I had the privilege of interviewing Jacksonville entrepreneur, Mark Rukab and his son, Dylan. They have a very interesting and productive work dynamic. I tried to capture both view points on business and life as entrepreneurs. This is the first installment of the “Interview with an Entrepreneur” segment. I hope you enjoy…
Mark’s Interview
When did you know that you wanted to become an entrepreneur?
In junior high school…It was reaffirmed by my high school guidance counselor.
To what do you attribute your success?
I attribute it to the fear of failure and the work ethic that I inherited from my parents. They worked extremely hard, as they owned businesses of their own.
Do you have any daily routines or rituals?
I rise at 3:00am every morning and dedicate one hour to focus on the day ahead.
How do you deal with challenging times or difficult situations?
Those are the times where I thrive! It’s exciting for me to be able to overcome a difficult situation.
How many hours do you work in a typical day?
My work day starts at 5:00am and ends around 6:00pm or 7:00pm.
How do you define success?
Having people think well of you and leaving a legacy for your family.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family?
It has had a good and bad affect. It set a positive example for my children but had a straining affect on my marriage.
Do you believe that there is a model or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Don’t be greedy with your time. Treat others the way that you would like to be treated. Put in the work and good things will eventually happen.
What makes you happy?
If my children are happy and consider me a good guy, then I am happy.
Who do you admire or follow in business?
I have a friend who is another local entrepreneur. He is always thinking about business, his mind seems to never rest.
What do you do in your down time?
Spend time with my girlfriend and my sons.
If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
I would want to know how they started their business and how they deal with adversity.
What advice to you have for fledgling entrepreneurs?
Shut up and go to work!
*Additional Nuggets from this interview
-Be a good steward of what you have
-You have to be generous to be successful
-Be open to everything and do not shy away from change.
Mark and Dylan Rukab own and operate Fat Sack Snacks in Jacksonville, FL.
