Chris Owen

 From farm boy, to a Soldier, to a business man... huh?

From a farm boy, to a soldier, to a business man, it's been quite a journey. After being severely injured in Iraq, Chris had little choice but to gain more education in a less physical atmosphere. Though, in the end, after 2 years of physical therapy, Chris did walk on his on again. But, even though he initially went back into the work force, he took what he had learned on the couch and continued to push it. And he is still pushing his education every day.

If you have not read any material from Chris on motivation and determination, you are missing out. Chris tells of his journey, going from 9 broken discs and muscles torn away from his spine and right hip, to walking on his own in less than two years. "What I learned about the capabilities of the human mind in that two years taught me to view mountains as speed bumps. If you tell your mind it can do it, it will act accordingly."

One of the first pieces of information posted to this community will be this story on motivation.

Though Chris grew up a farm boy, he has led an extremely interesting life, with years of martial arts study, several wins in semi-pro bodybuilding and pro powerlifting competition, and a short lived career in US Army. Chris has traveled to countries most will never get to see, and even spent some time in 2008, in Chelyabinsk, Russia teaching Russian construction workers how to build a lime kiln (by no means an easy task).

On Horses

Before leaving for the Army, Chris most days could be found in the round pin, out beside the barn breaking horses for cutting and reining competition. "We weren't your typical commercial farmers", says Chris, "we actually displayed our favorite saddles in the living room. In our defense, it was a very large living room."

On Music

Music has had a huge impact on Chris's life. He began playing the guitar at a very early age and started playing on stage at local bars at age 13. "I was on break from my dish washing duties, playing my guitar out back when a guy walked up and asked if I could play that on stage. I said yeah when, and he said follow me".

Being Blown Away, And Educated

After joining the Army and fast tracking through the ranks, things were looking good. But that dream ended violently with several months in ICU. The next few years stuck on permanent bed rest (with pay) gave Chris a unique opportunity to turn all of his efforts into education. By taking full advantage of online education Chris learned not only what he signed up for, but also that the world online was the new "land of opportunity" that once led so many to America. Now taking hold of the world could be done from the couch.

On Love

His beautiful wife, Tragena, has had to deal with quite a bit. They were married while Chris was in preparation for Iraq. She has proven to be unwavering in her love and support. Never once leaving his side (no matter how hard he was to deal with) though all of the pain and trials. Their two boys Isaac (4) and Caleb (3) are two of the most hyper, happy kids you'll ever meet. Always running circles around Chris as he works in his living room (office). "That's the beauty of invention. The laptop moved my office and my family into the same space".

The Search For Waterfalls

Chris and Tragena are on a quest to photograph 1000 waterfalls. This is a goal set to make sure that work does not hinder life. There are a few pics in the gallery of some of the more recent ones visited.

The Building Blocks of a Block-less Business

Chris Owen is the Founder and CEO of Chris Owen Academy (soon to launch), Chris Owen Web Design, and  The Business Junkie, which is a site dedicated to testing mlm and direct marketing companies and giving free information marketing tips. The business junkie newsletter has an average open rate of 277% since august 2009.

Chris Owen Academy is Chris's newest addition, hoping to build on what was learned from The Business Junkie and professionalize the training. This will be a certificate based school with beginner to advanced level training with content and idealism Chris has adapted from Sloan School of Management. True to Chris Owen's principle's of online marketing, Chris Owen Academy will offer tons of free training. Not only free, but more than just generic content. Content that will be useful and effective immediately. Though it is still coming along great, and on schedule for full launch in late February, Chris is still looking for collaborators on the site, particularly in PPC.

Chris is an educator in internet marketing and business, including courses on mindset psychology, sales, SEO and SEM, website design and development, copywriting, sales letters and newsletter development, and much more.

Chris works with several internet marketing, affiliate marketing and direct sales companies and is successful in many area's of online business.

On Education

Chris has a background in Computer Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, CAD design, Business Administration and Computer Programming. Chris has studied extensively in the area of internet marketing with much research going to SEO, SEM and Copywriting. He started Chris Owen Web Design to avoid the problem of trying to optimize sites designed by non SEO informed web designers.

If there is one quote that sums up the character of Chris Owen, it is simple this: "If you don't take the time to learn, you don't deserve the right to know".

The next project after Chris Owen Academy is full up and running, is a complete makeover of The Business Junkie site. Starting in April, the site will have a new look and a new purpose. An article submittable area will be added to give entrepreneurs a new place to submit articles. All articles will fall into a beginner, intermediate, advanced type structure for each category. This should solve a problem I have found with students jumping without a chute after reading information above their pay grade.

Chris is currently looking to form a mastermind community to work together for common goals. Anyone interested can contact Chris at chris@thebusinessjunkie.com or join the Group Chris created titled “SEO Rush” in the group area. Make sure to enable email updates for group posts.