An executive who resides in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and Jupiter, Florida, Mark Izydore joined CJ Consultants as a co-manager in 2020. In his position with the Florida analytics and advisory company, he provides analytical solutions for firms wishing to increase their market penetration throughout the country. Earlier in his career, Mark Izydore spent several years as an accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. He won an award for a debt-to-equity presentation at the Hall of Gems at the Sara Scaife Museum.
Mark Izydore studied music theory at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh before earning a bachelor of science in accounting from Duquesne University. At Duquesne, he was a member of the Beta Alpha Phi honorary fraternity and a dean’s list student. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he maintains an interest in food and wine. A member of the Les Amis Du Vin wine society, he attends numerous local food and wine events. He also enjoys playing basketball and tennis.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Typical day is take the kids to school, go to work, take kids to activities, eat dinner with wife and kids, and spend quality time together.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I wake up with an idea and manifest it. Usually through an amalgamation of algorithms.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The move back to vinyl records as opposed to digital media. The feeling you get from listening to a record is something no digital source can give you. In digital, one is only feeling 5% of what the music has to offer as opposed to 100% from a vinyl record. I always like to do a simple test: play digital music at a party and watch how people act and interact with each other. Then, put on a vinyl record and watch the party begin. Quite amazing.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Being able to concentrate for hours on end.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The things that you thought were bad in your life actually turned out to be the best, and the things that you thought were the best ended up being the worst.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
That everyone has the power to create their own world.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Exercise regularly every day.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Listen to music.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Having a commitment to honesty will inspire people to follow you unconditionally.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Speaking in front of people was, by far the one failure I had in my career path. Since grade school, I developed a bad stutter which severely affected my future career prospects. As there is no cure for a stutter, it was unknown to me if I could conquer this demon or would it haunt me for the rest of my life. In terms of career related goals, it was a true test of wills. To be a doctor, lawyer, priest or any job that dealt with speaking to people, talking in a fluent manner was tantamount to success. Stuttering or stammering through presentations to others, I felt would be a failure. My parents brought me to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment or possible cure of which there was little known about the condition. So, I dove head-first into music and later accounting which, I thought, would limit my public speaking while achieving the most I could be. After years and years of Children’s hospital I began to use techniques to masque my stuttering which I still use today. It is a debilitating condition which can be overcome by doing the one thing that you fear most…speaking in public and being your best genuine self.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
My proprietary software, which keeps expanding the horizons.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Allegory of the Cave by Plato. It shows the human condition for what it is.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I watched Menasche…a story of a religious man trying to make peace with his family and beliefs.