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

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

Working with Alligators for 30 years, I have quite a few “crazy” stories. I used to, during my demonstrations, swing out over a group of alligators on a rope and land on a huge boulder on the other side. Imagine the video game “Pitfall” but in real life.

Once, as I was swinging over the gators, the rope swing snapped, plunging me directly on top of a dozen or so real live alligators.
Not only did I miraculously survive but I did so without a scratch!

As I was falling I was quite sure I was about to die. It was beyond terrifying, truly inches from death, and quite obviously my worst scariest moment of my life! I also had this on camera. I was embarrassed to show it because it is a near death blunder but when I finally did it went viral and became a huge hit for me. My worst moment ever became my best.

Now I use that tale in my motivational speeches to explain sometimes something we think is the worst thing to ever happen to us could end up being the BEST. We can’t always see the big picture.

Even for the person reading this now. Are you going through something seemingly terrible right now. Be encouraged, it could be for the best!

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?

I have been working with alligators for 30 years and what I have learned is how misunderstood they are. Especially for new residents to Florida. They don’t know what to do when they see alligators here in their backyard. Some new residents are scared to death and some aren’t scared at all. The correct response lies somewhere in between.

That’s why I created The GatorMobiile! It is a mobile alligator enclosure where you can see alligators swim together, eat, and interact with each other. All done in an alligator habitat on wheels, so we come to you! Churches, events, fairs, parking lots, attractions, you name it and we come to you with not just a traveling gator pen but a full mini gator attraction!

The purpose of this is to educate in a super fun and exciting and memorable way, what to do when you see an alligator!

That is the main aspect of what I’m working on now. Helping both humans and Alligators.

I still do a lot of my business on social media with some of the most unique and comical alligator themed videos online. I’m always searching for sponsors. If you want alligators or a gator keeper to represent you, contact me.

I also speak at Churches and schools with my gators giving alligator allegories to mental health and helping kids and adults know their worth through interesting alligator stories.

Of course I have merchandise and alligator tooth necklaces etc. go to my website at GatorCrusader.com for that or contact me at TheGatorCrusader@yahoo.com for more info or even a “cameo” style message from the gators!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Sometimes it is hard to market and foster a love and interest of such a non cuddly animal as an alligator. But if you truly have a passion for what you do and if you sincerely believe in your concept, you can never truly fail!

Love is the greatest power in the Universe. There will be difficult times. I mean DIFFICULT! But if you don’t give up and sincerely believe and love what you are doing, love always finds a way!

Have you ever had to pivot?

There will be failures. I have had some great success but I have had grand failures as well. The key is to never give up. When my rope swing broke and I was falling towards the gators, I sincerely thought it was the end for me. But instead of giving up, I used all my energy and will power to get out and start again.

That near death experience changed me. I thought I was this amazingly cool alligator rock star (a c-rock star if you will) After nearly dying I decided to use my alligator talents and passion to help others; to give motivational talks and use my alligator adventures to help those with mental health issues.

Contact Info:

• Website: GatorCrusader.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/thegatorcrusader
• Youtube: YouTube.com/thegatorcrusader

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