My name is Mario. Last name Johnson. I kid. Last name Schulzke.
I started IdeaMensch to share 8,000+ founder stories, cut my teeth in advertising running big-brand campaigns up and down the West Coast, spent a decade as a CMO, and now am the COO at Pathlabs while teaching marketing at the University of Montana.
My goal in life used to be to live an interesting life.
Then I had a child.
I am an immigrant, a grandson of refugees, a (slow)Ironman, and a Costco Exec member. My lifemates are a curly-haired wife, a toddler who won't nap, a cat named Walter, and a vindictive long-haired wiener dog.
Trust Battery
Think of trust like a battery. When you start a new job, that battery shouldn’t be empty or full — it should be somewhere in the middle. Enough juice to give you a fair chance to prove yourself, but not so much that anyone’s betting the company on day
Systems
Systems are everywhere. Your job is a system. Your house is a system. Your car, your company, your investments—systems. I’m German. Systems are our love language. But here’s the thing: if you don’t manage them, systems turn into headaches, heartaches, and liabilities in no time. At
Philosophy
People who have a philosophy on life live a richer life. I don't know if that's true, but I believe it. Why? Because a life philosophy doesn't emerge from isolation – it develops through a combination of learning and experiences. Each new insight and adventure
Overpowered
I drive an old car. I mean not that old. But like 20 years old. To maximize the value I get from that car, I installed a new Apple Carplay stereo and remote starter. It seemed like a great idea. Plug in my phone. Listen to podcasts. Start my car
Loser's Game
I love to play ping pong. It's social. It's fun. It's fast. I'm a top 100 player here in Missoula, Montana. When I tell people ping pong is a loser's game for me, they usually react like: 'Come on,
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