Tony Mariot

Be honest. Ask yourself why you believe what you believe, and answer it honestly.

 

Dr. Tony Mariot is an Executive Consultant for the research department on Biblical Antiquities from Oxford University in England. He answers questions from students at the Oxford schools. He specializes in the apocalypse or end of the world scenarios. He also researches for the board of regents to support archaeological finds. His work proves biblical accounts through archaeological research. When he writes and evidence-based article that is compelling enough in its presentation, the board will raise money to commission an archaeology team to go out on a dig. Tony will take part in selecting the team as well. Dr. Mariot earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from National University in 1984. He went on to earn his Masters of Theology from the University of Oxford at St. Peter’s College in 1997, and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Theology from the University of Oxford at Christ Church in 2009. As a freelance writer and technical expert biblical researcher, Dr. Mariot has worked for National Geographic. He has been a researcher for shows aired on Ancient Secrets of the Bible and National Geographic’s Magazine on The Search for King David. He contributes as a writer on leading blog sites like Quora and Medium. He is the published author of the Behind the Faith Series with WIPF & Stock, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

I was offered the position as a researcher by Oxford, When I accepted the position I began my research right away.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

The first thing I do is look at the list of articles requested. I choose the articles I want to write. Sometimes I choose an article based on my personal interest. I have a series of evidential research articles that include artistic renderings and photographs of relics. I research the archives at antiquity departments we partner with for any prior discourses on a subject prior to writing. I make sure that the biblical account is fashioned after the original question to provide fact-based evidence and then I expand from that point.

How do you bring ideas to life?

No one likes to read technical writing. I try to write a story to answer the questions. I use pictures to try to bring the story to life. For example, I was asked, “What was the value of a millstone.” The most popular biblical account about a millstone is Jesus saying, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6. I used an illustration of a guy with a millstone around his neck being thrown into the ocean with a shark coming after him. This helps to bring the text to life while moving the article along.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One of the things that excites me is that more and more people are interested in the signs of the times. My specialty is the end of the world. Today, there are more movies and television series and more discussion about the end of the world. There is The Walking Dead, Avengers End Game, and even older films like I Am Legend, with Will Smith. All these apocalyptic movies are borrowing from biblical accounts to some extent. This helps to move the conversation about biblical antiquity in general and the end of the world scenarios specifically. The film industry as a result is a lot more receptive to actual biblical topics and story telling which moves the conversation as a whole around the world. Which is what I like.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

The biggest habit that I do all the time is my to-do list.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be honest. Ask yourself why you believe what you believe, and answer it honestly.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Nobody agreed with me on an aspect of my dissertation that states the majority who go heaven go the hell anyway. How can you go to hell once you have been in heaven? It is based on Revelation 20 verses 7-9. These verses deal with the period after the battle of Armageddon and after the thousand-year reign. According to the biblical account, there is no one left but Christians on the earth at the point of the thousand year reign. The hard part was that for centuries most people that read the passage in Revelation 20, never read it from the perspective I offered. Making such a statement is so provocative, people thought I was making it up. But then, they read the context and said OMG, it looks like you’re right. It was my first real break through on the subject which turned into my book series Behind The Faith.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Make sure you make your list for the day. Get the hardest things done first. Get it out of the way. Never do the hardest thing at the end of the day. If you spend all your energy on all the little things by the time you get to the hard things you are already spent and take short cuts. Besides, if you do the hardest thing first the rest of the day goes easier. Check the work off the list as it’s getting done.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

One strategy that has helped me grow my business is that I don’t interject anything personal into my writing. I keep it fact-based, which creates more interest. If you write personally then the only people that are going to read your work are the people who agree with you. But, if you write facts, whether they agree with you, like you, or not they cannot dispute the facts. Therefore, you have a bigger pallet to operate from. More people will gravitate towards your work. When you are neutral, you’re just stating the facts. Don’t take it personally, don’t write it personally, stick to the facts and let the facts speak for themselves. Don’t ever get personally caught up in the story.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I have had many failures. I get rejected a lot. For example, writing for Sivana East I would give a complete perspective. But it gets rejected. They do not want to publish anything with a pure Christian slant, they are about Eastern Philosophy which is the only reason I write for them. My job is biblical antiquities and eastern religion has its effects in that space. I had to reshape the way that I write just for this one group. It helps me to be even more neutral without a hint of a preference.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I have been toying with the idea of building a voter app. It would allow people to vote from their phone using fingerprint technology. More people would vote if they could do it from the comfort of their homes. In addition to their own fingerprint, they would have to have a real identification, a real social security number, a real date of birth, and be a real person. All information would be taken. It would be real-time voting. It has to be encrypted so that votes can’t be changed. Its illegal in California as of now. That is one thing I am working on myself, but if someone has got more money and more ability, let them do it or contact me to collaborate.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I bought some Bluetooth earbuds, they are great!

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Adobe. It is great for creating PDF’s

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson

What is your favorite quote?

“but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Key Learnings:

• Don’t take it personal, don’t write it personal, stick to the facts and let the facts speak for themselves.
• Don’t ever get personally caught-up in the story.
• Make sure you make your list for the day. Get the hardest things done first.