For the Love of Wakeboarding

Where I live here in Oregon, I’m still learning where to go wakeboarding. So far, I like Roger’s Landing because it’s the closest, but there are lots of sandbars and in the middle of August I have to wear a wet suit. I miss living so close to such amazing lakes.  Some of my favorites are:

Lake Powell – Warm water, the scenery is great, the water is flat. We usually rent a houseboat and its just a great time.

Lake Mead – Warm water and hot outside. Big enough that you can usually find a nice cove to board in that is nice and flat. We usually rent a house boat here as well and have a great time.

Lake Mohave – It’s hot and I love it when it is so hot outside you are forced to jump in the water. Laughlin is near by and there is so much to do and you can go home and relax in an air conditioned hotel room.

Lake Perris – Growing up this was really close and easey.

Lake Shasta – Very warm water, it’s just a good time.

Where are the great places up here? Is there anyone in the Northwest that isn’t cold?

Tips for a Successful Vacation

It is important to vacation every now and then, take a trip by yourself, with your loved one, or family. You need a little break every now and then. These are helpful tips I live by to get the most out of my vacations may they be grand or weekend getaways.

1. Turn off the Cell Phone. This is practically impossible since we are in an age where I use it for everything. I use it to schedule my days, find my local golfing course, call friends, check email, and play games. It’s so scary to shut it off because there is a sense of impending doom when you do. However, my most relaxing vacations are when I don’t have signal. No Bars = No Stress (at least on vacation).

If you know that you don’t have anything that is urgent, just turn it off. Re-learn how to use the newspaper if you want to be informed. Put down your iPad and dust off a book. Give yourself a rest from all these unnecessary electronics. If you want to play a game, find an old thing called “Chess.” It’s refreshing and rewarding when you can’t be disturbed by silly questions, or just electronic distractions.

2. Work balance. In the event that you do need to check some emails and do other necessary functions to keep your business afloat, balance it. Remember that you are trying to get away from work, so don’t let it consume your day. Figure out how much time you must have to work and keep within that time frame. A good rule of thumb is an hour in the morning, and follow up with emails once before dinner. Keep contact to a minimum. Even mark your emails with priorities so you can easily focus on them later.

The same goes for home balance. If you or your spouse is worried about everything that is going on at home, you miss the chance of really getting away. Keep emails and updates to a minimum. If there’s an emergency, people will find you.

3. Me time. Depending on your style of vacationing, you may or may not get “me time.” This is very easy to skip if you are traveling with kids. Always plan for a little me time each day, for at least 1 hour. Note that your me time is different then your 1 hour work time. For 1 hour, get a massage, read a book, take an afternoon nap, or watch a game. This should be time just for you. If you want your significant other to participate with you, that’s alright, but make sure they don’t cause any distractions that may ruin your time.

4. Plan Accordingly. If you know your family is happier when you are busy all day long, plan ahead to have lots of activities. If you know the point of the trip is to sit by a pool and do nothing, don’t try to squeeze in social activities. Preplan what you know you’ll enjoy and stick to it. Don’t bother changing plans because a friend was in town or another questionable activities was recommended. It’s YOUR vacation, do what YOU want to do.

5. Enjoyment. You know what you enjoy, so do something that makes you smile or something that is different that you can’t do in your regular days. Go on a hike, or lay by the beach. Don’t simply sit in front of the T.V. There are so many things to do for whatever activity level you desire. Preplan this of course, but enjoy yourself. I can’t stress that enough to just have a good time and don’t worry about the little things.

It’s your vacation, so enjoy the good things in life!

Packages for Money Saving

We are nearing our launch for NW Allen and we are trying to figure out what packages we will offer.  These are the questions we are having and we would love all your opinions and thoughts.

• How many packages should be offered?  We have about 5 formulating.
• Should we start with Buy 2 Shirts and get a free tie, or start lower?
• Should the largest packaged offer be something like: Buy 5 shirts and 2 pairs of pants, get 1 shirt and 4 ties free?
• What language sounds better:  "Buy 1 shirt get 1 tie free" or "Buy a shirt and tie for $15.00"  (actual numbers, etc not real.  Just think of how that sounds.)

