As a child, Mike Steadman grew up in a single-parent home. Fortunately, she had male role models around her in her neighborhood. Whether in the classroom or the barbershop, he was a sponge when it came to absorbing the information and example they provided. he had several positive influencesbut two men stand out fondly for him as he reminisces about his childhood.
“Wilbur Chriss served in the Korean War,” Steadman said. “Harold Wert was my algebra teacher in high school. Now I know how much they really helped me.”
There was something else these two men had in common: they both had served in the Armed Forces. Steadman himself would go to Naval Academy Preparatory School, followed by four years at the Naval Academy before moving on to the United States Marine Corps, where he would serve as an Infantry Officer. As a Marine, he would find himself in places like Japan, the Philippines, and Afghanistan. He is surprised to return from Afghanistan with all his men, because it would be on that trip where he would experience his greatest moment of service.
“When we were able to get everybody out of there, and I had that chest-pounding moment, I’ll never forget it,” he said proudly. That sentiment was compounded by the fact that he was in a leadership position, a position he said not many service members find themselves in.
“There weren’t many like me, but I was still able to lead, work with the team and do what we had to do to accomplish the missions we were sent on.”
Captain Steadman would serve a total of ten years in the service of his country before his career was over. He also excelled at boxing during this time. A childhood fan of the late’s the late muhammad ali, Steadman would go on to win three national boxing championships and be named boxing most valuable twice. Feel a connection through that sport with the champions of the past.
“Apart from Ali, the old days of the sport really resonate with me. Guys like Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, those guys were real men and icons.” His connection with boxing and fitness he stayed with him long after he started winning titles. Today, it’s part of who he is.
“Ever since then, boxing has been my personal anchor. I train hard and fight hard. I do my best to exercise every day, even if it’s only 30-45 minutes, hitting the heavy bag and running on the treadmill.”
That love of boxing combined with his experience in the military helped Steadman transition to the next big thing in his life, business. Steadman handles both. IRONBOUND Boxing Academy and IRONBOUND Media in Newark. NEW JERSEY. Your gym that houses your boxing academy has a very important purpose.
“Boxing reaches poor kids in a way that other sports don’t. They are spending time learning discipline, they are training, learning determination and resilience. If all we do is take advantage of this for professional boxing, it’s a missed opportunity. To me, it’s a great youth and young adult sports program that can serve as a pathway to help them become champions in and out of the ring.”
Steadman is also the host and producer of several podcasts, including Confessions of a native son Y The transition. He hosts the latest podcast for Bunker Labs, a veterans’ nonprofit focused on empowering veterans and military spouses to be entrepreneurs. Both programs offer you the opportunity to connect with and educate other veterans looking to excel after service. He is also excited about his latest show, dog whistle brand.
“Not a BS guide to marketing and branding for veterans who want to be business owners,” Steadman shared.
It is obvious that the New Jersey man from Texas is aware of his role both in business and in the community. He thrives in the leadership role, going back to when he was leading. his fellow Marines on missions around the world.
“The way we’re taught in the military: It’s about extreme ownership and acceptance of responsibility,” he explained. “In the military, we were taught to help our team and rally around a united cause.”
Between his service to his country, his work in the boxing arena, and his contributions on podcasts, Steadman has made a profound difference in the lives of many, and he has not gone unnoticed. He expressed that he is happy to be in the position he is in to be able to repay what Mr. Chriss and Mr. Wert did for him.
“It has been quite humiliating. I’m not a billionaire, and you haven’t seen me on the cover of Forbes, but what most strikes me is that I am a social entrepreneur. I’m not saying it in a vulgar way, but I came into the business world with the vision of starting an amateur boxing program,” he said. “It takes the same courage to enter the boxing ring What is needed to start a business.”
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