Mashkur Sarwar‘s family fled the never-ending war in Lebanon, and subsequently rebuilt their lives in New York. He began his academic career there as well before being accepted to study for a Bachelor of Commerce at prestigious New York University. Through dedication and tireless effort, Mashkur was able to thrive academically, conquering each step with flying colors.
After attaining remarkable success in the web development industry, his curiosity for modern technology led him to explore further into “the internet.” His ambition sparked him to pursue two courses on web design and ultimately complete the Harvard CS50 program. His great academic record proved his ability in website development and mobile app production. Armed with this insight, he was propelled up through the ranks as an acclaimed Senior Web Developer.
With 10 years of experience as a Senior Web Developer for various renowned corporations, Mashkur sought to spread his knowledge and formed MS-WEB. Web3.0 has bestowed on him the freedom to pick and serve his customers in the fast-paced tech industry of New York City. His areas of specialization include responsive web design, comprehensive coding solutions, and effective project management, all designed for maximum customer satisfaction.
Every time Mashkur Sarwar embarks on a new journey, he looks forward to the grandeur of ancient architecture that never fails to leave him speechless. What better way is there than exploring different cultures while being able to remain productive from the comfort of his hotel room? Everywhere he goes, be it in museums or hotels; Mashkur continues what has been assigned to him during his travels without losing focus and vigor.
Mashkur is proficient with technology, but he also has an unavering dedication to philanthropy and giving back to his hometown of Beirut. As soon as his fortune began to expand, Mashkur made generous donations to organizations that strive for the betterment of those who are less fortunate. His contributions have provided opportunity and improved lives throughout the region. Not only does Mashkur devote a considerable amount of his attention to providing citizens with the necessary resources and education through the vocational institute he established, but he also loves exploring different cultures worldwide as well as savoring quality time with his family.
How did you get started in this business?
With the emergence of the internt and websites, I instantly got enthusiastic about the new technology. At that time I had just finished my graduation and was helping my father in managing the business. I believed web development was here to stay for the growth of the business so I enrolled myself in a couple of web design and development courses one after another. Harvard’s CS50 program opened a whole new world for me and that is when I decided to take web development as my career.
How do you make money?
I run MS-WEB, my website development agency, and help my clients solve complex problems. I proudly claim that I help my clients bridge the technology gap which no other website developer does. Being open-minded to the opportunities and taking the stakeholder’s interests into account, I help my clients find solutions that work. I make money by offering top-quality web development services they simply cannot find anywhere else.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Like every entrepreneur, I too went through cycles of varying profitability. The more I invested in my skill development and analysis of the competition, the more I could focus on what was needed in the business world. After working for several years and solving complex problems, I started to connect the dots and better understand my worth out in the web development world. The combination of strong design and development skills, project management, and programming skills took my profitability to the next level.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
It is pretty normal to experience challenging times here and there. The one thing that helped to handle doubts was by polishing my skill set. I strived to understand my level of education and what is needed in the field helped me to put my doubts in place. I strongly believe that if one has the robust skill to solve a certain set of problems unfailingly, then there is not much room left for doubts and uncertainties.
How did you get your first customer?
My dad was my first customer. I developed his business website and it actually helped him a lot in acquiring new customers online. My dad was confident in my understanding and skill and it just multiplied from there.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
I hardly focus on marketing strategies rather I pay all my attention to delivering the highest quality work that follows best practices. I don’t believe in offering something faster and cheaper just to target the mass audience. For me, my uniqueness is a quality that speaks for itself. My target audience is the ones who are happy to pay more if they are offered a premium service and quality product. I try my best to be that premium option that is always in high demand.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I had to let go of a bunch of interns who had consistently failed to deliver quality code even after precise instructions and multiple attempts to educate them on the right practices. After multiple projects together with similar results and no improvement, I realized they just did not comprehend current coding standards. I always feel bad when I fail to bring any value to someone’s life and skill set.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Consistency, and hard work. Quality work with consistency is critical in the tech space because of ever-changing code standards. Most people do not fully understand the technology they work with on a daily basis so they need consistent guidance and results. If you are not able to provide consistent quality results and make yourself invaluable to their business, you are doomed. A web developer is not one who just designs and develops a website but must understand the most basic needs and standards of the project at hand to deliver the best customer experience.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I feel immensely satisfied while working with great teammates who help me solve complex problems. It’s not always enjoyable being the only person in the room with an understanding of design and development, and a vision to translate issues into real-world solutions. Working with other skilled developers on a specific problem because you get to see multiple perspectives to solve the issue most effectively.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I am looking forward to designing and developing a lot of full-stack websites and web apps by utilizing the latest standards and technologies. I am genuinely excited about working to evaluate my client’s needs in a better way and offering them an array of options to bridge that technology gap in their project.
What business books have inspired you?
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is an amazing book I read long ago. I still remember its lesson that influences my business to date.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
a risk. The more you are fearless about taking a challenge, the greater ability you have to cross that gap out in the field.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Yes, I am always more than happy to help other developers make a career transition, and offer my advice wherever possible. Anyone can contact me through my LinkedIn.