About Me — Sean Michael Lewis

From Birth to Entrepreneurship: Navigating Life’s Highs and Lows to Achieve Success Today

Hello. My name is Sean Michael Lewis.

Who am I?

Well thats a good question.

At 42 years old, Medium has been the first platform where I truly feel free to express who I am, lessons learned from my career, inner thoughts, and insights to share. Medium allows me to authentically connect with others through unpacking my personal learnings and hard-won life lessons.

By the way, I just joined Medium around 60 days ago.

So here is the consolidated version of my life.

In the Beginning

I was born in Florida and spent my formative years in a stable and loving family environment. My passion for music was evident from a young age, and I cherished the experience of playing in bands. I called Florida home until shortly after my college graduation. It’s worth mentioning that I encountered a unique challenge in my life as well; at the age of two, I lost my hearing due to spinal meningitis, and as a result, I’ve worn hearing aids throughout my life.

Did I mention loved music?

Playing it, going to concerts, you name it!

I thoroughly enjoyed my college experience. During my senior year, I had the incredible opportunity to organize live events featuring prominent artists right on our campus. Upon graduating, I secured an exceptional job that not only provided me with the opportunity to earn a substantial income, nearly reaching six figures right from the start, but it also served as a platform for me to gain invaluable experience in high-level sales and business operations.

Time to Hit the Road

However, from a young age, my dreams and aspirations revolved around becoming an entrepreneur, with a particular focus on establishing a prominent presence within the music industry. I didn’t aim to be an artist; rather, my ambition was to be a pivotal figure on the business side of the music world.

So what did I do? I moved to Nashville.

Following a brief but successful career immediately after college, I embarked on the journey of building my first home in Tennessee. The decision was largely influenced by the considerably lower cost of living compared to Florida in 2005.

However, my aspirations within the music industry didn’t unfold as smoothly as I had anticipated. I found myself taking on various odd jobs, none of which truly ignited my passion. Additionally, I made several attempts to launch small businesses on the side, but unfortunately, my lack of skills and knowledge at that time hindered my success in those endeavors.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I finally landed my first job within the music industry. It was a position at a Worship Magazine publication in advertising, but it was my foot in the door. This company was deeply involved with numerous vendors and labels in the industry and was known for organizing substantial industry events.

Once more, I had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most prominent artists in Christian Music, an experience that was truly amazing. Amidst this, I also had the chance to connect with several up-and-coming artists. After a year in this role, I seized the opportunity to branch out and embark on my first entrepreneurial venture.

The Failure of My First Start

During this period, our approach was quite innovative, and it wasn’t a common occurrence on the internet landscape. Our platform aimed to bridge the gap between live conferences and online events by integrating engaging chat operations and various additional resources.

My business partner and I successfully secured over $100,000 in capital from a company that was concurrently developing a record label. As part of our agreement, we were tasked with bringing in artists for the label. This presented a unique opportunity for me to leverage my connections and even assist the label in securing publishing deals in Nashville through my existing contacts. I also got married during this time!

But let me tell you something I did not know then?

People lie.

People sometimes can’t be trusted no matter how much you want to.

And sometimes its time to abandon ship.

This holds true even within Christian-based companies and organizations. Dishonesty and a lack of transparency are prevalent issues, not limited to Christian businesses but also extending to ministry-based organizations. While I prefer not to delve into the specifics, I can summarize that it ultimately resulted in a significant downfall. After months of development, substantial investments, and a beta launch, the entire project met its demise.

During that period of uncertainty, I was presented with a unique opportunity to join a well-known ministry in a newly established division. I became the second member of the team and was entrusted with the responsibility of recruiting talent to facilitate our team’s growth and development. This opportunity also came with a nice compensation package!

Nonetheless, my experience with the Christian-based ministry turned out to be another negative chapter in my career. As our team started to expand and operations appeared to be running smoothly, personal challenges emerged in my marriage. We were going through a separation and working diligently toward reconciliation. However, this proved to be an unfavorable development in the eyes of the organization’s leadership. I was essentially deemed as worthless and a failure by the leader of the organization.

Going Back Home Only to Come Back Again

Subsequently, my journey took a difficult and downward turn. I relocated back to Florida, secured a corporate job, and the separation further distanced my personal relationship.

On the professional front, I was thriving and content to be back in Florida. However, shortly thereafter, we reconciled and were ready to rebuild our relationship. The choice was made to move back to Tennessee and a few months later we received the wonderful news of our pregnancy with our now 11-year-old daughter — a truly remarkable blessing.

