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  • Unusual Entrepreneur Interview With Mark Schaefer Of BusinessesGrow.com
 
Tito Philips, Jnr.
Monday, 27 February 2012 / Published in Interviews, Thought Bank

Unusual Entrepreneur Interview With Mark Schaefer Of BusinessesGrow.com

Here’s another edition of the Unusual Entrepreneur Interviews and today I am very honoured to have gotten this Unusual Entrepreneur in question. His name is Mark Schaefer; he’s the Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions .

 

If you are just joining us for the first time, this is the unusual entrepreneur interview series. It is a parade of unusual entrepreneurs who are changing the world and profiting from purpose. Profiting from purpose by changing the world isn’t an impossible dream as many tend to think of it, but a realistic one as many unusual entrepreneurs have extraordinarily proven.

 

It is my life mission to understand the unusual qualities of such unusual entrepreneurs and inspire as many others to profit from purpose by changing the world. If you’re not yet familiar with our philosophy of unusual entrepreneurs, kindly download our free ebook: The Entrepreneur’s Journey. This is the official manifesto for anyone who wants to change the world and profit from purpose.

 

Without further ado, let’s begin!

 

How Unusual Is Mark Schaefer?

 

Mark W. Schaefer is a globally-recognized blogger, educator, business consultant, and author who blogs at {grow} — one of the top marketing blogs of the world. Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for nearly 30 years and now provides consulting services as Executive Director of U.S.-based Schaefer Marketing Solutions.  His clients include both start-ups and global brands such as Cisco, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the UK government.

 

Mark has advanced degrees in marketing and organizational development and holds seven patents.  He is a faculty member of the graduate studies program at Rutgers University and is the founder of Social Slam, a national social media event that takes place each April.  He is the author of two best-selling marketing books, Return On Influence and The Tao of Twitter.  In 2012, he was named by Forbes magazine as one of the Top 50 social media “power influencers” of the world. He’s the only blogger who regularly features cartoons on his blog!

 

 


Interview Questions Part One

 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP – Awakening the Spirit of business

 

1.  Can you please tell us a little about yourself and your business? What do you do?, how do you do it?, why do you do it and who do you do it for?

 

I’m a teacher, author, speaker and business consultant. I drive the value of my brand by delivering excellent content through my blog, books and speeches, which opens up opportunities for higher-level executive consulting engagements. I do not have a bricks-and-mortar company per se.  All of my projects are staffed by a virtual team of people throughout the world. I assemble the best resources for an individual project and then it disbands when that project is completed. This keeps my costs low and also assures the customers that I can bring in precisely the right talent for their needs.

 

I have a variety of customers, from Fortune 100s to regional firms, in many industries such as health care, economic development, manufacturing, non-profit, and high tech. Although I am best known for my writing on social media topics, I am a marketing strategist above all.

 

2.   When you started out in business, what specific idea, purpose or vision was your key driving force?

 

Money.  Isn’t that the bottom line for everybody?  Of course what I do is very rewarding but before you can cover higher-level needs you have to pay the bills.

 

I did a lot of research before I started my business to determine my niche. This has evolved over time because I am constantly learning and adapting to market and customer needs. My core competencies have remained basically the same, but my niche today is much different than it was a few years ago because I have adjusted to meet new customer opportunities.

 

It’s important to have a vision, but it’s more important to listen intently — and honestly — to the marketplace to adjust your plan as needed. The world is changing quickly. If we can’t adapt, it will pass us by.

 

3.  What would you describe as the purpose of entrepreneurship? That is; what role do entrepreneurs play in the world?

 

I have been in business for 30 years and I am an unabashed lover of business. Business is usually depicted as the greedy villains but you know what? This is what really makes the world work.  Economic recovery will be led by entrepreneurs, not a stimulus package.  Many environmental issues are being solved by companies large and small — not regulations. Given the opportunity, entrepreneurs will solve our energy issues, not misguided government investments.  Even most charities are funded by companies and corporate foundations. So I think a focus on education and entrepreneurship is vital to not just the creation of wealth, but to our entire way of life.

 

 4. What would you describe as your major setbacks and what lessons did you pick from them?

 

As far as lessons and setbacks, I think I have been fortunate in that I have made a lot of mistakes — just no big ones!  That is really a key to entrepreneurial success isn’t it? Keep pushing, but don’t drive yourself into the ground. I think my biggest challenge is scaling in a smart way.  I’m at a point in my life where I don’t want to build an empire. I want to have a profitable, growing, business that delivers excellence. But by keeping my operations small by design it gives me less room for error in terms of the projects I accept. That is always a challenge but certainly worth the reward to have that kind of flexibility.

 

Interview Questions Part Two

STRATEGY – The unusual execution of business best practices

 

5. Many entrepreneurs complain about not succeeding in business due to lack of adequate funding, what is your take on this matter and how do you cope with funding issues in your business?

 

Funding through traditional channels is a serious problem these days. Banks are still skittish and money is tight. However there are also unprecedented opportunities to get your ideas heard and funded through new web-based models.  I think some of the new crowd-sourcing funding models are brilliant and certainly effective.

