2026 Annual Letter: Exciting Growth!

If 2024’s theme was survival (with Jessi’s brain tumor and saying goodbye to our dog). 2025’s theme was new growth! I grew a new business, learned new skills, grew our rental portfolio, watched our new dog grow, and visited new places. Lots of new, exciting growth areas!

Property Management

At the tail end of 2024, I started a property management company, but didn’t get my first owner/client until January 2025. Since then, I’ve been on what feels like a steep growth curve with 87 units under management (in addition to managing 105 of my units). I spent considerable time building out my systems and team to keep up with growth (while occasionally going to fix something). It’s been fun solving new types of problems (like setting up payroll), but finding the balance between working in my business versus working on my business is challenging.

All of my growth has come through word of mouth, and this year I’d like to be more intentional about generating leads. One idea is to provide valuable rental tools/insights for real estate agents, since they’re often the ones making recommendations to investors. The goal is to build a liking/trust with them so they recommend my company.

I’m excited to keep growing here!

Drone Pilot License

I like flying, but it isn’t the best use of my time or money to learn to pilot airplanes. So, a second choice was to get my Part 107 license so I could fly my drone. I took the class through the Pilot Institute, and it was fantastic. I enjoyed learning about the different airspaces, how to read aerial maps, and so much more. And now I can legally take photos for my business.

 CCB License

It turns out that in Oregon, if you build a house with the intent to sell it, you’re required to have your contractor’s license. So, I got my general contractor’s licence from the Construction Contractors Board (well... almost, I’m still waiting for final approval from the CCB). Beyond letting me do development projects, it might also be useful for my management company.

Baker Tower

I syndicated my first deal, and it’s awesome. At 10 stories, the Baker Tower is the tallest building in Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains. It’s a historic mixed-use building (built in 1929) with residential, commercial, and a ballroom. It’s just cool. The only downside is that it’s a six-hour drive from my house.

I syndicated the purchase to five investors, each of whom owns an equity stake, and the plan is to hold it for a while. We visited in November and plan to visit regularly as a family. My not-so-secret hope is that this becomes a place with many family memories.

Raising the funds and structuring the deal is significantly more complicated than offering private money loans on short-term flips, but the upside and impact are worth it.

Chuck!

As I wrote in June, we got a new dog this year. Chuck has been a genuine joy... despite his fondness for chewing our clothes. We all love having him around the house, going on walks, and playing fetch. It’s so fun having a dog who actually listens and does what you want (85% of the time).

One funny thing: when I’m on the couch, he’ll lie down beside me... Then he’ll put his head on my lap... Then his front paws... until he’s slowly wiggled his entire self on top of me! I think it’s hilarious and reward him with plenty of pets.

Travel

We traveled a bunch, which I love. Here are some pictures of places we visited.

Spain

As part of Jessi’s sabbatical, we visited Barcelona and Málaga. It was so wonderful speaking Spanish and enjoying some sun.

Alaska

A friend from college wanted to visit, so we went for it!

Camping In The Redwoods

We spent time with my side of the family during an extended camping weekend. So much fun. We had Chuck for about a week at this point.

Backpacking Part of the Corvallis To The Sea Trail

The kids did amazing! We hiked 5 miles each day for 2 days. I’d like to keep exploring parts of the 60-mile trail.

Tucson, Arizona

We finished the year with my family in a vacation rental. My favorite part (besides being with family) was swimming in the heated pool each day. We also got some nice family photos.

Looking Ahead

2025 was a great year, and I’m looking forward to 2026. The kids keep growing and becoming more independent (like staying home alone). We also have more travel planned (like Uganda, Mexico, and Boston) which all of us enjoy.

I'm also having a blast growing my property management company and have a great team helping me. Growing it is major focus this year because I believe we can help lots more owners and renters.

