If We Don't Learn Anything Else From Anna Nicole Smith...

Immediately after I finished my radio show (the Houston Business Show, Monday at 1 PM on CNN 650), I realized that I hadn't heard any news on Anna Nicole Smith. There really shouldn't be much more to be said about the poor girl since she has now been dead a couple of weeks, but big news she is and doesn't appear to be leaving the media radar screen any time soon.

The poor woman couldn't seem to live her life with much dignity and her death seems to be even more embarrassing. What is center piece in all of these legal disputes and battles is knowing what she wanted if she died. She seriously failed to provide much information in the most common means people use to do so, which is a will. It appears she had one, but it was very old and out of date. It no longer reflected her current situation (leaving everything to a son who passed away) and created more questions than answers.

As a result, Anna's body remains on ice as they determine her future. An unlimited number of court cases are involved and if there is an estate left, her baby (and the people who "win" her) may find themselves without a penny because of it being consumed in probate.

So, in the end, it is difficult to ascertain much value in terms of wisdom from the life of Anna Nicole Smith, in my opinion. Instead of learning from examples of what she did do, we have to garner some opposite information in what she didn't do. Her failure to keep an up to date will should teach us all the importance to keeping ours current.

A will prevents families speculating what you really wanted, how you wanted your resources spent, what future plans you have for your children, and what you desired for your company. A will has people working in unison to fulfill your life dreams and remaining a family after you pass away. A will keeps more of your resources with your family and not liberally given to the government in taxes and legal disputes.

On today's show I interviewed Shahara Wright of the Wright Law Firm, who is our Business Show Advisor on Business Law. She discussed the importance of a will, how easy it is to express your wishes to your loved ones, and the need to make sure it is current on a periodic basis. People seem to behave that a will is something merely done for oneself. The reality it is done for your loved ones and it plays a significant role in making sure they stay loved ones after you leave. Contact your attorney about your will. If you don't have one, I can confidently suggest Shahara. Doing such could help you avoid some of the tragedies that Anna Nicole has faced.

From the Houston Business Show Studios...

I'm writing today's blog entry from the studios of the Houston Business Show high above the city of Houston (at CNN 650). Yes, it sounds glamorous and it is true that we are high in the sky (around the 19th floor and fantastic view), but the actual studio I do the show from is smaller than my closet. In fact, a regular joke among personalities associated with the station is that we "come out of the closet" after each program.

On today's program, the first live one from 2007, I visited with Jim Stein of the Bank of Houston, which is a title sponsor of the show. The Bank of Houston is built on the concept that "everything old is new again." Back "in the old days," banks were born out of the neighborhoods they operated in and were built on the concept of relationship banking. Today, that largely seems to be little more than a nifty advertising slogan for most financial institutions. That is where the Bank of Houston differs, it truly is a bank of and for Houston.

Being a new year, I wanted to help individuals get organized with our first program and with that I had Holly Uverity of Office Organizers and Shahara Wright of The Wright Law Firm on about getting one's office and legal issues, in order for 2007. Both of these ladies are also Houston Business Show Advisors with articles at the Houston Business Review.

Holly emphasized the importance of making the beginning of the year a great opportunity to get one's business together. That process usually begins with developing the necessary systems to make your business more organized and effective. Being organized saves a business both time and money and makes it more productive.

Shahara discussed the fact that people are under going constant changes, but often fail to make sure their legal situation keeps up with them. Often, when a new business partner is being added to a firm or an individual gets married, people seem too busy to have the legal paper work reflect those changes. Spending time evaluating the previous year, and considering what changes are necessary, is a great way to begin the month of January.

Remember, you can hear the Houston Business Show 24/7 and around the world by visiting our archive.