If failure is not an option, what do you think you can achieve? For today’s guest, Mark Block, it was making the shift from law to becoming an entrepreneur. Mark, is a man who needs hardly any introduction but If you don’t know, Mark is a talent agent who seeks out and manages the best in modeling, acting, and social media influence based in Nashville with its second base in Denver. Mark started his career life as an attorney, but after a much-needed career change, he moved to Nashville and started the Block Agency which quickly rose to prominence and currently manages 600+ talents. 

Let’s get right into the episode and learn from Mark’s story how determination can push you through the rough times of entrepreneurship and the importance of mastering the art of working with people. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 09:30] Opening Segment

• I welcome and introduce my guest, Mark Block, to the show 
• Mark gives us a bit of background 
• Recovering attorney in corporate law 
• Moved to Nashville 
• Started the Block Agency 
• Second-home in Denver 
• Mark talks about his early life 
• Mark’s experience moving to the south from New Jersey 
• Escaping the rat race 
• Mark talks about his biggest idol as a kid 
• Dan Marino 
• Less of a pedestal and more of an interest 
• Mark’s interest in football

[09:31 – 16:52] Making the Shift from Attorney to Entrepreneurship

• Mark talks about his transition out of law 
• Just a way to pay off student loans at first 
• Entrepreneurship just kind of happened 
• Happy to have the degree still 
• Early motivations - determination 
• Mark talks about what it’s like starting your own business 
• You got to go with your gut 
• Mark shares about life owning a business 
• You need the extra challenge 
• You live for it 

[16:53 – 32:58] The Art of Managing People 

• Mark’s biggest lesson in managing people 
• Managing 600+ talents 
• Everyone is different and you have to treat them differently 
• The challenge of managing different generations on one job 
• How to connect with the client and the talent
• Meet every person
• Ask questions  
• Understand the wants and needs and match them with the right people 
• We talk about local politics 
• What Mark would do as Mayor 
• Education 
• Roll your sleeves up 
• Elect the people who have actually done what they say they want to do 
• The country doesn’t have revenue problems it has spending problems 
• Why people are frustrated with the own people they’ve voted in 
• Career politics 
• Someone needs to make the tough decisions 
• Don’t forget you’re serving people 
• You can’t elect a person who didn’t experience the ways of the city 
• Mark talks about understanding people