We are also thinking of offering a "Missionary Code" which is used for the discounted packages and also would make a donation to the LDS Missionary Fund.  Questions for that would be:

• What is a good percentage of the purchase that you think would be a good donation?  5%?  $1 for each item?  For every $100 purchase, we donate $10?
• Do you think the Missionary Code Discounts should be exclusively to Pre and Currently serving Missionaries?

Elder in New Zealand in a "Gale" storm.  As you can see, missionaries really need C6 Tech treated clothing!

We are still working on these.  We have a good idea of what we will do, but we would still love your input on the subject.  Thanks.

Everyone Loves Shark Week

How can you not love Shark Week on Discovery Channel? Every year I look forward to watching it. My favorite is “Air Jaws.” My wife generally enjoys it as well, but we watched a show called “Summer of the Shark,” which was about the Summer of 2001 when the number of shark attacks rocketed. That summer was the last time she would swim in the ocean. I think she does overreact, but here is her story of witnessing a shark attack:

It was the Summer of 2001, I had only been surfing for about 3 years and only in the summer months. I went with a group of girl friends down to the San Diego area for beach camping in San Elijo. We got there Monday and we’re staying until Saturday. It was awesome waking up every morning and going out surfing. I felt I was doing really well, I was catching every wave and moved over to a short board. It was only about 5 feet long. We were out from sunrise to sunset each day.

On Friday on that week, we had been out since early that morning. At this point, my skin was clearly fried from being out in the sun for so long. It was just about lunchtime so most of my friends were in eating. It was just me and two other friends, for the girls being out in the water. There were a few other boys in the area, but it was actually quite empty around considering how busy the water had been all week. As I was debating if I wanted to continue surfing or go in, I laid on my board with all my limbs in the water staring out in the ocean. I looked down into the water, which was decently clear. I watched a dark blur swim slowly and under me. I immediately put all my limbs up on the board and got a deep chill. From how that was swimming under me, it had to be a shark easily larger than my board, probably 6 feet long. I watched it swim from under my board over to under my friends who were out to my left.

As I nervously scrunched myself on my board, trying not to fall into the water, but stay on my way too small board, I yelled to my friends, “I think there’s a shark, get out of the water!” Both my friends, who were much older and wiser, laughed at me. I’m sure how I was propped up on the board didn’t help. One said, “It’s probably a school of fish.” I yelled again, “I think it’s a shark!” The other surfers all looked at me, but continued on. My other friend said, “Just go in. You need to get out of the sun.” I took one last look at my friends to my left and the male surfers to my right.

I barely put my fingers in when trying to paddle in, but I paddled as fast as my fingers could. I was completely terrified by the time I got into shore. My friends were all laughing at how silly I was being and assured me of two things: 1) sharks don’t swim in warm waters, and 2) shark attacks are super rare. They fixed me a sandwich and I sat in the shade watching out at the water.

Immediately, as I sat down, I noticed that there was another surfer, helping the surfer who was right next to me come in. My friends were paddling in as fast as possible and most of the other surfers were as well. When they got to the breaking of the waves, I could see that the surfer who had been directly next to me on my right, had in fact had a bite taken out of him. Instantly, when he was on the sand, the lifeguard pulled him into the shade and lifted his leg up. There was blood trailing in from the water and that’s when I could clearly see what happened. As the lifeguard was attempted to apply pressure below the knee, I could see that the surfer had been bit in the ankle and had mostly broken the leg. It wasn’t quite straight and covered in blood.

We all crowded around, as we were told to get away. That’s when someone finally said, he was bit by a shark. I kept hearing it was a Tiger Shark, but now I think it could have been any kind. The lifeguard seemed very assertive and calm, which is how we knew nothing was fatally wrong. In the few minutes it took for the paramedics to arrive, the foot already looked as if the blood was stopping. The paramedics wrapped his leg up and carried him off on a stretcher.

