Mr. Marc: the Adventurous Principle

This interview was written by Chinmay K.

What is a decision you made that you regret?

“I don’t really regret many decisions that I make, but I do think about the decisions I make very seriously. It makes me see how very small decisions can make a very big impact. For example, I met my wife while I was on vacation: I was walking down a small side road in Thailand, and if I didn’t choose to walk down that road at that specific time and didn’t speak to her, I wouldn’t have met her and set my life on a different pathway.

“One decision I can say I regret is that after my university degree, I had a professor who was like a mentor to me, and taught me Sociology as was very fond of Indian Culture and Religion, Chinese Culture and Religion, and more. While I was studying there, my professor got me a scholarship to UCLA, which I said no to. I don’t know why, but I just said no. Then, it took me four more years to go back to school and complete my master’s degree. I kind of regret that a little bit.”

What has made you successful?

“I tend to say yes to a lot of things. I have never been afraid to take a chance on doing something new. For example, when I decided to be an international school teacher, I thought I was a risky choice for anyone to hire. Because I just had a baby. I had just finished my degree and had no teaching experience and had a new family. So I tried really hard to get a job and I did. So from there I just said yes to move to whatever crazy place when I got a job. I moved to Saudi Arabia. And then I moved. Then I got an offer in Mumbai, India. My family was so surprised, but I said yes and I moved to India. This ability to say yes has made me very successful. It was a fun experience and very fun and exciting. I loved it there.

“The other bit is that I want to work really hard and continue to learn. New courses, new chances to learn. I think that has been an important step to be successful for me.”