We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Gunther and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
That’s an easy one, marrying my wife Shanell! I wholeheartedly believe in the saying “Beside every great man there’s a greater woman.” President Barack Obama has First Lady Michelle Obama, Jay Z has Beyonce, LeBron James has Savannah James, Steph Curry has Ayesha Curry and the list goes on and on.

I met Shanell back in 2010 in the gymnasium after a volleyball game. I had just finished basketball practice and the team decided to stay and watch the volleyball team. We spoke briefly after the game but there wasn’t really a spark at first. However as time went on we became friends. February 13th 2015 is when we started dating, we got engaged on September 8th 2018 and got married on July 31st 2021. Throughout all of the things I’ve been through on this journey she’s been right there with me. Back when I first started out doing interviews I didn’t have any microphones for audio. Not only did Shanell end up surprising me with microphones to use but she also got me some lights, which I still use both of these today.

I’ve said it in the past, marriage is what separates the men from the boys. As a man, I know who I would marry would play a huge factor in my success and by the GRACE OF GOD, I made the right decision!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe what sets me apart from others is my consistency and relentless work ethic. People see the success I’m having now or have had this early in my journey but they didn’t see the years of ground work I had to put in. A lot of celebrities I’ve had the privilege of interviewing, I literally tried for several years to interview them but was rejected. For some reason, rejection fuels me to keep going and has provided a lot of motivation for me.

I’m proud of the way I’ve been able to preserve through a lot of adversity. True story: Back in 2018, I went in for a job interview at a TV station and the person conducting the interview told me “Because I don’t know you I can’t help you.” As frustrating as that was, it motivated me to become so good at what I do that the next time they saw or heard about me they would know exactly who I was.

I got to where I am today by the grace and favor of God and not letting the “no’s” stop me. I know without any doubt in my mind, God is real, has always shown me grace and favor. Coming from Youngstown, OH where not a lot of people can make it out of, I know a lot of things I’ve been able to accomplish has been by the grace of God. The favor of God comes from the amount of celebrities I’ve been able to interview, who are some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment like Anthony Davis, Stephen A. Smith, Mike Epps, Mo’Nique and the list goes on.

I’ve been told “no” a lot and have faced a lot of rejection. When times get tough that’s when you show what you’re really made of. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and so many other great players faced a lot of adversity in their careers. Michael Jordan even said he missed a lot of shots in his career including game winners. Kobe Bryant shot four airballs back in 1997 against the Utah Jazz. LeBron James did all he could during his first stint in Cleveland to win a championship but fell short. Yet all three of those men I just named didn’t let the miss shots stop them from shooting because eventually they all became successful because of their failures. I drew inspiration from all three of them to inspire me to keep going. I got turned down by a local TV station just to become a sideline reporter in the NBA G-League. While it hasn’t been easy at all, it’s been a rewarding journey to keep walking in my purpose.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been truly blessed to have some amazing parents, siblings, friends, etc.

I saw both of my parents work hard growing up and for me that always made me wanna work hard. My Mom always had an out-going personality which is something I know I got from her. My Dad always had a big heart which is something I know I got from him. My older sister, Keshia, always had a way of making things happen no matter her circumstances which is something I always admired. My older brother, Shawn, always had a way of doing things his way which is something I learned to do as I got older.

I’ve been blessed to have some amazing friends which have always supported me especially during some of the darkest times of my life and I’m forever thankful and grateful to them. There’s an old saying that goes “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” and with the friends I have, I know my future is bright.

Instagram: @chrisgunther

Linkedin: Chris Gunther

Twitter: @ChrisLGunther

Facebook: Chris Gunther

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1tovhNwW6LihVTC_xDEUjw

Image Credits
Jessica Morales, Vieras Vision Mark Horning

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