Over 50 and still a rebel

Small business owner Michelle VandenBosch, a rebel in the florist industry, joins Sherrilynne Starkie in episode six of the 50 Women Over 50 podcast to discuss taking on life in your own terms as a woman in your fifth decade. Michelle is the owner of Rebel Petal, a flower shop based in Manotick, just south of Ottawa, Canada’s national capital.  But it’s not like most flower shops (the clue is in the name)! She and her team specialize in custom fresh flower arrangements for weddings, home and event décor, and as you’ll learn in this episode, funerals too.“What they don’t tell you when you're about to take a proverbial leap into the unknown,” explains Michelle, “is that you’re not jumping off a cliff.  You’re not freefalling to the ground.  You’ll land on a ledge that is the support of your friends, family and the community. So go ahead. Take that leap!” In this interview, Michelle explains why she has stopped setting goals for herself but plans to continue in her rebellious ways always changing things up and taking on life on her own terms. About Michelle VandenBosch: Michelle VandenBosch is a professional florist with more than 30 years experience. She had no desire to be a business owner or to open her own flower shop until seven years ago when she had a sudden epiphany! From the day she opened the doors of Rebel Petal, Michelle has redefined the concept of flower retailing and to this day she’s reinventing small business ownership. Resources & Contact Information: About Michelle VandenBoschAbout Rebel PetalArtist Sue MillerArtist Jane McGeeThe Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love and Loss by Anderson Cooper.Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma BlairFinding Me, by Viola DavisAbout the 50 Women Over 50 Podcast: Sherrilynne Starkie started this show as a creative project with the goal of interviewing 50 women past their 50th birthday to learn how they see the world, what lessons they’ve learned and what advice they have for us all. She’s been blogging and podcasting for 18+ years as part of a successful marketing and communications career and looks forward to learning from the women she will interview.Subscribe to 50 Women Over 50 wherever you get your podcasts and please share it with your friends.