The Courage to Define Success: Mike Evans’ Trek to Belonging
Here’s something you might not know about Mike Evans—he’s a dedicated Trekkie.
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He became fascinated with the vibrant, uncharted universe of the groundbreaking TV show when he was six. The thrilling adventures, exotic alien creatures, and futuristic gadgets caught his youthful imagination.
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Yet, what resonates with him to this day are the larger-than-life heroes—figures like Captain James T. Kirk, whose strong leadership rippled across the cosmos, and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, whose empathy and conviction reflected humanity at its finest.
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Even at that tender age, Mike recognized the parallels between these fictional heroes and the kind of man he aspired to become.
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This vision contrasted sharply with his reality. In 1968, amid the civil rights movement, while Mike saw the potential in himself and his brother to live up to his heroes’ ideals, American society largely viewed black children like him with prejudice and condescension, relegating them to second-class status.
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This dichotomy—between innocent admiration and societal dismissal—sparked the fire of Mike Evans' journey. It is a tale of defying a world that struggled to see the hero within him waiting to rise.​
Mike Evan's father and mother.
One of Mike's proudest moments in the service was when he was selected to provide Secretary of Defense William J. Perry a tour of the obstacle course competition.
Warp Speed to Excellence
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Mike grew up in a military family, moving frequently from one base to another. These communities, steeped in diversity and resilience, reinforced ideals his parents instilled—striving for excellence, standing up for what's right, and fostering a sense of togetherness.
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"My parents set the standard," Mike recalls. "They gave me the courage to trust myself. The values they exemplified wired me, then my life experiences added color and context."
One pivotal experience centered around his decision to leave the Air Force. Mike had been a standout in the military, where the discipline and mission-focus his father instilled served him well.
Despite his success, Mike felt a pull towards something different.
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“There was this nagging feeling that I had reached my limit," he admits. "I started questioning if I was truly growing or just coasting. I knew I would face a lot of pressure to stay, but I was also taught not to waste my one precious life.
So, standing on the beach on the Gulf of Oman, I just decided ‘You know what, I'm going to take the risk.’"
With a family to support and mouths to feed, Mike needed to find success quickly. He interviewed for a sales role with Johnson & Johnson, where the hiring manager decided to take a chance on him.
“They told me there might be other candidates that have more experience. But we know you'll run through a wall.”
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And he didn’t disappoint.
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Rising at 4 a.m., he would drive to the edge of his territory. While others made seven calls, he made twelve. In his first year, he earned a place in the President’s Club, became the sixth highest-earning salesperson in the country, and was the fastest individual promoted to district manager for J&J Vision Care.
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On the surface, this relentless work ethic was driven by a commitment to provide for his family. Yet on a deeper level, he was fueled by a need to achieve the impossible, persevering and defying expectations (much like Captain Kirk and his crew, episode after episode).
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The ethos of hard work and excellence his parents wired into him was the foundation. His experiences added the critical understanding that true high performance comes from shattering one’s personal glass ceiling.
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Mike feels so lucky to have his amazing family!
Breaking the Corporate Gravitational Pull
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Over nearly three decades in the corporate world, Mike Evans distinguished himself in role after role. After quickly rising through the ranks at Johnson & Johnson, he spearheaded innovative projects, invigorated teams, and shattered performance records in various high-profile roles. He earned accolades for his strategic vision and consistent ability to exceed expectations.
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Embedded in this storied career was an insidious trap. It was easy to become entangled in the accolades, allowing one's sense of self-worth to be tied to quotas and awards. Mike had to learn, often the hard way, to stay grounded in the strong sense of self his parents had cultivated.
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Behind enemy lines in Las Vegas with his wife at the Broncos vs. Raiders game.
​“I had to learn over time that you can't let other people define you,” he says. “You're never as good as they say you are when things are booming. You’re never as bad as they say you are when things aren't going well—you're still the same person. It took me a while to figure that out.”
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The ultimate test of this lesson came in an encounter with one corporate leader; an exchange that echoed an incident he’d experienced several months earlier:
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“I was standing at the front desk of a Marriott hotel in Orlando, dressed in my business suit, waiting to check out. A stranger mistook me for a porter and tried to hand me $5 to load his car. I was too furious to even speak so I just walked away.
My exchange with that corporate leader left me feeling like I did when that guy tried to hand me that $5 bill—insulted, unimportant, second-class.”
This encounter was the most demeaning moment of Mike’s career; decades of experience and countless accolades meant nothing in the face of persistent degradation.
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It wasn’t just a bad day at the office, it was an awakening. At that moment, he lost the feeling of attachment to the corporate structure, which cared more about itself than him or his family. He realized he was trapped in a system that sought to control him, much like the societal constraints he'd resisted since childhood.
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“This was the beginning of the end,” explains Mike, “of gathering the courage to break free from a structure that sought to define me."
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That’s not to say the shift into entrepreneurship was an easy one. Mike credits his wife, Ramona, with giving him the support, confidence, and trust to make a go of entrepreneurship. With that grace, Mike leapt into searching and learning, always with an eye on defining success on his own terms.
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He was once again charting a course toward the unknown, ready to face new challenges with the same bravery and conviction modeled over the years by his heroes—both fictional and formative.
The Enterprise of Fandom: Building a Universe of Belonging
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With the decisive leap into entrepreneurship, Mike embarked on a quest to find the right venture that would allow him to redefine success and channel his passion. He experienced one disappointment after another, but his persistence finally paid off when he stumbled upon a small affiliate merchandising business. This venture tapped into Mike's lifelong interests and set the stage for his vision of EPA.
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As he mastered the ins and outs of e-commerce and affiliate marketing, inspiration struck during a conversation with his daughter. She shared an experience that would shape his vision profoundly.
"I remember we were standing in the kitchen, and she told me, ‘There was just nothing for me, nothing that someone like me would wear.’ She seemed hurt, excluded, othered," Mike recalls.
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"As a parent, anytime your child doesn't feel seen, you got a problem with that.”
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Galvanized by his daughter's experience, Mike set out to build a business that wasn't just about selling sports jerseys; it was about giving individuals the space and opportunity to showcase what makes them special, then celebrating that uniqueness within a community of like-minded fans.​
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This father-daughter moment sparked a movement that empowers individuals to embrace their true selves, fostering a sense of belonging. This vision fulfills every facet of Mike:
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Mike the military man has found a mission, and he won't relent until it's accomplished.
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Mike the father now has to practice what he preaches, to show his children the success that comes with risking failure, staying true to yourself, and persevering.
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Mike the business leader finds fulfillment in carving out unique spaces in a competitive market.
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Mike the recovering corporate leader heals as he spreads respect and belonging—the very factors whose absence drove him out of his career.
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Mike the fan of football, comic books, and Star Trek has found a way to make a living by connecting with fellow fans.
At EPA, Mike envisions a world where people come together to express their passions openly and authentically.
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"It's about celebrating individuality, community, and resilience," he explains. "Through EPA, I want to create spaces that champion authenticity and shared passion, holding firm to who we truly are inside while amplifying the joy and comfort we feel when we come together.”
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Mike Evans' journey has come full circle. Just as he once found inspiration in fictional tales of space exploration, his story now serves as a reminder that each of us holds the potential for greatness.
Despite the struggles and challenges we face, there is a hero within each of us, waiting to rise.