We were lucky to catch up with Mark Kaufman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Though fortunate to have had parents who believed in me, I needed to overcome an unrealistic expectation that I was smart/special enough to be anything I wanted to be. Over the years, mostly through trial and error, I learned that there were any number of things I could do reasonably well without being an expert in any one field. Having a graduate degree in social work taught me about problem-solving and coming up with solutions to make the best of any circumstance.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The early part of my professional life was spent trying on different hats: therapist, non-profit organization executive, & marketing specialist. Then, thirty years ago, I met a woman (who would eventually become my wife) who had just launched her own training & consulting business. Our respective skill sets were complementary, enabling us to grow the business to become specialists in retail bookselling.
Having worked with hundreds of clients who wanted to own and operate an independent bookstore, we developed a clear vision of what it would take to run a profitable and sustainable business. Six years ago, the opportunity presented itself for us to launch Story & Song Bookstore Bistro on Amelia Island, Florida. After only one year in business, we were awarded “Small Business of the Year” by the local Chamber of Commerce, and have increased profits in each successive year.
After some long-term visioning and estate planning, we created a private nonprofit operating foundation, Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture, so that all we created would become our gift to this community upon our passing. To further reinforce our brand, we are about to launch an inaugural “Festival of Stories & Songs,” featuring professional storytellers, singer/songwriters whose songs tell stories, and well-known Florida author Carl Hiaasen.
Our customers and patrons repeatedly tell us what a valuable asset we’ve become to the Amelia Island community, providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Learning to listen, having a mindset of wanting to be of service to others, and setting ego aside are the most important and effective skills I have mastered. When you’re able to be open to multiple possibilities and stay detached from the outcome, you’re more likely to succeed.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Early in my career, I was introduced to the teachings of Lao Tzu, and “Way of the Tao”. One takeaway that has become my personal mantra is “the nature of the perfect man is one who leaves no footprints where he walks.” Another lesson was the “empty boat,” learning that you always have a choice how to respond if an empty boat carried by the river current approaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: StoryandSongArts.org and OpeningaBookstore.com
