Interview with Rudy Mazzocchi, author of 'Storytelling'

Rudy Mazzocchi is best known as a medical device and biotechnology entrepreneur, inventor, and angel investor, with a history of starting new technology ventures throughout the U.S. and Europe. He's been privileged to have the opportunity to see the newest innovations in healthcare and work with some of the most brilliant researchers, scientists and physicians in the industry.

Authoring more than 50 patents, he has helped pioneer new companies involved in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery and even embryonic stem-cell development. Through these efforts, he has become the recipient of many technology and business awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Healthcare (2004), Businessman of the Year Award (2005), and Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2013).

Combining these experiences and opportunities, with thousands of hours of travel and long evenings in hotel rooms, he found the initiative to start writing a collection of award-winning business/medical thrillers based on true events, known as The EQUITY Series. STORYTELLING was his debut non-fiction business book released in November 2013.

Visit his website at www.RudyMazzocchi.com.

About the Book:

The value of any new venture or sound new idea needs to be developed out of the nothingness of silence, ignorance and darkness. It ignites and illuminates the world only when the great storytelling entrepreneur lights the flame. “STORYTELLING: The Indispensable Art of the Entrepreneur” shows, with startling clarity and practical know-how, the process by which wealth and other things of exceptional value can emerge into the world literally out of nothing—nothing, that is, but the Art of Storytelling.

STORYTELLING takes you on a journey which reveals how the development, progressive modification and adaptation of your story is the golden thread and foundational core management practice which ties together all the others:  building, focusing and motivating your management team, navigating through troubled times or excessive growth, maintaining positive momentum with investors and Boards of Directors and positioning the venture for a potential exit.

Award-winning author and entrepreneur, Rudy Mazzocchi, exposes his greatest secret of success and provides an enormous amount of “experienced-based” illustrations and nuts-and-bolts practical advice. He reveals how to create and evolve the story of your new venture in a way that energizes and breathes life into what may have started out as just an idea.

Everyone can benefit greatly from reading this book—whether or not you envision yourself as an entrepreneur. STORYTELLING: The Indispensable Art of the Entrepreneur applies universally to ventures of all types and is an essential element in the fulfillment of any dream—dreams which depend upon capturing the interest and sustaining the highly-motivated commitment of others.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON

Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m involved with a variety of early-stage medical technology companies, some of which I’ve been the inventor and initial investor, others I support as a member of their Board of Directors, and one in particular, as their Chief Executive Officer (CEO). I’ve been a start-up CEO since establishing my first company in Minnesota at the age of twenty-eight – young, inexperienced and full of ambition.

When did you start writing?

I started writing “stories” as a graduate student in California. However, the stories were then limited to medical journal articles and my first patent application. I realized much later that these pieces were the actual early foundation of my writing skills. Previously, I had no formal training in literature or creative writing. It wasn’t until I was celebrating my 50^th birthday, on a ten day cruise with my wife down through the Panama Canal, did I pick up the pen to start drafting the first manuscript of my debut novel.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

It was a very concise point of time. I had a completed manuscript of over 135,000 words… a collective stream of scenes, unique characters, dark themes, and suspenseful action that took more than a year to research and write.  I was rather proud of it, but had no idea what to do next. So, I contacted an old colleague of mine who had published several novels. Ironically, he was also an “editor-for-hire” and someone who just published a how-to book for aspiring writers. He agreed to review and edit my manuscript. Over the next three months, he taught me proper grammar, the importance of point-of-view (POV), scene transition, and even how to avoid certain elements which might become “speed-bumps” for the reader. It was then I started to consider myself a real “writer”. However, it wasn’t until I was represented by a literary agent and had a signed publishing agreement in my hand did I consider myself an “author”.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

There’s a private sailboat that you can rent with a captain and crew that sails along the Amalfi Coast – departing out of Capri, near Naples, Italy. We’ve only done this once, long ago, but it’s the most peaceful and beautiful place I’ve ever been. My third novel includes a number of scenes on a cruise ship, so it would be extremely inspiring as well.

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

I would need to break it down and attempt to accomplish a couple of things! One-third for some quite writing time, one-third for a nice long workout, and the remaining time to do some promotional work for my three current books. (I’m still learning how to use social media, i.e. tweeting, blogging and such!)

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

My first novel (EQUITY of EVIL) includes scenes in the U.S., India and Europe. The second novel (EQUITY of FEAR) takes place in the U.S., Japan and Russia. The third (EQUITY of LIFE) is still only a rough outline, but will take place in the U.S., Switzerland and Iceland. I’ve always had a fascination with Australia and New Zealand and would welcome the opportunity to make the journey to do some additional research there… I think it would make a great setting for a fourth novel!

Back to your present book, Storytelling – The Indispensable Art of Entrepreneurism, how did you publish it?

I was fortunate enough to maintain the support of my existing publisher, Twilight Times Books, with whom I had contracted to publish my suspense novels mentioned above. This non-fiction book was a refreshing break from the three year process that was required to research, write and edit those two novels.

           

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

Not for this book, but I did spend a couple extra time in Japan while there for business to research materials for my second novel, EQUITY of FEAR. However, once you read Storytelling, you’ll have an appreciation for the multiple journeys that were required to pull this book together!

Why was writing Storytelling – The Indispensable Art of Entrepreneurism so important to you?

Writing my fictional novels was a personal challenge – to see if I had the discipline and courage to complete the drafting, editing, publishing and promoting of two rather controversial books. It was then important for me to accept the new challenge of writing of non-fiction book that focused on an unidentified element of being a successful entrepreneur and storyteller. The more I analyzed the philosophies behind this book, the more I came to appreciate the nuances of this valuable art.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

It’s hard to beat the combination of reality and its embellishment through our imagination. The majority of my ideas come from actual research in the medical sciences and the millions of unsolved problems that surrounding our vulnerable existence. I’ve always had a fascination with man’s ability to manipulate everything from the human genetic code to the corrected vision of our eyes.

Any final words?

Push yourself to learn something new every day of your life. If you don’t, you’re really not living!