Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Smoove.
Mike, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The Rise of a young mogul. At some point in our lives, we all have been asked this simple question; “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My life completely changed when a mentor of mine Challenged me and said, instead of thinking of what you want to become, start to think about why! Our entire lives we were trained to grow up with hopes to one day make a decent living, instead of actually figuring out our “WHY” which ultimately leads to a life of purpose and gives us a reason for wanting to wake up in the morning. That one question not only forced me to dig deeper within myself, but it created the birth of a mogul with a deep urge to create an impact any way I can On those around me.
Coming out of Philly, I remember being known as the quiet kid on the block. I was Always super shy when it came to speaking my mind and at times felt voiceless. Growing up I have seen so much, but never really could find ways to articulate my thoughts and feelings. I remember using writing as my escape and using it as a way to voice my inner thoughts. I would Write about all the violence I experienced and write out my deepest thoughts and emotions through poetry and raps. I would write things like:
“I’m from the city of brotherly love, nothing brotherly! Gunshots go off running and ducking suddenly. I turned into the young man – young dudes round my way look to be! I was shocked when the young dude said he looked up to me!”
Music, writing and poetry soon gave me that voice I’ve been looking for and finally gave me the courage to speak up! It also help me realize that I wanted to be a advocate for change and lead by example with hopes of one day using my gifts and talents to make a difference! I remember feeling like an outcast for always being so positive. Coming from where we came from, it was kind of hard to be positive because everyone was always more so in survival mode. Many of the younger ones around my way began to start looking up to me, and I soon started gaining the respect of the old heads (what we call the elders in Philly) once they started noticing the positive track I was On and seen that I was different.
After making it through High School, with the support of close friends, mentors, and family, I was accepted into Morehouse College with a full ride scholarship. That opened so many different doors for me and gave me a fresh start in hopes of not only growing into the man I wanted to become but to also go to another environment giving me more space to grow and be creative. Atlanta became the breeding grounds for the growth of a young mogul.
Has it been a smooth road?
This journey has not been the easiest. I took a huge leap of faith, stepping out of my comfort zone and going miles away from home in hopes of seeking the best version of myself. During this journey I have lost childhood friends to violence, have faced doubt, have spent many days where I have lost sleep due to constantly pushing myself and have had to balance work, social life, scholarship and trying to graduate Morehouse as a double major during the time of being a student. Sometimes even being at such a distance from loved ones became complicated. What made the journey worth it was always reverting back to my “Why.” That gave me my reason for waking up in the morning, knowing that one day this will all be worth it! My advice to anyone going through something is always to remember that you have a purpose. Sometimes we must learn to have faith even when we can’t see the destination and have enough strength to keep walking knowing that you will get there!
Please tell us about the company.
Mic Check Movement is a entertainment consulting company designed to not only connect people but also to help people share their voice and vision through their craft! I understand the feeling of not feeling heard, so this is a Movement to encourage fearlessness when showcasing to the world what you have to offer. During my time building Mic Check movement, I have been able to build solid partnerships, help creatives grow their vision and be a liaison with connecting and providing creative direction for clients, partners, and projects. What sets this brand apart from others is providing value and the expert resources at hand! What holds many back from excelling is simply lack of information. We can help provide legal services, business consulting experts to help scale business, creative consultation, and hands-on creative direction such as assistance with video production/scriptwriting and coming up with the creative concepts to assist with music business!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5-10 years, I see us creating a huge platform that will impact many by providing opportunities within the realm of entertainment and also educating on simply how to conduct proper business when showcasing to the world your God-given abilities. From Film, television to radio, the goal is to create a movement for people to connect with!
Pricing:
- Access to legal consultants (24.95 per month.)
- Small Business plan/business consultants ($39 per month)
Contact Info:
- Email: miccheckmovement@gmail.com
- Instagram: @doctor_smoove
- Facebook: @miccheckmovement
- Other: https://calendly.com/miccheckmovement
Image Credit:
Ig: @grantleywhitaker
Ig: @melaninwombman
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