Meet Shilo Harris

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shilo Harris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shilo, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I wake up each morning and start my day like most people do. I shower, eat, drink coffee, do the hygiene thing, and mentally prepare myself for the challenges of the day. Some days require extra preparation because I know if I am leaving the house some people will gawk, ask personal questions, or treat me differently in some way or another. Again, some days… I say it like that because for the most part, I am comfortable in my own skin, but some mornings I see the pain and loss that I experienced more than I see me. I wear my scars like some people wear their tattoos. They tell la story. Many people can look at me and say, ‘damn, he’s been through some shit!’ The shock and awe of my bald head, scars on my face and arms, and lack of ears coupled with a strong posture and eye contact signals that I am not shy and a leader. Other veterans and leaders respond by treating me as they would any other professional and I like that. For the others that are aspiring leaders and curious in general, they take notice and I can, literally, see them examining me. Most certainly they are thinking, how does he smile so much, what happened, what if that happened to me, and other such questions. It is because I am 100% comfortable with who I am in my spirit. God doesn’t make mistakes. He can turn anything into a gift. I don’t always wear my ears because they don’t really make me look normal. I recognize my prosthetic ears in the same regards as people recognize Uncle Bob’s toupee as fake. Uncle Bob thinks his toupee makes him look sexier, younger, normal-ish, but in reality it only draws more negative attention because everyone knows it’s fake! I am who God intended me to be.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

During my second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV with the 10th Mountain Division (2006–2007), I was stationed near southern Baghdad. On February 19, 2007, my HMMWV (Humvee) was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast claimed the lives of three of my fellow soldiers and severely injured the driver. I survived but sustained third-degree burns over 35% of my body. The explosion resulted in the loss of my ears, the tip of my nose, and three fingers. Additionally, I suffered a fractured collarbone, a C-7 vertebra injury, lung damage, and the lasting invisible wounds of traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS), survivor’s guilt, and the profound experience of a near-death encounter (NDE).

Following the attack, I was placed in a medically induced coma for 48 days. My recovery journey spanned nearly three years, consisting of extensive physical therapy and numerous surgeries at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center (now known as SAMC) in San Antonio, Texas.

To date, I have undergone more than 80 surgeries. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, I’ve remained driven to create a lasting legacy for my family and inspire others. Today, I’m an active motivational speaker, author, and actor. My memoir, Steel Will: My Journey Through Hell to Become the Man I Was Meant to Be, chronicles my journey from the battlefield to recovery and beyond. With all that I do, I want my audience to know they can overcome and adapt to anything life throws at them. They are stronger than they know. God can turn anything into a blessing.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

There are three qualities that I talk about often that was the most impactful in my journey. For anyone that is starting out early on their journey, whether it be recovery, business, writing, whatever it is get your head and your heart, right.

1. Resilience: the power to endure and adapt. When I was faced with unimaginable, physical trauma, survivors, guilt, and rebuilding my life from the ground up, I didn’t quit. Resilience carried me through over 80 surgeries, years of recovery, and a tough climb and to public speaking and authorship. I adapted to a “new normal” to keep pushing forward.
2. Purpose-Driven Mindset: turning my pain into fuel. My story didn’t end with an IED explosion, it was a turning point. I found meaning beyond the hardship, whether it was leaving a legacy for my family, honoring those I lost, or giving hope to others. That purpose is what gets me up every day and turned my recovery into a mission.
3. Storytelling and Communication: connecting with hearts and minds everywhere I go. I use my personal story, my scars, both visible and invisible, and turned it into a platform that moves people. Whether it’s on stage, in my book, through articles and interviews, or in front of a camera, my ability to communicate with authenticity resonates with other people, and it inspires them.

My advice to others:
1. Start by asking yourself what do I want my legacy to be? Who do I want to impact?
2. Start small by building resilience in everyday life by pushing through discomfort, whether it be finishing a tough workout, having a hard conversation, or staying true to your New Year’s resolution. Success is not far outside of your comfort zone.
3. Shift your mindset when you experience setbacks. Look at them as lessons and part of the process.
4. Lean on your support system and don’t carry the load alone.
5. Don’t be afraid to serve others. Our purpose often reveals itself when we help someone else.
6. Practice makes perfect. That’s what my father used to tell me all the time. Practice until it’s comfortable and flows.
7. Be real because people connect to authenticity more than perfection.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents played a pivotal role in shaping the man I am today. My father, a Vietnam veteran, instilled a relentless work ethic, the value of honesty, and the understanding that pain is temporary. He also taught me a wealth of survival skills. Some of my best memories with him were the road trips we took to go fishing. Even before I was a teenager, our “road tunes” were a little different. Instead of music, my dad would pop in cassette tapes from Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightingale, Jim Rohn, and other motivational greats from the ’70s and ’80s. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. It was probably more subliminal than intentional, but looking back, it’s interesting, isn’t it? Those voices planted seeds that would later grow into my path as a motivational speaker.

After I was injured in Iraq, I was placed in a medically induced coma for 48 days. When I finally woke up, I was heavily medicated and often disoriented, my days blurred together. But there’s one day, early in my recovery, that I will never forget.
A team of doctors, nurses, and a physical therapist came into my room. They told me it was time to get up and take ten steps. I was thinking that was such a simple request, I am going to smash this! I was a combat soldier, I’d done 25-mile ruck marches in full gear.

The moment I tried to get out of that hospital bed, I was hit with the most excruciating pain I had ever felt. I managed only three small, shuffling steps before I was completely exhausted and broken. I collapsed back into bed. I felt like I was going to throw up, and that’s when the pity party started.

I told myself I was done. It was too hard. Too painful. I started poisoning my own mind with words like, “I can’t. I won’t.”

For days, I refused physical therapy. I rejected the help I needed because the pain had convinced me I was finished. That’s when my mother came into the room. She sat beside me, her voice steady but full of love, and said, “Your family needs you.”
I knew she was right, but all I could think about was the pain. Then she reminded me of something I’d heard my whole life: “Pain is temporary.”

A little later, my father came in. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there at the foot of my bed, arms crossed, staring at me. I tried to ignore him, but he was unfazed. Finally, I gave in and asked, “What?” He didn’t flinch. He just looked me dead in the eyes and said,“Are you done, Soldier?”
I was confused. “What?”
Louder this time, he repeated,
“Are you done, Soldier?!”
And in that instant, something inside me clicked, something he had built in me long before that day. Without thinking, I snapped back, “No, sir, I am not!”
He then replied, “Then get your ass up and start doing the work you know you have to do.” He turned and walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts. He had just given me exactly what I needed. He reminded me of who I was!

So now, I want to ask you, the person reading this, are you done? Are you quitting? Is this your legacy?
Or…
Is this just the beginning?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shiloharris.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiloaharris/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShiloAHarris/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssg-shilo-a-harris-ret-7b299115a/

Image Credits

The photo of me in white uniform holding the flags: I was emcee at a Helping a Hero.org event. It is a 501c3 charity that I often volunteer with. The founder shared the photo with me.