Ronnie Nijmeh of ACQYR.com interviewed Marc Warnke, the Family First Entrepreneur. Marc’s philosophy is to love the people in his life more than anything else. This simple idea is what drives Marc to help others discover work-life balance while creating financial, emotional, and spiritual wealth.

Interview with Marc Warnke, the Family First Entrepreneur

Q: Marc, what got you started in the business world?

A: Necessity started me down the entrepreneurial path.  We were very poor when I was a kid and if I wanted anything (new school clothes, a car, fun money, etc.), it was up to me.  I held my first job when I was 9 and I started my first business at the age of 12.

Q: You refer to “transition moments” in your life.  What are a few key transitions that sparked change in your lifestyle, choices, and actions?

A: There were two large transition moments, and each had a significant impact on my early life.  The first came when I realized that I was an alcoholic.  At that moment, I committed myself to getting sober and I vowed to change my life. I now have sixteen years of sobriety.

The second happened when I realized that reading for information was a key to supercharging my wisdom.  I threw away my TV, and for seven years I read for information.  I have read thousands of informational books on business, personal growth, motivation, sales, parenting, marriage, and on and on.  These two moments were huge, and they helped shape me into the person I am today.

Q: In these uncertain economic times, there are plenty of transition periods for us all. What’s your advice for dealing with transitions?

A: Shifts in the economy are not things that we can control, so I do not believe that people should dwell on them.  I am a firm believer that we are only in control of two things, our choices and our behavior.  I learned to make peace with this concept through one element of my spirituality—the idea that the things that are out of my control are in the hands of a Higher Power, whom I choose to call God.

When events take place that “throw us a curve ball,” a sound sense of spirituality in business will allow us to evaluate the things that we can control more effectively. This allows us to let go and to adapt rather than absorbing guilt which moves to shame and eventually shows up as stagnation.  My business life, my family life, and my spiritual life all blend together and letting go of the things I can’t control helps me keep those three parts of my life in balance.

The process of transition itself is a process of sound decision making.  I teach a method of making sound decisions called, Ready, Aim, Fire. And I deal with it extensively in my book.  Good transitions start with good decisions based on an intended outcome.

Q:  As a life coach, what are some common challenges your clients face? What kind of tips do you give them to overcome these challenges?

A: I’m always amazed at how much my clients want to talk about their families in the life coaching sessions. More often than not, people talk about how their business dealings relate to their families rather than just talking about business or wealth creation.  For the people who align with my message, the family piece is what matters most to them.  They want to talk about it, explore options, and create solutions.

Parents often want to know how to create more time with their kids.  My simple solution to this question is: make more money in less time and/or limit your lifestyle.  My book ONO addresses these two topics extensively.  It helps my clients deal with the feelings associated with choices they need to make, choices which are sometimes tough ones.

Along those same lines, people want to know how to have a better work/life balance. I have them focus on two important areas of the work/life balance dilemma.  One is learning how to maintain serenity in business so that trouble and frustration in the workplace don’t show up at home.  The second is to create a system of priorities that keeps family first in business-related decisions and consumption choices.

Q: So you have a new book entitled ONO, Options not Obligations. What’s it all about?

A: ONO is the acronym for Options Not Obligations, and it is also the Hawaiian word for delicious.

This book was written to help Family First Entrepreneurs develop a method of ethical entrepreneurism that will allow them to capture and take advantage of their most important asset, time.  T-I-M-E is how kids spell love, and we have to buy that time.  We can do it two ways—make more, or spend less.  ONO introduces a way to do these things simultaneously, a way that feels good and is easy to accomplish. This method, along with being disciplined about saving and investing, make things like fulfilling your higher purpose here on earth possible.

ONO teaches a wealth creation methodology that involves the specific intention to make a difference first, and create profit second.  It also teaches personal growth and learning as important lifestyle elements. The overriding theme of the book is putting your family first.  ONO has aspects of “how to,” in it, but it teaches you “how to think,” a skill which is far more valuable than “how to do.”

Q: What are 3 key points from the book that we should take to heart?

• Keep your family first
• Define and fulfill your higher purpose
• Create a life full of options as opposed to obligations

Q: How can people reach you about your book, coaching, or professional speaking?

A: You will be able to find anything you need on my website, Marc Warnke.  It has my blog, offered services, contact information and a place to order my book.