Rick Langley is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, also known as @Scorpion.Rick. Founder of the world’s largest Blue Scorpion farm and state of the art lab, he went on to create the MRVL Group, which uses a ground-breaking proprietary ingredient, Blue Scorpion Peptide in all their products. Rick adopted a business philosophy of social responsibility & is the founder of Today’s Promises, a non-profit charity that aids impoverished children in the Caribbean.
What is MRVL Group all about?
MRVL Group was created to help people live happy and healthy lives. We have multiple levels to our brand including health, skin, and pet. MRVL Health products target immune health and aid in easing the pain of inflammatory diseases. MRVL Skin products are created to assist with anti-aging and skin restoration. MRVL Pet products are developed to assist in support of the immune system and assist in addressing the effects of hip aches and arthritic joints and alleviate and reduce these issues.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
After I finished college, I started my career in international business. I stayed in that world for over thirty years and through that experience I became an entrepreneur and philanthropist, I recently founded the world’s largest Blue Scorpion Farm and state-of-the-art laboratory. In 2012, I was asked to assist in a project to research and identify compounds that had a pharmacological potential in scorpion venom… As I became more involved in the research of the project, I found that existing studies and testimonials from people all over the world who had utilized these properties were nothing short of revolutionary. Intrigued, I dove deeper into trying to assist the world with aiding in the side effects of diseases such as arthritis and cancer. While working with the venom I noticed that the properties that would be beneficial to use daily in skincare. So then, MRVL Skin Solutions was born.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
My goal is to continue to create awareness and have consumers utilizing MRVL products to assist them in living happier and healthier life. We aim to have this product recognized globally to assist humans AND pets to live happy, healthy lives.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
During the pandemic, we had to put the entire business on hold for a year. We put our plan for the roll out on hold for over a year, but fortunately, we were able to continue to build the farm, so the work kept going.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
MRVL is set apart from competitors because we have the unique propriety ingredients derived from the Blue Scorpion venom. We have developed an ingredient product that no one else has. I don’t lose sleep over competitors. I know we have the most expensive liquid in the world, that works, and the means to deliver to our consumers.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
I have found that the most successful marketing involves myself, as the founder, doing the presentation and talking to consumers on a one-on-one basis. There is no marketing tool more effective than having a genuine belief and passion for your products.
What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?
My first business was picking grapefruits, washing them, and selling them on the side of the highway in Florida when I was in elementary school. The simple idea of providing consumers with a product they want.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Write everything you need to do down and check it off as you complete it. If you don’t do it that day, write it down the next day and check it off as you go. Needs to go from your brain to your hand – not a tablet.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
I listen to NPR’s How I Built This. It’s important to listen to other stories of entrepreneurs because you can always learn from others.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would get my corporation set up properly and create a website. This is the first step – creating a solid foundation. This way when you are successful, your story is already set up on the international web. Also, invest in a good phone and don’t be afraid to use it. Don’t base your business on emails, sometimes it pays to pick up the phone and have a real conversation.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
Accomplishing the milestones I have set for myself as a human being — what I want to accomplish before I retire, my personal success, and the commitment I made to my orphanage in Haiti. I have always been super passionate about helping people. Hearing the testimonials from people who have sampled the product and reviewing the studies from the lab testing we have done is also what keeps me motivated and driven to keep going.
What is your favorite quote?
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
– Nelson Mandela.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
Only do something that you love. If you don’t love your job, you will not be successful and you will do a disservice to your employer and yourself. If you’re not happy in a job, move on. Thankfully, I love what I do.
Random Interview: 18 Years of Successful Business While Travelling With Ann Young
