My First FinCon, Total Groupie Mode

Wow! Where do I begin.

I’m a little tardy in recapping, but I’ve finally come down from my FinCon high. Yeah, it was that good.

Best thing? My people. I got to hang with like-minded folks who have a passion for sharing financial insight and having fun.

The fun began when I reached out to Steven Goodwin, of My Family on a Budget, as he mentioned that he was going to FinCon. Having Tweeted with him and followed his website, I figured he’d be an okay dude to room with.

My Roomie, Steven with a “Thing” on his head. He did send me a shot we took, but I can’t upload it. Besides, his daughter is cuter than me.

I was SO right. After one phone call we decided that neither was a serial killer and made plans to room together, and it worked out.

Oh, we already have a room lined up for 2018.

I enjoyed making jokes about Steven and I sleeping together. Yep, got some chuckles on that one. Not sure if Steven really appreciated my humor, but he didn’t seem to hold it against me.

Neat thing about Steven, other than him being neat, he’s a coffee lover like I am. I hauled my little coffee maker and some Tree Frog coffees up for him to try out. I think he liked them as he was raving about them and Tweeted a pic of the labled bag I sent home with him.

Tree Frog Coffee at Steven’s house. Yep. I think he likes it.

Anyway, we had a LOT of fun together. Ask him about the Pizza the first evening. Was awesome!!!!

Speaking of the first day. When I first walked into the FinCon hall, coming down the non-functioning escalater, I was treated to the Blazing Colors (Not to be confused with Blazing Saddles) of Kylie Travers in a flowerdy (yeah, actually a word) high heals, a bright yellow skirt, and a green volunteer shirt. (Shame I didn’t think to snap a picture on my new cell phone.)

Kylie Travers. What a success story in overcoming struggles and motivating others to do the same.

Standing out on the mundane, boring hotel carpet, she shined out like a “Lighthouse” directing us to our destintion. Shame, I didn’t think to pull my newly purchased “Smart Phone” and shoot us a picture. Shame on me.

Anyway, I got the courage up to swing around and compliment her on her outfit. Yep, that got things started. Each day I searched here down to see what she was wearing. You should have seen here in her blue dress and in her Flapper costume. So classy.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is SO much more to this lovely lady than her attire. She has quite the story, similar to Cara Brookins, in that she escaped an abusive relationship. Kylie did’t build her own house, like Cara, but she did go from homeless mum, to successful business women, as did Cara.

Two wonderfual ladies. I met Kylie at FinCon. I hope to meet Cara some day. Oh, her book Rise: How a House Built a Family is AWESOME! Pretty cool keeping up with her and her family on Twitter and Facebook.

Not long after I met Kylie, I was roaming around and just headed back up the escalator when I spotted a striking brunnette. Our eyes met and and we both paused. I asked, “Are you Paula Pant?”

Such a down to earth Lady. If you didn’t know her back story, you’d never imagine her as the “Financial Rockstar” that she is.

“Why yes, I am,” was her reply. WOW! I got to hug Paula Pant from Afford Anything! I’m such a Groupie. I was carrying on about listening to her and J. Money in their podcasting days. As for J.$, that’s another story.

Anyway, Paula was such a sweet heart to let me go on and on. Through out FinCon I kept bumping into her, so I’m pretty sure that she believed that I was stalking her. 🙂

Paula also was a main speaker and her presentation was awesome. She really has a way of delivering a message.

Definitely looking forward to seeing her in Orlando next year.

What an honor to get to meet and hang with J. Money!! Yep, was getting my Groupie Groove on.

Speaking of Financial Rockstars, I got to hang with J. Money of Budgets are Sexy and Rockstar Finance.

What an experience! After having listened to him when he was Podcasting with Paula Pant, and following his sites, as well as tossing Tweets and comments back and forth, it was awesome to share a bear hug and fun with him.

Every time I turned around I saw J. Money and folks that swarmed to visit with him. He seemed to never tire of his status and the attention paid him.

Great guy! FinCon is about learning stuff and networking. The learning stuff was pretty cool, but it is the networking that stands out in my mind.

I can get information off of the InterWeb. Can do some networking there too, but not like walking through the event and striking up conversations with folks.

So many neat people.

Got to meet Courtney and Steve of Think Save Retire dot Com. If you know of them, you know that they travel the countryside pulling an Airstream Trailer. Yep, they don’t have jobs, just financial freedom, in their 30’s.

I knew that I’d like them when Steve posted a pick of his targets shooting out in the desert.

Yep, we hit it off, although I don’t think that they were ready for my “Verbal Regurgitations.” Yep, Schindler Spews. Didn’t scare them off, though, as we hung around off and on and they didn’t dodge me at the costume party.

Two more fantastic folks that I’ve met because of Money is not Taboo.

The list goes on.

Such as Claudia and Garrett of Two Cup House. I didn’t think to pull my phone out, but they dressed up in bull and bear costumes and went as . . Yeah, you’re right, Bull and Bear Markets. Voted best couples’ costumes, rightfully so.

Man, I wish I’d gotten started in my ’30’s like Courtney, Steve, Claudia, and Garrett.

I’d have had SO many more years not working, to pester my wife. 🙂

Better late than never.

Yeah, I was in a small percentage of attendees. Part of the Fantastic in the ’50’s group.

JD, the man behind Get Rich Slowly. You need to check out his story and his website.

So, were do I go from here? I got to meet JD Roth and congratulate him on buying back Get Rich Slowly. It was amazing to have him ask me what Money is not Taboo is all about and say that he totally digs what I’m doing.

Way cool. Yep, Groupie Mode again.

And I can keep on going on and on. I’ll save others for a follow up.

Yeah, I know you’re excited.

If you’re not a reader you should be. I picked up three, free, autographed books at FinCon. Right now I’m reading Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau, whom I had the pleasure of meeting.

My friend, Wes Mailhos shared that he’d gone to the local library and checked out the Art of Non-Conformity. Said it’s a good read, so when I saw that Chris was giving out books, I had to have one.

By the way, Wes retired at 49, but has stayed on as a consultant. Works where ever he can set up his computer.