Finally, I’m listening to books that collectively span American history to celebrate the US’s 250th birthday. Right now I'm listening to George Washington's biography and next will be about Lewis and Clark. I have to listen to 40 minutes a day on average to hit my goal, and so far it's been fun.

I'm excited!

Pictures From 2025

Samson likes to dress up. This time as Harry Potter

A sign for a new storage facility

The boys having fun together

Chuck doesn't love to have his nails trimmed. So we got this...

We took a tour of the USS Blueback submarine at OMSI.

Elinor's piano recital

The kids served parents books that they read aloud

A Year with James Bond (and Other Books I Read)

I’m a highlighter/notetaker with books I’m learning from, so my audiobooks are just-for-fun entertainment. And, for the last couple of years, I’ve picked a theme for my audiobooks. Two years ago, I listened to classics. Last year, I listened to biographies.

This year, I listened to all 14 of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels (and short stories).

I listened to them in published order and enjoyed hearing his progression as a writer. For those of you who watched the movies, there are a few general differences:

1. There’s no Q! In fact, 99% of the time, it’s just Bond, his wits, and his gun. If there is a gadget, it’s something simple like a miniature Geiger counter for detecting radiation.
2. My favorite books are those in which Bond meets the main villain early on. I found the psychological battle of wits even more entertaining than the physical battles.
3. There are women in the novels, and romance happens, but it’s a lot more PG than the movies.
4. I’m pretty sure Fleming liked playing cards because all of the card-playing scenes are detailed and fantastic.
5. I’m also fairly certain Fleming liked the Caribbean because a large percentage of stories took place on those islands.

The Bond Books In Published Order (and My Reading Order)

Casino Royale

Bond is sent to Royale-les-Eaux to face Le Chiffre, a Soviet agent whose power comes from money. The mission is simple in theory: beat him at cards and collapse his influence. Much of the story happens at the card table.

Since it’s his first book, the writing is so straightforward that it feels sparse. I’d almost recommend skipping it and just watching the fantastic movie, but it’s fundamental, so it’s worth a listen.

Live and Let Die

Bond investigates Mr. Big, a Harlem crime boss suspected of funneling funds to hostile powers. The trail moves from New York to Florida and into the Caribbean (the first many trips there).

Felix Leiter joins Bond on a US adventure.  The beginning and middle were entertaining enough, but the finale was really fun. There were two action scenes that were particularly well written.

Moonraker

Britain’s Moonraker missile project is overseen by national hero Sir Hugo Drax. Bond is brought in quietly after noticing inconsistencies that don’t add up. The story is unusually domestic, focused on investigation, observation, and the danger of misplaced trust. Spoiler: Bond never goes to space!

The book is far superior to the movie. The opening card-playing scene is amazing. It’s just... so different than the movie. I think that’s because there isn’t a ton of action, but I think a modern remake of Moonraker could be fantastic. It’s my second-favorite book.

Diamonds Are Forever

Bond goes undercover to break a diamond-smuggling pipeline run by a ruthless American syndicate. His journey takes him from Africa to London to Las Vegas, revealing how crime scales when it’s treated like a business rather than a racket.

It’s OK. Parts of it were almost too far-fetched, but it’s a fun (though forgettable) standalone adventure.

From Russia, with Love

Soviet intelligence orchestrates an (overly complicated) plan, with Bond as the intended pawn. Much of the tension comes from watching the machinery of espionage turn, long before Bond realizes he’s caught inside it.

The second half of this adventure unfolds on a train, and now I want to take an overnight ride with my family. I wish there were more interaction with the main bad guy... or something. I felt the tension, but the end wasn’t quite as thrilling as I expected. But I 1,000% want to ride a train now.

Dr. No

Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate disruptions linked to the reclusive Dr. No. His search leads him to Crab Key, an isolated island ruled by intellect, surveillance, and control. Along the way, Bond meets Honeychile Rider, who becomes his first love interest and plays a significant role.

