Today is my birthday.

And yes, I got a thoughtful gift from my mom and dad. But what got me?

Part of the card they gave me read:

“Hope you know that no matter how near or far you are—our love will always be with you.”

Yes, I got teary.

Not because of the words alone but because of the feeling behind them.

One of the biggest mistakes professionals make right before a consult is showing up like a stranger.

No warmth. No context. Just “Let’s get started.”

But what if you took five minutes the day before to send a short, sincere message?

Something like:

“Hey, looking forward to our call. I’ve set aside time to really understand what’s going on and how I can help. Talk soon.”

That’s not marketing fluff. That’s human. It builds trust. And it creates a connection before you even speak.

It’s a small shift that changes the entire tone of your conversation.

Tomorrow, I’ll share a tweak to your confirmation process that will encourage more people to show up—and show up ready.

Kick butt, make mucho DEEnero!

Dave “Older and Wiser” Dee