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I'm excited to have my friend Lindsey Paulson on the show today. Lindsey is a woman who wears many hats. She’s the COO of Mulberry Builders and the owner of LP Consulting. Lindsey loves organization and helping people. She has merged these two passions into both her career and nonprofit success.
We learn how her passion for organization and business led her to rise from office manager to COO after the upheaval caused by COVID-19. We also discover how she used her business skills to start her consulting business, helping even more business owners.
Lindsey is also involved in several nonprofit organizations, including Enrich in Richmond, KY, Redeeming Hope, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She loves giving back, and her motto is to turn messes into missions. Lindsey truly lives what she believes in, as we explore in this inspiring conversation.
Episode Highlights:
[01:00] She oversees the production team, CFO and financial team, sales & marketing, and admin at Mulberry Builders. She reports everything back to the principal builder and principal designer.
[01:47] She joined Mulberry Builders as the office manager. Her husband and the owner are both firefighters.
[02:46] How she went from office manager to COO.
[07:00] Lindsey also runs LP Consulting. She loves going into small businesses and creating action plans for people.
[09:05] In school, Lindsey focused a lot on organizational psychology. As a company gets bigger, there are a lot more personalities and potential issues to deal with.
[09:32] Holding someone accountable for the systems you have in place protects the business owner as well.
[10:24] There's an app for everything and a lot of them are free.
[11:24] When Lindsey isn't involved in processes, she loves helping nonprofits. Mulberry is very involved in building the St Jude's Children's Home. They're also helping to build the Redeeming Hope property. LP Consulting is also involved with Enrich here in Richmond, KY.
[11:47] Lindsey is really focused on nonprofits right now. She's focused on people who've made messes in their lives and have turned into missions to give back to the community. Messes into missions.
[12:53] One dream home will cover one child's cancer treatment. Redeeming Hope is focusing on female human trafficking. She also did a workshop with Enrich finding second chances for people in the community.
[14:15] She's been focused on helping people make their messes into missions.
[17:22] Enrich is doing huge things to make an impact on the community.
[18:03] She feels she's been put on this Earth to drive people to success.
[22:25] As human beings, we need to reach out and let people know that they do have value.
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I’m excited to share a conversation with an entrepreneur and family man who has an inspiring story to tell. Brad Daugherty is the founder of Hoola Managed IT, a company that provides comprehensive IT services to businesses.
We discuss Brad's journey in building his business from the ground up, as well as modern IT challenges like wire fraud and cybersecurity threats. Brad shares tips and things to watch for when receiving emails to ensure their legitimacy.
He also describes how he faced the unimaginable: his son's diagnosis with brain cancer and the emotional journey that followed.
Despite the profound loss, Brad explains how he found solace through journaling, his unwavering faith, and the strength that comes from acknowledging the beauty in life's moments, even amidst hardship. His story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of appreciating each moment we have.
Episode Highlights:
[00:52] Hoola Managed IT has been in business for about eight years. They offer IT services to businesses where they actually become the IT department. They help with networking and equipment or whatever comes up.
[01:27] They have facilities in Indianapolis and two locations in Muncie.
[02:16] Wire fraud is a definite problem in the title industry.
[02:51] Brad shares fraud red flags.
[03:26] Look for spelling on the email and hover over it to see where it's actually coming from. He also talks about using DMARC to avoid spoofing.
[04:14] If you think something isn't right, it probably isn't.
[05:10] Fake emails are going to become more difficult to spot with AI.
[05:28] When sending money, it's better to be safe than sorry.
[05:45] Brad is the founder of Hoola Managed IT. He and his best friend started the business, and they had a falling out.
[06:36] It took a couple years, but he was able to rebuild a customer base.
[06:52] While building his business, Brad received the news that his son had brain cancer.
[07:25] There was a big turning point around the three to four year mark.
[08:50] He has four children. Christian passed away when he was eight years old.
[10:18] Brad talks about the beauty found in adversity and the struggles happening at the hospital.
[11:01] Keeping a journal, writing everyday and writing "God is good every time," helped him through the struggle of his son's illness.
[13:48] His son was a twin. They are grateful for the two amazing years they had with him.