This feels like classic Bond. He’s sent to look into something semi-mundane, and it turns out to be a world-ending villain. To get to Dr. No, Bond survives some highly elaborate trials. I just wish there were more of Dr. No himself in the book.

Goldfinger

By far, this is my favorite book; it’s fantastic.  Bond encounters Auric Goldfinger, a wealthy industrialist with a massive gold obsession. What begins as financial surveillance escalates as Bond pieces together the scope of Goldfinger’s ambitions.

What I love about this novel is that Bond interacts with Goldfinger from the beginning and gets wrapped up in Goldfinger’s crazy steal-all-the-gold scheme. It’s got everything you’d want from a Bond novel. If you only read one Bond book, this is the one. The movie is also great, but the book is even better.

For Your Eyes Only

This one is a set of short stories.  These stories place Bond in tighter, more personal assignments. The focus is less on spectacle and more on judgment and restraint. They’re fun. Quantum of Solace, which is nothing like the movie, was my favorite because it ended with a sweet life lesson about judging people too quickly.

Thunderball

Enter SPECTRE with another classic Bond novel. Led by Emilio Largo, SPECTRE steals nuclear weapons to extort the World (yep, it’s about money). Bond is tasked with tracking the threat under intense time pressure, relying on endurance, intelligence work, and persistence rather than clever tricks.

I re-watched the movie, and the book is much better. I really enjoyed the investigative feel since Bond (and Felix) don’t really know for sure if the stolen warheads are in the place they’re looking. I felt the high-stakes in this one.

The Spy Who Loved Me

This one is written from the perspective of a woman Bond rescues. Bond appears as a catalyst rather than the protagonist. It’s a standalone novel in which Fleming experiments with a different writing style. It was fun.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

More SPECTRE! Bond resumes his pursuit of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, leading Bond to an alpine research facility. Along the way, Bond meets Tracy di Vicenzo, introducing a more personal dimension to his otherwise professional mission.

Again, I enjoy the ones where Bond is in the thick of it with the main villains a majority of the time. The ending is super sad.

You Only Live Twice

This picks up right after the previous book. The sad ending leaves Bond adrift. So, M assigns Bond to Japan under diplomatic cover. There, Bond gets roped into another classic adventure and gets a chance for revenge.

There are some fun characters, and I enjoyed hearing Bond embrace Japanese culture. Yet, once again, it’s not the happiest of endings. You can tell Fleming is getting better at writing cliffhangers.

The Man with the Golden Gun

My third favorite book. Bond gets brainwashed (which seemed to get resolved too easily) and has to prove his loyalty with a seemingly impossible mission: to confront Francisco Scaramanga, a legendary hitman whose reputation alone creates tension. The story narrows its focus to identity, skill, and direct confrontation rather than elaborate plots.

I can’t help but say “Scaramanga” the way Oddjob says it in the movie (who is only in Goldfinger). This one felt like a finale with many classic characters making an appearance.

Octopussy and The Living Daylights

And his final book is actually a collection of short stories. They’re good, but not required reading.  If anything, I interpreted them as an epilogue teaser — “James Bond will return” — showing Bond continuing his spy work after the previous adventure.

Final James Bond Thoughts

As someone who enjoys Bond films, I was surprised by how different the novels are. The novels are procedural and often inward-looking. Bond succeeds because he prepares, observes, endures discomfort, and makes hard calls — not because he uses clever toys. That doesn’t exactly translate into cinematic entertainment. So, instead of Fleming’s Bond being competent under pressure, we got the film Bond who handles spectacle under control.

Both are good. They’re just different. I expected to be thrilled by the descriptions of the action scenes, but I was pleasantly surprised by Fleming’s focus on Bond’s inner dialogue.

