Meet Michael Rosenberg

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Rosenberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think about risk-taking and faith together because, for me, they go hand in hand.
I’m a faith-driven man.

Faith, to me, means trusting the unknown, trusting myself, and trusting Source energy, or what many would call God. Exploring my relationship with God and allowing it to guide my life is what lights me up more than anything.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that when I follow what speaks to my heart and ignites my spirit, it always leads me closer to my true self and the life I dream of living.

I spent 15 years in the corporate world chasing a version of success that was handed to me by society. I thought life was about making as much money as possible, climbing the ladder to feel worthy inside, and saving for a future where I could finally relax and enjoy what I had earned. What I came to realize was that I was living someone else’s life. None of it felt true to my soul.

I kept trying to force it to work, and I burned out over and over again as my life kept feeling emptier on the inside. The thought of leaving my corporate job terrified me because I didn’t know what else I could do to survive. I didn’t think I had any other marketable skills, and my college degree wasn’t in anything I truly cared about. So even though I hated my job, I convinced myself that leaving it would make things worse unless I could somehow figure out my purpose.

I was stuck in small thinking, scarcity, and fear. I kept myself in a box based on what I thought was realistic.

Looking back, I played it safe for 15 years. I avoided risks, and not much changed.
My career drained me. Every day felt like a battle just to stay afloat for something I didn’t even want.

I always felt I had potential, but I could never quite grasp it or figure out where to plug it in. I believed we all have a purpose, and I desperately wanted to find mine so I could be saved from the life I had to force myself through every day.

Then, in 2015, something shifted. I began experiencing a spiritual awakening that opened me up to something greater, a deeper connection to myself and to God. As I followed that path, my heart began to open. I began to heal. I began to feel alive again.

I kept saying yes to what sparked my curiosity, even when it felt uncertain, and each time I followed that quiet nudge from within, it led me one step further on my path.

In 2019, after a life-changing experience swimming with wild dolphins, I felt a deep calling to surrender to God completely. I knew I couldn’t go back to the corporate life because it no longer matched who I was becoming. I wrote a letter to the Universe and declared that I was going to travel the world. That was my dream. I asked for all the resources I would need and for my true calling to be revealed along the way.

In 2020, I took the greatest leap of faith of my life. I sold everything I owned, cashed out my entire 401(k), and set off on a spiritual sabbatical into the unknown to discover who I truly was.

That leap turned into a four-year journey around the world, the adventure of a lifetime. It eventually led me to my passion for professional speaking. Today, I share my story with others who feel stuck in a life that isn’t true to them, people who are ready to reconnect with their hearts and step into their purpose.

That leap of faith was the biggest risk I ever took. I let go of the life I knew and asked to be guided toward the life I was meant to live. And that’s exactly what happened.

I believe every one of us has a true calling. A soul-designed roadmap. But meeting that version of ourselves requires the courage to release the familiar and step into the unknown. We’re not meant to know exactly where it’s all going. That’s what faith is. Trusting that something greater has our back and that if we follow the deepest call of our soul, we’ll end up exactly where we’re meant to be.

It’s the greatest risk we can take in life, and I continue to take it, again and again.

Because for me, living by faith means doing whatever it takes, no matter how scary it feels, to honor the inner knowing that is leading me to the most alive, purposeful, and joyful life I can live.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My brand is “Wake Up With Mike”. My expertise lies in guiding and inspiring others to wake up to their true nature and purpose. I do this through professional public speaking and experiential group coaching programs.

What distinguishes me most is my authenticity, passion, and joyful essence. While I have many transformational tools I can share, I ultimately believe that everyone holds their own wisdom and unique essence within. I can give you a map, but my map is not your map. I came from a world where I was told to follow a system laid out for me, and it never felt like me. You’ve got to learn to trust yourself and the wisdom coming through your soul. My job is to help you clear the way so you can create that connection with yourself.

It wasn’t easy to get to where I am, but what I’m most proud of is that I followed the calling of my heart and went all in on myself. I had to dismantle and release the version of me that clung to fear and societal expectations in order to truly know my power. I did it one step at a time. And while becoming an entrepreneur has been challenging, there is no better feeling than knowing my heart is aligned with my work and that I’m living life on my terms. I feel a deep sense of freedom in that.

My journey has been about devotion to the higher power that guides me and trusting that my path is unfolding exactly as it’s meant to. I know that in every situation, no matter the challenge, I’m right where I’m supposed to be. This mindset has allowed me to approach every challenge as a learning opportunity, knowing I have what it takes to grow from it. Each time I embrace all parts of myself and my circumstances, I feel myself level up. I used to think I needed to have everything figured out and know exactly where I was going. Now, I ask God to surprise me and fill my reality with beauty and magic, and that’s exactly what I receive.

I believe the greatest act of service we can do for ourselves in this life is to follow our dreams, live fully, and embrace our true selves. From that place, we naturally become of service to others in the most powerful and authentic way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Funny thing about this question is that I’m currently living back in my hometown in Connecticut, where I grew up, a place I spent years trying to escape from, haha. I’m making peace with that in this moment as I go through this transition. But not long ago, I was living in the Sacred Valley of Peru for two years, and that’s the place I would love to invite my friends to. I consider it home, and I’ve even led a retreat there.

Peru is known for its majestic mountains and healing energy. It’s an ideal place for people to get away from the noise of everyday life, reconnect with nature, and return to themselves. I’d take my people on a weeklong retreat, similar to the one I facilitated before.

First, I’d bring them to my mountain home, where they could take in the stunning beauty of the Sacred Valley and experience the serene stillness as they settled in. Then I’d bring them into town—Pisac is my town, about 45 minutes outside of Cusco—where they’d meet all of my amazing friends. Pisac has a beautiful community of heart-centered creators doing all sorts of incredible things. It’s a tight-knit blend of locals and expats. Because the town is so small, everyone sees each other almost every day. I’d want my friends to feel welcomed and embraced.

I’d take them through the local fruit and veggie market, where we’d buy produce from the Mamitas and sit at the juice bar to enjoy a massive fresh juice made on the spot with as many fruits as you like, for about $2. We’d pop around to all the local coffee shops, restaurants, and eateries, where we’d continue to run into many of my local friends.

The main events of the week would be sacred treks into mountain areas where few people go. We’d visit a local community where the indigenous people weave clothing from alpaca wool using traditional methods.

If my friends were open and daring enough, I’d guide them through a Huachuma hike and an Ayahuasca ceremony. These are beautiful psychoactive plant medicines that allow you to access the inner depths of yourself to heal, gain clarity, and rewire your being. They’ve been key tools on my awakening journey.

I’d also bring them to a sweat lodge to help cleanse the body, mind, and spirit.

In the evenings, we’d head to an ecstatic dance event to get down and celebrate. We’d also visit the community open-mic storytelling night I used to host, so they could share a life story and lesson on stage.

We’d probably end the week at a local spa to relax and integrate, before heading into Cusco for some of the world’s best ceviche.

They would return home feeling like they just came out of a dream, with an expanded outlook on their lives.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out all my mentors. I have so many…healers, energy workers, therapist, coaches, tribe members who have held me high throughout my journey and continued to love on me and see my highest potential even when I could not see it. You know who you are.

Website: https://www.wakeupwithmike.com

Instagram: @wakeupwithmike

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rosenberg-261913342/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wakeupwithMike

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wakeupwithmikespeaks