We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Wiggins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor for me is embracing the fact that Success is personal!. What may look like success to me, may not look like success to you and vice versa. Once you can grapple with that thought, and realize that your goals are the only true measure of success, then you can open your mind up to the possibilities that await you. Here is the best reason of all to allow others to define your success. If you give people the power to define your successes, you also give them the ability and power to define your failures. Not sure if I want others to tell me when I failed. Based on their perspective of what my dreams are.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others is my job. It allows me to create and serve people at the same time. I have taken my past business experiences both successes and failures to make my current situation different and better than before. One major lesson learned from my past business ownership that benefits me now is how to manage expectations. This is an area that can affect you more than not being able to do something. When you can manage expectations, it allows you to show up even bigger than expected. The old saying is true, “under promise, over deliver” This creates an experience and feeling that people will take with them past the purchase of a product or service.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living near the Washington DC area, you have soo much to do and see it’s almost overwhelming. But the visitors would look something like this. Tour of the monuments, the Martin Luther King monument, the Tidal basin area which has several other iconic monuments. Then we would have to see the African American Museum, absolutely stunning and powerful. Nightlife is a major thing here. We would go see live jazz at one of the historic churches that turn into a music venue on the weekends and serve the best fish plates in the area. Next, we would have to visit the National Harbor, which has the MGM hotel and casino, as then the harbor itself with restaurants and lounges for every taste. DC is known for its rooftop lounges, and one of the best is at the newly built waterfront wharf. With a great view of the Potomac River and the DC monuments. The last day would have to include a brunch again. DC has some of the best brunch places around. One of my favorites is the Kennedy Center. The view and food, and venue are worth the wait to get in. After that, you would have effectively “DONE” DC, but you would need to come back. That was just a taste.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Let me shout out a few folks. First is my Family. mom, Marcia Wiggins, my sister Dr. Valencia Wiggins and my grown children Micaiah and Marcellus Wiggins. They are the fuel for the drive. Next, I would like to shout out to The men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc The Dulles-Leesburg Alumni Chapter. They have been of great support over the years and provide a great place to train for leadership. Shoutout to my EA Christina Davis for the support in helping me get this magazine up and running without her attention to detail, I would still be on the first issue. Facts. To my coach Marissa Bloedoorn for helping me through this process and coaching me up during the process. Last but not least, thanks and praise to God for the gifting, the talents, and the responsibility to use them to His Glory. NONE of this would be possible without HIM.!.

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