Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in branding and marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Isaac Mashman, Founder of Mashman Ventures, located in Miami, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Hey! Before I get around to answering any of these, I'd like to take a second to thank the team at Subkit for the opportunity to share my story and my business. To the readers, I hope you enjoy this and can take away one or two tidbits.
My company is Mashman Ventures, a public relations firm that specializes in personal branding. I launched it in April 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, and since its launch, we have seen some amazing success, internally and externally, through our clients.
We work with business leaders, creatives, influencers, and anyone else who wants to become well-known to create, maintain, and scale their personal brands. Although we are a public relations firm, we don't offer many of the traditional PR firm services. Instead of sending out pitches, we work with our clients in a consultancy model to help them get results.
Tell us about yourself
Mashman Ventures was not my first business, but it was the first business that I committed to. I don't come from a business background, and everyone in my life worked traditional jobs. My grandfather was a carpenter, my grandmother a stay-at-home wife, and my mom was in fast-food and retail. As you can imagine, none of those fields led to a lot of money. Growing up with that mindset of scarcity, I grew to eventually hate it. I know that is a strong word, but it is honest. So, rather than go to college like I had worked so hard to do, I jumped feet first into the world of entrepreneurship until I eventually stumbled on personal branding. As for my motivator, I am motivated by a variety of things, but mainly by the question of "Why not?"
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I can think of several, but two are tied. The first, my publication of my first book, "Personal Branding: A Manifesto on Fame and Influence," and the second, my quote in Time. Both are achievements I worked very hard for and to be able to have self-published an Amazon best-seller in public relations is a massive achievement, as is getting on a site I grew up seeing the magazine of!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Self-regulation. Working for yourself comes with a variety of perks, but unlike a traditional work environment, you do not have a system in place with other people to hold you accountable, tell you when to show up, and how much your salary is. It is up to you to make the roles and motivate yourself even in the times you absolutely do not feel like it. Remember that nothing will change if your actions do not.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be growing your personal brand! People buy from people, right? Why wouldn't you leverage your own story and get others to connect with you and support your business?
- At the center of all achievement is personal growth. Always be growing, studying, observing, and ultimately increasing your self-knowledge and value.
- Think long-term. A business does not grow overnight. It is vital that you have, at minimum, a general idea of where you are going. From there, the plan will start to take shape.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I would like to invite everyone reading my interview here on Subkit to pick up a copy of my first book, Personal Branding: A Manifesto on Fame and Influence. In this, I cover what your personal brand is and why you should be consciously building it. Again, thank you for the opportunity to be here!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mashmanventures.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theisaacmashman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacmashman/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/isaacmashman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacmashman/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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