Welcome to Dog Whistle Branding, the official newsletter of The Misfits, brought to you by m "IRON" Mike Steadman, Chief Misfit at IRONBOUND Media and Drew O’Brien, Founder & Creative Director at We Make Cool Shit.
Dear Friend, Subscriber, and Aspiring Dog Whistle Brand Owner,
My name is “IRON” Mike Steadman, I’m a Professional Business Coach, Brand Builder, and Category Designer for the Underdogs & Misfits (Veterans, Black Women, and anyone else who is used to being one of one in a room).
As a black veteran, business coach, and serial entrepreneur based in Newark, NJ and Harlem, I’ve seen the landscape from your vantage point and know first-hand what you’re up against. My goal is to be that trusted voice in your corner at all times, to make sure you focus on what truly matters while you build your brand, scale your business, and lead your team. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m damn good and what I do.
My own brands include IRONBOUND Boxing, IRONBOUND Media, Flawless Acceleration, and, more recently, The MisFits (Branding & Design Co.)
I specialize in helping underdogs and misfits like us launch their brands, whether that's a veteran-owned cigar brand (coming soon), an early-stage Hard Tech startup (in the shoot), or a podcast series (in the works). I know how to go from idea to invoice and make people give a damn about something you came up with in your head. I know how to get it from the mud.
In my previous life, I was a three-time national boxing champion, two-time most valuable boxing champion, and captain of my boxing team. I was also a Marine Corps infantry officer with deployments to Afghanistan, Japan, and the Phillippines.
I don’t call myself “IRON” Mike because of my accolades in the boxing ring. I do it because I had to keep a free, nonprofit boxing gym open for a year and a half in the midst of a global pandemic in one of the most challenging cities in the country. No one came to our rescue; we had to save ourselves. I had to become “IRON” Mike to pull it off and see it through.
I don't have an Ivy League MBA, I never went through a coaching certification program, and I'm not a product marketing guru; I'm a MisFit. I read 500+ business books and spent over $100,000.00 on coaching so you don't have to. I even wrote my own book. I'm not afraid to bet on myself, put skin in the game, or operate at the edge of my own competency.
My life's purpose is simple: Lift as I climb. What's the point of making it to the mountaintop if you're the only one there? My dad left me when I was a baby (I never met him), my mom's been paralyzed in a nursing home since my sophomore year at the United States Naval Academy, and I've been relieved of command in combat.
I've been knocked down to the canvas more times than I can count, and I'm still here. One thing is for sure: I Don't Fold. Neither should you. I'm an underdog and a misfit. My superpowers are resiliency, a thirst for knowledge, and human capital. I connect dots where they previously didn't exist.
I look forward to learning, growing, and building some badass businesses and brands with each and every one of you. It's been one hell of a ride thus far, and I'm just getting warmed up. #BlackVeteranEntrepreneur #DontFold
P.S. We love building brands and together, we’re a force to be reckoned with. If you need help attracting more profitable customers, lets get the conversation started by scheduling a call above.