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

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I really didn’t consider a path as an actor or performer before 2015. Kind of crazy how I got my first invitation into acting! Im a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt since 2015 and on ranking day, the day I received my black belt, there is a tradition at the school I trained at that when you received a new belt you had to go a round (to submission) with everyone in the room. That day, there were around 200 people in the room. I was about halfway through the gauntlet when I was excused from the mat for just a minute to get a drink of water. As I entered the mat again I looked to my left and saw a short man in a leather jacket (it was summer) and he politely asked me if I’d ever thought about acting. I rolled my eyes and said I was busy at the moment, but please give any information to my then wife. He did and later she told me she spoke with him and I should call him. I did, auditioned and was asked to shoot a pilot for a tv show with Lorenzo Lamas. From there I was cast in a few movie roles and it became an avenue for an additional revenue stream! Its been fun so far!

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?

This one is difficult since I do so many things. I am the VP of Operations for a commercial construction company, I own a business providing work gloves and grinding abrasives to the steel/ manufacturing industrys, Im an actor, and Im a commentator on UFC Fight Pass for Fury FC and have done the UFC grappling events at the Apex in Las Vegas. For every one of these I take them very seriously and just make sure that I always put in the work. Each one requires great communication skills and the ability think quickly. Each activity is something that you really can’t “mail in”. You have to be present, assertive and respond to change very quickly. I love it! It’s all very fulfilling and exposes me to very large platforms. Gets me excited to even talk about it.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The most important thing I had to unlearn was the way I spoke to myself. Early in life I would run into a roadblock and just tell myself that maybe great things just weren’t meant for me. At a very low point in my life I read a book called “Thick Face, Black Heart” and it changed to way I thought about myself, my importance, and manifestation. That followed by hearing about a Netflix special called “The Secret” and before I knew it I was trying the things I’d learned about self talk, my network, and my attitude. I wasn’t happy the way I was and figured I had nothing to lose by trying some of these positive affirmations and changing the way I spoke to myself. Sounds corny, but it works. Also, I had to let go of anyone who didn’t support my goals. Those two things changed my trajectory significantly and opportunities started to find me almost immediately.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think in art and in business people outside of those circles struggle to understand that this takes sacrifice on your part and sometimes theres. It always amazes me that “friends” and family will ask for free tickets to shows, premiers, and ask for discounts in my business. I think if people took on the mindset of support peoples creativity, business and past times and then did there part to help promote it, they would feel more fulfilled in there desire to support you. I believe perks are earned through support. If support is earned through perks, find new supporters.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @blackbeltmike99
• Facebook: Michael Alexander
• Linkedin: Michael Alexander
• Other: Tiltok: blackbeltmike99

Image Credits
Clayton Jones Images JordanHFoto