Purpose with Mark Bertrang Mark Bertrang

Laurie Finn is our guest from Finnottes.  Laurie lives a life of Mission, Nuts and Chocolates.  She makes a lasting impact on everyone she meets. Finnottes was established in 1986 by the husband-and-wife team Frank Finn and Laurie (Otte). Merging their lives and their last names, they have grown their business over the years to become Finnottes Nut & Chocolate Shop.  This episode may be considered a course in business, but also of caring and realizing the impact that can be made from behind a retail counter; but more importantly, by coming around from behind the counter and embracing those around you as a personal mission to impact your neighborhood, your community and the world around you. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Laurie’s Background 05:06 Caring for Customers 06:37 Faith & the Chocolate Ministry 11:21 Growing in Wisdom 18:26 Driven by Gratitude 22:53 Doug & Debbie Downers 26:33 More than just a Job 40:07 World Outlook 43:11 What if you didn’t have the store? 44:09 The History of how Finnottes started 44:43 Mark Bertrang’s Book – Investments Don’t Hug 52:10 Seasonal Candy Inventory 55:02 Online Sales & Local Deliveries 57:13 Where did ‘Finnottes’ name come from? 59:00 The Finnottes Family 01:01:42 Creating Special Moments 01:05:25 Conclusion

Mark Bertrang interviews Sarah Gebo, the Program Director of ”The Exchange” the La Crosse Area Furniture Bank. The Exchange provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. It is driven by volunteers and donations of basic household goods and gently used furniture from the community. The team of volunteers carefully inspect the donations when they enter the warehouse so that they meet our quality standard. 00:00 Introduction 1:47 Sarah Gebo’s First Donation 4:50 Philosophy, Vision, Goals of ‘The Exchange’ 6:02 The Team 7:37 Clients and The Exchange Network 10:30 What items we are looking for? 14:16 Why the donations are important 16:48 Volunteer Backgrounds 18:07 How did The Exchange start? (18:30 Podcast Pause) 23:10 Client Referrals 27:20 Community Support 29:05 Do Not Donate List (29:31 Investment’s Don’t Hug Book) 32:28 How to Volunteer 35:37 Funding ‘The Exchange’ 38:22 How to Donate 42:08 Conclusion The Exchange partners with social service/community advocates to identify and accompany recipients in need.  Recipients must have a confirmed residence before they come to ‘shop’ at The Exchange.  Once an appointment is made, the recipient and advocate are invited to select essential household items, free of charge, to furnish their home. At The Exchange, it is very important that each clients’ experience is dignified from the moment they arrive at the warehouse to the moment their home is furnished. If needed, The Exchange even delivers furniture to the recipient. The Exchange was founded and coordinated by 4 women. In the first 5 years they grew their regular volunteer base to over 65. Here's their website -  You may also watch the video here - 

You haven't gain real wisdom until you have walked through the pasture of life and unexpectedly step into a fresh cowpie, feeling the warm manure squish between your toes.  Life can sometimes playout like a checkerboard of bovine bingo, a unique community activity which oftentimes plays-out on hot summer days in town squares, as townspeople celebrate their local festivals in small gatherings, throughout the Midwest. In this game, you might be the winner, but when it happens in real life, how do you clean-up after the mess?

How much has changed during your life? Will it keep on changing? Do those changes concern you? How can you add certainty to your life? It's like knowing you have a winning lottery ticket.  If you owned that ticket and you knew it was going to payout in the future, how might that change how you live your life today?

Have you ever found yourself needing to clear space but having no idea where to even begin? Perhaps you were named in a departed loved one's will to clear the estate, or you need some guidance preparing for a home renovation, or maybe you're just overwhelmed by clutter. Mark speaks with Sara Washburn of Peace by Piece Professional Organizing to discuss the purpose of her organization and what services are offered. 0:00 Intro 2:41 How "Peace by Piece" Came to Be 8:00 DIY Action Plans and Coaching 12:05 Home Decluttering and Organization 18:25 A Kind Request 19:24 Estate Clearing 24:24 Renovation Preparation 26:40 What Motivates Sara? 29:26 Cause for Tears 32:50 Hoarding 38:40 Investments Don't Hug 39:12 Hoarding (cont'd) 46:19 Sara's Army Lesson 48:17 The One Thing 52:55 Conclusion To contact Sara, or for more info on her services, please visit: https://peacebypiecewi.com/

When I told the social media world that I would be dropping a video and podcast soon with Chris Lezpona as my guest, I was surprised by the huge reaction I received. Chris has weathered many storms in his life, the biggest being a brain tumor and the following surgery to remove it over a decade ago and then the resulting handicaps he has overcome since. To know Chris is to know someone who causes you to see not his handicaps, but instead the handicaps in yourself, the handicaps that we all have, those that can't be seen with the naked eye. Chris may share with you what he may believe are his personal limitations, but you won't see them. Instead, you may wonder instead, what your own limitations are, that you have set upon yourself. If I ever need a positive boost in my life, I know where to find it. Its embodied in a man who works at a busy Kwik Trip convenience store down the street from our office. This spectacular young man's name is Chris Lezpona. 0:00 Introduction 1:32 Who is Chris Lezpona? 5:42 Life Changing Diagnosis 9:10 A Kind Request 10:08 Navigating Life with a New Perspective 18:22 Life is Hard 19:50 The Good You See and Try to Be 23:49 Investments Don't Hug 24:20 God Bless Moms 26:21 Chris's Tattoo 29:02 Rules to Live By 31:53 Kwik Trip 33:03 Conclusion