Big Idea Dreams Come True for Local Entrepreneur

Posted by on October 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

By: Sara Bridget Au

Maro Onokpise, CEO and Founder of Success For Tomorrow, Inc., always knew he’d one day be a guest on CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, he just didn’t know when. “I am a huge fan of the show, so mentally I had always envisioned myself being on,” relates Onokpise, of Orlando. He says he was actually not surprised when the call came. “In my mirror, I have a picture of the Big Idea logo, so I see it first thing every morning. There is something to the saying that what you focus on, you attract.” The week before Halloween, his dream came true.

Flash backwards two and a half years ago, this UCF grad had a brainstorm. “I woke up in the middle of the night with a flood of ideas… within 30 minutes I had the entire business plan laid out.” Onokpise then launched his consulting company that provides career development, including resume services, to individuals, groups, and downsizing companies. “That is never an easy time for anyone, but at least the former employees know they can get their resumes updated and ready for that next opportunity.”

But it was actually a clock penholder that first got the attention of CNBC and Deutsch. The enterprising Onokpise started another company, developing a line of stylish office products. The debut item is a penholder cup with an LCD clock, calendar and temperature gauge on the front. The product was picked up by CB&S Bookstore and he’s also got some national retailers interested. He put out an announcement via www.PRWeb.com to hundreds of media outlets. “I underestimated the power of that press release,” Onokpise admits.

Soon after, Deutsch came calling, and Onokpise was winging his way north for the show’s taping. “I was so excited to speak about the clock penholders, but they wanted to hear more about the consulting that we do,” he recalls. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we partnered with Volunteers for Careers to offer resume writing services free of charge.”

As exciting as this experience already was, it was about to get better. The show’s special guest was P-Diddy, an idol of Onokpise since high school. “The best thing about this whole process was learning from Donny, Diddy, and the other entrepreneurs I met. Above everything else, I learned that although the clocks have been a great seller, my true focus should be on my career consulting business.”

This experience, says Onokpise, is a testament to focusing on achievement of a goal and he is really optimistic for the future. “If you have the passion for something and the determination to go along with it, nothing is impossible.”

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