Dwayne Kent is the founder of The Ark Network Group. He leads a community-driven networking company that empowers entrepreneurs, realtors, government officials, freelancers, and individuals looking to grow their network.
“At The Ark, we believe that success is best achieved through a supportive community of like-minded individuals who share their knowledge, experiences, and resources. Through our events and online community, we offer members the opportunity to make meaningful connections and gain valuable insights to achieve their goals.”
Initially, Dwayne was working in his family business as a provide relations manager, building the Greater Orlando and Greater Tampa area from zero to managing more than 120 doctors and over 100 NPs within his family company. During this time, Dwayane’s entrepreneurial spirit was looking for a way out, so Dwayne decided to pick up a business idea he and a friend were working on in college called the Arch, Bridging the Gap Between One Generation and the Next Generation. Dwayne’s friend dropped the idea in 2019 to get a master’s degree. So, Dawyne was left to continue the idea alone, changing the model to “Bridging the Gap Between Individuals & Their Business Goals.” As a result, Dwayne legally started The Ark Network Group in 2020 and launched in 2022. The team rapidly started growing in 2023 as they began to focus on building social media content, social media management, website development, and business strategies.
“It’s been a crazy ride, it’s been an emotional ride, it’s been a financial ride. It’s been a ride… I will say.”
Dwayne Kent, a successful entrepreneur, finds it hard to define success. He believes success can’t be defined since it has a different meaning for everyone. Dwayne would say success is what you believe it is, a part of your happiness.
“For me, people will say I’m successful, but in my head, I’m like, No, I’m not there yet. Because I haven’t achieved my goal.”
Dwayne’s most significant role model is his dad and mom. Dwayne’s father is currently the Chief Executive Officer of a larger Health company and owner of several medical centers.
“My dad’s a good role model, my biggest champion, my biggest person, and my biggest hero.”
Dwayne Kent believes that caring for one’s mental health is extremely important. Dwayne doesn’t miss any of his workouts for the well-being of his mental health. He works out five days a week, eats well, and is clean. This helps him keep his energy up.”
Here is some advice Dwayne has for our readers to help keep their mental health intact.
“It’s okay to be afraid, It’s not just okay—it’s normal. Everyone is afraid at some point in their life, and the people who aren’t afraid are probably the ones you should be worried about. That said, fear keeps us from growing, learning, and understanding. While it’s important to acknowledge that fear exists, it’s also important that we don’t let it stop us from taking the next step forward. It can be difficult opening up about our struggles with mental health, especially as a man in a society that tends to worship toughness above all else. But remember, you’re not alone! Most people are going through similar things. We don’t talk about them because of the stigma surrounding mental health issues. So, if you’re struggling, don’t hide it from others—talk about it! Find someone who might be able to relate or even just someone who will listen without judgment or criticism. You’ll feel much better sharing your story with someone else who understands what you’re going through.”
According to Dwayne Kent, entrepreneurship is not easy. The journey to becoming an accomplished, successful business owner is exceptionally rough. In order to become a successful entrepreneur, there are things he believes a person must do:
- Be willing to take risks and make mistakes
- Be passionate about what you’re doing
- Have a plan and build strong relations with allies
“If you’re looking to get into entrepreneurship, your biggest thing is going to be allies; you need people that you can call and talk to, especially when your business is struggling. They may not help you with your business, but you need to vent. You also need those individuals that are going to help you produce and grow your business. Be determined and know that the road is going to be rough, it’s going to be extremely hard, it’s going to be stressful, but it’s going to be worth it at the same time. For your business to grow, you must take care of yourself. There are going to be sometimes when you’re going to have to put yourself on the back burner for your business.”
Since entrepreneurship is a difficult journey, Dwayne Kent believes that taking one step at a time is best. He has the following advice for those who aspire to become successful entrepreneurs.
“It’s okay not to be okay, it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be stressed, and it’s okay to ask for help. Entrepreneurship is not easy. People say this a lot, but don’t explain that you’re going to be crying in the middle of the night, you’re going to be stressed in the daytime. One thing that I will say is to put one foot in front of the other, again and again, then take it day by day. If it becomes too much, take it day by day, don’t do it week by week, don’t do it month by month, just take it day by day, and handle the problems that are in front of you at that time and move forward.
For me, the hardest part about being an entrepreneur is learning to live in the present. I know that sounds like a weird thing to say—after all, you’re supposed to be focused on your business future and not get distracted. But for me, when I’m super stressed or overwhelmed, I tend to get caught up in my own thoughts and lose track of what’s going on around me. And then, when things are bad, I can’t even remember what happened yesterday!
The best way I’ve found to deal with this is by taking a step back and just focusing on what’s happening right now. That way, if something goes wrong or someone needs help, you don’t miss it because you are too busy worrying about what might happen in the future or past. Live in the present.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dwayne Kent
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