The Charles Mann Interview

What is your morning routine?
A: Of course, during the Pandemic it has been different. I normally wake up around 6:30am thinking about my 29-year-old son who works graveyard at a local hotel. I go to sleep praying for his safety. Grab a cup of coffee and normally I’d run to the gym down the street a half a mile, for my cosmetic workout, but during Covid 19 it’s finishing up the day before work that wasn’t completed. I do a lot of paperwork, so its very methodical kinds of work. By 9:30am I start with my first Microsoft Teams or Zoom call. I may go to the office outside my home twice or three times a week just to check in with folks.

How would you describe what you do?
A: I run a company, which requires doing a little bit of everything. I was once told, “The more you can do the more you will.” I was also told, “That if I have to do everything than what do I need employees for?” Most of what I do is communicate to most of my business contacts about our company, as to keep it in the front of their minds. Also, spend a great deal of time certifying to different agencies to gain access to diversity and inclusion business.  

What is the last book or article you read and what was your biggest takeaway?
A: I love audio books and I love John Grisham as an author. His books are more suspense and thrillers. I get to lose myself in these books and for a few hours I’m not thinking about any of the cares of this world. The takeaway is finding a hobby or something that requires something different of you. It’s like Cross-Fit, the benefit a Cross-Fit is that you get to use different muscles by doing a different physical exercise. By reading these John Grisham books even through the audio format I began to exercise different parts of my brain, which is beneficial in the long run.

Identify one trend in your industry you predict will change how business is done?
A: I’m in the Construction industry and I believe that the way we build buildings will change dramatically in the near future. Not just making buildings smarter and more connected to our devices, but the way we build structurally and able to withstand high winds and water damage and even fires. That means building codes will evolve to meet these new standards and architects will design at a higher level of efficiency.

What’s your favorite productivity habit?
A: My oldest brother once told me that, “You only need to know something when you need to know it.” I believe people can retain information when it’s ready to be applied. Some knowledge is just random information until it can be applied in a situation where it’s needed. So, I don’t fill myself up with a bunch of random information instead I learn what is needed to accomplish a desired function.

In business what is something that most people learn only after it’s too late?
A: You need to be in at least a jog to not miss an opportunity. If you are flat footed and walking opportunities will continue to pass you by. You can never go from walking to sprinting in enough time to catch an opportunity, you will pull a hamstring, literally! Translation do the ground work early and began moving forward, even if you’re not sure exactly where you’re headed, so when the opportunity presents itself you don’t have to start from 0 to 100 to catch up.

____________

About Charles Mann:

Charles is a former twelve (12) year veteran of the National Football League, three (3) time Super Bowl Champion and four (4) time NFL Pro Bowl Player.  Following his playing career, Charles has been involved in various leadership roles at successful for-profit and non-profit enterprises and is actively involved in social and civic causes.

Charles currently manages the daily operations of his government contracting and marketing business, which includes business development efforts in the private sector as well.  Charles has provided consulting services to various entities including a MEP engineering firm, an 8(a)-government contracting company and a credit card processing firm. He has also aided in the business development efforts of companies such as University Health System, which owns two hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana, Alliance Engineers and B3 Enterprises.

Charles has been involved with the National Kidney Foundation, United Way, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, the Border Babies Foundation, the “Read to Achieve Program,” “Why School is Cool” Program, the Metropolitan Boys and Girls Clubs, Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Cancer Foundation and President Clinton’s National Service Initiative Committee.

Social Media:

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/charles-mann-a463a217

Company Website: www.cmegov.com