CHRIS
LEWIS-HARRIS
Founder & President
FOCUS SOUTH
I was raised in Smyrna, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. My senior year of high school, I was selected to the Associated Press First Team All-State as a defensive back. I was also named the Cobb Country defensive back of the year.
After high school, I attended the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga as a student athlete. Upon graduating with degrees in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, I was also an All-Conference defensive back. I later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. I spent 4.5 years on the Bengals roster, then half a season with the Baltimore Ravens. The last 2 years of my career, I spent a preseason with the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants.
I got started in this industry because I wanted fulfillment, an opportunity to grow, and to be around like-minded individuals that were working together to achieve a common goal, something similar to my professional football career. The first obstacle I faced was the career change. I knew it was inevitable, but at the time I started the business, I was not sure if I was ready to stop pursuing my professional football career and put all my eggs in one basket.
The lesson that has been most crucial to my growth is learning how to network -- first, stepping out of my comfort zone and asking others for help, and second, knowing to be specific with the my asking for assistance in order to receive a specific set of solutions or advice.
My advice to newcomers is to ALWAYS remain humble and to also remember the foundations of the business. Treat each day like an opportunity, brick by brick, stack each day and get better working and teaching the foundations as you progress.
I am most proud of the opportunity I have to make a difference in the lives of people around me. Being able to see someone go from just an applicant into management is something I want to assist in happening for so many individuals. My goals for the future are to build relationships all across the industry!