Meet Michael Harris

 

We were lucky to catch up with Michael Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I have had multiple opportunities to build confidence in my life. The first real opportunity was in High School when I tried out and made Drum Major of my HS Band. To say I was a dark horse is probably an understatement. I was not very focused or much of a rules follower at that point in my life but that positive experience changed my perspective. The next opportunity was after college when I worked as a waiter at a large restaurant and started down the track of management. It was there that I really got a dose of confidence as what and how I was handling myself was getting noticed. I worked my way up the management chain to the second in command at the restaurant when life provided a path in a different direction and I left the restaurant business and started a career in the corporate life. During my long career in tech I found success and reward but still needed to prove something to myself about how far I could reach. So, I jumped into the world of triathlon and ended up needing to run an Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run). One Ironman turned into two and two into three. At that point I had done everything I needed to prove to myself that I could push past limits I never knew where there. It was also time to spend more time with my family! That experience gave me all the confidence I needed to really take calculated risks with solid preparation and planning.

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

After a nearly three-decade stint in the tech realm, I have transitioned from circuits and codes to my lifelong love—preserving and restoring family memories. Home Video Studio – Round Rock stands as a testament to my journey from a passionate hobbyist to a seasoned professional in media conservation and production.
My focus with capturing life’s essence began in the early ’80s when I inherited my grandfather’s Canon AT-1 35mm camera. From those beginnings, I have tirelessly documented life’s milestones, evolving from 8mm snippets of old photos to well crafted videos with handmade graphics. As a tech trailblazer, I refined my methods and tools over the years, earning a reputation as “that guy” who weaves magic into vacation, party, wedding, and keepsake videos.
I envision a future where myself and my wife of over 30 years, Kari, unite forces after her retirement from teaching sixth-grade math. United by our shared passion for cherishing memories, we plan to find joy in witnessing our customers relive moments from the past that we helped save from the clutches of oblivion.
Home Video Studio – Round Rock, TX, where every frame tells a story and every memory is meticulously preserved.

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?

It is really hard to nail down the most important qualities, skills or areas knowledge that have been the most impactful when so many helped in many ways. If I had to narrow down the list I would start with the ability to learn from failure and to “fail fast”. When something isnt going to work, it’s best to see that quickly and make adjustments. It’s ok to fail, just make sure you learn from it and don’t do it again.
The second important quality to me is to have a great support system. I have an amazing family and friend network that I know has my back and I have theirs. When they say “it takes a village to raise a child” I feel like I am part of that village. We have literally helped raise each others kids, as well as each other.
Lastly, I think the skill of truly listening is extremely important in life and business. Life moves so fast these days that people are starting to lose the ability to slow down and actually listen to what is being said versus listening to reply. As a Dad, Friend and Small Business Owner, I try to listen to what I am hearing so that I can understand what the person is trying to tell me. After I confirm what they tell me, then I communicate back with a reply. I find this accelerates our understanding and leads to deeper and more meaningful relationships.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Ha! I am small business owner, every day is a challenge. But, the issue I face all the time is avoiding the temptation to try and “fix” everything every day. There are so many things to keep track of as a business owner. I stay as organized as I can and just keep trying to move forward everyday with what I have to do to keep the business successful. For me, that means keeping list of action items and add and subtract to-do items as they are needed or get done. I seem to get more things done that way than just fighting the fires as they come up.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Robert Hanley
Chad Godfrey

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move