In Season 1, Episode 8 of The MindSpa Podcast, hosts Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken sat down with Michelle Weger, entrepreneur, author, speaker and disability advocate, to discuss living with narcolepsy, redefining success and building a life that respects the realities of a chronic condition.
Diagnosed with narcolepsy in her early twenties, Michelle Weger had to rethink what work and success could look like when her energy varied from day to day. Rather than forcing herself into a traditional structure, she created ways of working that better respected her needs.
Today, Michelle is an international speaker, bestselling author of Don’t Snooze Your Dreams: Lessons from Life with Narcolepsy, and founder and CEO of Venture Creative Collective, a digital agency that helps entrepreneurs simplify their businesses through thoughtful website strategy and automation.
Alongside Quinn, her Great Dane medical alert service dog, Michelle speaks openly about invisible disability, accepting support and pursuing meaningful goals without pretending that every day offers the same amount of energy.
Watch the Full Conversation
“Most people try to hide the fact they fall asleep at work. I turned it into a bestselling book, a speaking career, and a multimillion-dollar business.”
— Michelle Weger
A CEO with a Chronic Condition and a Clear Mission
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects sleep-wake cycles. For Michelle, it also meant confronting the limits of a traditional nine-to-five structure.
She describes the experience as feeling like she is operating in a fog. However, the demands of work and daily life continued.
Therefore, Michelle began building a business around her energy and support needs.
“It’s like staying up for 48 hours and then trying to do your normal workday.”
By paying attention to her energy, Michelle developed a more flexible way of working. Supportive systems also became an important part of that process. As a result, these approaches benefit Michelle, her team and the entrepreneurs her agency supports.
Meet Quinn, Michelle’s Medical Alert Service Dog
Quinn accompanies Michelle in daily life and at speaking engagements. Their partnership is a meaningful part of Michelle’s story.
More importantly, Quinn offers practical support when Michelle experiences symptoms. Their relationship also shows how accessibility and support can take many forms.
Don’t Snooze Your Dreams: A Message and a Movement
In 2024, Michelle released her first book, Don’t Snooze Your Dreams: Lessons from Life with Narcolepsy, a hybrid of memoir, mindset manual, and strategic action guide. The book topped 18 bestseller lists and continues to inspire readers in classrooms, corporate teams, and advocacy circles.
In the book, she introduces the DREAM Method, a powerful system for turning excuses into action and building momentum even when circumstances are unpredictable.
“This isn’t a narcolepsy story—it’s a wake-up call.”
Speaking Across North America—and Into People’s Lives
Michelle’s signature keynote, also titled Don’t Snooze Your Dreams, has taken her across North America to corporate events, leadership retreats, and campuses, where she shares raw, funny, and energizing talks about building bold things, even in small windows of energy.
Whether she’s on CBC, AMI Network, or at Speaker Slam 2025, Michelle brings strategy, sincerity, and humour to every story she shares.
A Leader in Advocacy, Inclusivity, and Action
Outside of her business and speaking work, Michelle is a co-founder of Canada’s first nonprofit dedicated to narcolepsy education—Narcolepsy Awareness Programs and Services. She also leads the Entrepreneurs with Chronic Illnesses, Disorders, and Disabilities community, offering real-world tools and support to others navigating professional life with invisible conditions.
Her coaching and retreat programs, including the sold-out Founder’s Retreat, are designed to help women in business create strategy with soul, content with clarity, and growth without burnout.
What We Took Away from Our Conversation
- Not everyone thrives within the same structure, and that isn’t a personal failing.
- Flexibility can be an essential form of accessibility.
- Thoughtful systems can create freedom without demanding constant productivity.
- Naming what you need can make it easier to find meaningful support.
- Progress can happen in small, imperfect windows of time.
- Lived experience can shape more sustainable ways of working and leading.
Listen to The MindSpa Podcast
Listen to Season 1, Episode 8 of The MindSpa Podcast to hear Michelle’s reflections on narcolepsy, entrepreneurship, support and redefining what meaningful progress can look like.
Visit The MindSpa Podcast page
Follow Michelle
We are grateful to Michelle for joining the conversation, and for showing our audience what it looks like to lead boldly, build with intention, and rest without guilt.