90 Day Check-In

Here we are, the end of another month. Well, almost at the end of a month because I was slow to write this one.

Even though this month (June) felt different, especially spending so much time on due diligence for a business acquisition, it was surprising to reflect on where I spent my time and see it fairly aligned with how May looked. May and June definitely felt different.

This is the breakdown:

Highlights for the month of June include:

Personal
I cancelled housekeeping and started doing it myself. We spend about $400 a month for two cleanings. It wasn't purely a financial decision, the plan had been to keep it so I could focus on business development but our housekeeper of over eight years was out on extended leave. The replacements were good, just not the same. I figured I could do just as well and save some money. The benefit is that it gives me time to catch up on podcasts, something I used to enjoy during my commute (although I can't say I ever enjoyed a commute). Without a commute, I’ve struggled to find podcast-friendly activities. For the cleaning scheduled, I kept the previously scheduled day blocked every other week and it worked great the first time, but the second time was during a busy week and ended up spread over a few days. We’ll see if this keeps working or needs a change.

Also on the personal front, an unexpected expense: while cleaning my air conditioner, I realized I had killed it years ago and just now buried it with an accidental power washer session. Who knew the inside was so sensitive? Ironically, having the time to take it apart completely helped me see the damage and understand why it never cooled the house properly. Oops. Anyway, $7K later and with a smaller emergency fund, we have a much quieter unit and a cool house.

Project Exploration
I had been working on a mobile app for Radio Chatter (finally approved by Apple and soon to be on the Apple Store!) but wanted to explore more app development. So I created a second iOS app for fun: a road trip game to keep my son engaged. I think there’s more to explore here. I’m considering a "30 apps in 30 days" YouTube series to show how powerful AI app development has become.

I wrapped up my first business coaching and consulting engagement, originally scoped as a three-month commitment. I also updated my website to reflect the three services I’m offering: Coaching, Consulting, and Fractional Employment.

I attended a fractional employment panel at Bamboo in Ann Arbor, which was great. I really like the concept - part-time roles that leverage my experience without the demands of a full-time job.

I also went to my first 1 Million Cups event to support small businesses. It's a great little national program with regional meetups. I’m hoping to make this a regular thing.

Radio Chatter
As mentioned, I started the process of getting the Radio Chatter mobile app onto the Apple Store and have Apple’s approval (technically came in July, but I’m late writing this up). Will use July to get it actually on the App Store after I get some quick beta testers!

I also applied to speak at Overland Expo Mountain West about starting an overlanding side hustle. I’m hopeful I’ll get in. It’s a scary thing to start a company at first, but I’ve learned a lot and would love to share with others interested in turning their hobby into a business.

Acquiring a Business
Last but not least, my partners and I got a signed LOI at the beginning of the month and started due diligence on a business we would like to acquire. Due diligence is where we dig into the financial, operational, and legal aspects of the business to really understand what we’d be buying and spot any concerns.

We’ve also been meeting with banks, and underwriting is wrapping up in July. By next update, I’ll know if I’ll be the proud owner of a new business (or soon to be since these things take time) or if we’ll need to walk away due to inability to finance. So many variables to work through it is crazy.

Until next time.