Michael "Bart" Mathews is a successful Entrepreneur, Investor, Published Author, Financial Education Coach, Celebrity Interviewer, and International Speaker. Michael and Robbie have been on the same stage as international figureheads worldwide. Such notables as Al Pacino- "The Godfather," John Travolta, 50 Cent-Rapper/Actor, Mark Walberg /Christie Brinkley-Sports Illustrated Cover Girl Super Model/Business Mogul, Bethany Frankel-Founder of Skinny Girl Wine/Calvin Klein-Fashion Designer/Fredrik Eklund-Bravo Television Million Dollar Listing New York/Randi Zuckerberg-former Director of Market Development at Facebook/ Mike Ditka 1985 Chicago Bears NFL Super Bowl Champions/ Nelson Mandela's grandson; Nadba Mandela/Kofi Annan-Former Secretary General & joint Noble Peace Prize winner (2001) with the United Nations/Dr. Ervin Laszlo, twice nominated for the Noble Peace Prize in 2004-05/Mirela Sula-Global Woman Magazine Founder/Les Brown, Sir Dr. James Dentley (Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient) and Lady Dr. Kara Dentley/Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson/Matthew McCaughey/Demi Moore/Wesley Snipes, and Ashton Kutcher; to name a few.
Michael was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Michael attended Bray Temple CME Church as a young adult, where his spiritual guidance was nurtured. He was educated in the Chicago Public School System, graduating from Paul Revere Elementary School and Hirsch High School. While attending Hirsch High School, Michael was a 1973 Boys Class AA Chicago City Basketball Championship team member and the (IHSA) Class AA Illinois State High School Basketball Championship Team member. The State Championship team was inducted into the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Hall of Fame Class of 1993 and the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association (CPLBCA) Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Michael was also inducted into Chicago Hirsch High School's Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2016. Michael did his undergraduate studies at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he played basketball a
both universities.
The nickname "Big Mike" holds a special place in my heart. My International business tribe and community affectionately started calling me "Big Mike" when we spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa. Standing about 6 feet 7 inches, I was often the tallest person in the venue, earning me this endearing nickname. I was also nicknamed the "Gentle Giant." After we spoke on stage, my wife interviewed Nelson Mandela's grandson, Ndaba Mandela, live on that same stage. We shared backstage time with Mark Zuckerberg's sister, Randi, during our presentations.
Michael's achievements span a broad spectrum, reflecting his versatility and passion. He is a devoted husband, an International Speaker who has shared his insights worldwide, a Poet and Writer who uses his words to inspire, a Manuscript Development Coach who helps others bring their stories to life, a Certified Life Coach and Trauma Recovery Practitioner dedicated to healing, a Certified Addiction-Recovery Coach committed to supporting those on their journey to recovery, a Published Author, and a Co-Executive Producer of the Living W.E.A.L.T.H.Y. with Robbie Show and "Between The Sheet-Where Authors Meet" live streaming television shows on JD3TV.
The most significant accomplishment is being married to my wife, Robbie. Yes, I would have been successful without her; however, with her feminine energy and leadership, we make a powerful team together. I think men should edify their wives and other women getting up every day, just like men, making things happen.
While I was working at the Chicago Transit Authority, my wife was a Vice President of a major Financial Institution.
The housing bubble in 2007/08 negatively affected the stock market. Three months before the crash, I moved my retirement funds out of the markets into a stable income fund. When the market crashed, I still earned income while several coworkers lost 50K or more. One of my coworkers suggested I write a book, and I did. He is also the founder of WeCreateBooks. Mission Statement: We empower you to tell your story and get your book out of your head so it can be published and read. Michael has personally authored Financially Speaking, Finding Your Moment of Clarity, and Fifty-Two Shades of Inspiration and co-authored additional books. Michael has personally coached 200 plus writers from 15 countries, with 90 becoming published authors and 13 achieving #1 New Book Release and Best-Sellers achievements.
