Podcast Intro: Are you ready to change your habits, sculpt your destiny, and light up your path to greatness? Welcome to the epicenter of transformation. This is Mick Unplugged. We’ll help you identify your because so you can create a routine that’s not just productive, but powerful. You’ll embrace the art of evolution, adapt strategies to stay ahead of the game, and take a step toward the extraordinary.

So let’s unleash your potential. Now, here’s Mick.

Mick Hunt: Alright, everybody. Welcome to this dynamic episode of Mick Unplugged where we are getting unplugged today with one of the people that has inspired me from afar for a very long time. And I am truly honored to be face to face with him virtually, even though we only live like 15 seconds apart from each other. So honored to be here with the man, the myth, the legend, mister Marcus Ogden. Marcus, welcome to the show, my man.

Marques Ogden: I’m doing well, my friend. How are you doing today, Nick?

Mick Hunt: I’m doing great. I’m doing great. So wanna get into it. You have an amazing story. You have an amazing journey.

And when I talk about being inspired by you, this is why. You always figure it out. You always figure it out. And and this is what I love. So for everyone listening or if you’re watching, every day is never beautiful.

Right? Every day is not gonna be perfect, but it’s that drive. And we talk about being powered and fueled by our because. Right? It’s that thing, and Marcus Ogden is the epitome of that thing.

So, Marcus, I would love for you to take it wherever you wanna go as transparent as you wanna be with your journey. But when I talk about inspiration and when I talk about you’re gonna get your butt knocked down, what you do next defines who you are, mister Marcus Otter, ladies and gentlemen.

Marques Ogden: Appreciate you, Mick. So I’m from Washington DC. I live in Fuqua, Greene, North Carolina. I have to have barbecue over over in Wake Forest. I’m about 20 minutes, half hour outside of Raleigh, North Carolina.

I went to Howard University. I was very fortunate. I played the National Football League for about 6 years. That was fantastic. Played for some great coaches, Jack Del Rio, Ryan Bilic, Mike Malarkey, Jeff Fisher.

They were some great teammates, my brother, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and you’re a 100% right, Mick. Everybody that I played with, played against, or was coached by or coached against has that mentality of resiliency. When you get knocked down, you gotta get up, you gotta figure it out, you gotta move forward. You have a great relationship with Les Brown. That is the epitome of Les Brown.

Knocked down, got up, used his story of getting up to help others. And that’s what you’re doing in your speaking. That’s what I’m doing in my speaking. So at my NFL career, I struggled immensely with what to do next. And I hooked on alcohol.

I hooked on narcotics pain killers to feel better. I had a huge hole. I had a huge void in my life. Football was about 15 years plus of my life, and I didn’t have it anymore. It was gone.

So I had to be able to do next. And so finally, I put down the alcohol, the painkillers, and I started Cadence Premier Enterprises. We became the largest African American owned subcontracting company in the area of site work, grading, utilities, development in Baltimore City and the state of Maryland. But, unfortunately, right, Mick, as the company grew, my bravado, my sense of thinking I was better than everybody else grew, my sense of thinking I was always right no matter what, under no circumstances, were I ever wrong grew. And I would basically push out my best employees.

I pushed away my best leaders. That along with a job that I did for a construction client, and that job cost me about $3,000,000 over budget. Finished the job because when I start something, I finish it. But, unfortunately, right, Mick, when I finished it, I was denied my change order by the developer and the contractor sent me to chapter 7 complete bankruptcy. Home foreclosed on in a matter of days.

Got up and packed my cars with my now ex wife. She’s my fiance at the time, and I ended up coming down here to Raleigh, North Carolina, more specifically Cary, North Carolina. By the time we got here, after moving in, paying our rent for our place we lived in, and all the movers, everything we did to get to this location, $400 to my name. That’s it. That’s it.

$400. Boom. No credit cards. No savings. Nothing to fall back on, no 4 zero one k, 0, nothing but $400.

Both cars were repossessed in the same day without the NFL, which we everybody now knows as the NFL trust through the Player Care Foundation. That program started January of 2013. I filed bankruptcy in April of 2013. So without that program being there, I would have gone homeless. God put that program in.

I tell you by I think about for me, because if I had gone bankrupt a year before that, we would have gone homeless. So the Jeep Upshaw Trust Fund kept us from going homeless, but I didn’t really have any money. I had a job at Merrill Lynch, was not focusing on doing my actual craft of working and developing myself, and I got fired from Merrill Lynch. All my fault. The next day, I went to a construction company, got a job in their sales store selling things.

They gave me a company truck, gave me a company phone, gave me a laptop, gave me a $1,000 cash. I was rolling. But you know what, Nick? I still hadn’t learned. Because when my ex asked me, do you have a contract?