[14:02] His other children saw God working in their lives in a way that only He could.
[15:06] The children had wisdom beyond their years.
[15:48] Brad decided that even if his son goes home, he is going to remain faithful to God.
[17:09] The worst thing that could happen to his son is to go home to heaven. This is what enabled Brad to have faith and see the beauty in all things.
[18:57] Brad shares a story about people watching his post everyday. Brad remained joyful. He received a letter from an artist that was just enough to help them out. They felt so much love poured out to their family.
[21:21] One of the most important things Brad learned is that the way you know your life right now can change in a matter of seconds.
[21:46] Every second and every moment that we have in this life is precious.
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Donna Himes is a licensed title agent at Springdale Title in Richmond. Married for nearly 24 years, she also cherishes her role as a stepmother to two wonderful daughters, and she loves being a grandmother. Donna and her husband enjoy staying active through hiking and kayaking, and she nurtures her passion for gardening.
An avid reader, Donna boasts a Kindle library of over 10,000 books, with a particular fondness for paranormal romance and mail-order bride stories. Having grown up without grandparents, she places great value on spending as much time as possible with her granddaughter.
Our conversation with Donna also unveils her journey through illness and grief, along with the resilience required to care for her loved ones while recovering from surgery. The hardships faced during her father's illness have taught her what truly matters in life, a principle that guides her every day.
Episode Highlights:
[00:49] Donna shares a little about herself and her 10,000 books.
[02:09] We learn how Donna went from retail to banking to being a part of our team.
[04:01] She's detail oriented and loves being on the front end. It's her goal to make sure everything runs smoothly through the entire process.
[05:04] In 2013, Donna's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After multiple rounds of radiation, he went into remission. Unfortunately in 2018, his cancer returned in the form of colon cancer.
[05:59] Donna also had disc surgery on her neck in 2018. In 2019, she had a hysterectomy.
[06:15] She was working at home as she recovered. She was also able to work a flexible schedule during 2020 which enabled her to take her dad to all of his appointments.
[06:38] Another tragedy struck when her mom fell and broke her pelvis in three places. Donna ended up caring for her mother.
[06:53] Donna's Dad passed away in 2020, and her life hasn't been the same since.
[07:45] Losing her dad hit really hard.
[09:27] During this crisis with her family, Donna was doing everything while also trying to recover from the surgery.
[11:08] She put in a flower bed for her mom. Her and her husband mowed about 20 acres of their own property, and they cared for a rental property.
[12:53] Donna is excited and scared about partial retirement.
[15:18] Her grandchild is her little best friend. They're together every other weekend, and they spend breaks together.
[17:20] Advice for those in transition. Think about what you want and your situation. Having extra family time is meaningful for Donna. She wants to spend more time with her mom.
[20:24] Know what you want and look at the details.
[20:52] Advice to her younger self, would be to live life to the fullest but do it in a way that God would be proud of.
[22:23] Have balance. Work hard but not to the exclusion of everything else in life.
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Nick Steinhauer and Kreg King are Co Branch Managers at the Columbus, Ohio Branch of Thrive Mortgage. I've known both of these gentlemen for a few years, and I'm excited to introduce them to you.
Kreg has been in the industry for 15 years. He began as a processor and is now a loan officer with Nick. He's married and has four kids. Between work family and his children he feels like his life is chaotic.
Nick joined the industry about eight years ago. Prior to this he worked in retail. Nick credits everything he knows to his partnership with Kreg. He loves helping people finance something that will create memories and traditions with their family. He’s also married and has three daughters. They also home school.
We get to learn about the unique advantage of being partners in the loan business and how they can serve clients almost every hour of the day. They also keep their clients and partners updated on the latest industry trends. We discuss these trends including interest rates, inflation, and unemployment rates.
Episode Highlights:
[04:20] They have an incredible amount of volume and have a lot to juggle with kids and family.
[05:02] They can do their job from anywhere in the world.
[06:04] Nick shares some of the advantages of having a partner as opposed to going it alone in the loan industry.
[06:58] Between the two of them, there is someone almost on duty every hour of the day. This is a real advantage to their partners.
