Meet Mark Rose

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mark Rose a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Mark with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I have been working since the age of 9. My family was always self-employed and I was expected to contribute to the family business. Every weekend and most after school days I would get a ride or bike to the family pet store. Although it was frustrating to always be working as a kid when all my friends were involved in sports, over time it taught me the value of a strong work ethic and self-sufficiency.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I have always been a creative and an entrepreneur. I had my first company at the age of 18, selling products I made for the specialty pet industry. 8 years ago, I was looking for a gift to honor my oldest son for the years of hard work earning his Eagle Scout Rank. I was disappointed by the options that were either plastic or cheap plaques made in China.
I asked myself a couple questions;
1) What represents honor, strength, commitment, and pride?
2) What skills do I have and what can I make?

The answer was a presentation sword that is designed to be displayed and cherished for a lifetime. I developed a unique mounting system with magnets that allow you to display the sword on the wall and easily remove and replace. After dozens of prototypes and failed designs, I developed the techniques and manufacturing processes to efficiently produce and deliver the swords we make today.

We have expanded our designs honoring Faith, Military, Family, Trail Life USA, Law Enforcement, Martial Arts, and other worthy achievements.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1) Resilience – There is no free ride, I had to work very hard, often for little or no money to get anything started. I believed in my product and kept pushing for improvement, quality, and originality. If you lack the resilience to fight for your ideas, success will evade you.

2) Creativity – I did NOT want a “me-too” product. I wanted something unique and meaningful. I have always been able to use my creativity to create, and problem solve. Creativity is a muscle. Practice writing, drawing, learning new crafts and skills.

3) Integrity – Integrity with my customers, with my business practices, and with every sword we make. Being genuine and honest with people has opened opportunities to grow and expand our influence. You need to be generous with your customers and community, honest when you have made a mistake, and reliable offering the best service you can.

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?

See You At The Top by: Zig Ziglar

This was the first book I read that encouraged, empowered, and gave me a vision of my potential. It removed barriers of self-doubt and fear to try and fail.

“Attitude, Not Aptitude, Determines Altitude.” – Zig Ziglar

Contact Info:

• Website: https://campfirearts.com
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  Contact:
  campfirearts.com
  campfirearts@gmail.com
  661-309-1118