I said, what do I need a contract for? He gave me a truck, phone, laptop, paid me cash. Why would you fire me? 5 days later, he fires me. Gone.

From there, Mick, I said, what can I do? I started becoming a businessman. I started teaching football to kids. I became a birthday party clown playing football with kids at birthday parties, and that wasn’t paying enough of the bills. So I took a job.

1 of my clients owned a janitorial business in downtown Raleigh, and she said, Mark, if you know anybody that wants to work, please let me know. Say, well, what do they have to do? Because I was putting applications, but it was delayed or I’m overqualified or I can’t start for 2 months, and I need a job now. Right. I said, well, when can they start?

She said they can start on Monday. What does it pay? She says, $8 an hour. I said, I’ll take it. She said, Marcus, the best I can pay you is 8.25, and I took it.

And I worked for 8:25 an hour in downtown Raleigh from 10 PM until 5 AM. And what really woke me up, Nick, was my rock bottom moment. One of my favorite authors is JK Rollins, who wrote Harry Potter in her car Mhmm. And nobody thought she would have success. Just like it took doctor Seuss a 128 publishers to get his book published, which became a household name.

Just like Abraham Lincoln lost 8 primary elections before he became the president. Right? All these things, just like, you know, this is s Grant was, you know, did have the best time at, you know, when he was, you know, in the military, you know, at army, and then he ended up, you know, having to work hard, start over, start up, grow up the topo, and he became general of the US army. Right? And and and of and of that regard, right, of the army of the north and became a president of the United States.

So my point is is that everybody that I know that has had success, you, Les, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill I go to analyst, has had some sort of struggle, some sort of obstacle. And if you want to overcome obstacles, master these three things, resiliency, perseverance, and mindset shift. Master them. So I finally had that moment. Someone’s trash, rotten meat, nasty, protruding, horrible smelling garbage got over my body, my skin, and my clothes.

And that was my wake up call. And I said, wow. If I don’t change this, I’m gonna be sitting right here for the rest of my life. So I made the decision to get my life together, and I say, you know what? I wanna start speaking.

Les Brown’s homeless, and they started speaking. Right. Eric Thomas was. Tony Robbins struggle. So I said, well, this this this has to be me.

So I started. But, like, how you get coached by less and have an accountability partner less, I didn’t have a coach. I didn’t have an accountability partner. So I went nowhere fast. 2a half years, not one paid speaking job.

Not one. Not one. Phone hung up in my face constantly. Emails not being returned all the time. People say, Marcus, love your energy, but I don’t want a football player on my stage.

That was what I got most of the time. And I finally got my first pay job in April 2016 after my first book, sleepless nights, got published. Got coach in 2018, learned how to bring more value than I was charging monetarily. And in the last 8 years, Mick worked for 55 Fortune 500 Companies. 55.

Again, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Equitable, worked for Home Depot, worked for New York Life, MetLife, Living Mutual Insurance, Mutual of Omaha, Cisco, Siemens, NetApp, you name it.

Mick Hunt: Yep.

Marques Ogden: And what we really stress in our organization is being the solution to our clients’ problems, whatever that may be. Right? If it’s mindset, if it’s culture, if it’s leadership, if it’s how to sell, if it’s how to, you know, craft, all these things. Right? That’s what it’s all about.

So at the end of the day, what’s really, really important is that anybody that’s trying to move forward, they have to be willing to be coached, have to be willing to kinda bring value to the table. And when you do that, great things happen. So, again, right, Mick? Been doing this now for, you know, almost 11 years. Almost 11 years.

And was it easy? No. Is it easier today? Yes. Is it easy still?

No. It will not be easy because if you sit back and you get comfortable and you’re like, I’ve made it, then you’re gonna start having the beginning of your demise. Like, you talked about maybe potentially working with you with less. Always wanting to go to the next level. Always gonna be around people that can do what?

Push you to the next level.

Mick Hunt: Amen.

Marques Ogden: So that’s what’s about me, man. And so that’s my story. That’s what I’ve had to go through. That’s what I’ve had to deal with. And now, here we are today, helping clients through speaking, coaching, consulting, a brand ambassador, work with organizations, and structure, and really help people in that regard.

Mick Hunt: And, oh, by the way, he also has the number one podcast in the country. Let’s not overlook that. 1 of the podcasts that I listen to on the regular get authentic with Marcus Hagen. Love it. Love it.

So, Marcus, you said a couple of things that I really wanna unpack and go deeper in because, you know, my revolution on getting people to be fueled by their because and thinking about their because is this. I love Simon Sinek, and I I love the book start with why. Right? But for me, there’s a deeper push. If why is the question, because is the answer, because is the reason.

