Phil Madsen's Biography
See also: Phil Madsen's blog and Phil Madsen's writings.
Phil Madsen, 53, describes his life as, "...entering a career field that is of interest at the time, mastering it to my level of satisfaction and moving on to the next adventure. As long as I am learning new things, making a positive difference in the world and having fun, I am happy. When an endeavor is no longer intellectually stimulating or reduced to meaningless work, I move on."
Madsen grew up in a small Wisconsin town, completed high school, joined the Army at age 17 and served a three-year hitch. He then moved to Minneapolis where he earned a BA (cum laude) at Augsburg College with a double major in history and philosophy, and then a diploma in auto mechanics from Dunwoody Industrial Institute (now Dunwoody College). He also completed a year of graduate studies in theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul and later earned the Certified Financial Planner credential from the College for Financial Planning in Denver Colorado.
Along the way, Madsen joined the Minnesota National Guard, earned a commission at the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning Georgia, and served several years as an infantry officer in Minnesota National Guard units. He has worked as a church youth counselor, wilderness camp guide, auto mechanic and sales manager.
From 1984 to 1995, Madsen worked as a securities broker and financial planner, operating a Certified Financial Planner practice for five of those years. He served two terms on the board of directors of the Minnesota Society of the Institute of Certified Financial Planers. From 1996 to 2003, using self-taught computer skills, he worked as a software instructor and self-employed computer consultant.
In 1992, Madsen became politically active for the first time, responding to Ross Perot's message of fiscal responsibility and government reform. When he volunteered, Madsen's leadership skills were quickly recognized. He was appointed to the Minnesota for Perot board of directors, where he served as the director of operations. Working with others, Madsen helped organize one of the smoothest running and most successful Perot petition drive entities in the nation.
Soon after Perot abruptly withdrew from the presidential race, Madsen founded the Independence Party of Minnesota. The party earned ballot access and major party status in 1994 and again in 1996. In 1998 the party, then named Reform Party, won a major victory with the election of Jesse Ventura as Minnesota governor.
In the party's early years, Madsen served as the party's chairman, secretary, treasurer, and chaired various committees. He is the chief author of the party's constitution. Generally, in this emerging organization, when someone surfaced who was willing to take the party job Madsen was doing, Madsen resigned and moved on to break new party-building ground.
In early 1998, the developing Jesse Ventura gubernatorial campaign needed a web site. Although Madsen had never done a web site before, he figured that was a good time to learn. He volunteered and Ventura put Madsen in charge of the campaign's internet operations. Madsen also played a major role in campaign fundraising and coordinated Ventura's statewide 72 Hour Drive To Victory Tour.
The Ventura/Schunk victory shocked the world (Mae Schunk, Ventura's running mate). With a $600,000 budget, the campaign defeated $15 million in combined opposition (Democratic and Republican candidates, their parties and supporting organizations). Madsen's internet innovations were recognized by journalists, scholars, and internet professionals worldwide as instrumental in the victory.
That put Madsen in the spotlight. In 1998, the world wide web was new and undeveloped as a political resource. Numerous people wanted to know about Ventura's use of the internet. Madsen was invited to speak at several conferences sponsored by universities (including Harvard), professional associations, Washington consulting firms and a public policy institute.
At these events, Madsen interacted with U.S. senators and their aides, technology and political reporters, internet activists, and a host of political consultants. Journalists worldwide reported Madsen's work. Articles about him and Ventura's use of the internet were carried to every U.S. city by wire services. Madsen did numerous radio and TV interviews including some with the BBC, PRI, and NPR. (See: books and articles)
In March, 1999, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw sent a crew to Madsen's home to do the story. That night, Brokaw reported that Jesse Ventura had become known as the "JFK of the internet." Just as Franklin Roosevelt was the first to effectively use radio in politics, and John Kennedy was the first with TV, Jesse Ventura was the fist to effectively use the internet.
While Madsen was only briefly featured in the Brokaw report, it was for him a moment of great personal satisfaction. Madsen says, "When I saw Governor Ventura pictured on national news with Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy, and all three were recognized as history-making technology pioneers, I knew I had served Ventura well."
As his talents and association with Jesse Ventura became widely known, Madsen was invited several times to appear on the CNN and Fox News political talk shows. He received offers from several candidates to serve as their webmaster. Being a member of a third party, Madsen declined all Democratic and Republican offers. When Donald Trump formed a committee to explore a third-party presidential run, Madsen agreed to serve as Trump's "Internet Guru" as Trump called him.
While many people suggested he do so, Madsen never seriously considered moving to Washington D.C. to parley his time in the spotlight into an inside-the-beltway consulting career. While he continued to run the Jesse Ventura Volunteer Committee internet operations and remained active building the Independence Party of Minnesota, Madsen reached a point where politics wasn't fun any more. After ten years of grass-roots and online activism, Madsen found himself saying, "Politics will rot your soul if you stay in it too long."
Phil's wife Diane is an attorney who served as Ventura's general counsel. Near the end of Ventura's term, she left the governor's office for a more-permanent State of Minnesota job. A few months later, and quite unexpectedly, the Madsens were bitten by the truck-driving bug, when a friend gave them their first-ever ride in a big truck.
In August 2003, after doing months of trucking industry research, the Madsens quit their jobs and took up life on the road as truck drivers. Their goals were to increase their income, simplify their lives, spend more time together, share a business project and see the country. They found life on the road agreeable and their goals achievable.
In August, 2004, the Madsens no longer felt the need to own their cars, house and most household goods; so they sold them. Their residence is now modest, maintenance-free rental space in rural Minnesota. Their limited-possession lifestyle frees them to stay out on the road for months at a time.
The Madsens specialize in expedited and critical-shipment freight. Loads include items like museum art, space shuttle components, medical equipment, and "hot freight" that shippers must move immediately to its destination. They drove trucks owned by fleet owners for three years and then purchased a custom built truck of their own. They have driven in 48 states, three Canadian provinces and most major U.S. cities.
While the freight brings them to interesting people and places, the Madsens are especially fond of the tourist opportunities and quiet time their expediting career provides. About moving from white-collar consulting to blue-collar trucking, Phil says, "The freedom and fun we have as self-employed truckers is priceless. We have come to enjoy the company of truck divers and we love this job."
An activist by nature, Madsen got quickly involved in trucking industry affairs when he became an expediter. He is the editor of Expedite NOW magazine (free subscription), a member of Truck Writers of North America, a lifetime member of the Owner Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and contributor to the OOIDA litigation and PAC funds.
The Madsens plan to live and work on the road as long as their health permits, and then retire in small-town Wisconsin, where they hope to be involved in the community and live out their years. Phil Madsen's Stories From the Road can be read on SuccessfulExpediters.com.