Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Weber.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Montana and always had the California dream. I remember I was 13 the first time I saw California on my television screen when Laguna Beach premiered on MTV. I was completely magnetized by it and knew I had to get out there. This led to me bugging my parents on a daily basis, asking if we could visit California and after enough nagging, we took a family trip here one summer. I remember driving down the Pacific Coast Highway and immediately feeling a sense of place that I’ve never been able to replicate or fully explain. It was just the feeling that I had to be here.
I moved by myself to Los Angeles when I was 22 and didn’t know anyone. I remember the first month being so pressed for cash that I would literally sneak into Trader Joe’s and have samples for “breakfast”. Even though the beginning felt like such a struggle, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be and if I worked hard enough that I would make it.
I started documenting everything and sharing my journey on Instagram. I couldn’t put my camera down. Every palm tree, every sunset, every moment I wanted to capture. I posted all of these images along with stories from my life and began connecting with people from all over the world and exchanged messages of inspiration, dreams, and motivation. I don’t think I’ll ever get over someone telling me something I did or said inspired them in their life or prompted them to make a change. That feeling is one that I want to work towards the rest of my life which led me to entering into the video and audio space. I know now that my life’s purpose is to brighten people’s days and inspire others to live their best lives.
I had a friend out here who once told me, “Michael, there will always be a boy in Montana who wants to come to California”. That really inspired me because everyone has a dream or somewhere they want to go and I hope that by opening up about my own journey, my triumphs, and my struggles that I can inspire someone else to chase their dream as well.
Every day I still wake up and walk outside in disbelief that I actually get to do life here.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle was literally getting to California. When I wanted to come to California for college, I got rejected from every school I applied to and had to pivot. It was a big wake-up call when I was 18-years-old and I figured out that if I wanted something I’d have to work extremely hard to get there. I ended up going to school in Colorado and focused on getting as much work experience as possible. I worked three jobs, was a full-time student and was highly involved in student leadership and volunteering. This led me to receiving a nationwide scholarship at a conference where I met the president of a company in Los Angeles. That interaction landed me my first job and my ticket to LA. During this time of my life, I learned you don’t always have direct flights to your destinations, and even with delays or cancellations you can still get to where you need to be.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a digital creator, freelance photographer, and morning show host. I have been a creator for the past five years specializing in lifestyle photography and working with brands such as Calvin Klein, Reebok, and Forever 21. Most recently, I produce and host a morning show called “Michael & Mary in the Morning.”
This morning show is my proudest creative achievement. I had been wanting to get into the video and audio space for a while as I wanted to use my gifts for more than just posting “cool photos” but to inspire others to live better lives. When quarantine began, my best friend and I – from 1,000 miles away – started the morning show to brighten people’s days. It has been one of my favorite creative projects as we’ve been able to take a difficult time and bring positivity and light into people’s lives. We brand it as “The Cute Ass Morning Show You Didn’t Know You Needed”. We tell cheeky stories of our lives, our journeys of chasing our dreams, share quotes of inspiration, and have a lot of laughs. In three short months, we have built an incredible community, recorded 30 episodes, gained three sponsors, and we are releasing it as a full podcast on August 3rd.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I think back on growing up, my favorite moments were spent connecting with others. I was fanatic about being involved and a part of something bigger than myself, from student activities, to summer camps, to volunteer work. These experiences helped me get to know myself and understand that by being genuine and open to others, immediate friendships can begin. Ultimately, this led to my love of meeting new people and my ability to develop instant connections even if I only met someone 10 minutes prior.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifebymichael.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifebymichael
- Podcast: www.instagram.com/michaelandmaryinthemorning
Suggest a story: VoyageLA 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.