I was sick to my stomach thinking that I must have actually seen a shark. We didn’t go out to the water again that day and left first thing in the morning. That summer was the Summer of the Shark and all I could see on television was shark attacks. Needless to say, I didn’t go into the water the rest of that year. The following summer, I still couldn’t. They say if you have an experience like that the best therapy is to get back into the water right away, but I guess I missed my chance. I haven’t surfed since and I rarely go deep enough that my belly button could get wet. I know it may be silly that I was so scarred from the event. I don’t know what ever happened to that surfer boy, but I know it wasn’t fatal. I like to think that he rested his ankle for a month and hit the waves again.

Yep, that’s my wife. For our honeymoon, we vacationed in the Caribbean. It was the first time in 7 years that she completely went under water in the ocean. If only I could get her surfing again!

Behind our Great Minds

"I am fascinated by people who's names stand out in history for positive reasons.  I believe these kind of people are no different than you and me.  The legacy left by people like Gandhi is the ideas and ideals they represent.  To truly represent the ideas and ideals you believe in is a harder task than most are willing to take on.  Some even shy away from defining what they truly believe.  They are afraid to "think" too much about it.  I have been inspired to find the truth and to try and represent in every step I take.  For perhaps someday I can make a difference and inspire someone else to do the same. And it all starts with how we think."

Quote from Andrew Little, who is a very inspiring Artist who happens to be the Great Mind behind Skankeywear's line of Great Minds Think and also our Paisley design. We are thrilled to be working with such a talented designer.

Travel Locations for 2011

I was thinking about all the places I have been privileged to visit in the world:  Venezuela, Thailand, Japan, Peru, Caribbean Islands, to name a few.  I want to slowly visit each country and each state as I'm sure everyone would love to.

My goals for next year are:

Vancouver, Canada

Auckland, New Zealand

New York City, New York

Taipei, Taiwan

Sometimes, when you're a Road Warrior or you travel a fair amount of time for your job, you lose the fun of traveling.  You have to make sure that you do 1 or 2 things for fun in the places you travel and focus on the beauty and variety of the place you are at.  Don't become jaded because you travel there so often, focus on how lucky you are able to be to travel for business (while fitting in a little bit of pleasure).

Cheers to my fellow travelers and be safe on your trips.

What Makes A Great Mind?

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Great Minds Needs 2 things:

1)    Unique Ideas.  I don’t believe “Great Minds Think Alike,” because the Greatest Minds have completely original ideas or have expounded upon others theories to make it new and distinctive. They can’t be compared to other Minds because their achievements stand on their own. They are uncontained minds that are not limited to current knowledge and what others say to be true.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

“There comes a time when the mind takes a higher plane of knowledge but can never prove how it got there.” – Albert Einstein

2)    Make You Think. A truly Great Mind makes others think. It gives everyone a light bulb and motivates them to dream and expand what they know.

“A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Basically, Great Minds are inimitable and they inspire you to think.

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.” – Mortimer Adler

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who do you think is a Great Mind? Who makes you Think?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Great Minds Think.

Who is he?

Georgian born from a line of Pastors, he was raised during a time of segregation for the African American community. He disciplined himself be a very educated man, receiving a Bachelors degree, attending a Theological School, and even getting his doctorate. He became a Pastor in Alabama and quickly became very involved in the Civil Rights groups for Colored People. He became famous when he became the leader of a bus boycott that lasted a total of 382 days. He had the Supreme Court declare the segregation laws unconstitutional, while dealing with much personal persecution at his home and with his family. He became the President of a group focused on the Civil Right movement who took guides from Gandhi and Christianity. King became the face of injustice and persecution, whenever there was action needed, he was there to speak, lead the group, write articles, or whatever else may be needed. He is most famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech which turned him from being a figure to the African Americans to a world figure. He even received the Nobel Peace Prize and donated his money to further the civil rights movement.

Why do we love him?

