Monday

(Community Matters) Was there a Monday? Of course there was. It included Robert Torian’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Robert.

I was sequestered all day, preparing the board packet for today’s Entrepreneurs Foundation board meeting. We don’t have tons of financial transactions so I keep the foundation’s books with the regular assistance of Virtual CFO and annual assistance of E&Y (audit & tax). It’s quite illuminating reconciling investment and bank accounts for the quarter, generating financial statements, highlighting performance against plan, cash flows and other financial metrics. Not to mention the tactical metrics around equity grants, grants to nonprofits, volunteer mobilization, CSR conferences, affiliate meetings and the upcoming annual membership meeting. Plus, in addition to testing and creating a new business model, we now have a new project, the Lemonade Project. We’re promising to engage at least 2,000 children in its entrepreneurial curriculum – borrowing money, planning and operating a successful stand, repaying their loans, donating to charity and wisely spending profits – I have to resist pushing Marion to beat Houston’s second year record of 11,600. Anyhow, a full day’s immersion in metric review and planning is extraordinarily beneficial, albeit grueling. Looking forward to being with our fantastic board members, my good friends this afternoon.

Obama’s press conference. One of only two breaks I took between 5am and 9pm yesterday was 30 minutes to eat dinner and watch President Obama. I continue to think he’s an extraordinary man. His focus, articulateness and command of the issues is refreshing. I’ve been back and forth on facebook with an acquaintance who is very put out that BHO is even trying with the Republicans. Though, first, they do have 40 Senate votes, so we have to. Second, though there are some parts of the stimulus plan I’m don’t like, most I do like. And, no one knows with any certainty what will or won’t work. Valerie Jarrett told me one of President Obama’s gifts is the ability to discern the most valuable advice from competing positions and to integrate these into a single plan. She cited a story involving Paul Volcker, Warren Buffett, Robert Rubin and Larry Summers simultaneously adivising then-candidate BHO. I’m glad we have a man with these gifts as our president.

And, as relates to his seeking to do business a new way in Washington (aside from the 60 vote issue), first, DC is the black hole from reality. We’ve got to keep BHO traveling outside the beltway and in communication with real people. Second, this has always been a priority with him. He said it all along the campaign trail. Though, admittedly, everyone does and I think most folks took this as a throw away line. It isn’t with him. It’s important. And, it could be one of his legacies which help restore civility to our public square, not to mention to our image abroad and even among ourselves. Expect President Obama to continue reaching out and including the GOP even though it upsets his base. I know I’ve said it so many times it’s becoming a cliche; nevertheless, I expect BHO’s supporters will be disappointed in him more often than those who didn’t vote for him – because I believe they will be pleasantly surprised.

So, the second break I took yesterday was to drop my car off at Flamingo Automotive. So, who knew I have an “angle gear module” and that it will cost $2.2k to replace the damn thing. Not that I care so much about the 4-wheel drive but I can’t really abide the clucking noise it made Saturday. Of course my warranty expired just a few months ago. And, an unbudgeted $2.2k comes from somewhere, which, regrettably, probably means one less contribution to some really good cause. grrrrr