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HEARTLAND INVESTMEN T COMPANIES STARS
DECEMBER 2020
AN.COM
DARINGARM 319-350-5378
THE CONFESSION OF A LIFELONG WORKAHOLIC CHRISTMAS DAD REPORTING FOR DUTY
“My name is Darin Garman, and I’m a workaholic.”
If there were such a thing as Workaholics Anonymous, that would be my opening line. Actually, I don’t think I’d ever wind up in a workaholic support group. I’m not saying I don’t need the help; it’s just that I’ve been lucky enough to have a wife and kids who have understood and supported my mission every step of the way. I’m grateful for them daily, but Christmas in particular brings the warm fuzzy feelings to the surface. Here’s the truth. Steve Jobs once said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance,” and I think he was about right. When you own your own business, you’re pretty much always persevering (aka “working”), whether you’re at the office or at home. I’ve been like that my whole adult life, and frankly, my wife and kids have gone above and beyond to be patient with my limited accessibility and involvement at home. I was never quite as bad as the dads in the movies who stand their kids up at baseball games and school plays, but I wasn’t exactly around to help with homework or cook dinner, either. Gina, my wife and partner of 32 years, has always been fantastic about that. Not only did she support me from day one, but when our kids were little, she was there running the house and being the family CEO while I was off doing my thing at Heartland Investment Partners. Fortunately, I was still able to attend almost all of my kids’ events. They didn’t end up disappointed like the kids in the movies, but they did know how big a deal it was and how much I had to sacrifice to be there. Workaholic or not, I always tried to show my kids that while I had a lot of priorities, they were at the top of this list. I think that came out the most on Christmas. Every year I take Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and usually the next day off work to spend time with my family. As goofy as it sounds, I was pretty strict about it. Christmas was sacred family time. No one at work was
allowed to even call me on those days. Those days were all about the kids. It doesn’t seem like much, but I always looked forward to that time and tried to give 110% as “Christmas Dad.” When Madison, Mallory, and Isaiah were little, Gina and I pulled 8-hour shifts every Christmas Eve night to make the Santa Claus magic happen. After the kids went to bed, we were off and running, pulling hidden presents out of the storage garage and basement, wrapping a sky-high pile of gifts, and putting together big surprises like bicycles and basketball hoops as quietly as possible. It wasn’t uncommon for us to be up until 3 or 4 a.m., then have the kids wake us up two hours later. Some of my best memories are sitting on the couch with a cup of strong coffee in hand, watching my ecstatic kids tear into their presents as I struggled to keep my eyes open. Now that the kids are older, Christmas is different, but I still give 110% to the holiday. Being the workaholic I am, I missed out on some things when Madison, Mallory, and Isaiah were growing up, but I’m proud to say I never missed a single Christmas. That said, this year it hit me that while I made a big deal out of that three-day stretch, they were there cheering me on year-round. I’m incredibly thankful for their support. It means more than they know.
If you have a spouse and kids you’re able to see this Christmas, do me a favor and give them a big hug. There’s nothing more special than family.
Happy Holidays!
–Darin Garman
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3 GIFT-GIVIN
THAT WON’T KILL YOUR SAVINGS
THINK BEYOND STORE-BOUGHT OR EXPENSIVE ITEMS. Sure, everyone wants this holiday season’s “it” item, but sometimes the best gifts don’t even come wrapped under the tree. Instead, look to your own talents as a clue to what you should give. If you’re a great crafter, create something unique for the people on your list. If you can offer the gift of time, provide a free night of babysitting for your friends with kids or an experience at the local theater. These gifts have a bonus factor: Recipients love the gift when they open it, and they love it when they get to use it! SET A BUDGET — AND STICK TO IT. Setting a holiday budget ensures you only spend what you can afford. It also narrows down your search. If you choose to buy your neighbor something, but they aren’t your top priority, set their budget at a lower level, like $25–$50. If you have a sibling who has had a rough year and you’d like to make their holidays a little brighter, bump their budget up. This narrows the focus of what you’re looking for so you don’t stumble into something you can’t afford. Ultimately, it’s the spirit of giving during the holidays that makes them so rewarding. With a little ingenuity, you can be generous and avoid the stress of excess debt come January.
Ah, the holidays. It’s a time of sweet treats, family, and giving back — and sometimes giving a little too much. When it comes to the perfect holiday gift, many people spend too much money. The average American spends nearly $1,000 on gifts during the December holidays alone!
It’s possible to cut back and make it to January without major debt. Here’s how.
CHECK YOUR LIST — TWICE! The list is going to be your secret weapon to tackling the holidays with your savings still intact. Start by writing down the name of every person you’d like to get a gift for. Now, with the exception of your immediate family members, narrow the names down to your top
five — top 10 if you’re really popular. Now, place the names of the people who didn’t make the cut into a second list. If you still feel the need to do something for them, send homemade cookies or a handwritten note instead of purchasing something. This limits how much you actually have to spend!
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I hope you’re having a great Christmas season, whether you’re spending it with family and friends or you happen to be one of those folks who works over the holidays. In my mind, there is one really good thing about Christmas this year for everybody — it’s on a Friday! Last year Christmas Day was on a Wednesday, and that was VERY inconvenient! I mean, come on — a Wednesday? The timing couldn’t have been worse. Still, as inconvenient as it was, my family found a way to make it work out just fine, and I’m sure yours did, too. Christmas is Christmas after all, and the payoff is always worth the hassle. Over my years in the business, I’ve found that the process of investing is a lot like an inconvenient Christmas. Many investors like you discover that investing and owning multifamily communities here in Iowa can be a little
inconvenient, but the payoff is more than worth it in the end.
