Growin' Up Gregory

Early on in my banking career, I needed a way to get my name out there. Fortunately, I work in a small town where word travels fast. But there were still a number of folks who didn't know who I was. The cheapest and what I truly feel is the best way to begin establishing your presence in a town, a community, a field, or whatever, is to give your skills away for free - volunteer. These opportunities didn't present themselves right away. But over time, I was asked to serve on various committees and board for a number of organizations. Before kids (when I had all the free time in the world) I agreed to literally EVERYTHING I was asked to be on, much to my wife's chagrin. How's this work? I was on the Finance Committee for the UCBA. There was another guy on there I had never met and didn't know, though he seemed business savvy and intelligent. Fast forward a few years, and he's now got the insurance on my house and cars. He never in...