February 2010
31 posts
Daddy the Renaissance Man
Ask me to name a person whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas and who will I think of automatically? My very own dad, Robert Mark! Now you’re probably thinking “Oh of course you’d pick your dad.” Well he truly fits the description! My dad has been, and wanted to be, a pilot since before he can remember. He used to go to airports and just sit in the grass and watch planes land. He is also a writer, and editor at times. He has written several books (about aviation of course!) and magazine articles for big flying magazines. He runs and writes an extremely popular blog with major airline sponsors. He has recently taken to voiceover work and podcasts since I act and he has been around it, and he has a great voice! Last but of course not least, he is a recurring face on news channels like CNN and FOX because of his high level in his business, and always gets calls to talk on t.v. about aviation related things.
Now of course all of this just sounds like a giant plug for my father and his business(es) but it’s only just explaining what he does, and how he is definitely an expert in multiple areas, which is a really hard thing to do in just one breath! His “job” cannot be described in one word, like a doctor or a lawyer may. It’s a long, complicated strand of his abilities and hobbies combined. I really respect my dad because of his achievement of being able to pursue all the things he loves at one time and call it a career. At times, of course owning a small business and doing so many different things can become stressful and money isn’t just raked in like other jobs, but he makes it work because he cares about it all so much.
I think a Renaissance man is someone who has made a change in the idea of what most people do in their lives, and can do many different things. Cue Rob Mark. I look up to him in my life and he always supports me in the things I want to do, which seems like something a “renaissance man” should be able to do, and he’s never let me, or himself down.