Other Books

I read a few more books this year. Here’s the  list with short descriptions:

Faith & Theology

• Beyond Biblical Integration - Faith shouldn’t merely be added to the classroom; it should fundamentally reshape how everything is done.
• Prayer Begins with Relationship - Treat prayer as an ongoing relational posture with God rather than a technique for asking for things.
• The Measure of a Man - Biblical character traits, like integrity, humility, and responsibility, are the true benchmarks of maturity.
• Orthodoxy - A philosophical (and non-traditional) defense of Christian belief by G.K. Chesterton presented as a personal journey.
• Why We Ask - A practical, faith-rooted guide to building meaningful relationships by asking open-ended questions.
• Bible - A unified story that leads to Jesus, showing how God’s covenant love keeps moving forward despite human failure.

Business & Systems

• Main Street Millionaire - How to build wealth through buying stable, ordinary businesses.
• Buy Back Your Time - How to reclaim time and energy by systematically removing yourself from low-value work.
• $100M Money Models - The core financial structures and business models behind building scalable, cash-efficient businesses.
• $100M Lost Chapters - Additional frameworks and clarifications that expand on earlier books.
• The Reporting Revolution - How to make modern-day reports; we can do better than slides and PowerPoint.
• The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - Read parts of it for my remote drone pilot’s license class.
• NASCLA Contractors Guide - To get your contractor’s license, you must read this manual, which covers the laws, math, safety, and business principles.

Self-Improvement

• Validation - How to show people you’re there, you get it, and you care. My favorite book of the year.
• Money For Couples - Shared values, communication, and trust matter more than tactics when couples manage money together.
• 67 Day Year - How to leverage the latest in neuropsychology to wire your mind to achieve goals. The concepts are good, but I didn’t love the repetitive writing style.

Next Year’s Theme

For the US's 250th birthday, I thought it would be fun to listen to books that collectively span American history. I divided the last 250 years into quarter-centuries and picked one or two books per era that looked interesting. I think it’ll be a fun way to celebrate and learn more about this country.

Spending Thanksgiving in Baker City, Oregon

We spent Thanksgiving — and Jessi’s birthday — in Baker City (or, simply... Baker, as the locals say). One shop owner asked us what we were doing there, since it’s pretty small (~13K people) and lacks major attractions.

Except, of course, for the Baker Tower, which my company recently purchased with a group of investors.

The Baker Tower is the tallest building east of the Cascades. It was built in 1929 and is 10 stories tall. I’ve tried describing it, but I usually resort to showing a picture so folks can see how magnificent it is.

It’s incredibly cool. I have plans to revamp the ballroom and turn one of the living spaces into a vacation rental (because the view is genuinely awesome).

So, this trip was for a few reasons.

First, my family hadn’t seen it yet. It’s a 6-hour drive, so it’s not exactly something you just pop over to. I think my kids partially understand what I do, and trips like this help. The vacation rental won’t be available until summer, so we stayed at the iconic Geiser Grand Hotel, which is only two blocks away. All the rooms have a Victorian look and are pet-friendly.

Second, Jessi’s birthday landed on Thanksgiving this year, and we wanted to get away as a family. You know how it is when you’re home: there’s always something that needs to be done. And on Thanksgiving, there’s the pressure to cook something epic. So instead, we enjoyed Geiser’s feast. The kids dressed up and looked quite dapper.

Third, I used to be adamantly opposed to having “a place” we regularly vacationed at. Instead, I always opted to go somewhere new. But I’m starting to appreciate the idea of having “a place” that gets fully explored. Baker wasn’t really on the list, but buying the Baker Tower quickly shot it to the top. So, we’re seeing if this could be it. A six-hour drive is a lot, but it’s not impossible. I’ve already made multiple day trips (yes, driving 12 hours for 4 hours of meetings), so a weekend trip isn’t unreasonable — especially if we have a cool place to stay each time.

Here are some fun things we did:

We hiked near Philips Reservoir, where Chuck went swimming.

We played at Geiser Pollman Park.

And we visited the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, including walking on part of the actual Oregon Trail!

Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and I’m looking forward to going back to explore even more places.