Returning to Tennessee, my priority was to secure stable employment that could provide for my family and, equally important, offer a sense of stability and fulfillment. After the challenges of launching my own business and experiencing a setback with a startup, I was carrying some baggage, but I was eager to find a place where I could continue to develop and improve.

It all fell into place when I received a job offer from one of Nashville’s largest non-profit organizations, Soles4Souls. It was during my time there that I had the privilege of meeting what I consider one of my most influential mentors and advisors. Additionally, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some truly exceptional individuals, many of whom have remained close friends throughout the years.

Those were undoubtedly some of the most fulfilling years of my life. Collaborating with various organizations and communities to offer support and resources to those less fortunate resonated deeply with me. It was during my tenure at Soles4Souls that our daughter was born, and it felt like everything was in perfect harmony.

Over time, the expenses of raising a family became increasingly demanding. While I cherished my work, the compensation wasn’t sufficient to sustain our growing household. Initially, I ventured into establishing a small event company (side hustle) in collaboration with other prominent nonprofits known as Tourgage. Our focus was on coordinating live events for renowned artists, often within the grandeur of MegaChurches across the United States. Although this endeavor was exhilarating, it lacked the consistency in income I sought. It was during this period that I made a life-changing decision, one that would ultimately reshape my path for the better.

The Beginning of Where The Future Began

I vividly recall the initial time I submitted my application to join SERVPRO Corporate. For those unfamiliar, SERVPRO is recognizable by its distinctive orange logo and stands as the foremost choice and brand in the Restoration Industry. But what exactly is their role? Well, when unfortunate mishaps occur, they’re the ones who step in to handle the cleanup.

Growing up, my father owned a construction company, which acquainted me with the fundamentals of general construction. However, I had never fully grasped the immense demand and potential within the Restoration Industry until this point.

After my initial application was met with a setback and I didn’t secure the job on the first attempt, HR approached me once again with an offer. It was an emotionally challenging decision to depart from Soles4Souls, but I ultimately accepted a position as a Business Development Trainer. In this new role, my primary task involved immersing myself in the intricacies of their business. Subsequently, I embarked on a journey that would take me across the country, where my mission was to provide comprehensive training to franchise owners in the realms of sales and marketing, equipping them with the tools and strategies needed to foster successful teams.

The moment I stepped foot into the corporate office and laid eyes on their mission, “Help Entrepreneurs Succeed,” a wave of excitement washed over me. I was brimming with eagerness to hit the road and dive into the job, albeit after a few months of essential training.

Once I got out in the field, I had a manual detailing what to train, present, and do. However, if you know me, strictly following the rules isn’t always my preferred approach. So, I began injecting more creativity into the training and refining our systems and processes. I took the initiative to engage franchise owners by asking them what they wanted to learn, and I did my best to deliver. Interestingly, many of them expressed a keen interest in social media and how to harness its power. Surprisingly, this was back in 2013, and believe it or not, it wasn’t something taught or recommended by the corporate office.

In retrospect, the experience was truly exceptional. However, after two years with limited opportunities for advancement, I felt primed and eager to progress to the next level.

I faced a tough decision when I received offers for two incredible positions. One was from Sweetwater Music, located in Indiana, and the other came from a SERVPRO Franchise Owner in Oklahoma. Given my passion for music and my background as a musician, the Sweetwater opportunity was particularly appealing. After undergoing interviews with both companies, I ultimately chose to relocate my family to Oklahoma. The owner I met with there shared a vision that extended far beyond a typical job, and I was immediately captivated. Moreover, having spent two years at his franchise’s corporate office, I could now apply what I had taught in real-life situations.

And we achieved just that. In my role as the Director of Business Development, I wasted no time in assembling an exceptional team. Within a year, our business had nearly doubled its growth. I poured my heart and soul into this position, ensuring that my team had the necessary resources and guidance. To this day, many of those team members remain integral parts of the business.

However, after a fulfilling year under contract and experiencing burnout from consistently working 80-plus hour weeks, I made the difficult decision to step down. It had become overwhelming to dedicate so much effort to someone else’s goals when I could be channeling my energy into pursuing my own entrepreneurial dreams.

And that’s where the journey of my first successful company began.

However, it didn’t have a smooth takeoff. Allow me to share the story of its inception.

