Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Swift.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story began in October of 2022 in Louisiana when one of my sisters lost her husband unexpectedly. While I was there supporting her, I ended up assisting her in reviewing family documents to see what documents pertained to him. Documents such as Personal Life Insurance, Employer Life Insurance, Retirement Account, etc. There were current documents there, expired documents, documents that weren’t for him and other documents that were missing. To me, that was undue added pain and suffering to an already difficult situation. After experiencing this firsthand, I began to think there has to be a better way to manage this situation where it doesn’t add to the grief and sorrow already present.
When I returned back to the Atlanta Area, I began thinking about it. I put on my Engineering hat and began to sketch out a flow of information and how to share it with others. That’s when Store and Share Vault was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think anytime you are starting something from scratch, there are going to be moments of uncertainty, I was not exempt from that. I remember when I found out how much it was going to cost me just to get the Web App alone developed for Store and Share Vault, then there was the process of finding the right developers firm to partner with to build it. Even after all of the vetting I did for the initial developers, it didn’t work out as planned. They oversold what they could do and it took them over 10 months of me working with them before I decided to cut my losses and move on to the next team of developers. What I learned from that is as a business owner you will not always make the right decision, what’s really important is knowing when to take a loss and move on.
My current development team is awesome. I used them to not only complete my Web App but to develop my Mobile Apps as well. I will also be using them for other development projects. Another lesson is when you find a good team or team member, do whatever you can to keep them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a seven-year Military Veteran and a 23-year Telecom Engineer. I feel all of the things I’ve learned in both of those disciplines has prepare me for where I am now. The discipline and attention to detail from the military coupled with the ever-changing environment and creativity from engineering placed me in a unique position to be able to get Store and Share Vault sketched, designed and developed in 15 months. When I tell people that the first thing they say is you must not have any partners on the project and they are correct, I am the sole owner of Store and Share Vault Inc.
I also own two other businesses, P and S Services a Commercial Janitorial and Home Repair Company servicing multiple states and Ogle Eye Investments a Real Estate Investment Company with properties in three states. My Entrepreneur mindset came from my God Father who is no longer with us back in Louisiana. The entire time I knew and worked with him which is from about 13 years old up to when I left Louisiana at 20, he always worked for himself. My God Mother is a nurse whom I’m sure made my God Father’s entrepreneur struggles non-existent. Even working as a Telecom Engineer, I still had side businesses (hussles really) I started and stopped along the way until I stepped out totally on my own without the backing of my Engineer Job in 2020 and I have not looked back since. Full disclosure, I was making money in my Commercial Janitorial and Home Repair Businesses when I stepped out on my own.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Wow. It’s been all good luck for me. I look at things, good or bad as them happening for a reason and as long as you learn from them and not repeat them it was a positive experience. I’m also a monotone person so I don’t get excited about things others may consider exciting. I don’t view things the same way as others and I don’t use the time and energy I have on others that don’t have a direct interest in my life or I can learn from or teach them anything. No reality shows except Shark Tank, no celebrity news, non of that. I do enjoy learning and being around others I can learn from and in some cases, teach them something as well. Good luck, bad luck, it’s all the same to me.
Pricing:
- $6.99 month or $71 annually
- $9.99 month or $99
- $14.99 month or $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storeandsharevault.io
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storeandsharevault/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Store-and-Share-Vault-S-and-S-Vault-107816765260015
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-swift-sands/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@storeandsharevault
