An Interview with Mark Victor Hansen

I remember my first copy of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul. I read it in high school and put post-its on the stories that most touched me. I still remember how excited I was by those stories.

Over the years, I've revisited them--and many of the additional Chicken Soup books. They met a need I had--and obviously I wasn't alone in that. They're ongoing bestsellers and I suspect they will be for a while.

Today, it's my pleasure to introduce you to one of the co-creators of that series, Mark Victor Hansen. Mark has a new project, GoRichKids.com, which teaches kids and parents how they can become successful entrepreneurs.

Mark's also generously offering a free copy of the ebook ofThe Richest Kid in America to a CatholicMom.com reader. See the details at the end of the interview.

What's the greatest hurdle, or hurdles, you have faced and continue to face?

The greatest hurdle I face is having enough time to do all the great things I want to do. I carry my journal with me everywhere and I also journal on the computer. I document all the stuff I want to do. I have enough stuff in my thought-escrow for 100 lifetimes.

I my goal is to get a million kids in America to graduate from GoRichKids.com, but that's just one of the many, many things I have yet to do.

I want to go speak in every one of the 228 countries. I've done talks in 78 of them so far.

I want to climb all the best mountains. I’ve already climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Fuji in Japan and Mt. Whitney in the United States.

So there's just a plethora of stuff that I want to do but all I need is time. I figured out how to compress my time and do more with less. I model my life after people I really admire like my friend, Richard Branson of Virgin Enterprises. He runs 300 companies and yet he still has time to kite glide.

In all of your various commitments, what is your greatest challenge? How do you face and conquer that challenge?

The greatest challenge is always conquering your own fears and doubts about being good enough, strong enough, smart enough and having enough money to carry out your dreams.

With me, it's always an inside-out job. Conquering those fears and doubts is always paramount. This is why I suggest you write on a 3 x 5 card, "I'm so happy doing what I am doing." Be very, very specific as to the date, time, and the cost to reach your goal. You will be amazed at how quickly your goals can become a reality.

What books are you reading these days and what novels inspire you?

The nonfiction book that I am just so utterly touched and excited by is Abundance. Dr. Peter Diamandis is the co-author.  It depicts an abundant future where we can take care of 100% of humanity.

As for the best fiction book,  I just finished a Nora Robert book when we were on vacation.

It still amazes me how you can get so absorbed by these books.  I think I've got 50,000 books, many of which I collected just because someday I want to read them all.

I'm the spokesperson this year for Literacy Volunteers.  Last year, we did an event with Barbara Bush and they raised a lot of money.   Sandra Brown was there as well as Jean Auel, who wrote Clan of the Cave Bear and those great books on prehistoric times.  I think there are some writers that are just so phenomenal.  In the old days, you had a few famous writers get together,  but now, because of transportation, computerization, and communication,  we all get to come together in one place. It is phenomenal and so mind-expanding.  What an opportunity.

What has been the greatest blessing in all of this for you?

My greatest blessing is my beloved.  I married her and she and I are as one. Most people say they want a soul mate. Well, I have the next highest iteration of that in a soul mate. She is Crystal Dwyer-Hansen and is the most extraordinary, wise, beautiful, enlightened being on the planet. To me, she has been the blessing of blessings.

If you're interested in a free copy of Mark's ebook, The Richest Kid in America, leave a comment on this post by Thursday, September 6, and we'll randomly select a winner.

Copyright 2012 Sarah Reinhard