Meet Mike Rae Anderson

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

Mike Rae , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience was developed from a rock bottom time in my life when at age 19, I ended up in prison with a life sentence. Even though I was told it was the end of the road for me, I refused to believe it. I decided to make Champagne out of Lemons and turned my whole life around on the inside. I earned two college degrees, began writing plays that were approved to be produced and performed by inmates, tutored the younger inmates and helped them get their GED’s, and became a model inmate. I learned that keeping a positive mental attitude even in the darkest place is the true definition of resilience. I was given a second chance at freedom and used the EARTH wisely. Nothing becomes an insurmountable obstacle for me anymore.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I own a non-profit that caters to the mission of mentoring adjudicated youth through gang intervention while also owning and operating my own film production company. I wrote, filmed, and directed my own biopic which was a film adaptation of my self written Autobiography entitled A Polished Soul

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?

Always be courteous and smile with every greeting.
Use firm handshakes.
Look people in the eyes long enough to let them know they exist.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. I first read that book in prison and read it now at least once a year. In that book it teaches and explores the idea that a person’s thoughts directly shape their character, circumstances, and destiny. So now, I am inclined to think carefully and positively.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @moviemanmike
• Linkedin: Mike Rae Anderson

Image Credits

Obba Babatunde is my Mentor in Hollywood (included in one of the pictures)

Graduation picture photo credit: Airic Lewis