For example, if you’re interested in joining our investment family here at Heartland, getting started will include a bit of hassle. You’ll have to contact me, get property opportunity information, review the information, make a decision, get some more information, and finalize it all before you officially own the property. For the NEW investor, that process can be a bit of a thorn in the side. But ultimately, the perks are well worth the bother. A smart investor will look at those steps and see the payoff, just like a savvy person will look at a Wednesday Christmas and look past the inconvenience to the happiness of the holiday. Our investment process is a stepping stone toward the happiness and financial freedom you deserve.
Whether your Christmas inconvenience is travel, coordinating schedules, working through the holiday, or dealing with your in-laws, you know in the end it’s always worth the trouble — just like investing here in the heartland!
Have a terrific Christmas!
–Darin Garman
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INSIDE IOWA’S ‘CHRISTMAS TOWNS’ A BIT OF THE NORTH POLE IN THE MIDWEST
Most states are full of cities that set up a Santa’s village in the mall, light a tree, and consider Christmas taken care of, but not Iowa. We take the holiday seriously here in the Hawkeye State, and that’s doubly true for our tiniest towns. For decades, “Christmas Towns” have popped up across Iowa every November and December. These wholesome spots are bastions of holiday cheer, filled with twinkle lights, parades, puppet shows, hot chocolate, and visiting Santas. The festivities stick around for days, weeks, or even months at a time. We’re not talking about fabricated displays, either. For the most part, Iowa’s Christmas Towns aren’t filled with Wild West facades (unless you count the reindeer stables) — they’re just little hamlets whose residents are obsessed with the holidays.
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OnlyInYourState.com calls our Christmas Towns “magical” and points to 11 spots with special seasonal celebrations. Here are some of our favorites.
• Keokuk, Iowa , made the list for its more than 1 million Christmas lights, and the 20,000 cars that pass through to see them each year. It’s also been home to Toyland, Santa’s Workshop, and a famous nativity scene since 1989. • Anamosa, Iowa , got a shoutout for its annual Christmas Tree Walk and Craft Show, and its one-night-only supper with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The town also boasts a Christmas concert, and you can take it from us — there’s nothing quite like the jolly sound of Christmas carols floating over Iowa snowbanks. • Storm Lake, Iowa , made the cut because it’s home to Santa’s Castle. The rest of the year, this historic building is the Carnegie Library, but every December, it transforms into a Christmas wonderland fit for a fairy tale. • Boone, Iowa , is special because it’s the station of the real-life Polar Express, aka the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. The railroad offers hourlong train rides that include all of the fixings kids love: hot chocolate, story time, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa. This has been a rough year for Iowa’s Christmas towns, and many may not open in all of their splendor due to COVID-19. Still, we have no doubt they’ll be back up and jingling next year.
10 PLEX ONE-BEDROOM UNITS! SOLD!
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CONTACT DARIN TODAY AT 319-350-5378 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE LISTINGS!
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Darin Garman: Heartland’s Most Trusted Multi-Family Investment Advisor 2505 Silver Oak Trail Marion, IA 52302 DarinGarman.com 319-350-5378
INSIDE Page 1
The Confession of a Lifelong Workaholic Page 2
3 Fool-Proof Ways to Pay for the Holidays Without Going Broke The Investor’s Inconvenient Christmas Page 3
Inside Iowa’s ‘Christmas Towns’ Apartment Sales and Success Page 4 Tactics for Making the Best Business Choices
As a business leader, you’re likely well-versed in making decisions, but in the midst of a global health crisis, a political minefield, and environmental disasters, planning for the upcoming year is different territory for even the most seasoned business professionals. So, how do you make the right decisions for your 2021 plans? Start with these three steps. TACTICS FOR MAKING THE BEST BUSINESS CHOICES DECISIONS, DECISIONS
at options you would have never considered doing and test their efficacy. If one fails, move on. But there’s a big chance that you may stumble into something that is totally unique and completely worth your time.
NO. 1: LOOK AT THE DATA.
Data has never steered you wrong before, so don’t stop using it now. However, you have to use the right data and contextualize it with today’s lenses. For example, when choosing a new marketing campaign or direction, continue looking at the cost, revenue, potential errors, and risk factors. Use those to make an informed decision about which step to take. For example, is the campaign empathetic to the needs of your clients, or will it come off as tone-deaf? ( Hint: Try split testing in 2020 before fully deploying a new campaign in 2021!)
NO. 3: EMBRACE CHANGE.
You’ve set your course. You have your team in place. You’re excited to begin. Now, get ready to change everything. Sounds exhausting, right? But it can happen. Rather than being resistant to what isn’t working, admit defeat and move on. If there’s one benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that we were all given a crash course on how to adapt quickly. Take those lessons and apply them to your 2021 plan. Be prepared to admit when your original plan isn’t working because staying on an ineffective course can do more harm than good. Don’t avoid it. Planning for 2021 is necessary — even if you need to change course quickly.
NO. 2: DON’T GO WITH THE STATUS QUO.
“This is how we’ve always done it” will kill your business. Nothing is the same as it was just one year ago. The entire world has transformed, and attempting to continue with what’s “normal” will only cause you to miss what could be . As you plan for 2021, consider the abnormal. Look
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