Chris Mower» Entrepreneurship

Sometimes, You’ve Just Gotta’ Do It.

Chris Mower — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:21:15 +0000

When I was younger, my family and I frequently swam at a place called Lava Hot Springs in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. On the deep end of the pool, they have an olympic sized diving platform built with three different levels, the highest being 33 feet above the water. My family and I would always taunt each other with dares to climb to the top and jump. For me, it was mostly all talk. “Someday,” I would respond. Truth was, I was terrified of heights and had very little desire to leap off such a height to my almost certain death. Having seen more than one person carried out on a stretcher after jumping reinforced that thought.

One day, however, I could not resist the taunts any longer. My two brothers had already taken up the challenge and leaped from the top platform. I would forever be thought of as a big sissy if I didn’t do it too. When you’re in Jr. High, things like that matter a lot, and the last thing I wanted was to have a reputation of being a panty-wearing sissy wuss boy.

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I’m Taking the Leap to Self Employment

Chris Mower — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:32:47 +0000

Rockin' it in my "home office."

This last week, I was laid off from my full-time job as a QA Engineer. The company I was working for ran out of funds and the majority of us found ourselves packing our bags and heading home a little early. So much for “stability.” That was Groundhog Day.

I suppose it probably caught some people by surprise… but the writing had been on the wall for quite a while, so I had already prepared myself mentally for the news, so when it came it didn’t feel like a semi-truck full of bricks hitting me. Actually, it felt very much like a burden lifted off my shoulders. All of a sudden I could do whatever I wanted.

The only problem was that I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. So I did what any other person would have done. That night I spiced up my résumé and began searching for another full-time job, scheduling a couple interviews for the following days.

By end of week I had completed 3 job interviews. As I exited each interview it felt like a dark cloud kept looming around in my head. I felt good about how I performed in the interviews, so what was it?

I realized the thundercloud in my head was the thought of joining the rat race on someone else’s terms and working a full-time job again. What I really wanted to do was work for myself, on my own terms, and not be held back by what someone says I can and cannot do.

I didn’t make the decision to freelance immediately, but because I had already had interviews, I knew I needed to make it soon. If I were to be offered a job and still be wavering in my decision, I would probably fold. Being religious, I spent quite a bit of time praying and reflecting on the needs of my family vs. getting another full-time job vs. working for myself, and by the time Sunday evening was drawing to a close, I had decided to strike out on my own.

So here I am. As of Monday, 7 February 2011, I’m a freelance web designer, consultant, copywriter, and application designer.

Am I nervous? Yes. But I’m doing something I love and taking a path I’ve dreamt of taking for a long, long time. It’s going to be a hard road ahead for a while, but I look forward to what the future brings.

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4-Step Process to Creating a WordPress Site

Chris Mower — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:18:05 +0000

My brother and I were asked to present on building websites using WordPress at a social media conference in Idaho Falls this past weekend. Having recently learned about the software called Prezi, I decided to take it for a spin. Here’s a copy of the prezi, and also you can download a copy of our presentation notes. I’d love to get your feedback in the comments below.

The first part is a little cheesy because I had just finished beating “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” and was in an epic story-telling mood. Enjoy.

Building Home Base on Prezi

Download Notes Here: 4-Step Process to Creating a WordPress Website (PDF, 144kb)

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Your Way is the Best Way

Chris Mower — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:28:40 +0000

I’ve seen it time and time again—an idea is born and then a short while later it dies. It’s unfortunate because some of the ideas I hear are nothing short of jaw dropping and life changing.

You probably know what I’m talking about. It’s hard to find someone who’s short of ideas. Most everybody has them. Very few people follow through with them.

Instead of listing all the reasons why ideas never see fruition, I want to focus on one specific reason.

There is no “right way.”

Even though other people have paved the way before and done what you’re hoping to do, it doesn’t mean their way is the right way. It doesn’t even mean that their way is the best way. What it means is that the path they chose worked for them and they found success because they didn’t give up.

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© Chris for Chris Mower, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Decisions, Determination, Leadership

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You Want Me to Change?! Holy Smokes!

Chris Mower — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:50:03 +0000

If you’re interested in business you know you have to attract customers, some of which will be using your competitor’s product. If you’re interested in leading, you know you have to have followers. If you’re interested in getting someone to change a behavior, you have to be convincing. If you’re wanting to change a person’s thoughts or opinions about something, you have to compel them to change by seeing that what you’re offering is the best for them.

There’s only one problem. People are naturally resistant to change. They don’t like it. Even if it’s better for them, they’ll kick and scream and shake their fists in the air. Why is that?

I think the answer is relatively simple.

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© Chris for Chris Mower, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Emotion, Marketing, Relationships

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J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement Speech

Chris Mower — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:15 +0000

J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series, delivers her Commencement Address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination,” at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.

J.K. Rowling’s commencement speech is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. It’s very touching, humble, and deep — she has no desire to prove her brilliance as I’ve seen with other speakers. Because of this she can connect with everybody, not just the scientific or philosophical thinkers, and yet her eloquence and insights let you know that she’s a very intelligent and caring woman; she’s a leader in the greatest respects.

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When Life Gives You the Slip…

Chris Mower — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:35:21 +0000

I look for opportunity in all areas, which is why when I saw this video, I had to post it here. More on this later, but for now I’ll let the video speak for itself, enjoy. (If the videos do not display instantly, please reload the page.)

If there’s enough interest in this topic, I will set up a public screening and Q&A session with the makers of this film in Salt Lake City. Please let me know in the comments below.

Lemonade Movie: It’s not a pink slip, it’s a blank page.

Watch the full movie: 35 minutes 57 seconds w/ limited commercial interruptions.

As a disclaimer, there are a couple strong explicative words scattered through the film.

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