Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Diamond.
Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Perth, Western Australia. I had a very chaotic upbringing and got in drugs and alcohol in my early teens, which led me to get kicked out of the high school I was attending. I jumped ship to another high school and after graduating, I made the move to Sydney to attend acting and pursue my dream of coming to America. Working in a clothes store to pay for my acting tuition a customer in the story heard my dream of going to America and was kind enough to buy me a green card lottery ticket. I honestly thought it was a scam until I confirmed with the American Embassy that it was actually a real thing. I sent the ticket in and Lady Luck was on my side and I won a green card lottery ticket. I knew that was my sign to leave Australia for good. I got won one ticket and never looked back.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been very hard and challenging times in my career, but it’s also been very rewarding. I got off to a bit of a rough start in my life. I am originally from a very small, secluded town called Perth in Western Australia. I grew up battling undiagnosed dyslexia and fell into using alcohol and drugs at age twelve. At age 16, I was expelled for Aquinas College and finished at Melville H.S. Immediately after graduation, I moved to Sydney and enrolled at the Actors Center. I got a job at a local clothing store which ended up changing my life forever.
While I was working there, a customer handed me a Green Card Lottery ticket and to my surprise, I won! In 1997, I took the risk to leave Australia with nothing and go to America all alone- no family, friends or network to start with. I started out in Miami, where I got lucky and quickly landed a role on the CBS sitcom, Grapevine from Director David Frankel. After Grapevine, I moved to NYC, where I worked on various projects, including as a guest star on Sex and the City. I then wrote, created and starred in a VH1 pilot with former STP and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland. At that time, I was splitting my time between NYC, Miami and Los Angeles. I even began doing standup comedy and had regular gigs performing at Caroline’s on Broadway and The Comedy Store. During this time, I was introduced to the tattoo world and then appeared on the TV show Miami Ink. I later became the store manager for my good friend, Ami James, at Wooster St. and starred in Season 3 of NY Ink. Then I finally headed back to my homeland, where I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew, based on Bondi Beach, Australia.
I have faced many ups and downs throughout my career journey, and I had to overcome a lot of trauma and my addiction to cocaine and alcohol and other health issues like Ulcerative Colitis. I’ve now been healthy and sober since April 2006 and have really changed my life and dedicated it to helping others.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since I became sober, I have literally helped hundreds of people on the road to recovery. I’m a best-selling author of two books, Seven Steps to An Unbreakable Mindset and A Dose Of Positivity which address recovery and overcoming other life issues. I am also currently a series cast interventionist on the A&E network TV show Intervention. I write, produce, direct, act and work as a certified interventionist with some of the biggest names in the entertainment and sports industry. I pride myself on being always available to all my clients and friends, helping them through their life problems and battles with addiction.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Set goals, read positive books, and learn to master a skill. Do the work daily no matter how you feel, don’t look to feel good, feel right or the right time. All we have is the moment. Don’t compare yourself to others. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t worry if you don’t have money. The key is to bring value to others, and they will pay you for your service, so always be of service. Don’t chase other people’s dreams it’s your life, and your calling isn’t anyone else’s or a conference call. Be you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themikediamond.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themike_diamond/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmikediamond/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-diamond-4429321a7/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/themike_diamond
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7X0YHhvpviavB1B6V-mkHw
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm4083532/
Image Credits
Mike Diamond
