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    Columbus Chamber cbuzz: Mark Henson of sparkspace

    The Columbus Chamber and Capital University have partnered to bring the first business-themed podcast to Columbus. During cbuzz, Columbus-based brand journalist Mikaela Hunt will speak with local business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders and allow them to tell their story and highlight their organization, while further inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit that is buzzing in the city.

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    From a DJ-ing high schooler, to slinging buckeye necklaces on game day, to author and Chief Imagination Officer at sparkspace, on the cbuzz podcast Mark Henson shares how even the earliest of entrepreneurial endeavors influenced his successful 18 years and counting at sparkspace.

    Henson explains what sets his creative meeting space apart.

    “Our goal is to help every group that comes in have their best meeting ever,” Henson says.

    He set out to create the space that most people don’t get to work or live or play in. He wanted to create an environment where people could – gasp – have fun at a meeting!

    “We try to keep everything super simple so when we’re dealing with somebody who is planning a meeting, we’ve taken all the work off of them,” Henson adds.

    It’s a customer service philosophy that’s proactive, rather than reactive.

    “We look ahead and say, ‘What would people need?'” Henson says. “Let’s put that in place so they never have to ask for it; so it’s already there.”

    Hosting over a 1,000 meetings a year, there’s still room for growth and Henson discusses what that looks like for sparkspace. He dives into the understanding they’ve developed of where sparkspace finds new business, and optimizing their space to continue to capitalize on new opportunities.

    There’s talk of superpowers, too. After stopping and starting many books over time, Henson recently penned his first book, Ordinary Superpowers: Unleash the Full Potential of Your Most Natural Talents. 

    It was a process filled with many revelations.

    “I thought I had to have it all done before I wrote it,” Henson says, but as he wrote he found the book revealed itself to him.

    Perhaps that was his superpower? Henson stresses the importance of the ordinary and individuals tapping into their natural abilities.

    “We never stop to realize that those things set us apart,” he says. “They’re special; not everybody has them.”

    Click here to listen to the full podcast featuring Mark Henson of sparkspace.
    Click here to listen to the full podcast featuring Mark Henson of sparkspace.

    During the podcast, Henson also shares why balance should be used as a verb in the infinite quest for work-life balance…or integration? (Sometimes you’ve gotta let it flow.) There’s a valuable lesson on Columbus Chamber membership, too.

    “They helped me as a business owner determine some salaries,” Henson says. “They offered so much more than we were ever aware of.”

    Listen to the full podcast for event more advice and insights on operating a successful business.

    For more information, visit sparkspace.com.

    Never miss a cbuzz podcast! Visit the Columbus Chamber website for more great stories and advice from local business owners.

    — The Columbus Chamber of Commerce offers news, information and other resources that are free and available to all businesses at columbus.org. —

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    Susan Post
    Susan Post
    Susan is the editor of The Metropreneur and associate editor of Columbus Underground, and also covers small business and entrepreneurial news and the food scene in Central Ohio.Susan holds a degree in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from The Ohio State University. She sits on the board of the Central Ohio Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and loves coffee, whiskey, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
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