We recently connected with Mykel Hawke and have shared our conversation below.
Mykel, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?
Like many great things, some of the best ideas that change or even revolutionize, are often simple, subtle adjustments to current practices or other long standing traditions. And so it was with us. We started working in the humanitarian space in war zones, out our special operations medical skills to good use helping and teaching others to save lives on the front lines, long before the 9/11 era. From that, we started a tourism business as the medical business was intense. We built a kids camp in Costa Rica teaching outdoor skills. That’s where MTV’s Road Rules TV show found us. From there, I was asked to play the role of a good guy teacher, then a bad guy captor and a relationship was born. I became a medic, security and translator for TV shows, which led to becoming a Producer for ABC in L.A. when 9/11 happened. As a single Dad of 2 teens, they supported me going back to war. After 2 years, fresh from the fight, Green Berets were on TV and my Hollywood friends started asking me to do more and more until I became an Executive Producer and Creator of many shows. It was not a plan, it was a fortuitous accident that let me teach millions instead of a dozen at a time. And that is why I stayed.
So make a plan, but use it as a guide. Life is funny and things happen. Live in the moment, look at things for what they are, and what they can be. If you see a path forward, take it! Serendipity & Activity combine for success.
Mykel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
After 25 Years in Media I’ve been blessed to do over 50 TV shows, 1 Film and 8 Series. I’ve worked as Self, Writer, Actor, Expert, Co-Host, Guest Host, Main Host
as well as Segment Producer, Associate Producer, Consulting Producer & Executive Producer.
I have invented dozens of successful survival and special ops products
and have written or been in over a dozen books, copious magazines and a few covers, too.
I designed many of the challenges for those shows and have developed and judged
the International Warrior Competition in Jordan for a few years in a row.
Recently, the media work has included Discovery, Fox, HBO, ABC and more
as well as many news interviews on topics like The Laundry-Petito Case,
Ukraine War and Syria Conflict as well as many other projects like
working with Eagle Scouts & Developing products for Special Ops.
Future projects in development include shows in survival, special ops and extreme nature.
The next boom due out this year is on Surviving Extreme Weather with my British Co-Author, Jim Dale.
He is a former UK Naval Officer Weather Expert who started the British Weather Service.
There are other survival products in development, and we’re always looking for good partners…
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a pivotal moment early in my media career, which was always bubbling in the background while I was serving in Special Forces and as a War zone Contractor long before 9/11. One day, I was asked by a Senior Executive Producer to do something that would look great but would teach dangerous techniques. I politely declined. I explained that part of my brand, was honor and integrity. That meant I could not teach anything that would violate a principle. We break rules, they are guidelines, but violating principles can be fatal if not adhered, and that In would not do. So, early on, I decided, do what you believe is right, no matter what the cost or outcome. Live by your principles and they will guide you to success.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The world has always been a harsh place, but it has also, always been filled with beauty. We choose what we make from it all. I chose to try to find the good that can come from any situation.
After 9 Conflicts, some of them harder to bear than I care to admit, I have found,
we can still find goodness, even amongst the evil. From there, I let a basic premise guide me
in all my business decisions- will this thing I’m about to do or make,
help to make the world a better place or will it benefit someone else?
If so, then I can assess the rest of the planning and logistics before executing.
But it always starts with the end point in mind- making the world a wee bit better.
With those kinds of guiding principles, you can always find a way to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mykelhawke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmykelhawke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MykelHawkeProfessional/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykel-hawke-1879808/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mykelhawke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SURVIVEALLChannelByHawkeBrand
- Other: www.dangertv.com