We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Myles Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Myles, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
In order to get better results academically, today’s students need more investment into their emotional & mental well being than in the studying itself. This generation is struggling with so many negative influences that are preventing them from even having a chance on a test and exam. if we don’t address the negative self talk, anxious & depressive thoughts, or the attention span issues then they will be doomed to failure. We go about school the wrong way and educators don’t have the capacity and resources to adequately address these social & emotional (SEL) needs due to the pressure placed on them to pass a test. I recall a principal telling me about how they have a counselor specifically there to address SEL needs of students. However, the counselor was so overwhelmed by administrative work that she rarely has the time to actually counsel! We cannot continue to function this way as a society and expect better results from our youth.
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 started speaking at an early age in church & school. God has showed me early on in life that my influence through the use of my words was going to fulfill my purpose to change the world. I began professional speaking at the age of 22 and began the process of publishing my first self-help book for young adults that same year. I have since become a figure in the men’s mental heath space as well as a notable impact speaker for schools and youth organizations around the country. I impact schools through empowerment, leadership, & mental health workshops that rewire the mind of students & educators in order to achieve their goals. My best-selling book “Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: A Young Adult Guide to Fulfillment” has influenced thousands of readers to know the power they possess over their life. Educators are over capacity and under resourced in our schools. They need a solution that addresses the behavioral & emotional concerns of their student body that doesn’t add more weight to their backs. I am that solution. Through my messages and workshops student performance & behavior significantly improves & staff burn out is decreased. It is amazing how investing in the minds of our students & teachers improves everyones performance inside & outside the classroom.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Referrals and word of mouth have and will always be the best source for new clients in my industry. District administrators & principals need to hear from other administrators & principals that my product solves their problems. They do not have the time & resources to waste on a speaker that cannot make a sustainable change in their staff & students lives. Referrals lead to significantly increased closed deals and more lives impacted. You can also leverage referrals by getting video testimonials from those impacted by your message in order use as proof of your impact.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In 2022 I had the best year in business that I ever had. I was at a breakthrough point and things were about to take off. Then, out of nowhere…I stopped putting momentum behind my business. My engagements decreased & outreach lessened. All due to 2 simple reasons: 1-Imposter syndrome. 2-Not working in my purpose. The imposter syndrome built up because I saw all my dreams about to become reality and it put fear in me. I was afraid of the bright lights and if I truly deserved them. The constant fear of failure on the biggest stage influenced me to simply hide in the shadows. The 2nd issue of not working in my purpose came about due to the fact that I was working a full time job in a career that gave me no fulfillment. I was out of alignment with God’s purpose for my life and it drained me on a daily basis. Constantly taking the vigor for my dreams away and making me belittle my purpose. It was not the companies fault, it was my fault. To solve these problems I had to first take a big leap. I left my career in healthcare to go full time in my purpose as a speaker at the end of 2023. This forced me out of my comfort zone and into a life based around discipline, planning, & purpose. On a daily basis I have learned that a full time entrepreneur is continuously pivoting and adjusting based on the need at the time. It has been the most fulfilling experience of my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MylesTheMillennial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myles.themillennial?igsh=NG04ZHQ0bHA2cHIy&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-harris-9852b7173?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mylesthemillennial3328?si=8S8lZ5mdyGjlb_QA
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myles.themillennial?_t=8psrFpAGG3n&_r=1
