About

“So, what do you do?”

An innocent enough cocktail-party question, but it’s always been a tough one.

A skinny kid growing up in Oklahoma, Chuck remembers watching George Plimpton’s TV specials on his family’s black-and-white television — watching as George played top-level bridge, became a high-wire circus performer, played professional football with the Baltimore Colts, attempted stand-up comedy, and played tennis against the great Pancho Gonzales — watching as George suffered public defeat and humiliation, all the while thinking, “THAT’S the job I want!”

Though Chuck’s life hasn’t been as high-profile nor as well chronicled, he’s carried George’s spirit nonetheless, taking up various careers as the consummate amateur. Not purely for gain, but more for the love of learning and experimentation. For instance, Chuck has worked as a:

• National Sales Rep for Sun Microsystems Computer Corp, responsible for a $30 million account
• Vice President of Marketing for Web Flyer and Randy Petersen, who The Wall Street Journal calls, “…the most influential frequent flier in America”
• Internet Advertising Sales Rep and Advertising Scheduler for USA.NET, among the first of the web-based email providers
• Cartographer, hand-drawing changes to USGS maps of Vietnam after the Vietnam war

He has also had brief careers as a:

• Ski Instructor
• Windsurfing Instructor
• Technical Writer
• Computer Programmer

Chuck received his BA in Economics from the University of Colorado, where he graduated with Highest Distinction.

This blog is about his continuing quest to release the inner Walter Mitty in all of us — and become the best professional amateur he can be.