Catching up

Getting things back in order again after vacation. I'm feeling pretty good about everything, I have a few projects that are picking up again where I left off.

Some new things to tackle lately. I know the ads for the phone directories are due next month so I need to tackle a strategy for how my business will be listed there. Without doing or paying anything my business will have a default listing there....but usually that's not enough. If you look in either phone book under "Graphic Design" or "Web Design" there are a whole slew of competitors and usually if you just leave things on default then your listing will usually just blend into nothing.

On the other hand, the phone directories look ridiculous these days. Each page is clustered with bigger ads from everyone...it's like holding up a hand drawn sign on the Vegas strip. No matter what you do, you'll be drowned out by everyone else.

I guess my decision is to keep it moderately conservative this first year in there. Get a couple small listings in each book...perhaps invest a small amount just to get a bold title or something in there. If it turns out to hook me a few new clients here and there then perhaps next year I can invest in a bigger ad that might have my logo and such in there. It's hard though....there's always a small voice in my head that says "You gotta spend money to make money....", while another voice is saying, "Don't spend more then you can afford".

I told you I was crazy.

I guess I'll just stick to a gameplan and adjust them as I see fit next year.

I'm also looking at investments and retirement plans. Florence's zest for investments is starting to infect me a little....I think that's a good thing. As my mom always remind me, I got to remind myself to pay myself before everything else. Meaning I should be putting a little away each month for my future retirement. Better late then never.

Growing up I was never really encouraged to do so my my mom and dad. Only very recently in the past year or two I realized my mom was pretty good at it and only lately she started encouraging me. I've spent the last few years trying to square away early debt, and now that I've done so, I feel I need to start now towards looking out for my future comforts. Luckily both my investment broker and my accountant have both been encouraging me to do so as well.... so far I'm happy with my choice to pay a little more for good people like this to help me with my money.

My bud Andy took me for a ride this past weekend in his old Mini. The real one...not the modern remake. It was great fun...it certainly helped put my mind off the funk I was feeling once Florence left town.

It was certainly interesting though...watching one of the biggest guys I know fit into one of the tiniest cars in the world reminded me of the old Electric Company sketch where all these clowns climbed out of a tiny car. Andy stands something like 7'2" tall so it was no small feat.

Cruising down Waikiki in the thing was great. Remember that movie "Italian Job" with the bank heist and all the Minis? I certainly felt like pulling over somewhere and making a quick getaway in that car haha.

Makes me really want a hot rod of my own one day. Mark that down as a future goal!