I like to periodically communicate with SMB Nation members on business topics of interest. This is a startup and start over story. It’s about honoring the past but staying keenly focused on the future. I’m recapitalizing by divesting the house the Microsoft Small Business Server built (you can look at my LinkedIn profile to discover my 15+ years carrying the SBS flag here.
The short story is this. The kids are gone to college. My dog Astro, the English Springer Spaniel mascot of SMB Nation is retired after a life well lived. Interest rates remain below five percent (but are threatening to climb). Seattle’s housing market is insane. The Case-Shiller Index was released earlier this week showing Seattle driving the most residential real estate price appreciation in the US for the past 18-months (read the article here.
You can view the house that SBS built in the vid here.
To be clear, I’m not here to sell you a house. We’ve been on the market a few days and already are entertaining offers. Rather in talking with some of my peers this past few weeks, I’m finding many of you are the same persona as myself: an empty nester with a few more rodeos to ride. We’re entrepreneurs!
What’s Next?
So what’s next for HB2? I’m looking to diversify my business portfolio in a few ways.
SMB Nation and startups. I’m not retiring or slowing down; exactly the opposite. Look for SMB Nation to continue to do what it does best these past 19-years: build community for IT Pros, partners and MSPs. Watch as SMB Nation evolves and expands into a holding company with multiple investment plays. One concerns health care. It’s diversification time baby!
Cash for homes. Aside from the cheeky title, I have found a passion in housing. I’ve just spent the past 75-days remodeling the house that SBS built. Not only have I improved my core strength, but I have revisited my roots of real estate, finance and construction management. Again, if you visit my LinkedIn profile you will see that my degrees from the University of Denver were actually in these areas. I’m gonna be a weekend warrior (aka Fixer and Flipper).
Geography. Where will HB2 land? Well Seattle has been very very good to me (kids won’t get that early Saturday Night Live reference LOL – the baseball skit). I’ll keep one foot firmly affixed in the Seattle tech sector and startup community. But I’ve got a bit of wanderlust and am targeting Austin, Texas – perhaps it’s the next Seattle if HQ2 lands there? Good business and good BBQ. I’m looking for fixers and flippers in the region already.
I end with two thoughts. Send me a LinkedIn message here if you’d like to discuss startups. And feel free to tell me your story. We’re all in the together! Harry