Remembering Mom

My mom passed away nearly 20 years ago.  I think about her in some way every day.  On Mother's Day I think about her a lot.

Mom With Baby Steve

Mom was Always There.  And not just the obvious things like rocking you to sleep at night.  My mom had a way of being really connected to each of us kids.  She had keen sense for when one of her kids was troubled with something.  She could tell when I was the least bit upset purely from body language.   

Mom was a Teacher:  Her class room was the dining room table, where she set up 'camp' most days.   Problems with homework?  It got handled in the dining room.  Issues with a girl friend?  Again, the dining room.  I learned how to write in the dining room.  Mom taught all of us the art of writing at a typewriter.  Each of us had our own Underwood typewriter and Mom was always there to proof our latest short story or piece for the school paper.  Mom also loved to read.  She was often reading 2-3 books at one time.  I read a lot because of my Mom.

Heading To Work With Grandma Fan McQuillen

Mom was Funny:   You had to get to know my mother to understand her sense of humor.  She wasn't particularly outgoing.  In fact, she avoided parties and social situations, preferring to be at home with her family.   But around the people she was comfortable with, she was very, very funny.   She was well read and had a sort of sophisticated, off beat and cheerfully caustic way of talking about life.

Mom Made Life Fun:   Whether it was telling very interesting and creative bed time stories or taking us out on daily drives around town, Mom always found ways to make our lives fun.  Some of her bed time stories, like 'The Witch in the Chevy 2' were funny and very original.

Mom Sacrificed:   Mom majored in journalism at The University of Iowa.  Her dream was to be a writer for New Yorker.   And, she was smart enough and good enough to have made it to a high level in the writing world.   Still, because she put others ahead of herself, her dream didn't happen the way she had planned.  She gave up the bright lights of the city to stay home in her hometown of Charles City, Iowa where she could be with her mother, run her own business and start a family.  

First Communion With Mom

Mom Taught Us About Business:   Both of my parents owned their own businesses on Main Street in Charles City.  As the owner of Janan's For Young Ages, a children's clothing store, Mom was decades ahead of the explosion of women-owned businesses.   Mom and Grandma Fan worked the business together for many years.  Most days after school all of us kids would head down to Mom's store to catch up on the news of the day and bum a quarter from Grandma for a Coke.  What we didn't realize at the time was the education we were getting about small business and balancing a career with a family.  One of my favorite memories as a child was 'going to market' with Mom in Chicago at The Merchandise Mart.  

Mom Loved Unconditionally:   No matter what you did, Mom was always there.  And through the tough days growing up, knowing that she was there was the greatest comfort and security a kid could ever have.

When I consider all these things about my Mom and realize that not all kids had mothers like mine, I know that I was truly blessed.

So as we celebrate Mother's Day 2012, a toast to you, Janan McQuillen Thomson, my Mom.

Pete Thomson
http://www.pwthomson.com
Twitter:  @pwthomson
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pwthomson

New Year's Resolutions Made Simple....3 Words!

If you're like a lot of people, you start the new year gung ho about your goals and dreams.  New Year's Resolutions are often shared with other family members, published in blogs, on Facebook and Twitter, but almost never accomplished.  Why?   We don't identify the small. incremental daily activity that make achievement possible.

I really like blogger Chris Brogan's latest piece on setting New Year's Resolutions.  Instead of specific goals, Brogan suggests selecting 3 words that embody a direction you want to take your life.  For example, you might want to lose weight, improve your relationship with a family member and get control of your finances.  The key words for these goals could be Health, Family and Focus.   Instead of setting specific goals, select a word that describes the direction you want take your life.    Then, every day, try to do do something that supports that area of your life.

Kudos to Chris for introducing this concept.  It's simple but it has the potential to help us get closer to realizing those goals and resolutions that never seem to materialize.

By the way, my 3 words are:   Focus, Health & Family

What are yours?

http://www.chrisbrogan.com/

Happy New Year 2012.

