Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Rod Marchand, author of Man…F@#K!: The Honest Reality of Entrepreneurship.
Man…F@#K! shares the honest and often unspoken reality of entrepreneurship while serving up a large dose of much-needed hope and inspiration to all business owners and entrepreneurs trying to take their companies to the next level. Unlike most other books on business, this book clearly defines life’s difficulties and the challenges of managing and building a brand from virtually nothing into a potential global company. It also accurately illustrates the struggles of working with a family business and the expectations of starting in a small market, and what it takes to overcome those challenges and achieve personal and professional goals on a larger scale.
It’s a fun yet real story of what it takes to keep your head up in times of trial – when all you can think is Man…F@#K! out of frustration – to ultimately make your dreams a reality.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I was born in Harvey, ND. I am a father of seven children and 3 grandchildren. I am the CEO of Marchand Retail Group, Inc., operating multiple businesses in many different industries. My purpose in life is captured perfectly in our mission statement…” In every encounter and every interaction, we must leave the world a better place than we found it…Be Remarkable Today!”
What gives you energy?
I would say what gives me the most energy is knowing that every day is a brand new opportunity to do something great, even if it is a little thing. I love being able to help others aspire to become the best versions of themselves!
What’s your secret life hack?
It may sound simple, but I had the privilege of hearing Admiral William H. McRaven speak at a conference I attended. He authored the book ‘Make your bed,’ and I have since then made sure to make my bed first thing every morning. It is a great way to get your mindset by achieving a goal/task as the first thing you do every day!
What has been your greatest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
There have been so many challenges in life, so I think the biggest was simply getting out of my own way in terms of management and lifestyle. Learning to let go and listen more, trusting others, and allowing them to shine has been the greatest way to overcome all of life’s challenges.
Name a book that changed your life.
This is a tough question! I am an avid reader, and I think that almost every book I have ever read has given me some ideas or tools to implement in my life or business. So, I can’t give you one singular book that has changed my life; it’s a collaboration of all of them!
Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
Being involved in international business sometimes requires having my phone by my bedside, but it would strictly be if the business is needing my prompt attention. Otherwise, I leave my phone outside of the bedroom and on silent, as tomorrow is another day!
How do you deal with email?
I try to focus on one thing at a time; that way, I can give that particular task my full attention. I will admit to checking my email often, but only responding to things that would be urgent; otherwise, they can wait.
You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day; what do you do with it?
That’s an easy one! When I do find extra time in my day, I will always leave the office and take time to think about all the things I should be grateful for. In both business and life, we get so busy and seem to focus on all the negative things going on in the world that we forget to look at all the blessings we have and all the good in the world. It’s a great way to recharge and refresh!
When was the last time you felt burnout, and why?
The last time I felt burnout was a little over a year ago, building our mattress company. I refer to this time as “the messy middle.” We had been struggling on many levels to build our new products and brand from nothing while competing in a market full of major brand names and venture capitalist groups that simply had more resources than us. I began to feel like I didn’t have what it took to compete in a market this size, but also knew that giving up wasn’t an option either, since we had already invested some much time, capital, and research.
When was the last time you felt you failed, and how did you overcome it?
Honestly, I feel like I fail in some way daily. It can be the littlest of things; sometimes, I think we can learn more from those failures than the big ones. The main way I have overcome failure is by changing my mindset from “win or lose” to “win or learn”. I take time to reflect daily on all the ways I may have failed, then learn from them and make changes to improve.
Share a quote that you love, and that gives you strength or peace.
I have this quote posted on my credenza at work so I can see it daily. It’s from Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech in 1994, and it reads, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frighten us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t save the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in EVERYONE. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
What guidance would you offer to someone new or trying to enhance their writing?
I would say to anyone trying to write a book or enhance their writing to simply do it! I think everyone is unique and unrepeatable and has a great story to tell!
Out of all the books in the world, which are your favorite, and why?
I can’t focus on a single book since so many books have inspired me. Some of my favorite books are “Energy bus”, “The seven dysfunctions of a team” and “Good to Great.”
Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
I think my book would be directed to anyone aspiring to grow in the job, business, or starting a new venture/company. I think I do a great job being real about what it takes to do so.
Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about you?
You can check out our website, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Thank you so much for giving us your precious time! We wish you the best for your journey ahead!
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