In this episode of Develop This!, host Dennis Fraise welcomes nationally recognized speaker and thought leader Mark Perna for a powerful conversation on career growth, motivation, and personal development.

From the earliest stages of a career to seasoned leadership, Mark and Dennis explore what truly drives long-term success. The discussion dives into the importance of intentionally stepping outside your comfort zone, seeking meaningful mentorship, and committing to continuous self-improvement. Mark shares his personal journey as a public speaker—highlighting the setbacks, failures, and self-reflection that shaped his success—while Dennis underscores how resilience and adaptability are essential traits in economic development and beyond.

Listeners will gain practical insight into how intrinsic motivation, collaboration, and lifelong learning fuel professional impact. The conversation also reinforces a critical truth: success is rarely a solo journey. Growth comes from learning from others, owning your failures, and staying passionate and authentic in your work.

Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned economic development professional, this episode offers thoughtful reminders—and actionable inspiration—on how to build a career that stands out, creates impact, and continues to evolve.

Key Takeaways

• Do something every month that pushes you outside your comfort zone
• Growth starts with being comfortable with discomfort
• Public speaking is a learnable skill—not a fixed talent
• Mentorship accelerates both personal and professional development
• Self-reflection is essential for continuous improvement
• Failure becomes valuable when you learn from it
• Intrinsic motivation fuels lasting success
• Everyone's career path is unique—own yours
• Collaboration is critical; no one succeeds alone
• Strive to be so good they can't ignore you