American-Canadian actor/voice actor Mark Hauser might not seem like the entrepreneurial type. In fact, he spends much of his time on a TV series set or in front of a microphone. When he’s not actively engaged in a current project, he is likely preparing for the next production.
For background, the Mark Hauser IMDB profile shows that this Montreal-based acting veteran has developed a well-rounded portfolio of live-action and animated TV series work. He has also lent his voice acting talents to several popular video games.
Naturally, actor Mark Hauser is also focused on building his acting career. From this perspective, he can easily be considered a solopreneur (or solo business owner). A 2021 IdeaMensch interview offers insights into Hauser’s work ethic, marketing practices, and other aspects of his career. His responses show significant parallels between the professions of acting and entrepreneurship.
Similar Talents and Abilities
On the surface, actors and entrepreneurs appear to have different talents and skills. To illustrate, actors are experts at memorizing lines and delivering dramatic or comedic performances. Entrepreneurs are skilled at producing and marketing a specific product or service.
In reality, the two professions use some of the same talents albeit in different ways. They both deliver a product to a targeted audience, and they must both find a way to reach those viewers.
Bringing a Vision to Life
Actors and entrepreneurs are both seeking to transform a vision into reality. According to the Mark Hauser IdeaMensch interview, the actor works to perfect each nuance of a specific character. An entrepreneur strives to realize the vision they have developed for their company. Although each professional utilizes different tools and methodologies, they are both working toward a similar goal.
Actor Focus
As Mark Hauser expands upon, he is intrigued by the challenge of taking his audience on a journey into another world. To make that journey more believable, he works hard to learn what makes his character tick.
Hauser visualizes the character in detail, and he thinks about the character’s responses to likely scenarios inside the storyline. Finally, he works on transforming himself into that character, and he invites the audience to share in the experience.
Entrepreneur Focus
Every entrepreneur has a singular vision for their company. More specifically, they want to deliver a distinctive product or service experience to their audience. Whether they cater to the consumer or business market, the business owner wants to help solve a problem or provide a better way to accomplish a goal.
To realize that vision, each entrepreneur follows a different path. They design a mission that reflects their vision, and then they create tasks that help them to reach their goal. Throughout the process, they remain focused on their “big picture” vision above all else.
Cultivating a Diverse Skill Set
Actors and entrepreneurs frequently wear a variety of hats. For example, many actors have mastered both comedic and dramatic acting techniques. On the entrepreneurial side, business owners often play several different roles during the course of a typical day.
Actor Focus
An actor who excels at both comedic and dramatic performances, and possesses other in-demand skills, considerably increases their chances of getting steady work. To illustrate, Mark Hauser’s acting career involves acting and voice acting work for live-action and animated TV series. He also provides voice-overs for video games.
Over the years, Mark Hauser has delivered notable comedic and dramatic performances. He is known for his superb scene analysis and character development skills. He is also a master of numerous American dialects. This highly diverse skill set has given Hauser a regular flow of work in an often unpredictable industry.
Entrepreneur Focus
Many entrepreneurs possess an impressive skill set that continues to grow as their business expands. In addition to refining their talents in their chosen field, they develop a workable knowledge of logistics-related areas.
Examples include product distribution, marketing, finance and accounting, and IT support, among others. Where the entrepreneur lacks specific knowledge, they are encouraged to recruit subject matter experts (or SMEs) to provide specialized expertise.
Developing a Task Management System
A good task management system is essential for meeting current goals and creating new ones. Organizing and prioritizing tasks generates a workable framework for accomplishing them.
Actor Focus
To keep track of current projects, and prepare for new ones, actors likely utilize their own task management systems. This enables them to block off time for role preparation, production logistics, and interactions with their agent and other industry professionals.
For example, Mark Hauser is a methodical list maker who writes the next day’s “To Do” List on a simple sticky note. Each task requires some effort but is certainly doable given his time and resources. He finds it very satisfying to scratch off tasks as he completes them.
Entrepreneur Focus
A hard-working entrepreneur typically juggles multiple tasks every day. During any given week, they may be involved in production logistics, marketing and promotion, and finance and accounting projects. Service providers, such as accountants and IT consultants, devote much of their time to client-focused work.
