We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Okon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.

Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve been writing since I was 15 years old. I’m 46 now. I have about 20 published novels spanning self-help, paranormal, thriller and sci-fi. I have written 40+ screenplays (with one screenplay in particular being circulated in a major studio at this very moment).

You don’t actually learn to write. A better way to put it is you write to learn.

It’s rare you have one person write a novel, it gets picked up and becomes a global phenomenon. Sure it’s happened, but to 10 people on this planet? 20? It’s not a daily occurrence. Same with screenplays. I’ve never heard of anyone writing a screenplay, submitting it, and having it turn into a blockbuster. Has it happened? Sure. Is it a daily occurrence? Not even close.

Writing is a skill that is developed over time. I would have been embarrassed if the first screenplay I ever wrote was turned into a movie. Or if my first novel was a runaway success.

Write to learn. Buy books on crafting a story. Read Save the Cat if you want the dumbed down version of writing a good movie. Pick up Your Screenplay Sucks and correct all the issues William Akers mentions you probably did wrong. Watch YouTube videos.

I could easily say 50% to 70% of writing ANYTHING, is research and development. If you have a great idea and begin to write, you will have a page. If you research your subject ad naseum, and dive into the topic of whatever is interesting to you, you will find your story. Guarenteed.

Research. Learn your craft. The tools are out there at your disposal. The journey continues….

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Michael Okon and I am a husband, dad, son, brother, terrible golfer, great cook (or at least I think so), podcaster of Okon Bros, President of Okon Co (my family’s film studio), published author of 20+ books, award-winning screenwriter of 40+ screenplays, and President of BLS, a family owned and operated global ground transportation company with 9 offices around the world.

And I still have time to work out, journal, learn from YouTube, read, write, watch movies, and take my kids to their activities (all with the help of my very supportive wife). I also have a degree in English with a focus in Shakespeare, a minor in education, a degree in Finance, an MBA in Business Administration, a certificate in Visualization, Integrative Health, and Parapsychology.

I started my journey in my family’s business, BLS. My mom and dad started BLS 50 years ago in their kitchen on Long Island. I started working in the company during college as a mechanic. After blowing a few engines from not tying the spark plugs in tight enough, my father allowed me into the company and do what I love best, calling and talking to people. So I cold-called day and night, meeting people, learning about people, selling myself. It worked and BLS quickly became the largest family owned and operated ground travel service in the world. I was able to expand operations and open an office in Las Vegas where BLS became the number one vendor to all of MGM Resorts.

While building the company and a family with my amazing wife, Sharon, I wrote a little book called Just Ask the Universe under my alias, Michael Samuels. The book quickly became my go-to self-help guide, launching my writing career. I had about a dozen screenplays I wrote in college, so I took them, created another alias called Michael Phillip Cash, and began fleshing out each script as a novel. After the phone calls stopped, and my wife and kids were in bed, I would write.

That entertainment career flourished and I found myself with a mega-manager based in Los Angeles. My brother and I launched a podcast called Okon Bros. I’m currently taking my writing to another level, as I’ve been pitching my stories to various studios and deal makers.

I can say I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but truthfully I feel I’m just getting started.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

From as far back as I can remember, my life has been filled with a never-ending string of No’s. Wanna be my friend? No. Wanna go on a date? No. Dad can I take the car out? No. Mom can we eat steak tonight? No. Hey, head of studio, wanna read my script? No? Wanna read my book manuscript? No. Want to use my car service? No.

Everything, by everyone, was always “No.”

And thank goodness. Because if everything was a Yes, I would have never tried harder and never gotten to the position I’m in today.

It was my responsibility to find the YES in the NO. I found the woman who said YES and she became my wife. I found the Hollywood manager who said YES and is representing my film career. I found the client to use my company to say YES and was able grow our business.

It was never about being pushy. It was about never giving up on the journey. If someone said no, I appreciated it, and moved on. I went in another way. Or I called again in a few months. I didn’t stop the journey until I found a YES in the NO.

It was about being real with people and being resilient even in the face of a million No’s.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When we opened an office in Las Vegas for our company BLS, I was a stranger in a strange land. A New Yorker with no previous experience in the Las Vegas transportation industry. I didn’t know the laws, rules, regulations, the people, the doormen. I had no idea what that chapter in my life was going to be like.

So I began cold-calling. And meeting people. And being rejected. 15 years of rejection. 15. years of being told NO. I don’t know one person in the world who would continue pursuing something that was constantly being rejected by a whole city.

But then there was a YES. And then another YES. Then another, and another, and another. Fast forward to today, and BLS, my family’s car service, is the number one vendor for the Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Cosmopolitan and all MGM Resort properties.

I didn’t step into Vegas and everyone welcomed me with open arms. I tried and tried, and tried, until someone said OK, fine. We’ll give you a shot. BLS is now the largest ground transportation company in the city.

In the 15 years of cold calling, it seemed impossible that I would ever accomplish anything in Las Vegas. I had an amazing support team, but it seemed like failure after failure until it wasn’t anymore.

If I could accomplish the impossible in Las Vegas, I can do the same thing with my film and writing career. Again, 20 years of being told no by the entertainment industry. Rejection after rejection. But I know, deep down in my heart, something will take. It’s inevitable.

My goal to sell a screenplay or to get my book onto film may seem impossible right now. But so did trying to become the biggest limo service in Las Vegas when I was building it.

I did it. I’ll do it again. Nothing is going to stop me, except myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michaelokon.com
• Instagram: @IAmMichaelOkon
• Facebook: @IAmMichaelOkon
• Linkedin: @IAmMichaelOkon
• Twitter: @IAmMichaelOkon
• Youtube: Okon Bros.
• Other: www.blsco.com.