If you had walked into a local restaurant around four or five o’clock on the right day a few years ago, there’s a good chance you would have found Jeff Pelaccio and I sitting at the bar with a couple of beers. Looking back, that’s exactly where our friendship and professional relationship really began.
We weren’t there because we had a formal agenda or an important business meeting. We simply enjoyed catching up. We’d talk about our businesses, our families, books we were reading, interesting people we had met, organizations making a difference in Kansas City, and whatever else happened to be on our minds. Sometimes we’d solve problems. Other times we’d laugh at ourselves. Those conversations became something we both looked forward to.
At the time, neither of us realized those happy hours would eventually become a podcast.
How Professional Relationships Outlast the Group That Started Them
Jeff and I first met through a peer advisory group called Introducing AWESOME. Yes, that was really the name.
Ironically, that’s not where our friendship was built.
Like many business networking groups, we enjoyed spending time together during the meetings, but life had a way of pulling everyone in different directions afterward. It wasn’t until the group eventually disbanded that we decided to grab a beer and continue the conversation.
That one decision made all the difference.
We started meeting regularly for what we jokingly called accountability meetings. Jeff may tell you they were focused on accountability. I’d argue they were mostly about enjoying a cold beer while catching up, with a little accountability sprinkled in. Either way, they worked.
One of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed spending time with Jeff is that neither of us keeps score. We genuinely enjoy introducing people, sharing ideas, celebrating each other’s successes, and asking, “How can I help?” It’s the same philosophy I later wrote about in One For All, and for me, it has been a much more enjoyable way to build a friendship than constantly wondering what you’re getting in return.
Looking back, it’s interesting how often meaningful relationships grow from something as simple as making time for another person.
Good Things Are Worth Sharing
One lesson I’ve learned over the years is that when you find something genuinely helpful, your first instinct is often to invite someone else to experience it too.
During the pandemic, my life coach started a virtual group coaching community that met every Thursday. While there wasn’t much of a happy hour over Zoom at 9:00 AM on Thursday, I immediately thought Jeff would enjoy being part of the group, so I invited him.
That weekly coaching community became another place where we continued our conversations. Sometimes we’d learn from the coach. Other times we’d bounce ideas off each other in front of a room full of people who had signed up for coaching. Looking back, we were practicing public conversations long before either of us realized it.
It’s funny how often building business relationships can start with one invitation at a time.
Watching Jeff Bring His Vision to Life
Jeff had talked about starting a podcast for years, so it was rewarding to watch him finally bring The Corporate Couch to life. It quickly attracted a strong lineup of guests, including bestselling authors, entrepreneurs, leadership experts, and community leaders like Seth Godin and Kody Bateman.
Somewhere along the way, he even invited me to be a guest. I still remind Jeff that was probably his highest-rated episode, although he hasn’t confirmed that yet. You can find that episode here.
Watching Jeff build something he had talked about for so long was inspiring. It also planted an idea in the back of my mind.
Taking Our Conversations Public
Even after The Corporate Couch was gaining momentum, Jeff and I continued meeting over beers. One afternoon I asked him a simple question.
“What would you think about letting other people listen to the conversations we’re already having?”
We weren’t trying to create another interview show or produce a highly polished program with scripted questions and rehearsed answers. We simply thought our conversations might be enjoyable and helpful to other people.
Some episodes focus on leadership. Others revolve around networking, community involvement, business ownership, books we’ve enjoyed, organizations we’re supporting, or lessons we’ve learned along the way. We usually have a few ideas before we hit the record button, but we’ve intentionally resisted creating a rigid format because some of our favorite conversations happen organically.
In many ways, our listeners are simply joining us at the table.
Why It’s 4 O’Clock Somewhere
We originally launched the show as It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, which seemed fitting considering many of our conversations happened during happy hour.
After the first year, we decided it was time for a refresh.
Welcome to It’s 4 O’Clock Somewhere.
We figured it was probably best not to upset Jimmy Buffett’s estate, and besides, I’ve never heard anyone complain that happy hour started a little earlier.
While the name changed, the conversations really didn’t. Every month we still sit down with a couple of beverages, a few topics, and no pressure to force the discussion in any particular direction. Sometimes we stay on topic. Sometimes we don’t. That’s part of the fun.
More Than a Local Podcast
Many of our listeners are from the Kansas City area and recognize the people, organizations, restaurants, and community events we mention. Others live hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
Although they may not know the names, they often tell us they enjoy hearing how relationships develop, how introductions happen, and how opportunities often begin with someone simply deciding to help another person. The names may change depending on where you live, but the principles travel well.
Our goal has never been to have all the answers.
It has simply been to have honest, thoughtful conversations that encourage others to invest in relationships, stay curious, and become more involved in their own communities.
The Podcast Was Never the Goal
Looking back, it’s interesting that none of this happened because we were trying to accomplish something.
We weren’t trying to start a podcast.
We weren’t trying to build a bigger network.
We weren’t trying to create business opportunities.
We simply enjoyed the conversations enough to keep making time for them. Everything else grew naturally from there.
As a financial planner, I’ve noticed the same pattern when it comes to building professional relationships in financial planning: meaningful progress rarely comes from one big decision. It often grows from consistently showing up, making intentional choices, and investing in what matters most over time.
Relationships work much the same way.
That’s one of the reasons I enjoy introducing people to Jeff. He’s one of the most generous connectors I know, and he genuinely enjoys supporting others.Those qualities made him a great friend long before they made him a great podcast co-host.
One Conversation at a Time
Looking back, I’m grateful our peer advisory group eventually came to an end.
Had it continued, Jeff and I probably would have kept seeing each other once a month around a conference table without ever becoming close friends.
Instead, we decided to keep the conversation going.
Every month when we sit down to record It’s 4 O’Clock Somewhere, it still feels a lot like those first happy hours after the group ended. The microphones are different, and a few more people have joined the conversation, but the friendship hasn’t changed. We’re still catching up, sharing ideas, laughing at ourselves, and talking about whatever happens to be on our minds.
The only difference is that now anyone who wants to pull up a chair is welcome to join us.
If there’s someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with, don’t wait.
Send the text. Schedule lunch. Invite them for coffee. Meet for a beer.
You never know where one conversation might lead. If it happens around four o’clock, even better.
If you’re ready to sit down with a financial planner who takes time to understand your story, your goals, and what matters most to you, I’d love to be the one to have that conversation with you.
Marc C. Shaffer, CFP®, EA, is CFO at Searcy Financial®. With two decades of experience in financial planning and investment management, Marc works with clients and their families on goal-based financial planning, multigenerational planning, legacy planning, and wealth stewardship. Marc has completed 21/64 Certified Advisor Training, which focuses on family communication and planning conversations across generations.