You're at Chris Daniel.com
“Are you a character, or do you have character?”
I’m Chris Daniel. Think of me as that friend who reads the fine print, tests the new tools, and still has time to poke holes in the hype. I spent years in network administration and insurance claims (aka professional problem chaser). Now I translate that into guides on social media growth, AI, and money/logistics—stuff that’s practical, raw, and sometimes a little uncomfortable. Because if your work doesn’t make someone roll their eyes at you, you’re probably playing too safe.
I don’t publish often, but when I do it’s something you can actually use. My playbooks come from real life—whether that’s growing social media audiences, navigating messy relationships, or breaking down money and insurance in plain English.
I’ve been diving into prompt engineering and AI (through Abacus), among others. We kind of all started on Chat GPT but I quickly drifted to Claude. LOL. Drifted... That's an inside joke, right?
I’m also into YouTube SEO, Canva, Kit (the old ConvertKit), Stripe and more. I try to build systems not businesses. I’ve been inspired by Dan S. Kennedy, Frank Kern, and Russell Brunson, but my copywriting isn’t as good. I’m raw and authentic—but I aim for copy that connects, engages, and moves people to act. As Russell said in his book, if you don’t make some haters, you’re not being loud enough.
At the end of the day, all of this ties back to a bigger goal: helping more Americans stop trading time for money and start building assets, brands, and businesses that work for them. Real freedom doesn’t come from a side hustle—it comes from owning systems that set you free when the economy doesn’t.
I’m a father, a history fan, a proud ex-military veteran, and a lifelong learner. My journey is far from over, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned – and what I’m still learning – with you.
~Chris Daniel
What I’ve Learned
Insurance Claims Adjuster
My professional journey began in insurance claims. After serving in the military, I spent three years at The Hartford, where I worked my way up to an insurance claims adjuster. While I enjoyed the work, the pay at the time wasn’t enough to support my long-term goals. So, I made the decision to go back to college and pursue a new path in IT.
Fast forward to 2005, after the dot-com bust, I returned to the insurance industry and joined Kemper Insurance. Over the next five years, I handled a wide variety of claims, from minor fender benders to complex liability with minor injuries. One of the most defining moments of my career came when a colleague suffered a heart attack, leaving a critical gap in our team. Without hesitation, I stepped into a fast-paced Total Loss Desk position, managing high volumes of claims for over four months. There was no training, no onboarding – just the immediate need for someone to step up. I adapted quickly and nearly matched the pace of my colleague, a 17-year veteran.
This experience reinforced a lesson I learned in the military: when challenges arise, you don’t run from them – you run toward them. Whether it’s investigating a claim, negotiating settlements, or stepping into a new role at a moment’s notice, I’ve always been the one to take on the challenge. Is that a character flaw or an asset? I’ll let you decide.
During my time in insurance claims, I learned how to help people navigate the tricky process of estimating their vehicle’s total loss.
Here’s a guide I wrote to help you - How to Handle a Total Loss Vehicle.
IT Troubleshooting
After leaving The Hartford, I went back to college and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in IT. While in school, I worked hard to gain hands-on experience, building up two years of IT work experience by the time I graduated. That effort paid off when I landed my first major IT role as a Workstation Engineer for a Microsoft Solution Provider. There, I honed my skills in troubleshooting, system optimization, and client support.
After two years, I moved on to a Network Administration role at (CIBC) a nationwide bank, where I managed complex systems and ensured network stability across multiple locations. My time in IT taught me how to think critically, solve problems efficiently, and communicate effectively with people who often felt overwhelmed by technology. These skills have been invaluable throughout my career, no matter the industry.
Tying It All Together
Between my time in IT and insurance claims, I’ve developed a unique combination of skills: the ability to troubleshoot and the ability to investigate. From IT, I learned how to break down complex problems and find solutions. From claims handling, I learned how to dig deep, ask the right questions, and uncover the truth.
Together, these skills have turned me into a bit of a “gum shoe” investigator, tip-toeing on the level of Columbo-style fact-finding. What’s next? Learning how to profile a psychopath? Who knows – but I’m always up for the challenge.
What I’m Working on
WatchingCharts.com (Swing Trading eBook)
Swing trading has been one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of my journey. I started trading stocks during my lunch breaks, determined to crack the code of the market. Over time, I developed a system that works for me, and now I’m sharing what I’ve learned with others.
At WatchingCharts.com, you’ll find my step-by-step guide to swing trading, designed for anyone who wants to learn how to time the market and make smarter trades. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your strategy, this guide is packed with actionable insights to help you succeed.
“Ready to master swing trading? Check out WatchingCharts.com.”
Social Media Success
“Brand your name.com and what you do.com and keep them separate.” – John Childers
This advice from John Childers has shaped how I approach social media and branding. While there’s value in building a personal brand, I’ve always tested strategies on stand-alone pages to ensure they’re true, independent tests. Each page I’ve built has been a learning experience, and the results speak for themselves.
I’ve grown Facebook pages to 11,000 followers in 60 days and Instagram pages to 186,000 followers in less than a year. Along the way, I’ve learned from some of the best in the business, including Chris Record, Ben Oberg, and Zach Babcock. I’ve also started building a presence on YouTube, the only platform where content gains value over time.
