What’s in a Name?
Prospira noun
pro-spi-ra / ˈprä-spī-rä /
A combination of prosperous and inspiration
- marked by success or economic well-being
- enjoying vigorous and healthy growth
- an inspiring agent or influence
- the act of influencing or suggesting opinions
Some Background on Patrick O’Toole
Patrick O’Toole is the Principal Consultant for and owner of Prospira Consulting, LLC. Patrick also …
- Is a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard (1983-1991).
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Northern Colorado (1990).
- Served as a librarian with the University of Wisconsin System (1991-1994).
- Earned a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994).
- Served as the Information Manager with a Fortune 10 company (1994-2005).
- Served as the Database Administrator for universities in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Colorado (2006-2019).
- Earned certifications in QuickBooks (2019), bookkeeping (2020), payroll (2021), and individual tax (2022) from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB).
Thank you, Raymond.
I grew up in a small rural town in northwestern Illinois. In childhood, my horizons were limited by family experience. And one of these limitations was a fundamental lack of understanding about money and finance.
Raymond Joseph Cullen (1891-1983) was an elderly gentleman who lived across the street from our home. He was frail, and he needed someone to mow his grass in the summer, shovel his snow in the winter, and perform light handyman work around his home. I was in elementary school when I approached Raymond about assisting.
I learned quickly that I enjoyed this work. I enjoyed working. It is a life-long trait I still retain. I enjoy working. Raymond was an accountant who worked for the majority of his adult life as one of the few bankers in our little town. My father spoke respectfully of Raymond. His was the only bank in our town that did not fail during The Great Depression.
Raymond quickly noticed my industrious nature, and he appreciated my business-like demeanor. Without discussion, Raymond became my mentor on financial matters.
I remember a summer’s day in the mid-1970s.
I had spent an entire afternoon working on Raymond’s lawn and gardens on a hot day. I quietly received my pay for the day’s work, and Raymond spoke to me with his instructive tone. He said, “Patrick, you work very hard for your money. You will go far in life when you learn how to make your money work for you.” He then invited me inside to the quaint breezeway that was located between his house and garage. After pausing for glasses of iced lemonade, Raymond used a pencil and notepad to explain the magic of compounding interest. I was amazed.
That lesson compounded over the years. Raymond explained interest, savings accounts, mortgages, and investments. Under Raymond’s patient tutelage, I learned quickly and eagerly. By the time I graduated from high school, I had attained these goals:
- I started my first business (a landscaping service), and I served more than ten clients.
- I owned a car that I purchased with money that I saved from my wages.
- I accumulated a savings account worth well into the four figures.
- I opened a brokerage account within weeks of my eighteenth birthday.
I was on my way.
I shed quite a few tears when Raymond passed away. He taught me about financial management, but he taught me about industriousness, persistence, and hard work. I think positively of him to this day.
So much of what I am came from those simple, quiet lessons long ago. Taught in a casual, gentle manner by a small, near-sighted man who rarely raised his voice above a respectful office tone. His unassuming example pointed the way to a quiet life of unexpected abundance. Guided by a diminutive giant.
Thank you, Raymond.