Life is often unpredictable, and for some, the path to success is filled with obstacles that test their resilience. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with an entrepreneur (Mark Blocker) whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. From growing up in a military family, constantly moving and adapting to new environments, to facing homelessness at a young age, and later struggling to find employment after college—his story is one of perseverance and determination. Despite the challenges, he transformed setbacks into opportunities, launching Big Block Athletics and later helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses. In this interview, we’ll explore his experiences, insights on entrepreneurship, and how self-development, competitive analysis, and AI are shaping the future of business. Let’s dive into his remarkable journey.
From a Military Childhood to Overcoming Adversity:
Mark Blocker: I was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico to a military family. I’m the youngest of 6 children. Since my father was in the military, I traveled a lot. I’ve traveled to Japan, and Different states during my childhood. I didn’t know what it was like to have long-term childhood friends because of the consistent movement in my life. I had to learn how to cope with being the new kid at school for most of my childhood. I played sports pretty much, all of my life. I played football to the college level, basketball till 10th grade, and baseball till I was 12 years old. I ran track in middle school and high school. When I moved to Macomb County, Michigan, I experienced homelessness at 9 years old. My mother, who was a manager for a Burger King, got a job in Michigan, she moved me and two of my older brothers with her. We lived outside of military bases for the first time and it was from different hotels. When I was 10 years old, my mother got enough money to get an apartment and moved us in. I didn’t have a room to myself and that was extremely uncomfortable. I had to go to school while experiencing homelessness and poor living. When I turned 11, my father came from New Mexico and got us a house. It wasn’t until I was 15 years old that my parents got a divorce and I went to live with my father. I don’t know if it was because he lost his wife or something but, he became abusive towards me and forced unrealistic demands on me. I graduated high school from Henry Ford II High School in 2008. When I turned 18 years old, I got an opportunity to go to college in Painesville, Ohio and I took it to get away from my father. 2 years later, I had to return to Macomb County, Michigan, and face my father because I dropped out of college. I went back to college and eventually graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2014.
From Job Rejections to Entrepreneurial Success: The Birth of Big Block Athletics
Mark Blocker: After graduating college with a degree in Healthcare Administration, I tried to get a job in the medical field. I applied for about 3-4 months and got rejected every single time. While I was applying, I was working for a local McDonald’s trying to make ends meet. It wasn’t enough to pay the bills and I kept asking the manager for more hours. During my time applying for a job, a former college teammate of mine reached out to me talking about starting my own business. I was reluctant at first because I didn’t have confidence in my business skills. After two more weeks of getting rejected, I took his advice and started Big Block Athletics. I grew Big Block Athletics into a Successful business and kept getting asked about how to grow a business. After giving free advice, I decided to turn it into a business and improve their business.
Supporting Community Growth:
Mark Blocker: As for Jade’s Apothecary, I want to say that it’s doing great things in the community. I’m one of their board members. I give advice to the CEO and ensure that the company has a great leader.
Self-Development and Continuous Improvement
Mark Blocker: Self-Development and Continuous Improvement. As long as entrepreneurs is working on themselves, they will see great growth in their business.
The Power of Competitive Research and Analysis
Mark Blocker: I use In-depth research on their competition. I believe that as long as they are able to compete well, they will see great results in their business. I analyze their business using SWOT analysis and Analytics. Knowing where their numbers are will most definitely pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses will help me find their pain points and what they are doing wrong in their business.
The Key to Business Relevance and Growth
Mark Blocker: I stay up to date with the latest trends by consistently reading about them. Proper education will definitely be used in helping the Entrepreneurs that I work with. As long as I’m working with them, I know that they will get results because I’m constantly working on staying relevant and keeping their business relevant.
The Future of Business Growth and Innovation
The usage of AI. Artificial Intelligence is looking like it’s gaining momentum. Everything is going digital. More and more Entrepreneurs need to look into the digital world to see how well, they can use it to perform and grow their business.
Creating a Lasting Impact on the Economy
Mark Blocker: I find that it’s very rewarding working with Entrepreneurs. They are definitely the people who impact the economy. I find that my work is making a huge impact on the economy and I believe that it’s doing something that helps millions of people, not just the Entrepreneur I work with and to help others is something that is most rewarding to me.
Mastering Sales to Earn Entrepreneurial Trust
Mark Blocker: The biggest challenge that I faced was getting entrepreneurs to invest in my services. A lot of Entrepreneurs are skeptical that I can improve their business. The way that I overcome this obstacle is by improving my sales skills. I believe that this problem comes down to how I sell my services which I’m consistently evolving every day.
Sales, Professionalism, and First Impressions
Mark Blocker: Know how to sell. If you don’t know how to sell, you won’t become successful in Entrepreneurship. Be a professional. Look the part of a professional. Take your dress and grooming seriously! You’re just getting started so, don’t try to imitate Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. They’ve made their mark in business. You must be aware of your grooming and dress. It’s the first thing that people pay attention to. A first impression is a lasting one and you want to make a strong impression.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your incredible journey, insights, and experiences with us. Your story of perseverance, entrepreneurship, and continuous growth is truly inspiring. Thank you for allowing us to learn from your challenges and successes. Your dedication to helping others and making an impact in the business world is commendable. We are grateful for this opportunity to interview you and wish you continued success in all your endeavors!
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