Pete Thomson
Twitter:  @pwthomson
http://www.pwthomson.com

'Tis the Season for Christmas Movies....

Christmastime is here!  One of our family's favorite aspects of the holiday season is the chance to gather round the fireplace and watch Christmas movies.   Here's our family's list of 'The Best of Christmas Movies'. 

Kevin!
I didn't see any of the Home Alone movies when they came out in the 1980s.  I was busy being a single guy in Dallas.  However, once my son was born in the late 90s, we quickly discovered this iconic Christmas movie and all of its sequels.

McCauley Kaulkin plays a great cute kid who has to come up with devious ways to fight off the 'Wet Bandits'.  But the real stars of these films are Joe Pechi and Daniel Stern who play the best 'bad' guys I've ever seen in a comedy.

Home Alone's soundtracks have become a standard part of our Christmas listening.  From the compostions of John Willams to the Christmas classics, these are worth the price.


Tim Allen....Mr. Christmas
Between The Santa Clause series and Christmas With The Kranks, Tim Allen has become a big part of our Christmas.   When Mac was younger, the 'Clause' movies were a big hit.  The depiction of The North Pole, especially, is so vivid.  Now that Mac's a teen, his sense of humor is more in line with the Kranks.

Scrooged
As much as we love the older classic versions of 'A Christmas Carol', we love Bill Murray in Scrooged.   I think it's one of his best movie performances of all time and although it's a long way from Dicken's, it captures the essense of the storyline in a very interesting way.  Great support performance by John Forsythe.

And the Award for All Time Best Christmas Film goes to.........Christmas Vacation!
Mac and I agreed on this decision instantly.   It is the funniest, feel-good, capture-the-season film I've ever seen.  Chevy Chase is at his best and Randy Quaid is hilarious as Clark's (Chevy's) white-trash, mooching, yet good hearted brother-in-law.  Each year, Christmas Vacation, is the first Holiday movie we watch.

Christmastime can get pretty busy.  We hope you can slow down a bit and enjoy one or more of these Christmas film classics.

Merry Christmas! 

Pete & Mac Thomson

The 'Feel Good' Story of The Year

Jason McElwain is a special ed student and for several years has been the equipment manager for his high school's basketball team.  On a special occasion recently, the coach gave Jason a chance to play.  What happened is unbelievable.   This story of an unlikely hero is the 'Feel Good' story of the year.

After you watch this video, please leave a comment below and feel free to pass on.

Pete Thomson

http://www.pwthomson.com

Lessons From My Dad....

Just enjoyed a Father’s Day lunch with Vicki and Mac.  They each endured my favorite Mexican ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant, El Matador, which has the best authentic Mexican food around.  (Even though the place won’t win any restaurant design or decorating contests).   Anyway the lunch was great and it was nice to be appreciated and see other dads out to lunch with their families

Each year when I call Dad on Father's Day, I try to tell him something that I appreciate about him.  Often, I’ll talk about valuable lessons he taught me through the years…and there were many.   The best lessons I learned from Dad were about business.  He is a true entrepreneur with an outstanding work ethic and a good ‘gut’ for business deals that will be winners.

Dad (L) with me, Steve, Molly & Charley

Early in his career, he recognized the value of franchising.  Indeed, even in the 50s and 60s, the mortality rate among start-up businesses was high.  (SBA still has it at over 75% after 5 years in business).  Dad recognized that in franchising you were in business for yourself but not by yourself.   Dad’s years with Ben Franklin, owning at one time up to 5 stores, were full of great memories.  During those years, all of us kids worked in the stores…as baggers, checkers and stockers.  Having to handle money at an early age was valuable as was seeing the discipline that was needed to be a success in business.  Through all the hard work, Dad made it fun.

