Fourth Quarter Update

I've felt so behind with this blog, I haven't wanted to update it.
But, a lot has been going on since first quarter.

To sum it up, I've started by own business. It has been a slow process requiring large amounts of patience to get myself to stop thinking of my passions as hobbies and instead think of them as work opportunities.

I have started a company -- unimaginatively named Kozak Consulting -- that performs Quickbooks Training, Bookkeeping Services, Small Business Development, and Financial Literacy Seminars. On a case-by-case basis, I also assist individuals (primarily the elderly) with their financial needs.

Sound like too many services for one girl running one company? Yes, I know it is. But I can't decide which I like the best! Honestly, my favorite is the Quickbooks Training for small business entrepreneurs. These are folks that don't have enough money (or work) to hire a full-time accountant (yet). They need to do it themselves at this point. They don't have enough time in the day to start a company, but they need to learn Quickbooks and professionally set up their lists of accounts and processes for accounts payable, account receivable, invoicing, and reconciliation. Enter Maica Kozak. Sound exciting?! IT IS! I love it. It is the best part of any week. Typically it takes about two sessions that last about four hours each. The clients are encouraged to retain me in case of any further questions, and quarterly reconciliation.

I also really love teaching small business development. I have an eight or twelve session course. We start the class thinking we are going to write a boring Business Plan, as if we were in school and doing meaningless assignments. However, each week is filled with such excitement: learning about competitors, feeling confident about products and service prices, examining trends in the industry, writing marketing copy, etc. The finished product is confidence; knowledge; empowerment; and concrete written text for getting investments or building a website.

Have I mentioned that every week I look forward to working with my elderly client? I meet her each week. That is crazy fun. We feel like we've accomplished a lot every time I leave.

I also taught the six-part financial literacy course at RRISA. Every four weeks a new group of woman would arrive, speaking another language. It was interesting to learn the different roles the women played in their homes countries. It's also very helpful to learn how to teach financial literacy to folks that don't know our language or our customs. In all honesty, we should teach Americans the same way we teach these refugees. At least most of them have basic understanding of budgeting and frugality, they simply need work and an understanding of our language and customs. Many Americans have never thought of budgeting or the importance of positive net worth.

Well, I have to go. I have business cards (free from www.PrintResponsibly.com) and a website (www.kozakconsulting.com).

Have a most lovely day.

Microfinance links

www.cgap.org CGAP is a consortium of 27 bilateral and multilateral donor agencies who support microfinance. Their mission is to improve the capacity of microfinance institutions to deliver flexible, high-quality financial services to the very poor on a sustainable basis.

www.microfinancegateway.org The Microfinance Gateway is a public forum for the microfinance industry at large that offers a wealth of tailored services for microfinance professionals, including resource centers on specific topics in microfinance, a searchable library of electronic documents, a consultant database, a jobs listing service, a news bulletin board, and specialized discussion groups. The Gateway's resources constitute the most comprehensive source of information on microfinance on the World Wide Web.

www.mixmarket.org The MIX MARKET™ is a global, web-based, microfinance information platform. It provides information to sector actors and the public at large on microfinance institutions (MFIs) worldwide, public and private funds that invest in microfinance, MFI networks, raters/external evaluators, advisory firms, and governmental and regulatory agencies. The MIX Market seeks to develop a transparent information market to link MFIs worldwide with Investors and Donors and promote greater investment and information flows.

www.accion.org “ACCION International is a nonprofit that fights poverty through microlending. ACCION is dedicated to bringing financial services to the smallest of small business people - street vendors, seamstresses, sandal makers.”

www.microcreditsummit.org The Microcredit Summit Campaign is working to promote best practices in the field, to learn from each other, and to work towards reaching their goal to reach 100 million of the world’s poorest families, especially the women of those families, with credit for self-employment and other business and financial services by the year 2005.

Summaries by Rod Wallace, Director of Dekalb Microenterprise Institute

First Quarter 2009 Update

Hello all. I apologize that I stopped updating my blog. My computer is broken so I have sporadic and brief moments on computers. I only do what is necessary.

Right now I am exploring the depths of CPAs and micro-lending/finance specifically. I am concentrating on small business entrepreneurs over individuals. I am interested in understanding what makes up sound business plans, how they are (or are not) executed, and the issues facing entrepreneurs. I like finances, but not stocks/bonds/insurance, and especially not sales.

As my end goal is to be useful in financial literacy, I believe gaining "industry experience" is key. This way, I can be most helpful to folks trying to work the system. I will understand the intricacies and know people in the field. I will have concrete knowledge and skills to offer instead of just a kind heart.

I've spoken with folks who work in:

- Insurance
- Accounting
- Micro-finance
- DeKalb County Community Development
- Financial Literacy on college campuses
- Financial Literacy Masters programs
- FDIC, Community Affairs
- Wealth Management
- CPA - Auditing
- Credit Union economic development
- not an exhaustive list

Vetting the different fields to see where I fit.


Also, I assisted a small business owner. I taught her how to use Quickbooks and then set up her three small businesses on Quickbooks, creating lists of accounts and helping her with her AP/AR/Invoicing processes. She paid me, is retaining me for future needs, and also referred me.

I loved doing that and -- passionately, secretly -- wish I could do many, many more.


I am teaching the financial literacy course at the Refugee Resettlement agency (RRISA) in Decatur. I have worked with groups from Nepal, the Republic of Congo, Sudan, Iraq, and Burma. We do everything from monthly budgeting and savings to smart shopping and introduction to banking (signing them up for bank accounts).



This sabbatical has been incredibly joyful and informative. I have gained worthwhile courage and character. I have learned invaluable things from doing many things right and some things wrong. I believe I have more specific direction, and what I've experienced first-hand as proof. Hopefully I can begin to put myself to even better use soon.

On a separate note, I have been cooking up a storm and surprising even myself by how incredibly good it is. Food for large groups of people - Indian, Vietnamese, soups, breads, seasonal delights, crazy Kozak concoctions. Intense caving trips also. All this is in preparation, of course, for my ultimate goal of owning a cute mountain B&B.


Again, unending thanks and gratitude to everyone who has been a part of my sabbatical. I cannot say it enough, but I think it every day.

December 18

Today. Glorious day. Nothing. Absolutely. nothing. scheduled.

Ok. Things were scheduled, like classes at the Foundation Center. But I ignored them.

My computer is still broken so I've had, let's say, approaching zero access to internet the past two weeks. Getting behind on the news maddens me.

So today: Sending thank you emails; Mass; Thinking about conversations I've had this week and the very beauty of all creation; Reading; Thinking; Knitting like a furious woman; Concentrating on all the myriad of other interests that require my time, skill, and effort.

What a glorious day! I hope yours is lovely as well.

December 17

Met with the bookkeeper/accountant I used to work with at MSS. She had a lot of exciting, fun ways I could get experience in accounting!

Volunteered with RRISA. We went over budgets, wants and needs, and income vs. expenses. I am going to facilitate and plan the next group and course. It lasts six sessions and I am working on the syllabus.

Other exciting things...of course.

December 16

Stopped by the Good Samaritan Clinic.

Had lunch with the CEO of Economic Empowerment Initiative. Helped to put a lot of things into perspective.

PT job.

December 15

Participated in a survey about technology use and participation in the community. Talked about all the research I have collected, and thought perhaps of ways that the collected information could be useful to others, among other things.

PT job.

Furiously working on Christmas presents.