About

First, thank you for your curiosity. This page explains more about what I do, and I look forward to perhaps getting the chance to learn more about you and what you do.

I hope the articles and resources on this website help you reach your next milestone, whatever that may be. This site is for the kind of people who take action. Whether you’re working on improving your personal life, reaching a big professional goal, or launching your brilliant business idea, I’m here to provide the support you need.

The posts you read here touch on a wide variety of topics; after all, having diverse experiences is one of the ways we grow as people.

Subscribe to the newsletter to get new articles sent directly to your inbox. If you’d prefer a personalized approach, let’s set up a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how I can help you reach your specific goals.

About Rick Manelius, PhD

My mission in life is to explore, master, share, and make a positive impact on the world.

To that end, my professional and life experiences are both wide and deep. As an entrepreneur, I’m adept at finding the right tools, systems, and connections to propel a business forwards. As a writer, my work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, books, scientific journals, and of course here on this blog. My PhD comes from MIT where my research combined the subjects of Van der Walls forces, carbon nanotubes, and quantum mechanics in an effort to speed the progression of nanotechnology.

My Twitter and LinkedIn profiles are excellent places to keep up with my current projects, and my best longform articles and resources are here on my website. I aim to create a hub where I can build meaningful, ongoing relationships with readers like you while we think deeply about a broad selection of topics.

Entrepreneurship

With 5 startups under my belt so far and more than $6,000,000 in funding raised to date, I aim to be a resource for founders and entrepreneurs that are growing their tech startup. I can also help venture capitalists connect with outstanding companies that are ready to fuel their next phase of growth.

I’m a co-founder (and the CTO) of Contact Mapping, where we provide tools and training that help professionals make more meaningful connections while networking.

In 2019, I was a lead Techstars mentor Regen Network during the 2019 Sustainability Accelerator in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, and I’ve coached, mentored, and advised startups and entrepreneurs with a diverse set of specialties. Along my journey I've experienced the highs of breakthroughs of success as well as the heart breaking challenges and defeats that are simply a fact of life in the risky area of startups. As someone seasoned with all the seasons, I can help you navigate the storms as well as seize the opportunities ahead of you.

Technology

My passion for technology didn’t stop after I earned my PhD. Lifelong learning keeps one’s brain flexible, and technology in particular is a discipline that constantly evolves. Honestly, I can't wait for the day where we can plug in our brains directly to a computer like Neo in the Matrix and download full subject matters in seconds. Until then!

I’m a long time Drupalista, having more than a decade of experience working within and contributing to the Drupal open source community. The community of Drupal developers and enthusiasts is phenomenal. I’m proud to be among them.

PCI compliance may not sound glamorous, but it’s increasingly important in the digital age. My whitepaper on credit card security for ecommerce is widely read and heavily cited.

Talk to me about blockchain, quantum computing, or how to build that awesome thing you know will change the world.

Leadership

In the world of academia, you find a lot of people who are astoundingly intelligent, but sometimes overlook the importance and value of soft skills. I've made it a point to focus on strengthening my EQ more than rely on IQ. Intelligence will only take you so far in life, and great things are accomplished by great teams.

Leadership extends far past the workplace and into all areas of one’s life. Set the right example, forge relationships with substance, and stay accountable to the people who rely on you for guidance.

Let’s Connect

Ultimately, I wrote Winning the Lottery Within for my daughter, but you can read it, too, if you want. Everyone is born with gifts, whether we discover them early or somewhere along our journey. Life feels like a perpetual scavenger hunt, and the people and books we encounter on the path are keys that unlock new chapters of our life story.

Some people never get past Chapter 1.

I love working with the people who want to write an epic. Reach out and let’s get working on your trilogy and beyond.

Connect with me on LinkedIn, follow me on Twitter, and remember to subscribe to the newsletter so you’ll never miss a chance to grow.