As WalMart and K-Mart began to take over the retail world, Dad recognized that this business was not going to make it long-term.  Wisely, he liquidated his stores and turned a going out of business sale into a major profit center.   Another lesson learned:  Make lemonade out of lemons.

Next, Dad found Subway Sandwich Shops.  Back in the early 80s, everything about this franchise made sense to him.  It was the ground floor.  The corporate support was strong and he liked the franchise system that helped the business owner be successful.  So, without a day of restaurant experience, my dad and his partner went to ‘Subway U’ in Connecticut and learned the restaurant business.  20+ years later, Subway and my father have been successful.

So, as I celebrate Father’s Day, I’m very thankful for not only being a dad myself, but also for the blessings I’ve received from a dad who is a great teacher.  I hope my son remembers me in a similar way. 

-Pete Thomson

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/pwthomson
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pwthomson

Reading with Mac....

Reading with Mac in 2004

As a dad one of my goals has been not to screw up my son too much with my own bad habits, quirks or idiosyncrasies.   Whoever said values are 'caught' and not 'taught' really nailed it.  Kids aren't paying attention to what we say.  Rather, they lock into what we do.

In spite of my shortcomings, one of the positive values Mac has 'caught' from me is a love of reading.  Actually, my late mother deserves much of the credit.  She always had a book in front of her.  The 'world' I knew as a kid included books and lots of them.   Mac's 14 now and the last year has been especially fun to watch as he's really locked into books and discovered the power of knowledge and understanding.

Our favorite father-son Saturday afternoon activity is hanging out at Barnes & Noble and reading...for hours!  (I'm still amazed that we haven't been banned from B&N.  We're ready to be apprehended any day!)  This past Saturday, we got a late start but probably still put in about 3 hours of solid reading.   Mac likes to read about politics, American history and law.  I generally read about computers, software, gadgets and social media.  

Over the last year it's been pretty amazing to watch this little man starting to build knowledge and problem solving skills.  It's also a bit humbling to be corrected on a regular basis about politics, the law and anything else Mac's really into.  At night before bed, he's now reading legal case books and he seems to be understanding what he's reading.  When I was 14, Mad Magazine was as deep as I got. 

My mom and Mac never met.  About 4 years separated her death and his birth.  But I see a bit of her in him every day he's got his head buried in a book.   


-Pete Thomson
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/pwthomson

After Storm Season, Home Repair Scammers Are Running Wild....How to Defeat Them!

After this year’s tragic and devastating storm season, thousands of families are trying to put their lives back together after losing loved ones, homes and businesses.   And through all the challenges they’re facing, there’s another threat that is lurking ready to add to their pain.   Unscrupulous contractors and trades people literally flock to disaster zones because of the potential for quick money from people who are desperate for help.   Even savvy consumers can fall victim to home repair scams.  Yet, with some simple due diligence, it’s possible to identify and defeat the home repair rip off artist.  

I’ve learned about home repair rip-offs from experience.  My wife and I have built 2 homes over the last 20 years.   That was a painful yet effective education.  And, from 1999 to 2008, I hosted a radio program called “Consumer Magazine” where our mission was to help consumers avoid rip offs.   Through the radio program, I had an opportunity to work with some incredible people across a number of home repair categories.   The education I received from these professionals was priceless.

Home Repair Scammers: Don't Be Fooled!

Big Jobs Make For Big Home Repair Scams:   Storm repair and replacement of property is big business and it's very profitable.   Because of the opportunity, storm ravaged areas become sort of a 'California Gold Rush' for contractors.   For example, after major hail storms, it’s not uncommon to see storm-chasing roofers drive cross country in search of quick cash.    And since many consumers are especially vulnerable after losing the security of home, they’re considered to be 'low hanging fruit' by these scam artists. 

The Check List – How to Beat the Home Repair Rip Off:    Use these strategies to reduce your chances of being a victim of home repair rip offs and scams.  

