We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mark Dockery. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mark below.

Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Being a business owner has brought me immense happiness, especially because it aligns with my passion for creating. The need to constantly innovate, whether creatively or in business strategy, presents exciting challenges that keep me engaged and motivated. Despite the satisfaction I get from overcoming these challenges, the thought of having a regular 9-5 job does cross my mind from time to time, not as a serious consideration but more as a fleeting thought during stressful periods.

For instance, there was a time when the financial unpredictability of entrepreneurship hit hard. Bills were piling up, the hours were long, and the stress was mounting. I had to ensure payroll was met, all while managing the high demands of the business. It was during one of these intense periods that the thought occurred to me—how much simpler life could be with a regular job, where all I’d need to do is show up to work and know exactly what my paycheck would look like. The predictability of a regular income and the reduced responsibility were momentarily appealing.

However, despite these challenging moments, I’ve never seriously considered abandoning my journey as an entrepreneur. These thoughts instead serve as reminders of the trade-offs involved in pursuing one’s passion. The freedom to create, the excitement of facing new challenges, and the fulfillment from building something of my own far outweigh the temporary allure of stability and predictability offered by a regular job. Ultimately, these reflections reinforce my commitment to my business and the creative path I’ve chosen.

Mark, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m the co-owner of HQ22 Creatives, a video production company out of metro Detroit. Yes, we do hit the road for projects too, and we love it! The company officially kicked off in 2019, but my journey with video started way back. I studied video production at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh back in 2002, which is where I met my business partner, Quenton. After graduation, we took different paths—I dove into freelance work, and he jumped into news. Over the years, we teamed up for projects here and there until 2018, when Quenton suggested we join forces for real. So, we did, and here we are, turning our passion for video into something bigger.

Here’s the deal about us at HQ22 Creatives: we’re not just any video production company. We’re a duo of dreamers and storytellers, passionate about everything cinematic. Whether it’s helping a business share its story or supporting a non-profit in its fundraising efforts, we bring our A-game, infusing each project with our signature cinematic flair. We’ve collaborated on diverse and impactful projects, from fashion shoots with Macy’s to inspiring campaigns for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in association with Planet Fitness, and even educational content for the University of Michigan. What really sets us apart? Our ability to capture the essence of each story and present it in a way that’s uniquely engaging.

Reflecting on these five years, I’m honestly amazed we’ve come this far. Most businesses don’t survive this long, and here we are, gearing up for the next five. The future’s looking bright for HQ22 Creatives. We’ve got a clearer vision than ever, we’re expanding our team, and I’m just buzzing to see where we’ll go from here. If I had to guess, we’re going to touch a lot of lives with our visual storytelling. But what I’m really proud of? It’s the relationships we’ve built along the way. Working with clients who’ve become like family, growing alongside them—it’s been nothing short of amazing.

Getting to this point wasn’t a walk in the park, though. In the beginning, we were all about creating, not about the business side of things. We had the creative side down—our passion was always there. But stepping into the business world meant we had to learn a whole lot more about being entrepreneurs. Setting up systems, figuring out pricing—it was all new to us. Yet, we didn’t shy away from these challenges. We took on mentors, paid for coaching, and studied many entrepreneurs, eager to grow not just as creators, but as business owners too.

One big lesson we’ve picked up along the way? Document everything. It might seem like a small thing, but understanding the importance of keeping records has been a game changer for us. It’s not just about covering your bases—it’s about having a clear overview of where you’ve been and where you’re heading. This practice has helped us make informed decisions and keep our business on track.

Our passion for creating stories and storytelling is what I want the world to know about us at HQ22 Creatives. It’s at the core of everything we do. We’re not just making videos; we’re telling stories that matter, that inspire, and that make a difference. And as we look to the future, we’re excited to continue sharing these stories, touching lives, and making an impact through our work

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One crucial lesson I had to unlearn was my initial approach to pricing in my video production business. At first, I set prices based on what I thought was fair or what I believed people would be willing to pay, focusing primarily on covering my direct costs. This mindset was challenged by a colleague, Jason, who emphasized the importance of pricing not just to stay afloat but to sustain and grow the business. His advice didn’t fully sink in until I faced a harsh reality.

The turning point came with a project where my pricing strategy led to a significant loss. Not only did I undercharge for the job, but an unexpected equipment failure during the project highlighted the flaw in my approach. The cost to repair the equipment far exceeded the project’s income, and that didn’t even account for additional expenses like paying my team and renting a lens. It was a moment of realization that pricing needs to encompass all aspects of running a business—equipment upgrades, subscriptions, taxes, utilities, repairs, and personnel, among others.

This experience forced me to reevaluate how I determined pricing. I began to consider the full scope of costs associated with each project, ensuring that the price reflects the value of the work and contributes to the business’s sustainability. It was a tough lesson in the importance of a comprehensive view of business expenses and the value of our services. Since adopting this more holistic approach to pricing, my business has become more robust, allowing for growth, investment in better equipment, and improved financial health.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

The way I met my co-founder Quenton is pretty straightforward. We were both attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for video production. I had started there a year before him, and at a small school like AIP, finding someone else from Detroit was pretty rare. So, when some of my friends mentioned there was another guy from Detroit who played Detroit radio mixes in front of the building on Fridays, I was intrigued.

One Friday, they told me Quenton was out there, so I decided to check it out. Meeting him for the first time, it was clear we had a lot in common, not just our hometown, but also our major. We hit it off right away, talking about everything from music to video production.

After college, we went our separate ways and didn’t see each other for years. But, by chance, we ran into each other back in Detroit. Catching up, we realized how much we still shared in terms of our goals and interests. That reconnection in Detroit was the real starting point for us thinking about going into business together. It was less about any sort of dramatic moment and more about two guys from Detroit who shared a passion for video production finding their way back to each other and deciding to team up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hq22creatives.com
• Instagram: hq22creatives