Before he became the founder of a multimillion-dollar business and an author inspiring people to chase their dreams, Mark Pentecost was a high school basketball coach with a big vision and a bigger leap of faith ahead of him.
“I believe dreaming is like a muscle—the more you use it, the bigger it gets. I think risk is the same way,” Mark says. And if that’s true, he’s been training both his entire life.
At just 26 years old, Mark took on his first head varsity coaching job—an ambitious move that pushed him out of his comfort zone and straight into the fire. “It was a big risk,” he recalls. “I was nervous wondering if I could run a program and do everything that was needed to make it successful.” But he did—and it became just one of several pivotal decisions that shaped his journey.
Later, Mark left the stability of teaching and coaching after 16 years to pursue a commission-only sales job with Excel Communications. There was no guaranteed paycheck, no safety net. Just grit, hustle, and belief in the dream. That experience—“eat what you kill” sales—would go on to define his relentless work ethic. “If something wasn’t working, you had to come up with a new strategy. You had to go after it.”
Eventually, that drive turned into something bigger. Together with his wife Cindy, Mark founded It Works!, funding the company with money earned from their Excel sales. Then came the move from Michigan to Florida, a decision that felt risky at the time—he worried about losing key team members—but ended up being a turning point in their story.
Leadership: From Courtside to the Boardroom
Coaching never left Mark—it just evolved.
“I always tell people that I used to coach and teach, and they stop me right there: ‘Used to? You still are!’ And I agree,” he says.
Whether it’s calling plays on the court or building teams in the boardroom, Mark sees leadership as a consistent thread. His job today isn’t all that different: identify talent, cultivate strengths, put people in positions where they can shine. “Just like you wouldn’t put your best three-point shooter under the basket, you don’t want your top innovator stuck in a role that stifles creativity.”
Faith, Family, and the Fight That Matters Most
While business is a huge part of Mark’s life, faith is the foundation.
“Faith has shaped our decisions, kept us grounded through every challenge and triumph,” he says. And that faith became even more personal when Mark found himself facing his biggest battle yet—cancer.
Now, he’s not just surviving. He’s giving back in a major way. Through partnerships with the V Foundation and Moffitt Cancer Center, and by donating 100% of the proceeds from his book Live the Life of Your Dreams to cancer research, Mark is turning his pain into purpose.
The Dream Cycle
Mark’s book isn’t just a memoir—it’s a blueprint. It outlines his “dream cycle,” a seven-step system that helps people go from inspiration to execution. But if there’s one step he believes the world needs right now, it’s Step One: Get in the Game.
“Dreaming is your birthright,” Mark says. “But too often, life’s pressures convince you it’s a luxury you can’t afford.” For anyone stuck in a loop of limiting beliefs—too tired, too broke, too scared—Mark’s advice is simple: audit your time, get creative with your resources, and look for the opportunity sitting right in front of you.
Redefining Success
To Mark, success has never been about the number in your bank account—it’s about the number of lives you impact. In fact, he says most people misunderstand what success really means.
“Success is like a moving target. You start at good, push through to great, and if you’re relentless enough, you might just touch legendary.”
A Life Well Lived
Mark’s story is more than a business success—it’s a testament to faith, family, and the power of taking good risks. Whether he’s on the ranch, at the beach, or behind a boardroom table, one thing is always clear: he’s still dreaming—and still doing something about it.
And if you ask him for the quote that’s carried him through it all? He doesn’t hesitate.
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“When God has blessed you, there is a responsibility to make sure you are giving back.”
“It’s hard to beat someone who never gives up.”