Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Gowen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chris , appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I actually started with an idea for an invention for Football helmets. That set me on the path to obtaining 7 patents for my invention related to helmet safety. It also taught me the valuable life lesson of Perseverance. I had so many times throughout this process to quit. I had so many set backs over the years but I refuse to quit. Anytime you attempt anything beyond mediocrity you will have to have mental fortitude and perseverance to ride out the rough times.
From those early days on Directional Force just continued to cultivate and grow. It takes a lot of work and an open mind, but If you dwell in the field of potential energy, good things will follow.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I was an LAPD Detective and I was assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. In law enforcemnt fitness plays a huge role in your survival, both mentaly and physically. Being fit can literally be life or death in that field. Being fit does so much for you mentally as well. I struggle with depression and it has been therapy for me for many years now. I would be lost without it.
I knew that when I started my brand I wanted to Encourage people to Find Their Inner Athlete and instill the Core Value of Perseverance. I wanted the company ethos to be a Culture of Perseverance. You Can’t fail if you Don’t Quit. This mentality continues to carry me, and will carry you, through the ups and downs that are sure to present themselves somewhere along your entreprenuel journey.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the biggest struggles that I have faced is the same one the majority of people face when they start a business, Capital. I have no partners and have had zero financial backing since day one. This was extremely hard to do on an LAPD salary. Intellectual property law is one of the most expensive in the legal field. Combine that with trying to start product development with just a vision but no money is tough. I have had to make a lot of sacrifices to keep the wheels on the machine over the years and keep everything moving forward. My strong belief in what I was doing fueled my fire and kept me moving along to find ways to make things happen.
Debt became my friend. I had to use debt to build my dream. I believed in my vision so much that I went all in without a safety net. I have the attitude that I will rise or die on my dream to build this into a multi billion dollar company employing thousands of people.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
I went from a few hats being embroidered in Los Angeles to manufacturing over 300 items in six countries. I have dealt with many shady factories and learned a lot of lessons along the way. I had no background in manufacturing but I was determined to learn and improve on product quality with each run. I’m still learning and I love the process. It’s extremely rewarding for me to see someone in an airport with their Directional Force gear on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.directionalforce.com/
- Instagram: @cdgowen
- Facebook: @cdgowen
- Linkedin: @cdgowen
- Twitter: @cdgowen