[07:33] Part of their brand includes market updates and making information easily accessible for their partners and clients.
[08:30] Market update: There has been positive economic news, but that doesn't help the interest rates. Rates are going higher, and they are in the low to mid 7% range.
[10:05] The new jobs data for today was a little soft. Some additional rate cuts may come back into play.
[13:31] We discuss whether Jerome Powell will change expectations and lower the inflation target.
[14:39] Even though inflation has come down, prices aren't dropping.
[15:36] Will there be a rate cut before November? This is an election year.
[18:28] The worst combination would be increasing inflation and a weakening job market or stagflation.
[19:08] Advice for prospective home buyers. If you're comfortable where your mortgage payment is, go ahead and pull the trigger.
[22:20] We probably won't see low fives anytime soon.
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I’m thrilled to have Madison Eisenman, the sales vice president of the Eisenman Group, join us. With a team of 60 client realtors under her wing in Northern Kentucky, Madison shares her journey in real estate.
We learn how her real estate journey began In 2019. She had strong mentorship, but it didn't take long for her to realize a bigger dream for herself and her clients. She expanded her team by bringing in members hoping to provide exceptional service to her growing client base.
It was her goal to empower her team to give her clients the best outcome possible. We learn about her journey and her slogan of “boots and heels” where she combines her love of Kentucky and being a country girl with her love of real estate and helping her clients along the entire buying and selling journey.
Beyond her success, Madison is committed to mentoring young entrepreneurs and believes in prioritizing her clients' best interests over transactions, a philosophy that has paved the way for her remarkable success.
Episode Highlights:
[01:03] Madison began in real estate in 2019. She had great mentorships, but after the first year she sat down and thought about what she wanted to do.
[01:34] She searched her clients the best she could but she wanted to be a lead. She hired two agents to help with listings and all the other aspects of real estate.
[02:12] She wanted to have an expert in every area. This year she added another great member to the team that has a background in real estate and management.
[02:35] This amazing team became the Eisenman group.
[03:12] it's a diverse group that compliments each other very well.
[03:42] Boots and heels. This means boots and heels let's make a deal. Madison has always been a country girl, but she also has a professional side so this moniker is very fitting.
[05:32] Madison was born and raised in Kentucky and she loves to share the Kentucky heritage.
[06:55] Madison is part of a deer hunting group that goes on guided trips every year. They also hunt for waterfowl.
[08:34] Her work ethic comes from growing up on a farm. She's very blessed to wake up and do something that she loves everyday.
[10:22] Madison also mentors young entrepreneurs.
[15:28] It's not about the paycheck or just the transaction, it's about what is best for the client.
[16:06] Madison would prefer a longer process and finding the perfect home for her clients.
[17:52] Real estate has so many people behind the scenes. Madison could not have been as successful as she has been without the entire group of people.
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I'm happy to have Jessica Bishop, a sales manager at Reliance Mortgage in Pensacola, Florida, on the show today. Jessica is in Florida, but she still has Kentucky roots. We'll learn how she ended up in Florida and how she became a loan officer.
We learn how she focuses on building relationships with real estate agents, lenders, and clients. She is committed to finding the right loan for each person, likening it to solving a puzzle to find the perfect loan for every client.
She shares information about different loan products that can significantly help first-time buyers. She also encourages clients to ask questions and truly understand what they're getting into. Her biggest piece of advice is to meet with a loan officer before even looking at houses to ensure that you can get a loan with a payment you can afford.
Jessica deeply cares about buyers and finding loan products that fit their individual circumstances, including specialized programs that help lower interest rates and 100% financing loans that are especially beneficial for first-time buyers.
Episode Highlights:
[00:59] Jessica has Kentucky roots. She was a Kentucky girl for about 20 years.
[01:52] Jessica's husband was supposed to be working in Florida for only 6 months. They ended up loving it there so much that they stayed.
[02:24] Jessica worked as a legal secretary and then became a real estate agent. She later became a loan officer at Navy Federal Credit Union. She then went out on her own which was the best thing that she ever did.
[03:30] Some of the most important relationships a real estate agent can have is with the lender and the title company.
