Five Success Principles from a Six-Career Entrepreneur

Few people can claim as diverse a career path as Mark Barnette. From military service to investigative journalism, from college presidency to founding a university in Dubai, Barnette's journey exemplifies the power of embracing new challenges and building meaningful connections.

"I've had six different careers," Barnette reflects. "Military, newspaper work, photojournalism, investigative reporting, college president, instructor, dean – I've done it all." This variety of experiences hasn't just built an impressive resume; it's shaped his philosophy on success and leadership.

After retiring at 45 with four published books to his name, Barnette discovered what many high-achievers learn: traditional retirement can be surprisingly unfulfilling. "Retirement's not all it's cracked up to be," he says. "It sounds like a great thing until you're there, until you've played every hole on the golf course from every tee box."

His restless entrepreneurial spirit led him to ValuTeachers, where he found a new challenge: reestablishing ValuTeachers' presence in a large school system in North Florida after a 12-year hiatus. Drawing on his extensive network – partially inherited from his father and partially built through years of relationship cultivation – Barnette navigated the complex web of local politics and community interests to achieve what others couldn't.

His approach to networking offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. "It's not about collecting contacts," Barnette explains. "Most of the conversations I have, I don't even try to conduct business." Instead, he focuses on genuine connection, following a principle he learned years ago in Los Angeles: never get more than three favors ahead or behind with anyone, and always be ready to help others without immediate expectation of return.

This philosophy extends to his leadership style. During his years running colleges, Barnette developed a unique approach to hiring. While his staff evaluated candidates' qualifications, he focused solely on personality fit. "You can teach people a lot," he notes, "but you can't teach personality. The fit is what's important."

For Barnette, the entrepreneurial drive isn't about financial gain. "Entrepreneurs don't do it for the money," he insists. "You do it for the thrill. Entrepreneurs build and succeed for the thrill of building and succeeding. The money comes if you do it right, but it's the thrill of success that drives you."

His current work with ValuTeachers in North Carolina reflects this philosophy. While maintaining connections with clients in Jacksonville, he's now working to replicate his success in Charlotte. The challenge of building something new continues to motivate him. "I like to wake up and not think I've got to do the same thing today that I did yesterday," he says. "That's the fun of it. You don't know what's going to happen. You have possibilities and challenges."

Barnette's story offers several key insights for success:

1. Never stop learning and taking on new challenges

2. Focus on building genuine relationships without immediate expectations

3. Value personality fit as much as technical qualifications

4. Embrace the journey and the thrill of building something new

5. Stay hungry for new opportunities, even after achieving traditional measures of success

As Barnette continues to expand his impact through ValuTeachers, his journey serves as a reminder that success isn't about following a predetermined path – it's about remaining open to new possibilities and maintaining the courage to pursue them.

"I'm still hungry," he says, perfectly summarizing the mindset that has driven his success across multiple careers and continues to fuel his entrepreneurial spirit today.

Curious about working with ValuTeachers? We're looking for mission-driven people to join our team as retirement educators to help more educators and school employees retire with financial dignity. We'd love to meet you, click here to set up a quick chat!