Seven Startups and a Standup with Mary McCorvey

"You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities." What happens when a seven-time founder who once built a company around landing on the moon steps into the arena as herself? In this episode, I talk with Mary McCorvey about moonshots, stand-up comedy, and living life on your own terms. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Mary McCorvey, a seven-time founder, Army veteran, broadcaster, author, and stand-up comic based in Philadelphia. Mary has built companies around products, services, and even competitions to land on the moon. Now she's turning the spotlight on herself with her book Experience Over Expectation: Let Go of the Plan and Live on Your Terms . Mary shares the story of Moonmark, her most ambitious project yet: a global competition where high school students designed lunar landers, with two teams producing designs that NASA engineers agreed could actually work on the moon. Although the pandemic halted the mission, the experience changed lives, and the Lander Company eventually did reach the moon in 2024 . Her journey into entrepreneurship began after serving in the Army, where she went from digging trenches for cable to becoming a broadcaster thanks to a leader who recognized her potential. That chance moment shaped her lifelong commitment to leadership, integrity, and creating opportunities for others . Mary also talks about embracing AI in her writing process, blending platforms like GPT, Perplexity, and Grok to analyze her memoir and craft her latest book. She opens up about her love of stand-up comedy, her unexpected passion for high-performance driving at tracks like Watkins Glen, and her belief that peace is possible if we're willing to choose it . From growing up in Sarasota with limited opportunities, to enlisting in the Army at 18, to building seven companies and reinventing herself again and again, Mary embodies what it means to live without default. Her advice to rebels in waiting is unforgettable: "You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities. Quoteable Quotes "You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities." — Mary McCorvey "Every time I've built a company, it's been about how to positively impact others." — Mary McCorvey "I was digging trenches, holding a shovel, when I said, 'I'd like to be a broadcaster.' And someone gave me that chance." — Mary McCorvey "Peace is possible. It's complex, but possible." — Mary McCorvey "Experiences are the most important part of this whole thing." — Michael Dargie Episode Highlights Seven-Time Founder | Building companies again and again with purpose. Moonmark | A global competition to design landers for the moon. Army to Broadcasting | How a shovel and a sergeant changed her life. AI in Writing | Using multiple platforms to analyze her memoir. Experience Over Expectation | Her new book about living on your terms. Stand-Up Comedy | Why the stage is her favourite place in Philly. High-Performance Driving | Racing at Watkins Glen and loving every second. Peace is Possible | Lessons from time spent in war zones. Dinner Guests | Why she'd choose comedian Leanne Morgan and Barack Obama. Advice to Rebels | Finite heartbeats, infinite possibilities. Links From Episode Mary McCorvey Website (http://marymccorvey.com/) Mary on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylmccorvey/) Mary on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/McCorveyMary/) Mary on Instagram (https://www.facebook.com/McCorveyMary/) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com