[04:35] Finding a loan that's the best fit for each individual client is like putting together a puzzle.
[05:13] Putting everything together and getting someone in a new house really feels like accomplishing something.
[05:48] The market has changed so much that lenders need to be able to move with the market.
[06:13] Jessica shares some unique mortgage products offered at Reliance Mortgage that include getting lower interest rates for the buyer.
[09:28] They also offer 100% financing. There are a lot of grant programs that help people get into homes without putting a lot of money up front. One of their products is 100% financing FHA loans. There's a second lien that covers up to 5% that would include the down payment and some of the closing cost.
[11:34] There are many programs available to help people get into a home.
[12:30] It's really smart to talk things over with someone that can help you get the big picture when it comes to your credit and available programs.
[13:49] Even before you start home shopping, get in touch with the lender and have a consultation where you can go over your credit report and decide how much you want to spend.
[14:28] You need to know what you're approved for but also the monthly payment that you're willing to spend.
[15:39] You never want to overextend yourself. Always leave yourself some breathing room, because you never know what's going to come up.
[16:33] You want to work with someone who cares about your well-being, makes sure you are comfortable, and tells you the truth.
[18:58] Jessica makes clients feel comfortable and confident and safe when they ask her questions.
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I’m speaking with Eric Bunzow. Today, we dive into the world of real estate, tech, and election integrity. Eric’s a jack of all trades—real estate agent at Red One Realty, Board of Elections member, and former title employee at Springdale Title. He has also worked in IT. Eric shares insights from his varied career, from his early days in Florida working with medical devices to his real estate journey and passion for the behind-the-scenes of transactions.
He talks about the importance of staying vigilant in today’s digital age, highlighting risks like email fraud and home warranty scams. He also shares his work in election integrity, removing outdated entries from voting rolls, emphasizing the critical nature of accurate election records.
Our conversation isn’t just about the technical aspects; it's about the importance of communication, trust, and building personal relationships. Whether it’s protecting clients from scams or ensuring smooth real estate transactions, Eric’s stories and advice offer a unique perspective on navigating the interconnected worlds of real estate, technology, and civic responsibility. Join us as we uncover these fascinating insights.
Episode Highlights:
[01:11] Eric has seen transactions from the realtors perspective, the title agent perspective, and even from an IT perspective. He has a well-rounded view of the industry and the process as a whole.
[01:38] Ten years ago when Eric moved here from Florida, he was working for a medical device company in and out of hospitals on Windows computers.
[01:46] After about 4 or 5 years, he decided to get his real estate license.
[02:41] When he became a full-time real estate agent he was always interested in the background information and how to get from point A to point B.
[03:58] He also helps people with their computers, because of his IT background.
[04:47] He finds people who have either died or moved out of the state and removes them from the voting rolls. He's a private investigator for the county.
[05:08] He sends paperwork to people who moved to another state to get them to sign and remove themselves from the voter rolls.
[05:24] When you move from Kentucky, you need to unregister yourself from the rolls.
[06:18] In Kentucky if you change your party after the deadline, you can't vote. Eric shares a case where election laws matter.
[08:07] When people move, they need to check election laws.
[12:26] Eric has a good understanding of what it takes to close, because he's seen both sides of the transaction.
[15:00] Confidentiality is extremely important.
[16:09] IT risks are so prominent today. Fortunately, Eric has the ability to help protect the clients.
[16:40] When you receive stuff about your transaction in the mail, double check with your realtor because there are so many scams out there.
[17:20] There are a lot of home warranty scams out there.
[18:50] Email is also wrought with fraud, people need to be very careful and not click on links.
[20:26] Clients need to know that they should never send a wire that's not confirmed with the title company.
[21:47] Real estate agents need to have trust with their title company.
[22:28] Top advice for realtors is communication.
[23:57] Communication leads to personal relationships and trust.
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Tim Eickhoff is the branch manager at Stockton Mortgage in Florence, Kentucky. He's also known as the Northern Kentucky Mortgage Coach. Originally on the path to becoming a teacher, Tim now uses his passion for coaching and educating to help first-time home buyers navigate the often-complicated world of mortgages. He believes in making things simple and understandable, emphasizing the critical role of education in the home buying process.
