in their job search.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My grandfather was a major influence in my life, and was one of the people I looked up to most. He built his own sunglass business, Style Eyes, from the ground up (I named my company Write Styles as a personal nod to him), and successfully maintained a strong market position before ultimately deciding to sell it late in his career.
I remember him sitting me on his lap and telling me that I could do anything I wanted as long as I understood the business behind it. This gave me the confidence and freedom to explore different career paths while remaining grounded by my business management economics degree. It’s advice that carried me through my early years, and advice that I now pass on to other students trying to figure it out. Having a solid understanding of business best practices and how to operate a small business can be incredibly empowering; it gives you the control to be creative while understanding how to monetize that creativity.
My grandfather also loved the phrase “work smarter, not harder”. Leaning on knowledge from my background in economics, I always consider the law of comparative advantage (a situation where an individual, business, or country can produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another producer). In my case, I do this by outsourcing services from providers who can produce them more efficiently (i.e. tax accounting, etc.). If I can’t do something well, or I know it will take me way too much time, I’m all about finding another entrepreneur or business owner who can do it more effectively. This helps me support the small business community and make better use of my time.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I lost my mom when I was 15, and that obviously had a large impact on me. Most profoundly, it strengthened my belief that people are irreplaceable and always come first. Because of this, I prioritize the people in my life, fiercely protect my personal time, and make sure that I can work in a way allows me to put my best self forward both in a professional and personal capacity.
By building a business that gives me the flexibility to adjust my schedule as needed, I’ve been able to cultivate a sustainable work/life balance that gives me peace of mind. I’ve always been firm in my boundaries and transparent with clients if something comes up, which has also helped me attract clients that respect values similar to mine.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Human connection is something that I focus on in every element of business. The relationships I’ve built have helped me sustain my business for the last 10 years. I always follow up with my clients, check in about their job search, new job, and their personal life. If we’ve discussed it before, I’ll ask about their family, a project they were working on, or even a trip that they took.
One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to observe and support people through different life phases and see how they evolve over time. I often work with one client who then refers me to different family members which is so much fun. I have entire families who have worked with me in varying capacities, so I’m always able to check in, ask how everyone is doing, and provide that other layer of human connection and trust that not everyone gets when they seek out career development support.
While I support people in their professional journeys, there is a true personal element to everything I do. There are so many people out there offering career development resources, and I want to make sure that clients get exactly what they want and need, whether that’s with me or with someone else. People work with me because they want the human connection, and feel the chemistry that’s needed to have a successful relationship between client and writer.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
The level of white-glove service I offer, my insight, and my personal approach to this industry. In an industry that’s rapidly changing with the rise of AI, clients work with me to get a personalized experience, customized content that aligns with their goals, and continual support as they move forward. It’s not a one and done situation. Clients who work with me keep in touch, and often stay with me throughout their career journey. Starting my career at Nordstrom was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. While I ultimately decided to leave retail, it taught me the importance of customer service, the impact it can have on business, and how to build trusted and lasting relationships with clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://writestylesonline.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/writestyles
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/michelelandoburns
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/michele-lando-professional-resume-writer-del-mar
