We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony McCauley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

In 2015, I began collaborating with young boys and girls when I saw the need for more assistance to be given to help support families and communities with focuses on building self-esteem and improving the well-being of students within the school systems and local community who needed guidance, support, and role models. As I began to research juvenile justice and those males who found themselves making bad choices, I saw that I could use my success building and character development talents to bring together males to help those affected by making poor life decisions. After brainstorming and writing out thoughts and ideas, I began to create MALES of Distinction Youth Program. After collaborating with Big Brothers and Sisters Organizations, the Boys and Girls Clubs around the US, I figured out that the need was greater for our young men to have an outlet that focused on mentoring and life skill building. After assessing the need I wanted to do more and provide a safe place for young males between the ages of 8-18. The next year of developing and launching the model of achievement, I had to help our youth by building a foundation and future for themselves. By addressing the 7 Domains of Physical, Social, Emotional, Occupational, Financial, Intellectual and Spiritual Health young males from Elementary, Middle, and High School can begin to improve and realize their full potential. After obtaining all necessary documents and forms showing we are now a business, I had to do the next steps in securing a meeting location and transportation. It has been amazing going from idea to execution. The issue of mentoring had to be addressed! With the outline in hand, I began to see that the program model was achievable and reasonable. I identified key community leaders to become a part of the organization and since then we are still delivering results.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born and raised in Thomasville, NC, home of world-famous Thomasville Furniture Industries. I am the Founder and CEO of MALES of Distinction/Ladies of MERIT Youth Programs, and owner of Gravity Drone Services. I love the accomplishment of becoming a three-time number one Best-Selling Author, I have published twelve books and I am honored to have become an International Author published in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I have found myself advocating as a life-long Mentor that uses my talents to share my experience, strength, and hope to today’s youth. I have completed training at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ as a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist, and obtained A.A.S in Human Services from Guilford Technical Community College. I am currently a student at Southern New Hampshire University, obtaining his B.S. in Psychology and received induction into Sigma Alpha Pi (National Society of Leadership) at SNHU. I also have obtained Certified DISC Profile Analyst in association with Personality Insights. My passions are in areas of mentorship and life coaching, and education. After attending the Mentoring Center of Ohio, I received career diplomas in the areas of Building Resilience in Youth and treating Trauma with a working knowledge on interventions. I continue to motivate and mentor within school systems globally. I have helped young people make better decisions for their lives and teach them how to transition from stages of adolescence into adulthood. My motivation and experience lead and guides others how to grow and strive for excellence, achieve greatness. I have been so proud of the way I have overcome things in my life. I am a lived experience survivor of two overdoses while in active addiction, I have been serving others as a Certified Peer Support Specialist to those who are still sick and suffering from addiction. The life change of walking in recovery has changed my life so much! I can provide one on one services of being a peer support specialist.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

At one point in my life, I thought that change was difficult! I had a bad habit that affected my everyday life, and I found myself wanting to learn how to replace my bad habit of drug addiction with beneficial ways of improving my lifestyle. I led a life that I am not proud of and so incredibly grateful I am living a life of gratitude today. My journey illustrates my resilience. At my worst in active addiction, crack cocaine destroyed my health, finances, happiness, and any relationships I had with family and friends. I felt my body and soul decaying each time I used, and each time the frustration of indulging for a few moments of pleasure did not bring any relief for the resentments that I harbored inside. This journey has led me to various addiction treatment programs, especially after surviving two overdoses. I am a living witness to anyone that is reading this right now. My resentments of being injured while playing sports and not making it to the next level, kept me walking in a traumatic mindset. I learned about ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), and it has changed my life by allowing me to share my story. My journey is not over, however the process and outcome of what I have been through is a true testimony of change and adapting to a situation that was exceedingly difficult and challenging. Just this brief sharing with you should let you know that not only has my life illustrated my resilience, but it is also not about me anymore, it is about someone that is still sick and suffering from addictive behaviors. If you are on your journey and dealing with addictive behaviors or mental health issues, look at my life and just know there is hope for you as well.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I wanted to share my journey with others to bring healing to the mindset for those who are dealing with trauma. To build a brand and audience on social media, I had to find a way to engage and raise awareness. I begin to seek out all the platforms that I could share content that would reach the masses. The social media platform can be a wonderful way to build your audience, however you must stay consistent, and if you need to enhance your branding on diverse levels then you can solicit someone who is an expert in this area. I have done this just by keeping content on my social media platforms, sometimes daily engaging. Building your audience takes time, and I found that just because I have five thousand plus friends and family, it is not an indicator that you have arrived in building your audience. It really takes work to get established. I promote my content everywhere, website, email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. With all this comes rules that must be followed, each platform has its own set of regulations and rules. The advice I can give to help others build their social media presence, is to stay proactive, look at the feedback that your audience is giving, also you must give a great reason you want someone to follow you. I also would advise that a person would examine each platform based on demographics and allow your followers to find a reason they want to follow your content. Get you a good plan and be consistent!

Contact Info:

• Website: anthonybmccauley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonymccauley12/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078588849511
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-b-mccauley-93926490/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anthony01376874
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@authoranthonymccauley2139/videos
• Other: www.malesofdistinction.com