Tim highlights the importance of credit scores, not just for getting a good mortgage rate, but also how they affect other areas of your life, like insurance costs. He walks us through different mortgage options, from FHA and USDA to VA and conventional loans, explaining how each fits different needs.
Plus, he shares a golden tip: multiply your gross monthly income by .29 to figure out a comfortable mortgage payment. Tim's advice? Don't wait on the sidelines - the right time to jump into the market is now, with good credit as your best ally. Let's dive in and demystify the mortgage process with Tim's expert guidance.
Episode Highlights:
[00:59] Tim shares his background. He almost became a teacher, but switched to the mortgage industry. He still coaches in many sports.
[01:34] Tim loves educating, sharing the process, and making things as easy as possible.
[02:05] He wants first time home buyers to really understand the process. The more they understand the easier his job is.
[02:46] Tim explains how education is key and the series of questions he takes his potential home buyers through.
[03:10] What do you want your payment to be and how does it fit in your budget?
[03:46] They reverse engineer the payment into a price and try to make the process as smooth as possible.
[06:08] A consumer-based credit report is like a light version of the mortgage credit report.
[06:33] Credit scores affect a lot in your life like home insurance and car insurance. Try to preserve your credit the best you can.
[07:19] The 620 to 680 range is more of an FHA buyer. 680 and above is more of a conventional type loan.
[08:04] There's a lot of different loan types and programs that all have different qualifications.
[08:29] FHA loans require three and a half percent down and are a little more forgiving. USDA is 100% payment with no down required. VA is zero down with no mortgage insurance. Conventional programs range from 3 to 5% down.
[08:50] Each program has pros and cons. When going through client mortgage applications Tim and his team explains what program would be best for them.
[09:29] Multiply your gross monthly income by .29 to get an idea of what your payment should be.
[10:02] Some accounts will require escrow accounts and mortgage insurance. The government programs require taxes and insurance being included in your monthly mortgage payment.
[11:08] If you put 20% or more down with a conventional loan you aren't required to have an escrow account.
[12:16] Tim advises to get in the market now because some people are on the sidelines waiting for interest rates to come down.
[15:46] Tims #1 advice: credit is the key to everything.
[17:54] Having an expert to help navigate the current market is good advice.
[18:10] If your realtor refers someone to you that means they trust that person.
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Can a young real estate team be effective? My guest, Lauren Wessel, is the owner and lead agent of The Lauren Wessel Group. Despite having been a realtor for only four years, she already leads her own team, guiding them into the industry. Lauren shares her team's story and the keys to their success: organization, excellent communication skills, and a strong work ethic. Although young, they are hungry, motivated, and driven.
We also discuss the current market. Although it remains a seller's market, sellers can take steps to improve their chances of making a sale. Lauren offers tips for hiring a realtor and suggestions for securing top dollar for your home, emphasizing the importance of trusting your expert. Additionally, she provides advice for buyers, highlighting patience as her top recommendation. She advises buyers to be open to transparency in this competitive market and flexible with pricing.
Lauren started her business while becoming a mother. She shares insights into balancing the demands of business, motherhood, and team building. For Lauren, her most significant role is being a mom. She considers herself a full-time stay-at-home mom who runs a real estate business, detailing how she manages her schedule and leverages her strengths to succeed.
Episode Highlights:
[00:56] Lauren leads an amazing team. This team has been established since August of 2023. Lauren has been a realtor for 4 years. She knows enough to help others be really successful in this industry.
[01:33] She connected a couple people she knew with Keller Williams because they were interested in getting involved in real estate. She decided to establish a team and bring them aboard.
[01:53] They now have a social media director, director of operations, two buyers agents, and a transaction coordinator.
[03:01] Lauren has a background in corporate human resources.
[03:15] Her understanding of processes has helped push the team in the right direction.
[04:17] The market has been a roller coaster, and yet they are productive and steady in an unsteady environment.
[04:51] Lauren wanted to provide support and help answer questions for her team. Communication and connection really helps in a team environment.
[05:45] Lauren shares what it's like in the real world for buyers and sellers in this market.