 

These new models I think can also serve as an important feedback loop. Just a few years ago, testing out an idea was time-consuming and probably limited to a few friends and family members who probably aren’t going to tell you the truth any way.  The ability to float ideas to a global audience is an important Darwinian catalyst for either rapid acceptance or rapid failure.  Either version is a gift to an entrepreneur.  Even in a tentative economy the best ideas have a chance.

 

6. How do you strategically use your time as an entrepreneur? What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs use their time for?

 

The keyword here is FOCUS.  There are a million distractions out there. What MUST be done today?

I think this was one of Steve Jobs’ greatest strengths.  When he came back to Apple the company was mired in hundreds of projects and dozens of products. After a short assessment, he said, “here are the four things we need to do,” and ruthlessly cut out everything else.

 

It takes an incredible amount of discipline to say “no.” But it is an essential skill!

 

Interview Questions Part Three

 

MISCELLANEOUS – Resourceful Recommendations, tools, books, and ideas for unusual entrepreneurs

 

7.     Where there any particular questions you expected me to ask that is beneficial to entrepreneurs and I didn’t? Kindly share with us such questions and their relevant answers here.

 

Most entrepreneurs want to know … where do I get the best ideas?  How do I find my niche?  When I work with a new company, the first thing I do is listen to their customers. If you do a really good job at this, the customers will lead you to the truth.  Innovation does not have to be some radical new product of business model. In fact, it usually isn’t!  The best business ideas are iterations of existing ideas that are well-executed.  Finding an un-met or underserved customer need and serving it flawlessly … and then doing that again and again is the real key to steady growth.

 

I had the great honor of studying under Peter Drucker in grad school. He has influenced my thinking a lot when it comes to this subject. I think the most valuable book an entrepreneur could read is his title “Entrepreneurship and Innovation.” It has been on my desk for 20 years!

 

Your Turn

 

You’ve met Mark, what lessons did you learn from this unusual entrepreneur?

Share your views below in the comment section.

Thank you for your time!

 

ONE LAST THING!

 

There are a million and one unusual entrepreneurs out there in your network, this site was built strictly for them. Help spread the word if you have been blessed by this unusual article. Please retweet on Twitter, share on Facebook, Linkedin, google+ and forward via email.

 

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10 Comments to “ Unusual Entrepreneur Interview With Mark Schaefer Of BusinessesGrow.com”

  1. Kemi Bababusuyi says :Log in to Reply
    February 27, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    Nice to meet you Mark!

    You seem to have really been involved in business for so long to have such a short interview. I was really looking forward to the usual 17 questions as have been asked of other entrepreneurs. But was surprised to see only 7.

    I hope you will be generous to share more of your unusual entrepreneurial journey with us?

    I am a Nigerian Entrepreneur myself and it always feels great to read about other entrepreneurs from across the globe. I enjoy this series on naijapreneur and really look forward to meeting other like minded unusual entrepreneurs as Tito would say!

    Thanks for the interview.

    1. Tito Philips, Jnr. says :Log in to Reply
      February 29, 2012 at 12:07 am

      Thanks Kemi for sharing your thoughts about the Unusual Entrepreneur Interview Series. I am so glad it is making an impact on you. Mark has been kind enough to answer you questions. Thank you for your sincere comments.

  2. Mark W Schaefer says :Log in to Reply
    February 28, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Thank you for your very kind comment Kemi!

    A very key part of being a successful entrepreneur is focusing on the critical few things that will drive your business and learning to say “no.” I appreciate Tito and what he doing with his community so I wanted to support him, even though my schedule may not support it. So rather than saying “no,” I thought answering a few questions would be a useful compromise. It would have taken a couple of hours to properly answer 17 questions!

    If I’m lucky, Tito will have me back on next year and we can answer the remaining questions! : )

    Sorry to disappoint you but this is the best I could do right now! Thanks for the support.

    1. Tito Philips, Jnr. says :Log in to Reply
      February 29, 2012 at 12:05 am

      Thanks so much for this honour Mark, I really really appreciate your stopping by to answer Kemi. It means a lot to me. And yes, would love to have you back anytime again to answer the rest questions -:)
      Thank you so much for the time investment.

  3. Liz says :Log in to Reply
    March 12, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    “Economic recovery will be led by entrepreneurs, not a stimulus package.”

    Exactly. This is so important, and it’s inspiring to see that people are making it as entrepreneurs today. Good interview, I enjoyed reading it!

    1. Tito Philips, Jnr. says :Log in to Reply
      March 12, 2012 at 9:01 pm

      Hello Liz,
      I appreciate your stopping by. Entrepreneurs truly are the engines of economic revival.

  4. CHARLESCROSS says :Log in to Reply
    March 21, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I recently came across your post and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that it caught my interest and you’ve provided informative points. I will visit this blog often.
    eWritingPal

  5. Balu says :Log in to Reply
    March 26, 2012 at 11:42 am

    It’s really inspiring, Entrepreneurs are not born they are made.

  6. brock says :Log in to Reply
    August 18, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Entrepreneurs are the rulers, who can change the sight of this world.

  7. guerilla marketing says :Log in to Reply
    April 28, 2014 at 3:54 am

    Although the presence of quality product is essential but on
    the other hand, its marketing is also required.
    Finally, when publishing content is to be part of your ongoing marketing strategy, you will need to continue researching any and every piece of information you
    can find that can be used for this purpose. Your content needs to capture attention so that it
    is actually read and digested.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

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