Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Khoury.
Marcus, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since I was young, I knew that I wanted to be involved in business in some capacity. I guess I was just realistic that my chances of being a Professional athlete where not in the cards. I attended college at the University of North Texas and I was more focused on getting the degree, rather than making great grades. I was definitely more interested in the college experience than the academics. My goal was solely to get the degree. While in college I realized that I wanted to work for myself. I was a Janitor cleaning office building and it was actually a great job for a College student, as long as you could get over the negative assumptions that come with being a Janitor. Due to this experience, an office cleaning business was my first idea for a company. From that point on I knew that I was going to start and own something.
After College in 2005, I was lost as to what direction I wanted to go in, like most recent College Grads. Should I start to find my career right away? Should I take a year off? I decided to take a little time for myself. I went to Japan for a few months and stayed or crashed, depending on whom you ask, with my brother who was living there at the time. This was a great shift for me and I was able to detach from a world I had been so focused on. That experience allowed me to shift 180 degrees and take a bit of time to regroup. After a few months, I was ready to get back and enter the business world. At this point, I knew that I wanted to get into sales in some way, but I was searching for something that would make sense to start. I probably thought about and researched at least 20 ideas. I first needed to find something that I was good at, for me this was a business built on sales. Then, I had to find something that was service based. Lastly, there had to be a need for the product. These aspects were what made sense to me. I needed the company that I started to be one that I fully believed that I could do, along with believing in what the Company did. This is when MK Insurance Services, LLC was started in 2013.
Now we are in full growth mode, and have been there for a few years now. Our foothold gets stronger every day and we also get better every day. There were and still are obstacles we have, but the first 3 years were definitely the hardest. We pride ourselves on being the best in the industry. I started to firmly get a core group together that could see the vision of where I wanted to take MK. The most important part of growth and success has been good Employees. This has allowed us to grow quickly. Over the last 5 years, I have gone from working on my dining room table by myself, to having two full operational offices. We are one of the fastest growing Insurance Brokerage firms in DFW.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been struggles along the way, but there have been some smooth areas as well… The struggle was not so much about starting a business and what it takes to make it successful because I was prepared for the struggle of starting a Business. Doing any research will teach you that you will struggle with finances, time, and stress. All of these were tough, but I was prepared so it wasn’t so much of an actual struggle. It was just something I endured along the way. Regardless if you think that you have made it or not, you must grind as hard as possible for 5 years before you put your head up. I have told myself this over and over. It is advice that I read from Mark Cuban.
This advice, along with others by Mark Cuban helped me with understanding the struggles of starting and owning a business. Having that mindset helped me to avoid having real fear of failing or stress.
The struggles for me were more on the development of the Company and having the right platform for my vision of it. I have never owned or operated a business or had actual employees before this Company so there was anxiety with “on the job training”. You really can’t be fully ready or prepared before you jump in.
I knew that I wanted to be progressive and do business in the way things are currently moving, not relying on the way it always has been. Just when I felt like I was going in the right direction for my ideals on being the kind of “Boss” I wanted to be or the way I wanted the business to run, I would find a challenge. My strongest ability in business has been being able to pivot or change when necessary to benefit my Company. If it wasn’t working or there was a way to do it better, then I would make the change and implement it. Since I started I have done this, and still do. I believe if you are willing to constantly evaluate the progress and operations of the business you will continue to grow. Growing is the number one key, and I will pivot to help growth always.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MK Insurance Services– what should we know?
I have an Insurance Brokerage firm with a location in Dallas and one in Corpus Christi. We will open a location in Houston next year. We focus on Home, Auto, and Commercial Insurance. There are other products that we could have, but our strategy is to be excellent in a focused area, rather than be average at a lot of different areas. We are an Elite Insurance Broker Firm that works for you and has the ability to get you the best deal on the Market. We look at what your needs are, then find the Insurance Company that is going to best fit your budget and particular coverage needs. One of our largest strengths is our Expert Insurance Agents. We will make sure you are properly insured with the lowest cost, giving you the best deal. There is a pride that we take in taking care of our Clients. We will and do turn down Business if we cannot help. We truly are advisors to insurance, and take a huge amount of pride in being honest and an excellent resource. This has helped us gain a large Market share month after month.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
If definitely takes more than yourself in order to have a successful Business. There is a combination of people who did support or supported me in different ways. My wife, Danielle, has always giving me support without doubt of me failing. That is something that really helped me take all the chances that I have, and will continue to take. Reading and listening to Successful Business Men and Women, gives me an understanding of what it takes and what obstacles to look for. Having a good relationship with Networking Partners has enabled us to keep moving forward. We look these groups and individuals as true Partners. We spend a lot of time trying to help grow their Business as well. Finally, the most important is having good, hardworking Employees that share the vision for growth and success. These are hard to find, but once you find them they will be the difference in becoming the best in the industry.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1111 W Mockingbird Lane, Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75247 - Website: www.mkinsurancetx.com
- Phone: 214.222.3673
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MKInsuranceServices/
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