[06:35] If you're selling, you have the upper hand. It's a seller's market. You still need to put a product on the market that is in good condition.
[07:23] Hire a professional realtor. If they don't suggest you make improvements, you may want to find another realtor.
[08:17] There are certain things a realtor knows that will help you market your property.
[08:33] Advice for buyers includes having patience. Realtors will help you navigate your emotions and help look at the business aspects of the transaction.
[11:08] Sometimes the realtor has to share what they think it will take to make the offer work, and there are times when buyers won't be comfortable with that.
[12:10] This spring in Kentucky is going to be a competitive market.
[12:59] There are still people making offers for over the list price.
[14:52] Lauren's daughter is almost two. Lauren started in the real estate industry two years before her daughter was born. She was established enough to keep the business afloat.
[16:10] She has really great friends and family for support.
[17:23] Having a routine is great, but flexibility is important with constant changes in life.
[18:42] Lauren feels extremely lucky that she has a job where she can schedule her daughter's life into, because she only gets one chance to be with her one-year-old.
[20:58] When things get hectic, Lauren keeps herself grounded by remembering how lucky she is to have a flexible schedule.
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Dr. Blaise Varady is a chiropractor and co-owner of Unbridled Spirit Healing Center, alongside his wife, Alexis. Their practice stands out for its dedication to clearing the nervous system, thereby enhancing the full expression of life. Blaise specializes in Upper Cervical care, while Alexis focuses on pregnancy and pediatric care. Together, they have made a significant impact on their community, providing much-needed relief and support. I personally have benefited from their care and have been extremely satisfied with my experience.
In this episode, we dive into Blaise's personal journey, exploring the challenges he faced and how he was transformed by the very techniques he practices. He shares insights into how clearing specific areas can alter emotions, improve clarity of thought, reduce irritation, and quiet the mind. We also discuss their remarkable success in helping many within the community with both physical and mental health issues. Additionally, Blaise and Alexis have recently embarked on a new journey, having purchased their first home. We cover the complexities of juggling home buying, financing, business, and other stresses of life.
Episode Highlights:
[01:05] Blaise shares what it's like to buy a first home. He and his wife were tired of being professional renters.
[02:04] There's not enough education out there. People really don't understand what it's like to buy a home for the first time.
[02:54] When looking for a home, be extremely specific about what you're looking for. Make sure all of your numbers are ready and lined up.
[04:06] Besides buying a home and moving, Blaise and his wife own their own business.
[04:16] They are chiropractors who specifically focus on the nervous system. They analyze and correct any type of interference to the nervous system to allow the body to work correctly.
[05:24] Neurologic function is their main goal.
[06:58] They try to teach the body to align by adding more integrity to the nervous system and making sure that it's functioning the way that it was designed.
[07:49] Our nervous system has to do with physical, chemical, and emotional stress.
[08:50] True health is a sign of less and less intervention and more life.
[10:22] Ashley feels healthier in general since she's been visiting the practice.
[12:06] Our brains and our bodies have mechanisms for every single ailment.
[14:02] Expect miracles in the office.
[14:32] Issues could be stemming from nerve failure or nerve interference. They take care of mental health issues all the time.
[14:49] Chiropractic saved Blaises life from mental health issues.
[15:25] If the nerves connecting your brain and your organs start to malfunction, your view and quality of life is going to decrease.
[15:50] If quality of life decreases, and you're scared of the past we call that depression. If you're scared of the future we call it anxiety.
[16:18] X-rays and adjustments of one bone like the upper cervical where the brainstem is has helped multiple patients with their mental health issues.
[16:52] Clearing these areas starts to change emotions and create better clarity of thought, less irritation, and less noise in the mind.
[17:07] 75% of our limbic system and emotional regulation is in our spine.
[18:01] They've also helped with chronic conditions.
[22:22] They are also very passionate about making sure that kids are seeing because they care about the health of the community.
[22:37] Everyone should have a clear nervous system for the best expression of life.
[22:54] They've been doing amazing work helping people.
[24:37] Advice for people who have given up. Where there is life, there is hope. Where there's life there's light. Don't give up and keep trying.
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Title experts share their knowledge