Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Chow.
Hi Eric, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in California to an immigrant family who came to the United States to pursue the American dream. My parents were two professionals, an engineer, and computer programmer respectively until they lost their jobs in 2001. As far back as I can remember, my parents have been working at the airport, the job they got after losing their professions.
Growing up, I was extremely successful academically. I was strong in almost every subject and an excellent student that left a great impression on every teacher. It presented me with a dilemma as I entered high school, and later as I went into university. I was good at most subjects, but none of them particularly interested me as a career. I enjoyed the problem-solving process in mathematics, the fascinating ideas in Psychology, the process of seeking understanding in science, and the power of interpretation and perspective in English and history. But as far as my career, I was completely lost.
After graduating high school, I started three projects. First, I started tutoring math, reading, and writing. I had the skillset and there was an opportunity to get paid for it. Second, I launched The Eric Chow Empowers Podcast, which I saw as a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for meaningful conversation with others, a show that today has listeners in more than 50 countries around the world. Third, I started intentionally networking and connecting with people.
I reconnected with a friend of mine who I used to do martial arts with. He introduced me to the world of business and entrepreneurship, brought me to networking events before the pandemic, and taught me the basics of sales, building teams, leadership, and so much more. I invited a gentleman from Twitter onto my podcast, and less than two years later he made me the Chief Consultant of his public relations firm, Mashman Ventures, where I work with entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals to build an unrivaled personal brand.
I never envisioned what I was going to do with my life. My story is all about wanting to make the most of my time and my skillset and wanting to spend time with quality people as we grow and enjoy life together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Along the way, there were countless challenges. There were people who didn’t understand my decisions or didn’t believe in me when I decided to pursue business/sales/entrepreneurship or when I launched my podcast. There are still people today who think that everything I’m doing right now should be something that I “do on the side” while I pursue “an actual career.” There were moments when I would set goals and fall tremendously short and I would wonder if they were right, that I wasn’t cut out for what I was doing and that instead, I should do something “safe.”
But I would tell that doubter in me to shut up because I understood that pursuing my own path and the life I wanted to live was worth the struggle. I understood that business wasn’t like school–we didn’t fail the class because we failed a few tests in the beginning, in business, and in life, as long as got a few Bs and As at the end, we would be celebrated for our success.
I also remember a lot of uncomfortable moments: making my first sales call, announcing that I was launching my podcast, closing my first client and feeling the pressure of having to deliver results, sitting in a room and thinking I didn’t deserve to be there with those people, and so many more. But I did them anyways because there was something more important than that fear and discomfort–my goals, my family, the people who I was working with who believed in me, and my desire to be successful. I had to raise my self-image and self-confidence, and doing the work to raise my skillset was a big part of that.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Most PR companies focus on massive celebrities and large corporations. Mashman Ventures believes that the power of a strong personal brand is underutilized, and those who build it are the ones who will experience massive, long-term success in the future in whatever industry they are in, as well as in their own personal lives. Learning to leverage PR strategies that have been reserved for only those with a massive following to build a loyal audience and establish oneself is an opportunity that is currently underutilized. How do we do that? That’s where we come in.
I am the Chief Consultant of Mashman Ventures, a public relations company specializing in personal branding. We create, maintain, and scale unrivaled personal brands for those who want to be followed, in demand, and respected. In my role, I work with clients to answer and overcome their pressing questions and challenges with growing their brand, train them to strategize how to grow the brand around themselves as a person and their company and provide services to boost their credibility in the eyes of their target audience through PR strategies.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Orlando is home to so many incredible attractions. Along with Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, Walt Disney chose this city for the world-famous Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot, which are some of the best theme parks in the world today. This city is home to iFly Orlando, one of only 41 iFly Indoor Skydiving locations in the country, and one of the best. It’s a fantastic place to get the feel of skydiving without actually jumping out of a plane (which I also look forward to doing). The Orlando Magic basketball team playing in the Amway Center has been an incredibly successful team that has brought along legends like Shaquille O’Neal. And of course, people all over the world know that Orlando is the place to be for business conferences, vacations, and trips with friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ericchowreal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericchowreal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericchowreal
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericchowreal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChBZNPEDG6ebRGqZ2LWP_ng
Image Credits
Eric Chow
Isaac Mashman
