Mark Minard is the kind of guy who knows a lot about leveling up in life. Despite spending a short stint in jail at 17, he would later become a successful business owner at just 26 years old, transforming his life and the lives of his clients. His first business, Dreamshine, continues to run successfully today, 15 years after its inception. The company focuses on providing special needs adults with life skills programs and services that leave them feeling encouraged while improving their way of living. If there is anyone worth taking advice from when it comes to leveling up your life, it’s Mr. Minard.
“When I went to jail at 17, I’m sure people thought that I’d never amount to anything or get anywhere in life, but I didn’t let the thoughts of others hold me back from pursuing my lifelong dreams. While it took a few years to figure out what I wanted to do in life, I knew that I wanted to make a positive change while helping people,” said Mark Minard. “My sister Amy and I came up with the concept for Dreamshine to provide special needs adults with countless opportunities that weren’t available to them at the time. Some thought we were crazy for starting a business at the height of the recession, but we made it and have been thriving ever since. We’ve been in business for 15 years!”
So, how does someone go from being in jail to suddenly operating a booming business that continued to grow and expand over the years? According to Mark Minard, it’s all about dedication and leadership. Running a successful business requires good leadership. If you can’t be a good leader, you can’t expect your team members to work well, which means your business will quickly fail. However, if you’re willing to run your startup with drive and passion, you can make it through any challenge.
Because his powerful story of struggle to success resonates with others, Mark decided to branch out, ultimately writing a best-selling book entitled 16 Reasons Why Your Business Sucks. The book consists of 16 chapters full of valuable information that soon-to-be entrepreneurs can use to their advantage to make it in such a cutthroat industry.
“I decided to write the book with hopes of guiding other entrepreneurs in the right direction. Not everyone has business mentors and guidance from supportive people with knowledge of the industry. So, I decided to share what I know with others to help them avoid making some costly mistakes. I want people to know what they’re doing wrong in business so that they can fix those wrongs, make them right, and succeed,” shared Minard. “A lot of people prefer my cutthroat, raw approach to telling others how to run a business because I get to the point and don’t waste time sugarcoating anything.”
With a passion for running his business and the desire to help others, Mark Minard is hosting a podcast, Elevating Beyond, to teach people what they need to do to elevate beyond their current lifestyle while making a name for themselves.
