Interview with Mark Husmann about a documentary on entrepreneurship
Mark Husmann is serial entrepreneur that has now started another very interesting project which caught my attention: he has been filming a documentary for the past fourteen months on an entrepreneur (himself) trying to create a successful billion dollar business during a declining economy. Jason Boritz and producer Jonathan Salemi, are the filmmakers making the movie on Mark.
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Mark: Busy…still trying to raise money and put deals together.
Mark: The movie is a year in the life of a serial entrepreneur (me) and all of the highs and lows I go through in the building of a new company.
Mark: 47 today 48 in less than a month |
Cristian: And how many businesses have you started so far?
Mark: I call them projects and it is somewhere around 20
Cristian: How do you come up with the ideas to start a business?
Mark: Some are accidents …some I see an opportunity and enjoy the challenge of making it happen.
Cristian: The theme of the movie is the creation of a successful business with just $100 investment, right? So do you think most people fear about not having enough money to invest?
Mark: To an entrepreneur not having enough money will only slow them down…not stop them.
Cristian: What if you fail to build the 100 to a billion business?
Mark: I will enjoy the process and learn along the way.
Cristian: How did you actually come up with the idea to make a movie?
Mark: One of my manufacturers introduced me to his nephew (Jonathan) and after meeting for half an hour, he asked if he could do a documentary on me and the creation of my business.
Cristian: I know the movie is not finish yet, but what’s the concept/ message?
Mark: Don’t give up just because everyone says NO. It’s just a starting point. If you believe in what you are doing and you know that it will work…you won’t give up.
Cristian: So what would be the in the movie target? Who should watch it?
Mark: Anyone that wants to start a business and maybe has been stopped in the past from even trying.
Cristian: From the trailer I got that you are a highly positive person. Is this a must for an entrepreneur?
Mark: Absolutely… fear of failure is not an option.
Cristian: How do you deal with bad mornings or simply with bad days for your businesses?
Mark: I try and find one positive thing about the day and that moves me forward.
Cristian: What’s the biggest mistake you did in your entrepreneurial path?
Mark: Everything happens for a reason…so I don’t consider any mistakes the biggest. I try and turn “mistakes” into opportunities.
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Cristian: In the trailer your talking about you being a workaholic. Do you need to be a workaholic to be a successful entrepreneur?
Mark: No…just focused and passionate.
Cristian: How important is family and keeping balance?
Mark: Big…family is your foundation and I need to keep reminding myself about balance..it’s tuff.
Cristian: I wonder, how you define yourself? A successful businesses man? A serial entrepreneur?
Mark: Serial entrepreneur.
Cristian: How does the crisis modifies the movie perspective?
Mark: The “crisis” has made finding money much more difficult but I see the down economy as an opportunity to make amazing businesses.
Cristian: Any advices for people willing to start a new business?
Mark: Do something different…stand out…take chances…leave fear to others.
Cristian: Is the entrepreneur mission to make money out of anything, or doing what they like best and transform it in a business?
Mark: To me it must be something I enjoy. As entrepreneurs we need to make money so that we can continue to create and help others.
Cristian: So what’s the status on the movie? When it will be released?
Mark: I think it will be released this year (2009).
You can whatch how things are going with the movie here: www.makingyourmarkmovie.com
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