In early November, I drew the lucky long straw and had the opportunity to spend the day at Dell in Round Rock, Texas, sitting at the table with Michael Dell. It was all part of the award for the 2007 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Service Award. Oh, no, I didn't win the award...

I was there to write a story for MyBusiness magazine about winner Jim Cox from Franklin, Tenn. Jim's business, Medkinetics, is a web-based software company which allows medical facilities to keep track of procedures, physicians and privileges. Jim's business falls into the software-as-a-service category. (And interestingly enough just today, the Small Business Trends blog has a great explanation of this fast-growing trend.)

As part of winning the award, Jim won a lifetime membership to NFIB, the day with Dell, and $30,000 worth of technology and services from Dell.

As a silent observer, I must say it was pretty cool to see these two entrepreneurs sit at the table together and toss ideas and challenges back and forth. They talked about financing, computers (of course) and how there seems to be more technology in the grocery store than in the doctor's office. I have a hunch that both Michael Dell and Jim Cox will have a hand in changing that one of these days...

Read the full story about Jim's day on the Dell campus.

Did you know that there are 254 counties in Texas? And over the holiday, I'll be driving through almost 20 of them. Luckily, the Hammock offices will be closed until Jan. 2, so I'll have plenty of time to do just that...

But if you need to reach me before Jan. 2 when I return with a belly full of BBQ, homemade tamales and my Gran's caramel candy, simply send an email to nfib@hammock.com or call me on my cell at 512-576-6905. Someone will be checking that nfib@hammock.com email address each day, but if you need an answer to an immediate question, the cell phone is probably your best bet.

Wishing you the happiest and healthiest from the Christmas season!