In this episode of Know It Live It, host Laura Hansen Breksa welcomes Steven Michaels a recently retired 29-year U.S. Navy Reserve veteran (O-6) and an accomplished engineer with a 35-year career in the communications and defense industries. Holding a master's degree in electrical engineering, a professional engineer license, a PMP certification, and serving as a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Steven brings a massive wealth of leadership and technical expertise to the table.

Yet, despite his highly decorated military and engineering background, Steven reveals that his true calling has always been music. Reflecting on his roots growing up in a working-class neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago surrounded by steel mills, he explains how he navigated a practical career path to fuel his lifelong musical passion. Now a semi-professional keyboardist, guitarist, and singer with nearly 50 years of stage experience under his belt, Steven details the rigor it takes to perform at a professional level, the unique joy of playing timeless 70s and 80s anthems like "Hotel California" in his current Eagles cover band, and how music acts as a truly universal language that bridges cultures.

Closing out the interview, Steven shares his deeply personal life philosophy: Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). Inspired by his parents—both Army veterans—and shaped by a deployment to Afghanistan that left him with long-term health challenges, Steven discusses his determination to live intentionally. From hauling heavy band gear to serving as a neighborhood captain in Arizona, Steven proves that no matter what life throws at you, it’s never too late to invest your talents where they are best needed.

• 00:05 – Welcome & Introduction
• 00:34 – The Decorated Background: Military & Engineering Credentials
• 01:13 – The Real Calling: Choosing a Day Job to Fund Music
• 02:51 – The Physical Reality of the "Weekend Warrior" Lifestyle
• 03:38 – Playing Keyboards & Harmonies in an Eagles Cover Band
• 04:11 – The Evolution of Live Sound: 1980s Analog vs. Modern Digital
• 06:37 – "Hotel California" & Seeing a Sea of Phone Lights in the Audience
• 07:06 – Rewinding to 1978: The First Gig at Age 14
• 08:17 – The Ageless Appeal of 70s & 80s Rock as a Universal Language
• 09:54 – Words for the World: The "Carpe Diem" (Seize the Day) Philosophy
• 10:30 – Walking Into the Recruiter's Office & Navigating the Navy Career
• 11:57 – Managing Afghanistan-Related Lung Issues While Carrying Heavy Gear
• 12:54 – A Tribute to Army Veteran Parents & Closing Remarks

• #BalancingADayJobWithMusic
• #WeekendWarriorMusician
• #IndependentMusician
• #SemiProMusician
• #MusicianLife