Get Multiple Bids:          Seems logical doesn’t it.  Yet, many consumers forget the number one rule of keeping the trades honest.    I recommend getting 3 bids.  When possible, ask neighbors and friends for referrals.      Radio, television, the web     and other media can be a source of leads but I really like   referrals.  

Get References & Call Them!    Again, most consumers don’t call references.  You’ve got to.  In fact, I recommend drilling a bit deeper.  First, insist on recent job references and nothing over a year old.  Secondly, try to locate a current job for the contractor and visit the job site for a surprise inspection.  I also suggest calling The Better Business Bureau as well as doing a web search on the company.   And although the web can be skewed by planted reviews, the truth eventually gets out.

Use FEMA as an Asset:   FEMA maintains a presence in disaster areas for months.  Not only can they help you in dealing with contractors, but they're well versed on all aspects of disaster recovery including tapping into government funds and other aid.  They are smart people who help you.

Beware of Magnet Signs:   Run from anyone who comes to your home with magnet signs on their truck.  They might as well post a sign that says “I was in a different industry last month”.   Look for companies that have 'been in the business' for years. 

   

Go Local!   ‘Shopping local’ ferrets out the storm chasers.  But, beware of the hooligans who set up a local address and act like they've been part of the community for years.  After the job's finished, local companies are much more motivated to keep their customers happy.    And staying true to your home town or region supports the local economy at a time that local business people need the support. 

Don’t Fall for Deadlines, Promotions, Big Discounts and Other Closing Tricks:    A loud buzzer should go off in your brain whenever you hear the following statements:

“To get this price I need to get your signature today”     Pushing a deadline is straight off the used-car lot.  Don’t fall for it.  

“If you sign today I can give you a $6,000 discount”.   I hear HVAC (air conditioning/heating) companies on TV and Radio promising this every day.  Nobody is really discounting anything by $6,000.   Again, right off the used car lot. 

“Our free iPad offer runs out today.”     Go ahead and just buy an iPad.  You’ll get a better deal.  

Don’t Fall for ‘The Fish’:   If you’re a person of faith, be wary of anyone placing the Christian fish in their logo or advertising.   Years ago someone figured out that if they ''looked" like a Christian, then people trusted them.   My apologies to all reputable Christians who use the fish symbol in their logo.  I suggest you remove it and let the way you live your life advertise your faith.  

Contracts and Deposits:     If you’re dealing with a big ticket item, get your attorney to review the paperwork.   If a company says they need a ‘deposit’ to buy supplies, don’t pay it.   This is a huge red flag and suggests that the company doesn’t have adequate resources.    Your approach to payment will vary with different jobs but generally I don’t like to give anybody a dime until they show up at my home with a crew and the supplies for the job.   And even then, you need to retain or hold back enough money to keep the contractor motivated to finish the job properly.   You can learn much about payment terms within an industry in the process of getting at least 3 bids.

Bills Paid Affidavit:  On large jobs, consider getting an ‘all bills paid’ affidavit (Lien Release) from both contractors and suppliers.   This will prevent anyone from coming back at you for money you’ve already paid.  

Workman’s Comp Coverage:   This is a tough one.  Many excellent tradesmen and contractors contend they can’t afford insurance, and in some cases, their pricing is lower than companies that carry the insurance.  Still, in the long run, you’re better off paying more and knowing that you’re covered.  If someone is injured or killed while working on your home, you will be a target.   

 

Help The Elderly:   Because they’re often isolated, home repair rip off artists frequently target the elderly.    If you have older folks in your neighborhood that need work done on their home, offer to give them some help.  They’ll appreciate you and you’ll feel good helping out.  

Spread The Word:  Thanks for reading this article.  I hope it helps you make better and more informed choices.  Feel free to forward this blog to your friends and don’t hesitate to email me with your questions.   I don’t have all the answers but I generally know who does and can send you in the right direction.  

-Pete Thomson

http://www.pwthomson.com

Email:  pwthomson@live.com