For these busy professionals, a good task management system helps them to stay organized and maintain their sanity. They can prioritize high-level projects while keeping lower-tier tasks on the radar.
Cultivating a Consistently Positive Attitude
A belief that one can accomplish a task is the most important factor in completing it. That belief drives the action plan and fuels determination when obstacles arise during the process.
Mark Hauser references a well-known Henry Ford quote that sums it up clearly and succinctly. Without mincing words, Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”
Actor Focus
From an actor’s perspective, a positive attitude comes into play when pursuing a coveted role. When the actor believes they can land this choice assignment, they put every ounce of their talent into perfecting the character they’ll play. They forge confidently ahead, knowing they are the best candidate for the job.
Entrepreneur Focus
Henry Ford’s quote is equally applicable to a business situation. An entrepreneur’s positive attitude will serve them well as they launch and grow their company. When roadblocks appear (and they will), an optimistic attitude enables the entrepreneur to stay on track, confident that their business will be successful.
Similar Business Operational Guidelines
Whether managing an acting career or running a company, three common operational guidelines underlie both endeavors. However, the guidelines are applied differently in each situation.
Value Hard Work and Skill First
There’s a timeless adage applicable to goal achievement involving other parties and external variables. As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know – it’s who you know.”
Stated another way, a lower-tier candidate with high-level connections will likely get the job. In the process, a superbly qualified candidate without influential friends is rejected.
In reality, however, someone’s on-the-job performance is the real determinant of their career progression. A person who lacks the required skills to master the job will not be successful in the long run.
Actor Focus
In the acting world, the old saying relates to landing a sought-after role in an upcoming production. As voice actor Mark Hauser notes, an actor’s connection to a producer or investor may help to secure this plum assignment. However, the actor’s ability to deliver a believable performance will help to determine whether they keep the role.
Entrepreneur Focus
In the business world, each entrepreneur is often one of several competitors vying for a client’s business. Sometimes, a high-level recommendation will enable one company to win the contract although another business is better equipped to handle the work.
However, the winning company’s success in keeping the contract depends on its ability to adequately fulfill the agreement’s terms. If the company delivers a flawed product or provides substandard services, the client could cancel the contract or decline to renew it.
Design a Targeted Marketing Program
Success in any business endeavor is dependent on finding customers to purchase a specific product or service. A well-executed targeted marketing program will identify those prospects and use appropriate channels to reach them.
Actor Focus
Mark Hauser’s IdeaMensch interview provides some useful insights on this topic. Specifically, an actor is always marketing their services to potential clients. Whether making an introduction to an upcoming show’s key players or cultivating contacts at a bar popular with industry insiders, the actor utilizes every opportunity to advance their career.
Entrepreneur Focus
A marketing-savvy entrepreneur does not randomly cast their net in search of clients. Instead, they develop a coordinated marketing program to reach one or more target markets. In addition, a resourceful business owner is always searching for new ways to market their product or service.
Stay in Contact with Previous Clients
Satisfied clients are often a good source of repeat business. In addition, they will frequently provide referrals to other industry colleagues.
Actor Focus
A production’s casting director and on-set director seek actors who will deliver memorable performances. The director and producer(s) want the production to flow smoothly without disruptions from temperamental performers.
When a talented actor is easy to work with, their services will often be requested for future productions. The director and/or producer(s) may also provide referrals to others in the industry. If the actor has a good rapport with their previous clients, keeping in touch may give them advance notice of an upcoming opportunity.
Entrepreneur Focus
To drive business growth, an entrepreneur must consistently attract new clients. At the same time, the business owner must keep their current clients satisfied.
As part of that process, the entrepreneur should maintain cordial relationships with current clients. In addition to sales and marketing outreach, the business owner should provide value in the form of written or electronic content that may enhance the client’s business. When the client feels appreciated, they are more likely to place re-orders and offer referrals.
Keeping in touch with former clients is also advisable. When a former client is ready to reorder a product or place a service call, an attentive business owner is more likely to gain that business.
Mark Hauser’s wide-ranging IdeaMensch interview helps to illustrate the similarities between acting and entrepreneurship. In either field, a skilled, hard-working professional with an eye on the prize has an excellent chance of success.
