Miracle Olatunji
6 min read ⭑
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, too, but you’ll never be 100% ready. It’s never going to be 100% perfect. Fear will come, and that’s normal. So feel the fear and move forward anyway.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to a meal than palate and preference. How does your go-to order at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
I grew up in Delaware but have lived in New York, Copenhagen, and Calgary. In 2018, I moved to Boston to start college at Northeastern University. Over the past three years, I've enjoyed discovering new restaurants in the city. My go-to order is a baked falafel wrap and a side of za'atar fries at Anoush'ella, a Mediterranean restaurant in the South End. In addition to falafel, the wrap has a lot of other veggies inside, too. It's healthy, nutritious, and delicious.
I guess what this reveals about me is that, similar to my beloved falafel wraps, I am multi-dimensional and resourceful. I get things done and love problem-solving. One of my mantras is “When there's a will, there's a way.”
Alex Iby; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests, but we tend to hide them. What do you love doing that might surprise (or shock) people?
In middle school, my two best friends and I created our very own girl band called The Rubiez. I will never forget our “hit” song R-U-B-I-E-Z that we used to perform during recess.
I absolutely love music. Most people don’t know this, but in addition to writing books and articles, I love writing songs. Also, truthfully, a lot of the time when I’m walking around listening to music, I imagine I’m in a music video.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
Snacks from Trader Joe’s. Oh, and perfectionism.
A while back, I tweeted: “I don’t know who needs to hear this, too, but you’ll never be 100% ready. It’s never going to be 100% perfect. Fear will come, and that’s normal. So feel the fear and move forward anyway.”
Even though I shared this pep talk with the world, I’ll be the first to admit: I really needed to hear that. For a long time, I proudly accepted the idea that I'm a "perfectionist." I felt that everything needed to be perfect to be good enough. I was giving myself unrealistic expectations and unnecessary stress.
Now, I realize that perfectionism is just our ego's way of keeping us inside our comfort zone, which is a place where no growth or progress happens. Perfectionism is a lie we often believe, and it does nothing but hold us back. I’m learning every day to choose progress over perfection.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I’m currently wrapping up my last few semesters in college, where I’m pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Finance. I’ve had the opportunity to build my finance skills through internships with companies like Deloitte and Bank of America, which I'm very grateful for.
In addition to school and internships, I’m focused on building a legacy. I want to create an impact and projects that outlive me. I am a motivational speaker, content creator, entrepreneur, nonfiction writer, and author of Purpose: How to Live and Lead with Impact.
When I was 17, I started my first business, OpportuniMe, to help fellow young professionals to build life and leadership skills. I first learned about entrepreneurship in high school through an educational program called the Diamond Challenge. It transformed my mindset and helped me realize the power of creativity and collaboration.
One of the motivators for why I chose to major in Finance was my passion for financial literacy, investing, and empowerment. Through my second business, Her Wallet Media, I want to help others achieve financial freedom through coaching and education.
Recently, I partnered with Colgate on their global optimism campaign (the Colgate Optimism Project), with a focus on empowering people to make a difference in their community, especially given the effects of the pandemic.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?
My name is an opportunity to share my faith, either directly or indirectly. When people hear my name, I hope it inspires a feeling of optimism. When people hear the story behind my name, I hope it inspires them and lifts their spirits.
As my name implies, my story is nothing short of a miracle. I was not expected to live to be the age I am now due to prenatal complications that my mother experienced. My goal is to use my platform and creative expression (especially through public speaking and writing) to inform, uplift, and inspire others.
God inspired the idea to dedicate the first chapter of my book to sharing this story. Some of those who have read Purpose have reached out to tell me how this chapter touched them, especially during tough moments in their lives.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Some people divide things sacred and things secular. But you know, God can surprise us in unlikely places. How do you find spiritual renewal in so-called "nonspiritual" activities?
A friend at church told me she goes on prayer walks, so I decided to give it a try. It has been a game-changer. I not only get moving, but I’m also able to have a conversation with God. I'm trying to get into the mindset that I can talk to him anytime and anywhere.
Not only do I feel more at peace after talking with him, but I also gain encouragement and strength. I gain inspiration for new and existing projects.
I talk to him as if I were speaking with a good friend. Because that's what I hope for. I hope to strengthen and grow our relationship. I want to become good friends.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith. But you know about some really great stuff too. What are three of your favorite resources?
Three of my favorites are:
Friday sessions with Every Nation Church’s campus ministry—for my fellow undergrad and grad students.
VOUS Care Crew meetups. This is an inspiring, friendly, and uplifting community with both in-person and virtual events.
And lastly, Relationship Goals by Pastor Mike Todd. This book offers such a fresh and powerful look at dating and relationships.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it's done for you.
In this current season—and especially over the past year with the pandemic—virtual church services and Bible studies kept me going when we weren't able to meet face to face. Even in times of weak internet connection, I still felt a strong connection with these faith communities as we learned and grew together.
Also, journaling has been transformative for me over this past year. I have had new ideas, experienced greater clarity, and problem-solved challenging situations just by putting pen to paper.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
God is stirring my heart to, first, write my next book! It will also be nonfiction, but this time, I’m pursuing the traditional publishing route for greater distribution.
My second goal is to reach more people globally using social media, especially through video-based content. This tells me that God wants me to step out of my comfort zone a bit. I’m most used to creating text-based and audio-only content. Video is a medium that I don’t use a lot, but I’m excited to learn and grow by trusting God and taking steps forward.
There’s a voice that often holds us back from stepping into all God has for us. It says, “That’s not good enough. You’re not good enough. You might as well stop trying.”
Have you heard it, too?
That voice has a name—perfectionism. In today’s interview, Miracle talked about how she used to own the title “perfectionist” with pride. That is, until she realized just how much it was holding her back.
Once we realize that perfectionism is just another word for pride, we can let go of our self-imposed (and impossible) standards for our work, appearance, intellect, and relationships and allow God to simply move us forward in his strength.
Because God’s perfect grace is enough, even if we aren’t.
Miracle Olatunji is a public speaker, content creator, entrepreneur, nonfiction writer, and author of Purpose: How to Live and Lead With Impact. She is the founder of OpportuniMe, a mission-driven company that helps people and organizations to realize and reach their full potential. She is also building Her Wallet Media, a financial education and coaching platform to help women build their net worth, network, and self-worth. Miracle attends Northeastern University where she's pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Finance. Her goal is to use her platform and personal story to inform, uplift, and inspire others.
