Reed Timmer the Tornado Chaser
Posted 1st June 2014 at 04:11 PM by imarkedy
Tags entrepreneur, entrepreneur advice, entrepreneur blogs, entrepreneur business, entrepreneur ideas
In our ongoing entrepreneur series, we now feature Reed Timmer, tornado chaser and business owner at Tornadovideos.net. As some know, Reed chases tornadoes across the Midwest in a place known as ‘Tornado Alley’ and was one of the stars of the now cancelled Discovery Channel series titled Storm Chasers. I love Reed and have followed his progress since the series was taken off air. He represents everything that is right about entrepreneurship and holds the honor of one of only two streaming video services I willingly pay for. There was much sadness, including me personally, when Discovery cancelled the series and why this came to pass – who knows. However, Reed, having chased tornadoes for years before the show, ‘turned lemons into lemonade’ as a great business owner should!
All lessons learned during the show’s production were used by Reed’s company to launch a tornado chase (web only) series after parting ways with Discovery. In stark contrast and another (although lesser) star of the show, Dr. Joshua Wurman, represents what we’ve often referred to as a ‘wage slave’ here at SBDC TV. In fairness to Dr. Wurman, he’s contributed much to the field of tornado and weather science. Nevertheless; there was one particular episode of Tornado Chasers which he and Reed had a disagreement. I fail to remember the exact statement Wurmer hurled in Reed’s direction but Reed is a natural storm chaser and this ability rubbed Dr. Wurman the wrong way. As does any good ‘wage slave’, Wurman said to Reed (paraphrasing) – “If you want to work in this (tornado science) industry you need to share information…”
The hugest difference between Reed Timmer and Dr. Wurman is the ultimate example of the ever present ‘employee’ versus ‘business owner’ paradigm; Dr. Wurman being the former and Reed the latter.
Wurman exists on government assistance and private foundation grants while Reed relies on pure entrepreneurial ability. Put more simply; Dr. Wurman is dependent on ‘hand-outs’ while Timmer is a business man. Essentially, the confrontation occurred because Wurman couldn’t control Reed as could he with another star of the show – Sean Casey, the IMAX filmmaker. Reed’s enthusiasm and skills obviously sent the good doctor over the edge with jealousy. As do all class acts, Reed handled Wurman’s struggle for control much better than would I have! To summarize the difference between Reed and the ‘corporate crony’ (Dr. Wurman), think back to the 1997 movie titled ‘Twister’, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Reed’s style, enthusiasm, innovativeness and most of all, effectiveness, is liken unto Hunt and Paxton’s character(s) while Wurman is representative of their chasing adversary; Jonas.
Further, Paxton’s character (Bill) said about Jonas what is true about Wurman – “He has a lot of fancy gadgets but has no instincts”. Having dealt with jealous people, personally, and being sure the reader has also, I well-understand where Wurman’s attitude came from. Imagine being an older guy (Wurman), working hard, sacrificing your self-respect year after year to get funding and along comes some young hot shot (Timmer) who isn’t equipped as well but demonstrates enviable abilities.
Timmer, with a sub-par SUV, a few laptop computers, internet connection and gut instinct, usually (if chasing the same storm) outperformed Wurman who, in stark contrast, had millions in funding, fancy equipment and larger staff. How would you feel? As I’ve written before, whether dealing with investors, bad employees who threaten legal action or other ‘sheeple’, always, without exception, stand your ground and prepare to put everything on the line for the sake of the founding values of your company. If these values are still taking shape, make the stand on personal morals developed over a lifetime. I refuse listening to anyone, no matter how famous or influential who tries to harm me or this company regardless of the cost. Our e-learners and readers well-know our struggle with the Dr. Joshua Wurman of the e-learning industry; Udemy.com.
Parting ways with the ‘U’ caused much financial hardship but when someone, anyone, attempts to ‘bridle’ and hold back your aspirations of greatness, it is time for a change. I love watching tornado hunting entrepreneurs however I stream most chase videos free on Youtube while investing personal (by way of paid subscription) with Reed’s company. Why? It isn’t due to Reed’s passion because, truthfully, many storm chasers are just as passionate as he. My love for Reed and Tornadovideos.net is due to one thing; I would sell this company and work for Mr. Timmer if the opportunity availed itself! I, an entrepreneur, free from wage slavery, would go back into employment bondage to walk alongside this great man and business leader.
“There is no higher compliment than when one is willing to surrender their freedom, put back on a yoke just to experience another kind of freedom”. Where is this all leading? When following that which you believe in most, others will be drawn into the vision and successful will soon follow. Several years after the show’s cancellation, Mr. Timmer is still living the dream, partnered with the Weather Channel, the storm spotter of choice for many Midwestern television stations as well as in a much better financial position. When is the last time you heard from Dr. Josh Wurman? Sure, he is still driving around with his high-tech gadgets, receiving grant funds and probably doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. However, the good doctor is still not truly free, will never possess the talent of Reed Timmer and given a choice, I am more than sure most storm chasers as well as fans would trust Timmer with their lives, unlike Wurman, if a storm was barreling down on them.
