[quote style=”boxed”]If there is an idea I am excited about, I am of the mindset “just shut up and do it”. Figure out what is needed and just make it happen; the little things will fall in to place.[/quote]
Michael Mothner is a serial entrepreneur and Internet pioneer, having founded his first software company at the age of fourteen. In 2001, out of his dorm room at Dartmouth College, Michael founded Wpromote, Inc. where he is currently the President and CEO. Michael is an active member of the online marketing community having been a regular speaker at industry events and quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine and BusinessWeek. He was also featured by Inc Magazine as one of “30 CEO’s under 30 To Watch” and was the recipient of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.
With an innovative, proprietary search platform and over 75 employees at the Los Angeles headquarters, Wpromote provides powerful and effective online marketing solutions to over 2,000 clients worldwide. Wpromote offers holistic marketing solutions for top brands such as HP, Vans, SAP, Bayer Health Care, Allied Van Lines and Wine.com as well as affordable services for small businesses and local professionals. Wpromote is the world’s #1 ranked search engine marketing firm by TopSEOs.com and a four-time Inc 500|5000 honoree, which ranks the fastest growing private companies in the country.
What are you working on right now?
Writing a speech for a conference addressing major ad agencies and global brands on the convergence of traditional and digital media that I deliver in two days in Beirut.
What does your typical day look like?
When I am not traveling (which is about 1 or 2 trips per month, probably away about 1/3 of the time), I wake up at 7am, fire off early emails from bed for an hour and then head into the office where my day is probably split about in thirds between internal departmental meetings, client or partner meetings, and working on email. If my schedule permits I hit the gym during lunch, try to head home around 6 to cook dinner (I love to cook!), walk my dog and get to bed by 11, with the last thing I do being working on that email inbox, needless to say.
What are two trends that excite you?
1. The convergence of devices (the lines between my phone, ipad and laptop are starting to become quite blurry)
2. Seeing how the “social layer” is starting to change the way to communicate, share and buy.
How do you bring ideas to life?
If there is an idea I am excited about, I am of the mindset “just shut up and do it”. Figure out what is needed and just make it happen; the little things will fall in to place.
What inspires you?
Seeing all of the great ideas, gadgets, inventions, paradigms, and so forth that I didn’t come up with and wish I had!
What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?
I tried to do too much, wear too many hats, for too long. Investing the time in everything from HR to accounting support as well as enabling those around me to do more, ultimately made me more productive, valuable and able to sleep better at night.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think there are lots of super messy, fragmented traditional industries with no 800lb gorilla that are just ripe for a good, smart company to use technology and scale to just take over and create a far superior experience for consumers. One example would be the handyman industry. This is a problem that everyone experiences for which there clearly is “a better way”.
What do you read every day, and why?
Techcrunch, Gizmodo and the WSJ; it’s my triple threat of internet, technology, and business!
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and Why?
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh; a great combination of an inside look into the building of a tech startup all the way through a billion dollar plus exit, as well as a terrific book on the philosophy of customer service. I consider it required reading at my companies.
What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?
My MacBook Pro (though filled out with my iPhone, iPad and new small Kindle).
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
How about Chris Sacca? Early Googler, investor in Twitter and other Web 2.0/3.0 startups, and one snarky fellow!
What’s your biggest pet peeve among employees, partners, co-workers (and yourself, if you are guilty of it as well):
People that don’t meet their own deadlines. If you say something is going to be done Tuesday, and you even came up with that day, then it should absolutely, positively be done then.
What’s your favorite recreational activity?
Casual bike ride on the beach on a beautiful summer day.
Connect
www.wpromote.com
Twitter.com/wpromote
Facebook.com/wpromote
Wpromote.com/blog
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.