My coach and dear friend, Sir Dr. James Dentley, inspired me to write Fifty-Two Shades of Inspiration: Powered By Your Thoughts. We became certified speakers under the coaching and leadership of Sir James Dentley and Mamie Brown's Baby boy, Les Brown. While traveling to many different countries and speaking internationally, I saw a growing need to inspire and motivate people to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. I also wanted to add another publication written by an African American because of the pushback in many states within the United States to omit Black literature from schools and libraries. No matter what happened, Black history is American History, as well. The stories should be told because if you don't know where you came from, how do you know where you're going?
My family, friends, and church members were the biggest influencers in my childhood. In high school, the football and basketball coaches, teammates, teachers, and the entire community were influential in always being a support system. My college teammates, family, and coaches were there to lay down the law to help keep me going in the right direction. Growing up in a two-parent household enabled me to get support from my mother and father, sister and brother. As an adult, Sir Dr. James Dentley and the culture he has created by opening up seats to the table of next-level experiences is incredible. Last (but not least), my wife and business partner, Robbie S Mathews. She is the left brain, and I am the right brain. Together, we create, educate, and elevate the masses.
I would say "The Godfather" – Al Panico. Having the opportunity to sit on stage with Al Pacino in front of thousands of people from many different countries and interview him about financial education is a moment I will never forget. Just as importantly, having pictures with Al Pacino holding my book is one of the best marketing, branding, and advertising situations one could ask for. Why? Because pictures tell the told or untold story because you can see it. You don't have to believe what a person says, but the picture will tell it all.
One downside to becoming a published author is not knowing the process and not knowing who to trust when you start. That's why I decided to become a manuscript development specialist: to empower my clients and prevent them from making the same costly mistakes I made when I started my career as an author. After I started learning the business, I realized that there is no downside (in my opinion) in the literary field of becoming a published author. From my experience, after I became a published author, that's when the magic started. We launched the second edition of "Financially Speaking" at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago back in 2016. Kareem Abdul (L.A. Lakers) and Craig Hodges (Chicago Bulls) launched their books at the event that day.
After I completed filming a one-on-one author interview, someone asked me to speak at their event. They would pay me, and I could sell my books and keep all the money. That's when the lightbulb went off. I realized that the UPSIDE of becoming a published author could lead to additional streams of income, like book sales, speaking engagements, panel discussions, appearances on radio and television, and writing magazine and newspaper articles. We are in an upcoming documentary, "The Dimonio Effect," with T Go, and we are filming another documentary, "My Life My Story," with Sir Dr James Dentley and twenty empowering business owners. None of this would have happened if I had not become a published author. OMG! To tell your story and get your book out of your head so it can be published and read, email wecreatebooks@tmeginc.com or call Coach Michael Bart Mathews at 708/634/6785.
Yes, I wanted to give up playing basketball early on because I was tall, skinny, and under-skilled compared to my peers and opponents who had played organized basketball many years before I started. I was blessed to have a tribe of friends who believed in me more than I believed in myself until, one day, I decided I could do it—I could play basketball. And I never quit.
Every day in basketball practice or during the next game, everyone kept telling me that I was getting better and better and not to quit. Once I started believing in myself, I started getting better and better. We played for the love of the game, but we also played to win. That experience taught me how to persevere until I succeed. How to win on the basketball court and how to win in the game of life.
I don't have any fears about the different hats that I wear. My biggest reality is the word COMMUNICATION! Why reality and not fear? Fear is an energy that keeps people from accomplishment and achievement. Reality is understanding that fear is just a mindset. If you can control your thoughts, you can control your mind. If you control your mind, you can control your actions. Theodore Roosevelt - "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself." Fear is what you make it to be. F.E.A.R. means FEELING EXCITED AND READY! Fear and excitement can not live in the same mind simultaneously. Being INSPIRED2SPEAK, understanding that there are LIMITLESS opportunities for those who want to be, do, and have their heart's desire. There is no room for fear! Public speaking helps communicate your message to the masses.
