Coffee to Car Payments

Nice to meet you! Now "Happy New Year!"

Well!  I'm sitting here on the last day of the year reflecting.  Mostly, I'm thinking of all of the great people I have met this year and I'd just like to acknowledge a few here and wish them a "Happy New Year!"

Larry Lehmer worked for the Des Moines Register for 24 years and has won 15 Pulitzer prizes.  His business, "When Words Matter" is dedicated to helping preserve, celebrate, and share your personal and family history.  Think about it.   What is it that you wish you knew about your grandparents?  There's a lot more to a legacy than money.

Art Dinkin and I often write about some of the same financial topics.  It's always enjoyable to sit down with Art over a cup of coffee and talk.  I've learned a lot from him.  It's refreshing to meet someone in the same profession who is willing to share their knowledge without feeling threatened by you.

Angela Maiers eagerly welcomes all learners.  Her profession is working with educators to better equip them to help their students reach their highest literacy and learning potential.  When you talk to Angela, her passion for helping others grow becomes very apparent.

Sandy Renshaw is a valuable resource for helping businesses improve their visibility using communication technologies and techniques.

Corey Garrison: Imagine for a second that all of your prospects are in one room, just to learn about you.  Corey and the team at REL Productions will help you craft a story that resonates with them.

Timothy Johnson is the Chief Accomplishment Officer at Carpe Factum.  "Carpe Factum” is the Latin equivalent of “Seize the Accomplishment.”  He also has two books so far to his credit.  I am partway through his latest one called GUST: The "Tale" Wind of Office Politics.

Adam Steen helps growing businesses seeking capital or other growth-related resources connect with the right people to form the "capital" relationship needed to succeed.

Rita Perea is a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and executive and personal coach.  I only had the priveledge of talking to her once but the statement she made that sticks in my mind is "Everyone needs a cheerleader once in awhile....someone in their corner."

Sherry Borzo is an entrepreneural spirit with a passion for building a community of like-minded customers and businesses who share her desire to bolster the efforts of central Iowa entrepreneurs.

Drew McLellan is a branding and marketing expert and "top dog at McLellan Marketing Group".  He is also the author of "99.3 Random Acts of Marketing"

I wouldn't have met any of these great people that I've mentioned so far if I had not been introduced to them by the "Blogfather" of the Iowa Blogging Mafia, Mike Sansone, who coaches business leaders and random guys like me to use blogs and social media as platforms for conversation.

Last but not least, I would not have met Mike if we had not been introduced my friend Barb Gordon, who, along with CPA Brent McLure founded Business Network Group as another way for Central Iowa professionals to meet and share ideas, information, and referrals.

It was a pleasure getting to know all of you this year and, I look forward to many more conversations in 2008

What if you wanted to meet me?

One thing that I really enjoy doing is sharing my thoughts and ideas with everyone who reads this.  I try to share things that someone may find useful.  Someday, maybe something I have shared will be of value to you and the timing will also be right.  Then what?

For example maybe you've been thinking about the Home Ownership Accelerator and would like to walk through the simulator together to see if it's right for you. 

You and I would start either playing phone tag or there would be a volley of emails.  Eventually, we would make contact and then be able to discuss whatever it was that you wanted to discuss. 

Well, I want to make it easy and convenient for you to work with me.  So I decided I'd try to provide a way for you to pick a time on my calendar that works for you.   You can schedule an hour-long appointment or just a quick phone call (10 min.).  You request an appointment and it's yours.  You pick a time for me to call and I'll call you.  No more phone tag or email volleys.  How does that sound?

I'm open to any feedback you have on this.  Let me know if you think it's a good idea.

Now the goose is on the table.

College football is done for the year.  No tailgating at a Hawkeye bowl game this year.  You're wondering what to give that high school senior on your Christmas list.  Do you go to your wife's office Christmas party or yours if they fall on the same night (Hint: You always go to hers.).  You're finishing up all of those little project you started around the house this summer because the family is going to be staying with you. 

Somehow, you still want to make time to consider year-end tax strategies to ensure that you maximize your deductions for this year and set yourself up for a prosperous 2008.  Make sure you meet with your tax professional before the end of the year to make sure you don't overlook anything.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hope this makes you smile.