James Homan & CaLeigha Callahan: Why Embracing Cringe And Imperfection Beats Polished Perfection On Social Media

As a part of our series about lessons from Thriving Power Couples, I had the pleasure of interviewing James & CaLeigha.

First gaining popularity on socials for their cute couple content and openness with their viewers, James Homan and CaLeigha Callahan quickly began creating content on a daily basis which gave their fans a glimpse into their everyday life. James and CaLeigha met at university while attending the University of Houston and have been together ever since. Both being big sports buffs, James played on the football team for UoH while CaLeigha was on the soccer team at the university, and had been playing since she was 4 years old. When not creating content together for their millions of fans, James still holds his main job as a construction worker in his family’s business while CaLeigha maintains the schedule for their major platforms. With marriage in the future, James and CaLeigha will continue to produce the content their fans have come to love along with new and exciting projects that will begin launching in the near future.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you two to your respective career paths?

Thank you so much for having us! The boredom of COVID lockdown is really to blame for our cringy social media start. Tiktok was heating up and out of boredom CaLeigha decided to start posting content, eventually dragging me into a trendy dance video. A couple days and 500,000 views later our video was going “viral”. We don’t know if it was luck, but we know for sure it wasn’t skill (we look back in pain, it was sooooo bad lol). Nonetheless, we struck gold on the first swing. Initially, I wanted no part in social media but after seeing the potential we had to build an uplifting community and maybe make a positive impact on a stranger’s day, I couldn’t help but to want to try. Together we decided to give social media a true effort and so far, it’s been everything we could’ve hoped for and MORE!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you two got married?

We aren’t married yet but plan to be engaged soon if she says yes! :) The most interesting story thus far would have to be our own ongoing story. We are very normal everyday people; I still have a 9–5 job while CaLeigha manages our social media full time. So, nothing too crazy ever happens and we kind of enjoy that aspect. But we can’t help but smile and laugh once a month when we go back to binge watch our own videos lol. It feels like we are making old home videos that we will be able to look back at some day.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The funniest mistake we made was creating super cringy embarrassing content. We now look back at our old videos and burst into laughter. The ironic part is that our awkwardness and the willingness to poke fun at ourselves ultimately played to our

advantage. In retrospect, it was a testament to the power of authenticity and embracing imperfections. While these embarrassing moments are forever on the internet, they surprisingly helped us connect with our social media community. It is a reminder that sometimes, being too harsh on yourself is counterproductive to your overall success. Our ability to be raw and authentic contributed to the foundation of what is to come in the near future.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

What makes us stand out is that we’re this young, energetic, and diverse couple who both played sports in college. We’re not just making content; we’re sharing our real experiences. Being an interracial couple, we bring a fresh and relatable perspective to everything we do. Our content is something that everyone can vibe with, whether you’re younger or older. We’re all about being genuine and connecting with people. That authenticity, combined with our passion, really makes our brand a special space where there’s something for everyone to connect with.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

Yes, we are! We are about to launch our podcast which we will be sharing on our YouTube channel and Spotify. You are actually the first to hear about it. ;) We are super excited to dive deeper with our audience, giving them a little more insight into our lives and our journey beyond what they see on social media.

What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?

It’s so important to build a strong team. Foster a collaborative environment by encouraging open communication and collaboration within the team. A culture of teamwork and idea-sharing can lead to innovation and a sense of belonging among employees.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Our manager and now very good friend Nicole has been at the forefront of our success since the beginning. We are extremely grateful for the role she has played in our story. Her unwavering belief in our abilities gives us the confidence to keep dreaming. Having a real friend in the business world who genuinely wants the absolute best for you and is hustling right alongside you to make sure you succeed, is a RARE GEM! Her belief in our potential has been the driving force of our success. Nicole is more than a manager, she is a friend, mentor, and role model. We will be forever grateful.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

We have used our success to foster positivity and kindness in the world. We embrace the motto “Be Kind To One Another,” and we consistently advocate for spreading love and compassion. Through our social media channels, we share tips, tricks, and knowledge online, aiming to empower and inspire others to start on their own journeys. By cultivating an environment of support and encouragement, we strive to create a snowball effect that extends beyond our own success, contributing to a more compassionate and uplifting world.

What are the “5 Things You Need To Thrive As A Couple”?

Trust

Growing Communication

Mutual Respect

Shared Morals and Values

Choosing to Love. Love is a choice not a feeling.

You are people of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Seek a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 As content creators, and entrepreneurs in general we are always faced with the pressures of feeling like we aren’t doing enough. However, it is important to remember that really being able to live life to its fullest requires you to always be where your feet are. Be present in the moment and acknowledge the growth you have already experienced. Stressing about what you don’t have compared to what you do have, crowds space and leaves no room for gratitude and growth.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

If we could choose someone for a private breakfast or lunch, it would undoubtedly be Monet McMichael, a social media influencer who has truly achieved remarkable success. We are fascinated by her journey and the insights she could share about navigating the dynamic world of social media. Connecting with Monet would provide an invaluable opportunity to gain wisdom, inspiration, and perhaps collaborate on ways to make a positive impact in the digital space. Who knows, maybe Monet will catch wind of this :)

How can our readers follow your work online?

They can follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @jamesandcaleigha

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

Thank you so much for having us! We truly appreciate it!