True Success Requires Serving a Higher Purpose: Melanie Curtis on Challenging Fear and Collective Meaning
Welcome to Episode 100 of When Women Fly! To celebrate we go back to where it all began, Episode 1 with skydiver, life coach and writer - the amazing Melanie Curtis. True success—the kind you can sustain over time—demands a different relationship with ambition and action. Mel takes a deep dive into serving a higher purpose and how that gives meaning to life, a healthier, more sustainable model rooted in elevating the human condition. We reflect on the last 2 years, current lives and future goals.
Melanie Curtis has jumped out of an airplane over 12,000 times, written three books, and co-founded the all-women Highlight Pro Skydiving Team. She’s also a vulnerable person who gets nervous in front of a new crowd, has experienced extreme heartbreak, and struggled for a long time to find a sense of belonging within her home community.
Melanie is a sought-after life coach, podcast host, speaker, author, professional skydiver, and entrepreneur. She is a champion for growth, healing, and inclusion and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Skydiving Network nonprofit.
About Melanie
Melanie Curtis is a sought-after consultant, coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur with over 12,000 skydives under her belt. She is also the co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, Executive Director of the Women’s Skydiving Network nonprofit, and co-founder of the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team.
As a leader in skydiving and professional development, Melanie has set world records and been mentioned in Forbes, Thrive Global, and CBS Sunday Morning. She has also authored three books: One Positive Thought Can Change Everything, With Our Whole Broken Hearts, and How to Fly.
Topics Include
How uncontrollable situations teach you agility, compassion, and resilience
Using skydiving to elevate women, amplify ideas, and inspire others
Showing up to new places and listening to different viewpoints
How to decide if something is worth your time and effort
Learning how to spot and listen to your intuition
The importance of identifying and eliminating limiting beliefs
Melanie's book How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver
Embracing the unexpected
Leaving your zone of confidence to grow
Melanie’s struggle to feel at home in her community and how she overcame it
Resources Mentioned
Books Mentioned
How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver* by Melanie Curtis
Eat, Pray, Love* by Elizabeth Gilbert
One Positive Thought Can Change Everything* by Melanie Curtis
With Our Whole Broken Hearts* by Melanie Curtis
*No affiliate links. These are purely books mentioned or recommended in the conversation. No kickbacks received.
Connect with Melanie
Instagram: @MelanieCurtis11
LinkedIn: @MelanieCurtis
Facebook: @Melanie.Curtis.37
YouTube: @MelanieCurtis.com