No, If my heart were broken, I would not be alive today. However, I have felt the pain of heartache. I experienced some very traumatic events that hurt my heart. I'll share two short narratives with you. When I was 16 years old, my girlfriend and I were robbed at gunpoint. The robbers ran away after stealing our belongings, then they stopped, turned around, and started shooting at us. I was not hit, but my girlfriend was shot. We almost died that day. Now, two years later, when I was a freshman in college, I learned that my girlfriend died in a head-on car collision. Now, my heart was aching. If I had allowed my heart to be broken, I would have gone mentally out of my mind. But, because I only suffered heartache, I was able to live through two traumatic experiences at such a young age. It caused me not to think about fear because I quickly learned life was worth living.
My biggest reality check was that I was responsible for myself for the rest of my life. Growing up, that was something that I never thought about because I didn't need to. As I got older and older and wanted more expensive things, I had to get out and get busy earning a living. Being married was another reality check. Now it's two people: children, house, cars, mortgage, bills, bills to pay. When two people work together as one, everything will work itself out.
There was no Wizard behind the curtain! I had to become the Wizard as I followed the yellow brick road called life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As a child, life was primarily foot-loose and fancy-free. As an adult, the word RESPONSIBILITY kicked in. Responsibility to care for my wants, needs, and desires all took center stage. I did not have time to try and find my way back home by clicking my heels. I had to dig my heels in and accept that money did not grow on trees, and it was no longer my parent's responsibility to house, cloth, feed, and financially support me. Shifting from being a boy to becoming a man was a big deal for me.
The best advice from my dad was financial. My father was not an entrepreneur or business owner. He was a wage owner who received paycheck after paycheck to feed, house, and clothe my mother, brother, sister, and me. He led by example by saying that hard work pays off. He started me saving with this one simple statement. Your car note should not be more than one check. That way, you can pay all your expenses and save regularly. My Mom was the spiritual warrior in the family. She took us to church every Sunday, and we went to choir rehearsal with her on Wednesdays. We were Boy Scouts. My Mom ensured we were properly introduced to the Spirit of God at a young age. God, Allah, High Power, whatever your spiritual connection is within the universe, believe in it!
The Bible and the Quran are the best books I have ever read. I am a spiritual being who believes in a Higher Power. I don't put down anyone's religious beliefs because we all were born with the ability to think, feel, and act for ourselves. Here is a short list of book suggestions: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Think and Grow Rich, Out Witting The Devil, The 48 Laws of Power, and Fifty-two Shades of Inspiration by Michael Bart Mathews, to name a few.
The next big book titles are Pathway To Trauma Recovery" (13-authors) and "My Life My Story" (20-authors). Both books are anthologies. I am also working on three other releases that have yet to be titled. One is a Romance Mystery with an intimate storyline, the second is a Financial Education book with my wife, Robbie, and the third is a history book through the eyes of an African American writer (Michael Bart Mathews). Here is a small look at some of the writers (and their book covers) I coached to become published authors. To tell your story and get your book out of your head so it can be published and read, email wecreatebooks@tmeginc.com or call Coach Michael Bart Mathews at 708/634/6785.
I see myself happily married in the next 5 to 10 years, living in a warm or tropical climate, and having coached at least 750 writers, aspiring authors, coaches, business owners, and thought leaders to become published authors. That will be part of my family legacy. I picked the number 750 to pay tribute to Harriet Tubman, who was given credit for leading at least 750 enslaved people to freedom. Leaders are readers! Let's not forget where we came from by telling stories and publishing book after book for the next generation.
Psalm 134:14 – "I praise you because I am fearful and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well." This is why this is my favorite scripture. David writes in this verse that God has made each person with care and attention and that there is something fearful about how we've been made. Some suggest that we (human beings) should be in awe of how God has made us, and we should not take our existence for granted. To agnostics who believe that nothing is known or can be known about God's existence or nature, that is your self-determination, personal decisions, and beliefs. This is my decision to decree and declare my spiritual belief in the Higher Power so as not to conflict with your thought process. Nothing more, nothing less.
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