Meet Mike O’Hara

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mike O’Hara. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mike below.

Mike, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I’ve always been optimistic. I’ve learned to believe that the pasture really is greener on the other side—not because life magically gets easier, but because perspective changes everything. With the right mindset, even challenges start to look like opportunities waiting to unfold.

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

A year ago, I made the leap from television production management into photography—a move that had been calling to me for years. My passion for photography had always run parallel to my career in TV, quietly shaping how I saw the world and told stories. But between long production schedules and tight deadlines, I never had the time to fully invest in the creative and business sides of it—understanding how to make photography a sustainable living, develop my own voice, and connect with other creatives who inspire and challenge me. Over the past year, I’ve been focused on building that foundation: learning what it takes to run a creative business, refining my craft, and surrounding myself with a community of like-minded creatives who value collaboration as much as I do.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Time management, problem-solving, and budgeting have been vital skills throughout my career, and I’ve carried those directly into my photography business. They’ve given me a solid foundation and helped jump-start the process of turning creativity into a sustainable practice. For anyone starting out on a similar path, my biggest piece of advice is to focus on building your network. You’ll learn more from the people around you—their experiences, insights, and collaborations—than from any online tutorial or book.

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

I love this question—it’s one I find myself thinking about often. Aside from spending every possible moment with my family, I’d spend the rest of my time outdoors, immersed in nature and capturing its beauty, just as I’ve done over the years. I’m happiest outside—always have been, always will be.

Contact Info:

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.
Productivity
What do you do for self-care and what impact has it had on your effectiveness?

We asked some of the most productive entrepreneurs and creatives out there to open up

Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
How do you keep your creativity alive?

Keeping your creativity alive has always been a challenge, but in the era of work