I (Michael Hellickson) have SO much to be thankful for this year! First and foremost, I am thankful for my wonderful wife Tara Hellickson, and the two wonderful children she has blessed me with: Madison Hellickson, and Austin Michael Hellickson!

They have each been such a blessing to my life in so many ways. In good times and in bad, they have always been there for me and encouraged, pushed, supported, and even kicked me in the butt when I needed it!

Madison has, even more so than usual, shown me how bright ones light can shine, regardless of how dark the world may be around them. Always cheerful, she continues to be the one person in the world who will ALWAYS give me a smile no matter what!

Austin has impressed me this year with how extremely astute he has become at business and being able to quickly understand and articulate strategies in businesses I have been involved in. This young man is destined to become one of the great leaders in our world in years to come.

2014 has been a great learning year for me. In December of 2013, I purchased a partnership in an HVAC and commercial foodservice equipment repair business… crazy huh?!

Never having been involved in anything quite like it, even I was surprised to discover that I was able to step in and grow it from $2.7mil to over $7mil in gross revenue in under 1 year!

Learning that business opened not only my eyes to a new, untapped and fragmented industry, but also to a plethora of opportunities which I am currently exploring more fully.

In doing so, I have been learning a great deal about Private Equity Firms, Family Offices (The “business” of ultra-wealthy families… pretty cool stuff), Private Investors, Venture Capital, Angel Investors, and other corporate business venture financing.

I’ve learned a lot about myself this year as well, especially what I am and am not willing to do to succeed in business. I have learned at a very deep level that WHO you are in business with is just as important as (and at times MORE important than) what business you are in.

I am thankful for the lessons that have taught me I am capable of far greater things, in far more areas than I ever realized. I look forward to 2015, and the ability to more fully explore the extent of what those capabilities really are.

I’m thankful for my parents who raised me, and despite my stubbornness managed to continue to love me even when I wasn’t very lovable.

I am thankful for Larry and Martha Hoffman (my in-laws). They are rock solid in the Gospel, and are wonderful examples to Tara, the kids and I. They can ALWAYS be counted on for help/support, and give freely to anyone who could benefit from their time, talents, possessions etc.

I am extremely thankful for great friends like Jared and Jessica Lothyan, Andrew and Jessica Nelson, David and Jenny Hamilton and so many more who have been there for us in times of need, and who have shared their homes, hearts, and more with us more openly than anyone can imagine. Wonderful people to the core, and terrific people all, your love and friendship mean more to Tara and I than you know.

I am also thankful for Marv White, Hugh Stewart, Tod Sandberg, Steve Hawkins and others who have been so helpful to me as I discover my next steps professionally. Your advice, counsel, and friendships are valued more highly than you know.

I am thankful for people like Dave Ramsey, CNBC, Tom Kish, Jay Kinder and Mike Reese, Jane Orlov, Shawn Mahdavi, and so many others who have been wonderful supporters, agreed to either interview or be interviewed by me and more.

More than anything, I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with more blessings than I can possibly count, hard as I might try to do so.

Finally, I am thankful to clients, friends, family, my kids friends, church members, and EVERYONE out there who has touched our lives in some way. Good, bad, or indifferent, each of your contributions to my life have made me who I am today, and I thank you for that.

For your input, your patronage, your friendship, your love, at times your sympathy, your encouragement, you openness, your willingness to share who you are, your wisdom, your humor, your compassion, your light, and all that you are, have been, and will be to me and others around you, I thank you all.

Please, share the things YOU are thankful for this year here.

The post What are YOU thankful for this thanksgiving? appeared first on Michael Hellickson Official Site.

Having successfully improved virtually all systems, technology, processes, and human resources, Hellickson even dramatically increased business development within the company. In just 8 months, Michael impacted the Team at Complete Restaurant Repair Inc. in positive ways that left a lasting impression.

Would you like to double your HVAC business? Are you looking for a solution to tripling or even quadrupling your commercial foodservice equipment repair company, without having to shell out a ton of cash? Perhaps you are looking for an exit strategy that guarantees long term income for you and/or your family…

Regardless of your current situation, Michael Hellickson will tailor fit a solution for you and your business that will ensure long (and short) term growth, increased profitability, and better work-life balance for you and your team!

Reach out to Michael on his contact page today, for a no obligation consultation to determine the best strategy to take your HVAC/commercial foodservice equipment repair business to the next level!

The post Michael Hellickson News: appeared first on Michael Hellickson Official Site.

True, Michael Hellickson got most of the credit, and virtually all of the attention and accolades, but it was the Team that made it happen! That being said, Tara and I want to, in some small way, remember the good women and men of Hellickson Real Estate whose suspension of their other business interests to make our mutual success possible.

Licensed real estate agents or not, you all played a tremendous part, and played it well. You never played to lose, and ALWAYS played to win. Please, take a moment to share your favorite memories here, as we will too.

With humble gratitude,

Michael and Tara Hellickson

The post The Michael and Tara Hellickson Real Estate Team Memories appeared first on Michael Hellickson Official Site.

Since then, life has been a whirlwind! Tara and I have been extremely actively searching for new ownership opportunities in the space. In doing so, we are seeking funding from investors, private equity lenders and others. We are extremely excited about what lies in store for us, and look forward to hearing your input.

It became VERY clear to me that this was a fragmented industry, with many CEO’s struggling to get their businesses beyond that $1-2million gross revenue range. By implementing systems, processes, technology, KPI’s and bringing on fantastic team members, I was successful in positioning Complete Restaurant Repair Inc. to grow from under $3mil to over $7mil per year. This was all accomplished in under 8 months with the company (I still own shares in it, but am no longer active in it from day to day).

Do you remember the licensed real estate and executive coaching days? What do you think about our new direction? Who do you know that we should be talking with?

The post Michael Hellickson is actively seeking new opportunities… appeared first on Michael Hellickson Official Site.

The post Dustin Matthews LOVES Michael Hellickson’s Virtual Assistant Staffing appeared first on Michael Hellickson Official Site.