MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 10, 2009
Volume 16; Issue 14

Acknowledgements & Announcements

Stacy Hyder has received some business leads from her Facebook presence but says it is definitely a social network so you have to be careful.

Congratulations to Erin La Grassa who tried out for the Arizona Cardinals cheer squad and made it.

Next week's speaker is Joe Hesch.  He will talk about short sales, foreclosures, loan modifications...all that grisly stuff.

Roman Okonowski reached out to several members that have not been attending lately.  He is happy to report many smiles.  He recommends everyone reach out to these people.  Carole Weishaar is still recovering from her surgery.  Mike Whalen is tied to being at the store in the morning.  Guy Sawyer is still sitting on the bucket.  Keith Miller has had difficulty getting here because of the distance.  Barbara Kollman is just busy.  Mark Dreher is out chasing revenues like everyone else.

Meeting teaser...Two weeks from today we will have a meeting like no other meeting before.   You will be talking about it for a long time.

Acknowledge someone, give them a lead, a thank you or talk about a deal or special you have going...

• Bob Becker - Thank you to Guy for some excellent work on a job.
• Denver Johnson - Thanks to a number of you that had me do tree work this spring.  Its always appreciated.
• Don Ellis - Thanks to Phyllis to ongoing loyalty to the Landmark.
• Gus Dekavallas - Andy finally got on top of me.   Thanks to Chuck for straightening out a nightmare with a boat.  And also Jim Bache for taking care of my clients.
• Roman Okonowski - Special thanks to Dave Crissman and Chuck Hultstrand...my personal support group.
• Sandro Menasci - Also thank Dave and Chuck for business and friendship.
• Phyllis Prater - Thank Ralph...he's the best doctor in town.
• Steve Chilton - New name - CBS Construction.  Thanks to Sandro for fixing my truck and giving me a ride.
• Lin Schmelzer - Old leads to Ralph and Stu.  And thank Ralph for sticking with the problem until it is resolved.
• Nick Mawrenko - Just a general thank you to the group.  This group is so remarkable to me...like a family.  I've got changes to announce...just not yet.
• Dave Crissman - I would like to acknowledge Stu who always finds a way to visit with you.  And thanks to Erin for making me feel so inadequate.
• Guy Sawyer - I would like to thank Bob Becker.  It is nice to get to know people on a personal basis.  And thanks to the group for inspiration.
• Jana Greene - Easter is Sunday and we have really cute stuff for you.  I have one of the best designer's in the world.  She wins competitions.  
• Joe Hesch - I am sure what I have to say next week will resonate with all of you.  I appreciate all the people that have called to check up on me.
• Andy Jensen - General thank you to everyone for your trust and loyalty.  The transitions are going very smoothly.
• Ralph Cunningham - Also a general thank you to everyone.  This month I am offering a spring cleaning special for your computer.
• Stuart Schindler - (22-41, 22-40) He brought more toys!  Sadly, no foul-mouthed parrot this time. 
• Stacy Hyder - Thank you to Stu.  He came to my office and took my picture for the brochure.  He gave me an orientation of MABE and spoke highly of everyone.  As for specials...2 DUI's for the price of 1.
• Charles Hultstrand - I too have a general thank you to everybody.  I learn something new, get a laugh, make a friend, and more.
• Joe Zingale - (9-23) I always think my life is hectic but hearing what others in the group do inspires me.
• Fred Vandervort - (Ralph and James) - Thank you to Dave Lathrop for his help purchasing a car.
• Greg Stewart - I want to thank everyone for business.  I would like to acknowledge all the past president's of MABE.  It is hard work.
• Chris Curran - A good mood came over me on the way to the meeting this morning.  Thanks Erin...Tikki Room is awesome.  Last week we talked about loneliness.  Most lawyers - especially solo practitioners - it can be a lonely situation.  This group provides an outlet and makes me feel not so alone in the world.  It is an important reason why I stay beyond the leads.
• Erin La Grassa - I would like to thank the whole group and especially Chris and Dave for improving the atmosphere of the meetings.
• Jim Bache - Chuck sucked me into an appeal.  What the hell am I doing on an appeal?...with a judge that is an idiot!!!   We have an interesting procedural nightmare on a case that nobody is going to make any money on.  Thank you to Gus and Mark and a lead to Dave Lathrop.
• Dave Lathrop - Tara and I happened to be at Michael's with a 50% off coupon.  We had a picture framed and it was a complete waste of time.  We quickly realized we need to take this to Greg and be done with it.  I don't even think it was that much more money but if it was it was worth it. 

Jana Greene Leads a topic on "How do you take care of yourself?", cont.

How do you reward yourself? Vacations, chocolate, ______???
How does it make you feel...energized, more positive?  Or does it end up being a negative thing...like extra pounds?  Do you put off rewards until it is too late? 

• Since I am leading the discussion I want to do a plug for flowers.  They do improve a person's well being.
• I do my meditation.  I have different tapes and I also use a light so I meditate via colors.  It is both a reward and a way to take care of yourself.
• Greek philosophy says you work hard and play hard.  I love doing things with family and playing golf.  I found a way to do work while doing things I enjoy which is even better.
• Try to enjoy my life at happy hour.
• I believe you need small rewards and large rewards.  My husband was a delayed gratification guy and he died young.
• I made it a point to go to lunch with friends and it really makes a difference.
• I reward myself after a bad day...a Guinness and violent sports on TV makes me a happy guy.
• I think keeping the child in the man/women.  Life gets so stressful, my western obsession helps me escape.
• Retail therapy!
• When you do reward yourself...do you feel guilty?
• When you are rewarding yourself it is like living in the moment.  You need to keep mind off work and commit to the reward. 
• To help with guilt, I decided that I was going to plan a day on the calendar to be off.  If I finish a job early it is a bonus.
• You can think of yourself as your employee.  You can't feel guilty about doing what is needed.
• I tend to feel guilty on my weekday off if I am not trying to drum up business.
• Meditation has helped me a lot.
• Nobody on their death bed regrets not spending more time at work.
• I still don't distance myself mentally from work as much as I should.  I do my best work when I am right on the verge of exhaustion.
• Most of us are in retail so we have different agendas and priorities. 
• I think if you just take a day off and you don't have a plan for it then it is just a wasted day and you feel guilty.  You think you can't take a day off but you can.

Dave Lathrop challenges everyone that has plans to reward themselves this weekend to enjoy it.  If you don't have plans, commit to rewarding yourself somehow this weekend.  We'll check in with you next Friday to see how you did.