Taking Risks

Upon stepping down, we had recently closed the deal on a newly built house. Around the same time, I had an idea that seemed great at the moment — to fly to Colorado and purchase a brand-new Subaru STI. The car was a marvel, and to this day, it’s parked in my garage. However, there’s a memorable twist to this story: I received a speeding ticket while zooming back at 125 mph.(I have also collected many more vehicles I won’t talk about)

Upon returning, I decided to follow in the footsteps of those who have tasted success before me. Consulting seemed like the logical next step. After all, numerous owners in the restoration industry yearned for the blueprint to grow their franchises by millions of dollars. So, without further ado, I embarked on this consulting journey.

But then everything changed.

While I was staying in a Knoxville, Tennessee hotel one fateful night, I received a startling call from my wife. She had packed her bags and left, leaving me utterly blindsided. In my rush to get back home, I faced additional challenges as a massive snowstorm had swept through Tennessee that week. Upon finally arriving, I was greeted by an eerily half-empty house, and my daughter was nowhere to be found.

Despite the immense challenges and heartache that came with that experience, I’m pleased to share that it ultimately led to the best outcome, and there are no lingering feelings of bitterness to this day. The journey was undoubtedly arduous and filled with twists and turns. However, today, our daughter is thriving, and our co-parenting relationship is a testament to our resilience and dedication to her well-being.

However, amid the initial pain of departing from my career and embarking on a new business venture with no clear path, I recognized the necessity to pivot and establish a more sustainable course. Being on the road for several weeks each month was incompatible with my desire for equal custody of my 4-year-old daughter, stemming from my co-parenting arrangement with my ex-wife. It was during one of the most challenging periods in my life that one of my most brilliant ideas was conceived.

The inception of this journey occurred while I sat in my office, grappling with the challenge of addressing the needs of potential clients in my industry without the need for constant travel. During this period, franchises were compelled to engage extensively online, from managing their company websites to handling their social media presence. I would frequently assist them in these tasks through screen sharing sessions (note that Zoom wasn’t widely available at that time). Then, one pivotal day, a client posed a question that sparked a revelation: “How much would you charge to handle this for me?” DING DING DING.

And so began the start of my company, which has now thrived for nearly 8 years in the business world. Tier Level Enterprises has evolved into much more than a single entity; it encompasses multiple services, boasting a dedicated team of over 20 members and a trajectory of continuous growth.

The Art of My First Successful Start

Presently, our operations encompass a comprehensive Digital Marketing Agency known as Tier Level, alongside a thriving apparel decorating enterprise, named Printed Theory. Moreover, we’re on the verge of unveiling a cutting-edge Creative Agency, Campout Creative, later this year.

My journey has led me to establish a proficient team, enabling me to take a step back and empower the organization to evolve independently — a process that continues to teach me valuable lessons day by day.

Today, I’ve discovered a newfound sense of freedom. With an exceptional team firmly in position, I now reap the benefits of equity from all my ventures. Currently, I’m in the midst of relocating to Florida, where I’m dedicated to concentrating on my upcoming enterprise, “Shirts for Funds,” a venture that fills me with immense excitement.

While this narrative may have omitted numerous details in its extensive journey, the opportunity to narrate my story has eluded me until now. Expressing these thoughts and reflecting on how far I’ve advanced brings a profound sense of fulfillment, aiding me in charting a more robust course for the future. I will be sure to share more in the gaps later this year.

Today, my fervor lies in assisting others, disseminating invaluable insights, and, most crucially, excelling in my role as a devoted father to my wonderful daughter. I hold reservations about the prevailing norms and firmly believe that we are inundated with a deluge of misinformation on a daily basis.

I invite you to follow me on Medium and engage in thoughtful interactions. I’m eagerly anticipating the opportunity to dive into the wealth of content that you, the reader of this article, will create as well. Looking forward to the journey.

To close, here are some random facts about me:

All Time Favorite Band: Blink 182

All Time Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber

Favorite Influencer: Gary Vaynerchuk

Favorite Book of All Time: Thank You Economy, by Gary Vaynerchuk

Personal Motto for Business: Out Care, & Out Educate

Favorite Food: Hibachi and New York Pizza

Biggest Weakness: Not Eating Healthy

Favorite Travel Destination: Maui

Places I Want to Visit: Australia, Ireland, Scotland and so many more

Favorite Social Media Channel: LinkedIn

Dream Car: Porsche 911 GT3 RS

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