Right? And you brought up something that I talk about all day every day, which is the mindset shift. Right? If you don’t have that mindset shift, you’re never gonna change. Right?

What was that moment for you that drove you to say, if my mindset doesn’t change, it’s not gonna happen? And then how are you inspiring others to do that, to have that mindset shift?

Marques Ogden: Remember when I tried to get a speaking job with the Ravens? And the gentleman that I had to speak to who I had known since I was 17 shot me down, not just a little bit, but really hard. Marcus, I’m only taking this call because you’re little j o, Jonathan Ogden’s younger brother. You don’t have what it takes. I want celebrities talking to my players, not has beens and guys that, you know, aren’t gonna be successful.

You should give up speaking. It’s not gonna work. And for for about 2 days, I was very, very hurt. And then I said, wait a second. Like, my dad always taught me, When you have people that are hating on you, usually, it’s something wrong with them and that they see something in you that they don’t wanna push to do what they need to do, so they try to knock you down, to try to tear you down.

And that’s what I realized, and that’s what I was dealing with. So I said no more, no moss, and I put down the victim mentality. I turned on the victor mentality, and that was my why. And what I tell people is, in life, if you wanna overcome obstacles, you have to master resiliency, mindset shift, and perseverance. And once I was able to do that, right, that’s when life got better.

I basically I mean, I filed for divorce. It’ll be 2 years this July. July 2022, I had to file for divorce unexpectedly, and I had to then move out after I filed to a 2 bedroom apartment in a little area of Cary by the Durham line. It was dingy. It was dark.

It was rundown, but I didn’t have a choice, Mick. I only had 2 weeks to get out.

Mick Hunt: Mhmm.

Marques Ogden: And I had to find a fully furnished place, and I had to get 2 bedrooms that I have my 9 year old who were gonna be splitting time. So I had very limited options. Looking back on that place, I’m grateful I had a roof over my head, but I really didn’t like being there. I drank a lot in that apartment. I went on multiple dates with different women in that apartment.

I was living a lie. Wow, Marcus. You are trying to act like you’re okay. You’re not okay. And I hated living in that place.

I hated it, but I had to because that’s what I had to do. That’s why I was constantly out at bars. I was constant this is again, this is saying November, December Right. 2022. This is January 2023.

Finally, in January 2023, I refound my purpose. I said, if I keep doing this, life will be just like this in this apartment. Right. Constantly say, why am I divorced? Poor Marcus, victim mode Marcus.

Mick Hunt: Right.

Marques Ogden: And I said, enough. I leaned into our brand, worked hard, put some parameters in place for myself, disciplined myself, changing what I was around, got more focused, and I was able to buy my dream home in May of 2023, 6 months ahead of schedule, bought a house by myself in Fuquay, and where I live, Nick, is very affluent. I’m the only individual person that has a house so far in this development. We have about a 100 people that live here. I’m the only one that’s single with his only name on the mortgage.

And I’ll tell you this that are listening. If you want to change where you’re at, you have to visualize what you want. If you wanna change where you’re at, you have to visualize what you want, better surroundings. I didn’t know what type of place I wanted to be in, but I knew I wanted a house of my own.

Mick Hunt: Right. I knew

Marques Ogden: I didn’t wanna be in that apartment for much longer, so I visualized it. I focused on it. I wrote it down. I made it part of my everyday process to do something to move me towards that. And now here I am.

Mick Hunt: Look at that. You put action into what you had to do. Right? Which leads to the second thing that I wanna unpack with you that you hit on. And it’s something that I had to do for my personal journey and my professional journey to take off, which is I had to look at my circle.

Right? Because everyone that says they’re for you aren’t there. And I’m gonna use a sports analogy that I know you’re gonna get. The most popular player on the team is the backup quarterback. Right?

Until that backup quarterback has to get in and play, and then he’s the least popular person on the team. There are a lot of people around you that want you to stay average. There are a lot of people around you that are gonna shoot down your dreams. There are a lot of people around you that are gonna tell you you can’t because they can’t see it. And, again, I don’t know you well enough yet today, but I would almost guarantee that what you had to do was look at that circle of people and say at at all the stages.

Right? And and it’s something that I do. I do it a couple of times a year. I analyze my circle because I’m trying to get to that next level, and I need people that can see it or have been there to help me go. So I would love for you to talk about your circle, how you analyze it, and what that did for you.

Marques Ogden: So for me, if you are hanging around me, I’m gonna pick up your energy, good, bad, or indifferent. And if you were somebody who is always telling me what I can’t do, what I shouldn’t do, where I can’t go, what I can’t be, I’ll start to believe that. Again, take my x. Looking at it now, I am in a much healthier environment even though I am single. I have my own place.

