My name is Mike Willey and this is my website.
Trying to figure out this thing called life.
“To Travel Is To Live” Hans Christian Anderson
As a dad to two awesome kids and married to an incredible woman, my life’s pretty much a sweet ride through the small-town vibes of Southern Delaware. Growing up here, I was like most kids, swearing I’d bolt out of Delaware the minute I graduated high school. Turns out, I was totally off. Getting older and a bit wiser, I’ve started to really dig what Delaware has to offer in its own laid-back way.
Delaware’s small, sure, but it’s got its claim to fame as the first state. It’s mostly about chill farmlands and cool beach spots—no mountains or hills in sight. And maybe that’s why I’m so hooked on mountain scenes. Dreaming of one day kicking back in a log cabin on a massive chunk of mountain land, that’s where my heart’s at. Despite its flatness, Delaware’s grown on me, and those mountain dreams just make my love for this place even more special.
My Family
I’m the luckiest dad around with the coolest kids you could imagine. My son? He’s in his teen years but has got life figured out more than most adults. The kid’s sharp, super focused, and throws himself into sports like nobody’s business—even though soccer’s knocked him down with a couple of tough injuries. Watching him bounce back and tackle life’s curveballs head-on? It’s been nothing short of inspiring. He’s definitely going places.
Then there’s my daughter, a powerhouse in her own right. She’s got her sights set on being a boss one day, following the entrepreneurial path. She’s got this creative spark that shines, especially when she’s defending the soccer goal like a pro. Oh, and her sass? It comes with a huge personality that lights up our lives.
As for my wife and me, we’ve been a team since our college days, after starting our story in high school. She’s the glue of our family, keeping us in line and making sure we’re all where we need to be, when we need to be. I’m honestly not sure where I’d be without her. For me, family is my world. Time has a way of speeding by, and it’s so easy to miss out on those golden moments with the ones you love. I’m all about making every second count with them.
My Career
My primary career is in a utility installation business that operates in Delaware. Willey & Co is a leader in Delaware’s septic system and water well business. I’m privileged to work with some of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. My co-workers’ passion, determination, and resilience are simply inspiring, and I’m blessed to be a part of it.
My wife and I also own a real estate investment business, Nanticoke Investments. We invest primarily in long-term residential properties; however, we also have a few commercial properties. COVID introduced us to a new style of real estate investing, short-term properties. There was such a demand for short-term rentals during COVID because people were fleeing the urban areas and looking for less chaos. We look to invest in more short-term properties soon.
YouTube
In 2015 I started a YouTube channel called Delmarva Backyard. I didn’t realize it then, but this created a new focus in my life. The channel started as a “backyard” project channel. I started doing some BBQ cooking on the channel, and it took off. I quickly saw thousands of subscribers, and I have over 70,000 subscribers on that channel. I loved producing the content so much that I became obsessed with cameras. I was learning to take pictures because of the thumbnails for my videos on my YouTube channel. I watched thousands of videos about how to take the best videos and photos possible.
Eventually, I realized I could make decent money with YouTube and the online content creation arena. I started developing the idea of a second YouTube channel. I started the channel under my name, Mike Willey. However, it transitioned into a brand called Sharp Focus. The new brand was initially focused on photography and my journey with it. It snowballed into content more about the journey of getting good photographs rather than the actual photography. I snapped a random photo while on a Portland Oregon trip that started everything. The picture wasn’t the best, but it lit a fire in my soul to find scenes that were simply beautiful. I began documenting my experiences, looking for these scenes, and I became a hiking addict quickly. I became obsessed with hiking the mountains and looking for these remote scenes. Sometimes this required camping in the backcountry, further expanding my interest in the whole process.
I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. I grew up in the ’80s. We weren’t allowed indoors until dinner time. I lost my passion for the outdoors in high school, although I still loved a good camping trip. Life took over, and I just became focused on family and work. To have my passion for the outdoors rejuvenated was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. When I climbed to the summit of Mount Cascade in the Adirondack High Peaks region during a blizzard with my son, my whole perspective on life changed. My appreciation for nature and its landscapes became a primary passion in my life. Since then, I’ve been trying to plan as much hiking and camping as possible.
Podcast and Blog
The YouTube channels led to a podcast called Sharp Focus Podcast. It’s located right here on the website. It’s been a solo podcast just diving into my thoughts about life and its obstacles. The podcast is growing and gaining attention, but I’m still tweaking things and trying to produce a product I’m happy with. It, like everything else when it starts, is a work in progress. I look to use it as a tool to host some more profound thoughts and conversations that can help those listening gain some inspiration and focus.
The blog is my latest creation. I do a lot of product reviews and focus on my YouTube channels, but I wanted a place where I could dive into the nerdy specifics of the products I was using. I developed the blog to help others gain perspective on my products. So many times, we don’t even realize how much a product could change our lives until we know it’s there. The blog is focused on inspiring others, revealing products I use and discussing them, and telling the stories of my adventures in hiking and photography.
To say I’m blessed is an understatement. My family and I go through our setbacks like everyone else, but we’ve learned how to pull together and do what’s necessary to help us all get through life’s problems. We love to travel and see new places. I’m so excited my kids like to travel as much as my wife and I do. I genuinely believe you have to travel to grow as a person. I think so many people aren’t living life according to their dreams or potential simply because they’re just stuck or tired from life’s relentless pursuit. I am constantly looking for ways to help inspire others to live to their potential. As you get older, you realize the time in the past is gone. You don’t want to live your life looking in the rearview mirror. You have to focus on what’s in front of you. Everything I do is about helping myself, my family, and those around us live our best lives.
Thank You for your support and attention. It means the world to me.
I hope to inspire others to get outdoors and experience life where it’s meant to be.