Want to know more about my social media journey and the lessons I’ve learned?
Check out my Social Media Strategies here.
Remember that quote from John? I started buying branded .com's back in '99. I still own a few, including my name.com. We have a brand by design or by default, right?
A Few Snapshots of Life
A Few Final Thoughts
"If you don't change your direction, you're bound to end up where you're headed."
That’s what John Childers—the first millionaire I ever met—told me when I shook his hand. Later, I made it a point to take millionaires out to lunch or dinner, but John was the one who sparked my curiosity to learn more.
Now, I’m not here to sell you branding services—that’s not what this site is about. However, I've tried to learn and apply the knowledge I've be blessed with from John and other millionaires I've met. I've met few: John Childers, Myron Golden, Chris Record, Ben O'Berg, Chris Wilson and more... All but one, I've actually had lunch or dinner with.
But I did take John’s advice to heart when building the business social pages I tested as well. Maybe you want to start there? Or maybe you’re curious about how I traded stocks at my desk at work and doubled my money four years in a row?
However, the wisest words I've ever heard didn't come from millionaires.
"The Bible is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses that report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies that claimed their writings were divine rather than human in nature."
-Dr. Voddie Baucham
Whether you wanted to learn about the things I've mastered in the past or my current projects, I'll try to share the info. My old Instagram for business page, for example, was so long, I finally had to cut it down and I summed it up as a social media strategy page. I had some very good insights hosted for years but took most all of it down. Many of those IG guru's you might have heard of, learned from the same guy I did, or we rubbed elbows with them, etc. When Ben and I hosted that master mind at his house, he was chasing Grant Cardone and offering to do his IG for free. As social media gurus we were joking at that time about trading BTC when it was 6-8K. - How I wish I could buy a Bitcoin for 8K now.
I feel that I learned from the best and took the knowledge with me as I pursued other adventures.
Trading stocks was a good adventure too. When my dad's retirement firm lost 100K in a year over Covid, they just said, "were in it for the long haul" which to me is code for we use "buy a hope" as a primary investment strategy. They weren't willing to move money easily and only want to put it in investment and apply the same "hopium" strategy.
I took that over and grew it from 200K to 300K in a year. I used to say that no one will ever invest your money as well as you can. You see, you're financially invested in your own outcome. Others give you advise but its not their money at risk, is it? So I try to teach others about money but I don't want to manage theirs for them.
So I started running a Discord channel for traders in 2020-21. I had day traders, swing traders and investors all in the same group. Unlike other fake guru's when I made a "call" I'd put my own cash on the line, 10K here, 10K there, etc. I did pretty good. But I also learned that trying to be all things to all people was unnecessary. You really only need to be an expert at one thing. Just do that one thing well, over and over. When you stop caring about what others think of you, the noise clears up.
Want to go "behind the scenes a bit"?
This workstation setup is where the magic happens. - That's a 35" curved monitor next to the 27" vertical one. That's a RodeCaster Pro sound board with a Rode podmic on a boom and stand that holds my Canon EOS 50 w/another Rode mic and bigger lens. I rarely use that as my 2 Logitech video cameras work so well, there's little need for a 3rd camera or for me to hook up a phone, etc. It all contributes to a nice digital playground, doesn't it? - Yes, that's a world map of Indian Jones archaeological discovers, signed and framed on the wall. - I'm a George Lucas fan.
My wife also works from home. When she finally got 2 monitors for her desk, she was relieved and saw her productively sore. My black lab works from home too. She scares the crap out of every Amazon deliver driver that approaches. She take her job very seriously. LOL.
So, where are you headed? If you want to learn more about me or what I can do for you, feel free to get in touch.
Chris Daniel
With a Network Administration background, this former Insurance Claims Adjuster has a knack for investigations mixed with a touch of dark and self deprecating humor. Chris shares insights on social media strategies and insurance claims, blending technical know-how with real-world experience. Learn more about Chris and his projects on the About page.
Best thing I ever did was started trading stocks at my desk over my lunch hour. The second best thing was to sell my stocks to buy investment education & training. Third best thing was to show some kindness and buy millionaires lunch or dinner one-on-one.
Robert G. Allen
“Don’t let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you’re crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you’re lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you’re greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn’t understand.”
- This quote reminds me to stay focused on my goals, no matter what others think. Success often comes from doing what others won’t.
Gordon Dahl
“Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values are distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair, and their lifestyles resemble a cast of characters in search of a plot.”
- This quote challenges me to keep my priorities straight and live with purpose.
Myron Golden
“Your job wasn’t created to pay you what you’re worth. It’s meant to pay you what the job is worth. The only person that will pay you what you’re worth is you.”
- This quote inspires me to take ownership of my value instead of waiting for others to recognize my worth. Fun fact: I had dinner with Myron, one-on-one, back in the day. Buying these millionaires dinner was the best money I’ve ever spent!
Disclaimer: These are my personal socials, not the business ones. I’ve never put much into ‘personal branding’ because I’d rather focus on building strategies that actually work. You won’t see me chasing followers or posting every meal — that’s not my style.
All Rights Reserved.