February has been a month of impact, faith, and market shifts. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at a powerful event, a personal reflection, and key market insights you should be aware of.
Northern Colorado Prayer Breakfast Batton Since 1982 Handed Over The Legacy Continues!
On February 1, 2025, we had the privilege of attending the Northern Colorado Prayer Breakfast hosted by PrayNoCo.org, a legacy event that has brought faith, business, and community leaders together for 42 years.
My wife, Joy, played a key role in making it happen—securing sponsors, coordinating logistics, and ensuring the event’s success—all while navigating her busiest season as an insurance agent with The Assurance Group Denver, serving Medicare clients and life insurance investors.
Oh, and she’s doing all of this while pregnant—women are just built differently! Proud husband over here.
This year’s event saw 600+ attendees and featured two powerhouse speakers:
Dr. David Cook – A sports psychologist known for his work with elite athletes, and a Kansas University connection (where Joy swam as a D1 athlete!).
Bazzel Baz – A military veteran, actor (Blacklist), and advocate for rescuing children from human trafficking through his ministry, ARC (recoveryofchildren.org).
Website:
We had the honor of dining with the event leadership, discussing deep topics, sharing laughs, and walking away with golden nuggets of wisdom. Phil Hicks, the event’s current host, surprised Baz with a $10,000 donation to support his work—an incredible moment of generosity and purpose.
A powerful takeaway from Dr. Cook’s message was the concept of "See it. Trust it. Feel it."—a principle that applies to faith, business, and life. This is something that changed my perspective years ago when Joy and I led a small group study based on the book Golf’s
Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia (Amazon).
The accompanying movie cost $17 million to produce and is a must bucklist watch even if you don't play golf: Seven Days in Utopia

🎥 Watch the rough cut of Chase Yoder and Joy van den Berg Honor Lee Yoder their Grandfather and the founder of the prayer breakfast in 1982: https://youtu.be/CxAdltmHqM4
📢 Clients' Corner: Navigating Tariffs, Rising Prices & Strengthening Your Business in 2025
With new tariffs rolling in and inflation pressures continuing, businesses need to pivot their strategies to stay resilient. Whether you’re in retail, services, e-commerce, or local trade, the reality is clear: costs are rising, supply chains are shifting, and customer spending habits will adapt accordingly.
Here’s how you can future-proof your business in this economic storm.
1️⃣ Prioritize American-Made & Reliable Supply Chains 🇺🇸
With tariffs increasing by 25%, imported goods—especially from China—will become more expensive. To protect your margins:
✅ Source from American manufacturers – Look for domestic suppliers with reliable production and competitive costs. Brands that focus on "Made in the USA" will likely attract more consumer loyalty.✅ Secure long-term supplier contracts – Lock in pricing before further market adjustments.✅ Diversify vendors – Avoid relying on a single supplier that may pass down extreme price hikes.
💡 Actionable Tip: If your business imports inventory, review your cost-per-unit impact and explore regional alternatives before prices climb further.
The big takeaway was to follow God's Plan, in the book he refers to See it Trust it and Feel it, or JPT in real life from this story, which was a true occurrence where a golfer needed to be brought back to a level head from years of playing hot headed golf by the name Jimmy in this story JPT meant: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, “Be joyful always, pray constantly, and in all circumstances give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”

2️⃣ Strengthen Your Business Through Robust Marketing & Digital Presence
During economic uncertainty, the biggest mistake businesses make is cutting marketing budgets instead of doubling down on what actually drives sales.
🔹 Optimize your website for conversions – Ensure your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and built to convert visitors into customers. Need help? DJM.Design specializes in high-performance websites.
🔹 Use AI & automation – AI-powered chatbots, personalized email campaigns, and automated ad strategies reduce marketing costs while improving ROI.
🔹 Invest in SEO & content marketing – Instead of paying for ads that are only temporary, SEO and organic content build long-term visibility at a fraction of the cost.
🔹 Leverage video marketing – Short-form videos (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels) engage audiences at higher rates with lower advertising costs.
💡 Actionable Tip: If your website isn’t driving leads or sales, it’s time for a tune-up. Book a free consultation with DJM.Design to ensure your digital presence is built for growth:🔗 https://djm.design
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3️⃣ Go Direct-to-Consumer & Build a Stronger Customer Base
💡 Businesses that own their audience and control their sales channels will survive and thrive.
✅ Expand direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales – Stop relying solely on third-party marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy, etc.). Build your own e-commerce platform where you control margins, data, and marketing.
✅ Build an email + SMS marketing list – Your customer database is gold in 2025. Direct outreach outperforms paid ads in a volatile market.
✅ Create subscription or membership offers – Recurring revenue stabilizes cash flow during uncertain times.
💡 Actionable Tip: If you don’t have a robust email & SMS marketing system, DJM.Design’s AI-powered marketing suite can help automate and personalize your customer engagement.
4️⃣ Think Long-Term: Strategic Marketing & Brand Positioning
🚀 2025 will favor brands that adapt & innovate. If your business wants to weather the storm and grow, focus on long-term strategy, not short-term panic.
🔹 Invest in brand trust – Consumers will be more selective. Consistent messaging, testimonials, and real customer stories will differentiate you.
🔹 Expand into recession-proof markets – Healthcare, home maintenance, and essential services tend to perform well during downturns.
🔹 Leverage AI for smarter advertising – Instead of blindly spending on ads, AI-driven marketing can adjust in real time, ensuring you get the best return on investment.
💡 Need help future-proofing your brand? Let’s talk strategy. DJM.Design is here to help businesses adapt, scale, and dominate their industry—even in tough times.
📩 Book a call today → https://djm.design/
Market News Insight – Inflation, Tariffs & Portfolio Adjustments
Tariffs are back—a new form of inflation. A 25% tariff increase will likely trickle down to consumer prices, impacting auto, commodities, and beyond. This could prompt the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates sooner than expected.
To navigate this shift, I analyzed top-performing ETFs for a safer portfolio allocation in 2025. If you're looking for a balanced mix of gold, bonds, consumer staples, and AI-driven growth, here’s a M1 Finance portfolio I’d consider:
Portfolio snapshot you can copy, please note this is not financial advice please consult a professional:
📊 Portfolio Breakdown:
🔹 IAU (Gold Trust) – 20%
🔹 BND (Total Bond Market) – 20%
🔹 XLP (Consumer Staples) – 15%
🔹 QQQ (Tech Growth) – 15%
🔹 XAR (Aerospace & Defense) – 10%
🔹 VPU (Utilities) – 10%
🔹 XLE (Energy) – 5%
🔹 EEM (Emerging Markets) – 5%
View details & performance: https://m1.finance/HzU3DvOaLLBa
⚠️ Not financial advice—just sharing insights! However this mix provides diversification and inflation resilience during uncertain economic shifts.
Would love to hear your thoughts! How are you adjusting for 2025?
🚀 Final Thought: The Businesses That Adapt Will Win
Looking Ahead: Quarter 1 & Quarter 2 of 2025 – Setting the Foundation for Success
2025 isn’t about waiting—it’s about taking proactive steps NOW. Secure your supply chain, fortify your digital presence, and invest in smart marketing before competitors do.
How are YOU preparing for rising costs and market shifts? Drop a comment or reply—I’d love to hear your game plan.
Stay strong,Daniel James van den BergFounder, DJM.Design™
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