Maybe it’s because he moved a generation with his words and his words continue to move the current generation? Maybe it’s because he opened the world eyes to the issues of segregation and civil rights? Maybe it’s because he made us want to be better people, people who believe and practice equality? “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Why is he a Great Mind?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn’t just preach from a pulpit, he was one with the people. He lead the marches, he believed in what he was doing, and he made everyone around him think about what was going on. He made everyone, black, white, or other, really think.

Great Minds Think.

5 Great Reads

I thought I might recommend my favorite books that I feel have helped my business and my life.  In no order:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  Just a good book that really explains how to be successful.  Lots of great tips.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink.  I really like this one because it explains how the world is shifting out of the left brained workers (people who crunch numbers and do mundane tasks) to right brain workers (creative and artistic people) and how the people who use both sides of their brain will be the ones who succeed.

Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman.  This is a good economics and international business book that shows how the world is evolving in some ways but it trying hard to hold on to its traditions as well.

The Law (in Plain English) for Small Business by Leonard D. DuBoff.  An easy read to help think about important issues when starting up a business.

Maps for Modern Magellans by Roger Anderson.  This is written by a friend's father and it's a great business book with lots of great insight.

Albert Einstein. Great Minds Think.

Who is he?

German born, he worked in the Swiss Patent Office where he was just getting started in his inventions and theories. He later moved to the United States to become a Professor of Physics at Princeton. Much of his scientific and mathematical start can be lead back to him finding flaws in Newton’s theories and trying to correct or perfect them. He studied many things including quantum theory and led the way for the photon theory of light. His most noted theory he developed was the general and special theory of relativity. He has written many books about science and philosophy. He has lectured all over the world and received numerous awards (including TIME’s Person of the Century beating runner up Gandhi), but most notable being the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Why do we love him?

Maybe it’s the white hair? Maybe it’s his humble attitude towards all of his groundbreaking achievements? Maybe it’s because he’s so well known in our culture, even if you haven’t studied his work, you know his quotes. Let’s face it, they’re awesome. “If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind. Of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Why is he a Great Mind?

Einstein is both a physicist and philosopher. He didn’t just sit home in study, he traveled and experienced the world, love, and religion. He did more in his life time than many and paved the way for new scientists, taught us all a little something, and made our little minds think.

Great Minds Think.

Tip for the World Traveler

If you’re like me, when you are visiting somewhere new you don’t want end up buying a souvenir for every person you have ever met. Somehow, my wife always ends up doing this. However, most of these souvenirs end up as knickknacks around the house and eventually we realize they don’t go with the décor.

We have tried to solve this problem by limiting our souvenirs to one item. This is almost impossible to sum up your travels into one item, especially seeing that it could be any kind of item: pottery, painting, toothbrush holder, t-shirts. It’s hard to keep with a theme and most people find the spoons, bells, and shot glasses a little passé. If you’re still down with those items, you have already solved this problem, but for the rest of us, I think Ikea has the solution.

In a recent wandering with my family, we noticed a huge map of the World. I have heard of this before, when you put pins into every place you have traveled (of course you would need to travel to the top two corners first!) However, I always felt this was boring. Ikea had their map against a magnetic board and inserted different items at each location: magnets, notes, currency, ticket stubs, etc. I thought this was perfect. By using the magnet board your limiting yourself to small items, but can still be unique towards each individual trip.

I’m hoping to convert us to this magnetic memory board rather than our hoarding of the memories. If I’m lucky, I’ll even convert us just to magnets from each country!

Mohandas Gandhi. Great Minds Think.

Who is he?

Indian born into the Hindu religion, from an early age Gandhi believed in non-violence and tolerance. As a young man, he moved to London where he studied law, then returned to India. He later moved to South Africa where he tried to help living conditions for the Indian community there. He introduced to a very racist leadership, the method of non-violence so that Indians could gain basic human rights. The word of his great works spread quickly back to India, and when he returned back he was already considered a leading figure. During the periods of time in which Indians tried to overrule and gain independence from the British, Gandhi practiced many non-violent campaigns. As he held these campaigns, he brought together many religions and caused many to respect him.

Why do we love him?

