Meet Michael Cairns

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

Michael, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I was always the smallest kid in every class throughout K-12. Two people influenced who I am today: my mom and my junior high baseball coach. My mom always said, “If you stand up straight, no one else will notice how tall you are.” I still maintain that posture today. My baseball coach, who later became the general manager for the Cleveland Indians, continues to inspire me through his mentoring. At the conclusion of tryouts, he brought me into his office and told me that I had made the cut, but that I wouldn’t play much because of my size. He then explained that the reason he was keeping me was because my work ethic could motivate the bigger and more talented players to work harder. That small success shaped me moving forward. I never had the best photography equipment, studio, or experience to be successful, but I outworked and outsmarted all my peers in a highly competitive industry. I decided that if I was confident in my choices and enjoyable to be around, people would want to work with me, which translated into business success.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have been a professional photographer for 36 years, with experience spanning swimsuit fashion, entertainment, healthcare, dance photography, and now volume photography. I stay current with the latest technology, leveraging AI-based systems to increase efficiency and profitability. I am passionate about learning and teaching, and travel allows me to continually expand my understanding of the world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Under-promise and over-deliver, Be a person of integrity, your word is everything.
2. Be a person that others want to be around. Take a public speaking course, learn body language and conflict resolutions skills. Be fun!
3. Never be satisfied with the status quo especially when things go well. Becoming complacent is an opportunity for your competitors.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Traveling to the places I’ve yet to go. Age is a real opponent and I want to do as much as my body will allow before it can’t.

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