Reed; you will never fully understand how much your (as we said in the Marine Corps) ‘espirit de corps’ for tornadoes and entrepreneurship have blessed my heart and that of countless others. Dr. Joshua Wurman is a scientist and probably a good one but people aren’t drawn to ‘good’ leaders rather GREAT ONES!
B.D. Dale
Entrepreneur Coach
All lessons learned during the show’s production were used by Reed’s company to launch a tornado chase (web only) series after parting ways with Discovery. In stark contrast and another (although lesser) star of the show, Dr. Joshua Wurman, represents what we’ve often referred to as a ‘wage slave’ here at SBDC TV. In fairness to Dr. Wurman, he’s contributed much to the field of tornado and weather science. Nevertheless; there was one particular episode of Tornado Chasers which he and Reed had a disagreement. I fail to remember the exact statement Wurmer hurled in Reed’s direction but Reed is a natural storm chaser and this ability rubbed Dr. Wurman the wrong way. As does any good ‘wage slave’, Wurman said to Reed (paraphrasing) – “If you want to work in this (tornado science) industry you need to share information…”
The hugest difference between Reed Timmer and Dr. Wurman is the ultimate example of the ever present ‘employee’ versus ‘business owner’ paradigm; Dr. Wurman being the former and Reed the latter.
Wurman exists on government assistance and private foundation grants while Reed relies on pure entrepreneurial ability. Put more simply; Dr. Wurman is dependent on ‘hand-outs’ while Timmer is a business man. Essentially, the confrontation occurred because Wurman couldn’t control Reed as could he with another star of the show – Sean Casey, the IMAX filmmaker. Reed’s enthusiasm and skills obviously sent the good doctor over the edge with jealousy. As do all class acts, Reed handled Wurman’s struggle for control much better than would I have! To summarize the difference between Reed and the ‘corporate crony’ (Dr. Wurman), think back to the 1997 movie titled ‘Twister’, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Reed’s style, enthusiasm, innovativeness and most of all, effectiveness, is liken unto Hunt and Paxton’s character(s) while Wurman is representative of their chasing adversary; Jonas.
Further, Paxton’s character (Bill) said about Jonas what is true about Wurman – “He has a lot of fancy gadgets but has no instincts”. Having dealt with jealous people, personally, and being sure the reader has also, I well-understand where Wurman’s attitude came from. Imagine being an older guy (Wurman), working hard, sacrificing your self-respect year after year to get funding and along comes some young hot shot (Timmer) who isn’t equipped as well but demonstrates enviable abilities.
Timmer, with a sub-par SUV, a few laptop computers, internet connection and gut instinct, usually (if chasing the same storm) outperformed Wurman who, in stark contrast, had millions in funding, fancy equipment and larger staff. How would you feel? As I’ve written before, whether dealing with investors, bad employees who threaten legal action or other ‘sheeple’, always, without exception, stand your ground and prepare to put everything on the line for the sake of the founding values of your company. If these values are still taking shape, make the stand on personal morals developed over a lifetime. I refuse listening to anyone, no matter how famous or influential who tries to harm me or this company regardless of the cost. Our e-learners and readers well-know our struggle with the Dr. Joshua Wurman of the e-learning industry; Udemy.com.
Parting ways with the ‘U’ caused much financial hardship but when someone, anyone, attempts to ‘bridle’ and hold back your aspirations of greatness, it is time for a change. I love watching tornado hunting entrepreneurs however I stream most chase videos free on Youtube while investing personal (by way of paid subscription) with Reed’s company. Why? It isn’t due to Reed’s passion because, truthfully, many storm chasers are just as passionate as he. My love for Reed and Tornadovideos.net is due to one thing; I would sell this company and work for Mr. Timmer if the opportunity availed itself! I, an entrepreneur, free from wage slavery, would go back into employment bondage to walk alongside this great man and business leader.
“There is no higher compliment than when one is willing to surrender their freedom, put back on a yoke just to experience another kind of freedom”. Where is this all leading? When following that which you believe in most, others will be drawn into the vision and successful will soon follow. Several years after the show’s cancellation, Mr. Timmer is still living the dream, partnered with the Weather Channel, the storm spotter of choice for many Midwestern television stations as well as in a much better financial position. When is the last time you heard from Dr. Josh Wurman? Sure, he is still driving around with his high-tech gadgets, receiving grant funds and probably doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. However, the good doctor is still not truly free, will never possess the talent of Reed Timmer and given a choice, I am more than sure most storm chasers as well as fans would trust Timmer with their lives, unlike Wurman, if a storm was barreling down on them.
Reed; you will never fully understand how much your (as we said in the Marine Corps) ‘espirit de corps’ for tornadoes and entrepreneurship have blessed my heart and that of countless others. Dr. Joshua Wurman is a scientist and probably a good one but people aren’t drawn to ‘good’ leaders rather GREAT ONES!
B.D. Dale
Entrepreneur Coach