I have my own things, and I do miss having someone around to be with and and lean on and stuff like that. You know? And I’m dating, but, you know, it’s just it’s hard as you’re trying to readjustify yourself. But looking at it now, Mick, with her and, again, nothing wrong with her, but she’s not for me. Right?

I mean, the the the toxicity, the negativity, the self doubt, you know, and what I really realized, right, Vic, we don’t have anything in common. Whoever’s in your circle have something in common.

Mick Hunt: Right.

Marques Ogden: If you have nothing in common, then how can I have conversation? Right? Nick, like, you and I can hang out with the talk about speaking, growing our business, travel, who we think are great athletes that have great discipline, who are great leaders that like, you know, like Jeff Bezos or Les or Tony Robbins that are in the business that we know, what, put the work in. Right? So, you know, hang around people you have something in common with, because that way you guys are conversating, you’re sharpening these other steel sets, you know, iron sharpens iron.

You’re getting into a much better position to move forward in your life. Right? So, like, right now, I’m on a 90 day no drinking. So if yours might wants to go to the ball all the time and get drunk all the time, I’m not the person to hang out with you. I’m just not.

You know what I’m saying? And I’m okay with that. Because at the end of the day, you know, I enjoy playing poker. I enjoy going to the movies. I enjoy going to the gym.

I enjoy traveling. I enjoy watching good things on TV. I like staying at home a lot of times, and I and and that’s the thing too. Like, now, Nick, I’m back to Marcus. Right.

I love being at home. Right? I love yeah. I don’t have to somebody say, boss is up for a date. You know?

She said, hey. You wanna go downtown to the rooftop? I’m like, no. I’m not drinking for 90 days. I don’t wanna go to downtown Raleigh.

I don’t wanna do that. We could have a date. Sure. We can go to Dave and Buster’s. Have a great time.

Awesome. But if you wanna go downtown Raleigh rooftop and, like, get drinks and all that, you know, Friday night, that’s not me. Right.

Mick Hunt: I

Marques Ogden: just don’t wanna do that. Right. And that’s getting back to me. Yep. Right?

In my home, I’m back to who I am. And when you wanna build your circle, be around people that you have something in common with that you know has your best interest. Live by the saying. Building relationships plus building trust equals loyalty.

Mick Hunt: Man, say that for me one more time.

Marques Ogden: Building relationships plus building trust equals loyalty.

Mick Hunt: There you have it, everybody. That’s why I listen to this guy every day. And, again, if you’re not listening to his podcast, go listen to it, get authentic with Marcus Ogden. It is a great listen. It’s in the top 1%.

So that should tell you how it is. He’s in a 112 countries. That should tell you how popular it is. And I’m gonna be transparent because I believe in authenticity and transparency as well. I listen to Marcus.

He has over 300 episodes. Right? Instead of binge watching TV while I’m trying to get in better shape, I’m binge watching Marcus Ogden’s podcast. So when I’m on the treadmill, I give myself 2 episodes per treadmill visit to make sure that I get through. So, Marcus, thank you.

You are an inspiration. You are a leader. Love everything about you. Can’t wait to get to know you even more. So definitely thank you for being on the show.

Can’t wait for all the great things we’re gonna do together, brother.

Marques Ogden: I love that. And you know what, ladies and gentlemen? I hope you picked up what Mick said. As Mick is working to develop himself and better himself physically, he’s also doing it mentally. Right?

And that’s the key. Listen to this saying. In life, if you are tactical, but you are not strategic about it first, you will lose. If you’re strategic and not yet tactical, you’re not gonna go anywhere. So trying to go and do a bunch of work and working out without having a plan, probably not gonna work.

Mhmm. Trying to go and create this awesome plan, but never do anything, that’s not gonna work. So you have to be strategic and tactical. If you’re not going to go in that order, something’s gonna get missed or worse than I think they’re ever gonna start. And then what happens, you’re constantly saying, wow.

Why am I not fulfilled? Why am I not having an awesome perspective of life? Well, because you’re not either doing anything or you’re doing everything wrong.

Mick Hunt: Listen at that. This is why I can listen to Marcus all day, every day. Again, go download the podcast. Go follow him on all social. Marcus Ogden, brother, I appreciate you.

I thank you. And for the listeners, as always, your because is your superpower. Unleash

Podcast Intro: it. Thanks for listening to Mick Unplugged. We hope this episode helps you take the next step toward the extraordinary and launches a revolution in your life. Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast, and be sure to check us out on YouTube at Mick Unplugged. Remember, stay empowered, stay inspired, and stay unplugged.