On the Show: Kent Batman of Hardin Fuels

With the stock market often looking like a bad roller coaster ride, people are looking for a sound alternative. No, people shouldn't get out of the market entirely. In fact, this is bargain basement time for stock buyers. On the other hand, it also makes sense to make sure you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

One investment area that is exploding is alternative fuels and an area that is leading the pack in Texas is biodiesel. The climate in Texas is excellent for numerous agriculture products and there is a growing interest among companies with a fleet of trucks in having their own resource to keep their vehicles rolling.

Kent Batman, President of Hardin Fuels and a frequent contributor to the Houston Business Show was recently on my show discussing how companies with a demand for diesel, or an interest in an attractive investment, or want to see their investments fight the war on terror (since every aspect of biodiesel is made by and benefits the USA). It was an interesting interview that you might like to hear. Also, click the image above to see a Movers and Shakers video featuring Batman and Robert Martin. The possibilities for such a business seem unlimited.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Business and Golf

One of my best friends, Kent Batman (an insurance executive I have known for over a decade), use to always tell me that golf is good for business. "Some of the best deals are made on a golf course," he would tell me. He is a big reason why I play today. With a 3 handicap, I actually saw him make some testosterone driven wagers. "If I win the most holes, you do the deal. If you win the most holes, I leave you alone and buy you dinner." He won those deals handily and I stood in awe. Than there is my skills. I have a 30+ handicap and my deals go something like this, "if you win the most holes you still do the deal for me and if I win the most holes, they name a national holiday after me." If that did happen, I'm sure it would be "April Fools." Some how, I can't get anyone to make such a deal. Yet, I am still on the course and I love it.

Today I went golfing with my oldest son. Neither of us have been out all year because of how terrible the weather has been here in Texas thus far, so we were actually worse than usual. The only thing more terrible than the quality of the game is our golf etiquette. "Dude, your ball is in my way, go ahead and putt it in." "'Hey, quick, what is that thing you are suppose to yell when you hit the ball...', 'Wow, you almost hit that guy!" "'What does that 90 degree stand for and is it okay to actually drive this cart where we putt...' 'Oh, you ran over the flag again!'" It is really almost scary. But we still have fun.

I think it still helps me in business, even if not in making deals. I find myself much more relaxed after 14 holes (each hole takes a long time for us, rarely do we have enough sunlight to make it to 18). I have a clearness in my mind as I swing that club that I don't have at any other time. I can't think of anything or I'll miss the ball; but I need to think of how to hit it well enough to get it where I want it to go. I guess that will come with experience. After all, I have only been playing for around three years. Golf helps clear my head so I can be at my best when in comes to business and it reminds me that I certainly still need to work for a living.

New Time, Day for the Houston Business Show

Today marked the new day (Monday) and time (1 PM) of the Houston Business Show on CNN 650. The Houston Business Show is the longest running show on CNN 650 and I'm delighted to be a part of it.

In one hour I visited with an organization expert, a business broker, a private investigator, and the President of the Bank of Houston (Jim Stein, our new Title Sponsor). This show proved to be about the fastest hour in radio. It is interesting that we enter this new chapter just a few weeks before the 5th Anniversary of the radio show.

In the weeks that come I will be interviewing Kent Batman, who was the original co-host of the Houston Business Show; Aubrey Theode who was the longest co-host and who now has a show on KSEV 700; and Mark Jeffrey of UBuildIt who was my most recent co-host and who still makes frequent appearances and has his own show with me on Fridays at 1 PM (the UBuildIt New Home Show). I'll visit with many of the other events that made this a successful show in the weeks to come.

I'm excited by the big changes for the show and to the continued relationship with the station and its audience.