I was in a roundtable the other day with some smart folks and mentioned that I have never worked “for the man”, besides a short internship after college I have been self-employed my entire professional life.

Afterwards someone asked me if I felt it was a positive or negative not having the corporate experience. I gave some quick answer about not missing out on fluorescent lights and cubicles. But a minute later while walking to the car I gave him another answer after processing the question a bit more.

I feel I am at an advantage because I do not have any preconceived notions.

Notions like how a company should be run

Think about it. Sure I had to learn some things the hard way. But overall I was free to create a company that was not weighed down with baggage brought with me from a previous experience.

What’s your experience? If you left a corporate job to go out on your own.. did you feel free to design the company of your choice, or did you have  a “this is the way it is done” mindset? Good and Bad.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I’ve led a short life.. but in all my 32 years I have learned something I wish to pass on to all of you. A simple technique to enjoy everyday; Don’t take yourself so seriously. For that matter don’t take others too seriously either.

Sunny said once I was the youngest old guy he knows.  (Sunny is still in his 20′s so I guess I am old to him). I am assuming he meant that I was young at heart/spirit as I am always joking around and 99.9% of the time happy and smiling.  I don’t act my age. And I don’t intend to anytime soon.

I pop my collar when I wear polo shirts.

Photoshopped awesome courtesy Brian Shaler

And I like to photobomb deep conversations

Sean's chest hair hypnotized Matt into submission

And made it rain with a Unicorn

Smartest guy on the panel had a horn

The moral of the story: Relax and enjoy yourself, and your friends, and your family. The world’s fashion problems and your delusions of grandeur should not keep you from smiling. You are not that important that you cannot find humor in yourself. Unless you have a PHD, you are an expert in nothing,  quit pretending to be one. However you measure success, you are a failure if you are the most important person you know. Stop caring about what others may think, you cannot control them. You can only control how you feel. And you should choose to lighten up and enjoy things.

I forget my own advice sometimes.. but offer thanks to my friends and family for keeping me humble.

Tom Selleck is my brother

Popularity: 5% [?]

I rant about big Pharma instilling fear in the weak and making them self diagnose their ailments. But there is a legitimate problem that some people face that there is no known cure or treatment for. Long Torso Syndrome affects men and women alike. They suffer in silence, weeping quietly as their exposed navels freeze [...]

Old Adage it is who you know and the circles you run in..
Saw this post and it started me thinking.
We have had some conversations about seeking investment for our company page.ly, but are really too busy growing it to spend much time on it [raising capital]. We are profitable, acquiring new customers daily, and have [...]

SXSW was sic.
Got a little refresher course in networking. And here is my take-away:
Dont talk about business, or ask “So what do you do?”.
It seems like a natural question.. you are at a business conference with lots of others from out-of-town. So asking what someone does or where they are from seems logical..
All I can [...]

Buy the Coffee Cup, Save Darfur

No cheerleaders sorry..
But you should bid on and WIN this sweet coffee mug, 100% proceeds go to Save Darfur.