Meet Dan Furman
Hi! My name is Dan Furman, and I’m a Professional Writer / Business Author / Entrepreneurial Consultant with 25+ years of writing, business, and sales experience (and many firings as well… we’ll get to those in a minute).
My website is called Clear-Writing.com, and my company is named Night Owl e-Ventures Inc. I’ve been in business since 1999, and am incorporated in New York (we incorporated in March 2004.)
A Bit About Me Professionally
Rather than do a typical boring biography filled with nothing but remarkable achievements, I’ll be brutally honest and give you the whole story, warts and all.
I became a business owner because if there’s one constant in my professional life, it’s been my complete inability to hold down any kind of real job for more than a few years. I just never really fit in anywhere for any great length of time – I’d come in, become a trusted go-to guy right away, and do a great job for one to three years… then I’d either get bored and leave, or I’d grate on my boss and get fired.
Really – I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life. Retail manager / buyer (twice), sales (including autos and advertising), marketing manager, computer tech support, e-Commerce programmer, welder, dishwasher, some construction, my father’s iron shop… basically, between the ages of 13 and 33, I did a lot of different things, which actually helps in my writing.
Most people probably wouldn’t like my minefield of a career, but I love the fact that I have such an eclectic job history. I learned the ins and outs of many different industries, I met a lot of interesting people, and have a lot of good stories. Plus, I also did some challenging and meaningful work along the way. I look back at some of my old jobs fondly, but I am happy I am on my own.
I just have an entrepreneur’s heart, I guess. I like doing things my way, and I have no tolerance for “the corporate game”. I’m not into personalities and office drama – I just want to get stuff done the right way.
Fortunately, I’m really good at what I do.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a kid. I love to write – actually, I love to write the type of writing you are now reading. Direct, straight, business sales writing. That’s my strength. See all those jobs I listed a few paragraphs ago? They were all made better by my writing ability. For example, when I was a computer tech, they were asking me to also write press releases and web copy because I was good at it.
So it was natural for me to strike out on my own as a professional writer. I’ve been doing this full time for more than a decade, and it’s worked out really well. I write for anyone and everyone – small companies, individual people, and international corporations. My clients love me – they get great work when they need it, and I get the freedom to call my own shots. I like that, and I really like what I do.
A bit about me personally
I’m 46 years old, live in Kingston NY, and have been married to my wife Maryellen since 1999. We were married in Vegas a few days after we met, and it couldn’t have worked out better. Trust your gut, folks – it’s almost never wrong. Plus, flying to Vegas and getting married on a whim is astonishingly exciting!
We have a dog and a cat. My cat hangs around my office all day with me. I think she likes the tapping of the keyboard keys. My dog is a 98-lb German Shepherd / Rotty / Husky mix. She’s big, slobbery, and 100% awesome.
I work out of my home office, so that means I work a lot. I also like working on my house and yard (I’ve become a fairly adept handyman, landscaper, and electrician.) As far as hobbies and interests, I’m a big movie buff and avid videogamer (mostly Xbox 360), autumn is my favorite season, and I like all things scary. I’m also a big fan of microbrewed beer, and have developed a taste for good cigars and fine whiskey (Bourbon and Islay single malts are my favorites). Hey, I’m in my mid 40′s – allow me a few adult vices, ok? I do try and work out some (mostly walking w/ weights), I play a little golf (I’m not very good), and I enjoy shooting at the range every week or so (so definitely think twice before stalking!)
I’ve become quite the homebody in my middle age here – we don’t have a huge McMansion, but we’ve fixed up our modest house and yard pretty nice. I’d MUCH rather hang out here any given night than go out somewhere. The food, drinks, music, and conversation are FAR better here, and I have a strict “no idiots” policy that is aggressively enforced. Plus, we have a hot tub!
If you’re an old friend or business associate, feel free to reach out and say hello. Heck, if you’re an old enemy (not that I had many of those), I’d like to hear from you as well.
And to those bosses who fired me… well, I hold no ill will. Truthfully, you did me a favor. I hope you are enjoying your life, and that your career has worked out half as good as mine has!