Maybe it’s because he practiced what he preached? Maybe it’s because regardless of religion or political background, many respect his principals? Maybe it’s because he made us all want to be better people? “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

Why is he a Great Mind?
Gandhi influenced so many people throughout the world by showing his methods of non-violence. He showed us many basic principles and how they could better our lives. He made everyone around the world, governments, and every day people really think.

Great Minds Think.

Customer Reviews from Business Men and Missionaries

"One day, I was out with my companion and I noticed a family that needed help with their car.  I'm not a mechanic, but I know enough, so I asked if they needed help.  My companion also knew a few things about cars and he suggested we go home and change before we get grease all over our clothes.  I didn't worry because I was wearing my NW Allen shirt.  I did get grease on my shirt, but I just washed it off with water and it came off easily." -Todd L.  Serving his mission in Auckland, New Zealand.

"It's the most amazing thing when you spill tomato sauce on your white business shirt, and it cleans off like new!" -Casey S.  Real Estate Investor.

"It kept me dry all day, even when it was pouring rain." "It let me breathe. It was like a breathable fabric." "It's easy to wash and maintain, which is great 'cause I don't want to waste my P-day doing laundry. I also like that it works for both conditions hot or cold." -Fabian N.  Serving his mission in Anaheim, California.

Customer Satisfaction

"The Skankeywear shirt is excellent. I use it when I do service. It stays really clean and... it repels water!!! Which is super awesome." -Todd L. of Auckland, New Zealand

"Skankeywear shirts are incredible against the inevitable sweat that comes from living in the tropical heat!" -Casey S. of Houston, Texas

"It kept me dry all day, even when it was pouring rain." "It let me breathe. It was like a breathable fabric." "It's easy to wash and maintain, which is great 'cause I don't want to waste my day doing laundry." -Fabian N. of Anaheim, California

"The shirts we ordered were absolutely awesome! As a track team we are very active and the spill/stain resistant shirts worked great! I highly recommend these shirts to anyone!" - Coach BJ V. of Fullerton, CA

"I've had a black shirt treated with the C-6 Tech process for over a year now and it still looks new. People often ask me if it is a new shirt. I then tell them how long I've had it and splash some water on it just to show off! I wish all my clothes were that resilient." - A. Little of San Diego, California

Waterproof vs. Water Resistant

There is often confusion about products that have a label of “Waterproof” or “Water Resistant.” Most people think they are one in the same, when they are actually two very different things. Here is our break down in casual terms.

Waterproof – When a company says this they are saying “Water CANNOT penetrate the textile.” It’s Proof, just like something being fireproof. These tend to be items that are cases or something like that, like a waterproof camera. The object inside is completely sealed making that item now waterproof. In clothing, these items, if offered, tend to be the really stiff clothing or kinds that make a lot of noise when you walk. They would have to be of course because you are completely sealing the fabric so no water can get in.

One sentence summary – Water CANNOT penetrate.

Water Resistant – When a company says this they are saying “Water SHOULDN’T get in here.” A good example is when you are on a diet and you are resisting, let’s say…cake. You are trying not to get cake, so it’s best to avoid it. However, if you come near it, you may get a little “in” you. Now, back to clothing or average items with the title of water resistant, you don’t have to avoid water. However, water resistant means that if you drop it in a pool, it WILL get wet and it will probably get ruined if it’s electronic. Why use this? Well, most days you aren’t risking dropping something into a pool. So for every day clothing, this is perfect. It helps against everyday stains and small amounts of water. Since this technology don’t seal your fabric, it tends to be more comfortable and a more breathable fabric.

One sentence summary – Protects against a cup of water, not a pool.

Why do we say our products are Water Repellant? Is that different?
Water repellant is closer to being water resistant. If you jump in a pool, you will get wet. The main difference is that we are serious when we say it repels water and stains. The C-6 technology we use literally protects the fabric and works with it to create a blockade. You can see the water bead up and away from the fabric on contact. This protection keeps the fabric soft as if it wasn’t treated at all, making our clothing very comfortable for all occasions.

One sentence summary – Water repellant is a step up from being water resistant.