IslanderView Digital Magazine January 2018 | Page 15

IV: Full name?
course of 15 years. Life changed af-
ter having kids, and when things went
MP: Michelle Janean Pier
a bit downhill, I began questioning
IV: As islanders, we like to ask for
everything about my life, including
full names to check if there is any re- how to sustain myself in an authentic
lation!
way. I began my own business from
home, selling cloth diapers and post-
IV: Family?
partum gift baskets for new mothers. I
MP: Parents, Kenny and Libby Pier;
was also starting to paint and create
Sister, Marissa Quitugua and brother,
more. It took hold, and after many
Shane Pier. I am the youngest.
complicated and difficult years, I
learned how to streamline my busi-
ness(es), and Creative Indeed was
IV: What’s your “Islanderview”?
born.
MP: Growing up on Guam was a
blessing, because it gave me a wider
perspective of other cultures, since
IV: Who were influencers (role mod-
people from so many different places els) growing up? MP: My parents are
live and visit here. I love and appreci- both entrepreneurs, so I learned a lot
ate nature and the simple life, and al- about the pros and cons to running
so appreciate the value placed on
your own business. I also had a few
family and friends. I feel like we is-
teachers and relatives who encour-
landers really know how to enjoy life aged me to keep creating. I found a
without needing too many material or lot of inspiration from a variety of
commercial things.
people who shared their personal sto-
ries of overcoming all kinds of adver-
sity and creating meaningful lives do-
IV: How did you choose your career ing what they love and sharing it with
or current path? MP: Growing up, I
others.
thought I wanted to be a veterinarian
IV: Your AHA moment?
because I loved animals. I realized I
didn’t want anything to do with the
MP: There are SO many AHA mo-
medical side of the job. People told
ments! One of them was when I was
me I should be an artist because I
at an extremely low point in my life,
was always drawing and creating, but feeling alone, overwhelmed, and
I felt like it was just for fun and could- trapped. I got so frustrated one day, I
n’t see it as a career. I thought may- was in tears on the floor for over an
be I could be a travel writer, getting
hour and then finally felt, “done.” I
paid to see other places, take pic-
had had enough of living in a toxic
tures and write about my experienc-
cycle of negativity. I realized that an-
es. Eventually I worked in a variety of ger was more productive than des-
retail and waitressing jobs over the
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