Reality Stranger Than Fiction

Mark did …

At 17, Mark joined the British Army searching for adventure. After his discharge, he ended up in Los Angeles on his way elsewhere when he decided to stay. With just $600 in his pocket, a friend helped him get a job that leveraged his extensive training and survival skills … as a nanny and chauffeur for a Californian family. Mark liked it and the family clearly appreciated having someone who could cook and make beds well while providing security.

After several years in LA, Mark was living the American dream … but something was missing.

Hearing about a gruelling adventure race in Europe Mark formed an American team and entered. There was nothing like it in US. Sensing an opportunity, Mark started his own US based race … Eco-Challenge … which he got a cable television network to help fund.

And that’s when inspiration struck. From personal experience Mark knew that the people involved in the race were real characters. So Mark pitched a new race … as a television show about people. After repeated rejection, one television network finally took a chance. It was an immediate hit.

Today, Mark’s adventure television show is still going strong having been top rated for many years … and has spawned a whole raft of other successful reality shows … Survivor.

Survivor is a great idea … because business often means outwitting, outplaying and outlasting your competitors.