As I officially hit the mid-thirties mark, I’ve been reflecting on how this past year has shaped my views on public service, free speech, and the wild, rewarding journey of being 100% self-employed.

1. From the Sidelines to the Dais

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be sitting on the Hiawatha City Council, I would have been skeptical. But after being sworn in last November, the perspective shift has been profound.

Serving on council isn’t about grand political posturing; it’s about the granular details of how a community actually functions. It’s a lesson in transparency and a daily reminder of the weight of Free Speech. In local government, protecting the right to speak means actively listening to ideas you agree with and, more importantly, those you don’t. True civic duty requires the courage to speak up and the discipline to listen.

2. Going All-In: The Power of Print and the Local Media

The biggest personal shift of this past year was leaving the corporate structure of a W2 job to go all-in on Technically Easier. Transitioning to full self-employment is both liberating and terrifying, but the community response has been incredible.

Recently, I had the honor of being featured in two great places. Midwest Marketing LINK featured my business in a wonderful blog post, and I was also featured in the Sunday print edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette LINK.

I quickly learned a valuable marketing lesson: never underestimate the power of physical print. Turns out, a lot of senior citizens still love reading the Sunday newspaper. That single print feature brought in about three dozen new customers the very next Monday, and the referrals haven’t stopped since.

3. Finding My Voice (and some comedy) in Advocacy

A huge focus of my business is bridging the digital divide for older adults, and this year has brought some incredible opportunities to connect with leaders in that space:

• Cedar Rapids Elderly Consortium: After about two years of networking and waiting for a slot, I finally got the chance to speak in front of this amazing group. It went incredibly well—several people told me I was practically a comedian with how I communicate tech concepts. More importantly, it gave me a deeper understanding of my own “why.” I walked away with new individual clients and invitations from local institutions to host monthly recurring classes at their facilities.

• The Corridor Conference on Aging: I recently hosted a booth at their inaugural event. It was great to connect with folks—I already knew about a fourth of the attendees! A lot of them were actually surprised and disappointed that I wasn’t on the main stage, so I’m happy to share that I’ll be back next year as a featured technology presenter. https://www.kirkwood.edu/programs/community/corridor-conference-on-aging

• The Bridge Senior Center: I’m proud to serve on their Board of Directors and teach monthly classes there. Because they had a major event landing right on my 35th birthday, I decided to bring the celebration to them and host my birthday party right at the center.

  https://www.bridgeseniorcenter.org/

• Looking Ahead: I’ve also joined the programming committee for the upcoming Horizons Our Place Senior Center and look forward to building out tech curriculum for when they open their doors in about a year.

4. The Horizon: Building a Sustainable Future

Everything is culminating this August, as I am serving on the planning committee for the upcoming Senior Expo happening August 12th at the Linn County Regional Center right here in Hiawatha. https://www.crelderly.org/senior-expo

Looking back at the path to 35, I feel incredibly blessed by the life-enriching people and opportunities that have come my way. Whether I’m teaching my regular continuing education classes at Kirkwood, helping someone solve a frustrating tablet issue in their living room, or voting on city ordinances, it all feeds into the same goal: building a sustainable, long-term business that is deeply, mutually beneficial for me and the community I call home.

Thanks to everyone who has trusted me with their technology, their votes, and their support. Here’s to making 35 the most impactful year yet.