What’s the Point?

This month, I’ve been sharing some ideas about entrepreneurship that I see so many people losing sight of.  So far, we’ve talked about the original dream we all started with that might have been forgotten about in all the noise out there, then we discussed the vision you had for your company when you opened those doors.

What about the point of your company?  The actual purpose?  An entrepreneur doesn’t open a real estate company, or a chiropractic office because they want to make money, they do it because they love it and because the work they are doing has a purpose.  It is serving their clients, their patients, their customers.

Can you still remember that?  Or was it lost in all the noise of 2020 and pandemics, virtual schools, fires, and social unrest? 

Think about that for a second…

No, I mean really think.

What – and who – are you in business to serve and why?  What does Susie or Rick or Frank come away with when they do business with you?  It’s NOT just about a great product at a great price, it’s about a feeling your business gives them. 

A result of doing business with you. 

The point, or the reason they pass countless other businesses just like yours to be able to do business with you. 

Do you remember the purpose of the company you created?  The “after” you sell to your customers? 

Because when you get clear on that – or remember it – then you can reconnect with the whole point of opening the doors in the first place!  When it comes to this, it’s not about you, it’s about what you can do for your ideal clients.  When they leave your office, you’ve given them something, and that feeling is directly connected with the entire purpose of your business. 

More importantly, a business that doesn’t remember (or honor) its purpose can never be as successful as a company that is perfectly clear on theirs. 

If you’re sitting here, nodding your head and maybe – just maybe – thinking you might’ve strayed off the reservation a bit, then I want you to really reconnect with the “why” of your company.  The smiles your clients have when you and your team do exactly what they said they would do.  The referrals you get because your customers are excited about the experiences they have with your business. 

Maybe 2020 has dulled this – and today – and this week, I want you to reconnect with that idea, that point, that purpose. 

It’s going to make a huge difference! 

IMPORTANT: Our firm specializes in tax resolution. We also serve clients virtually so don’t hesitate to reach out.  If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.  Make an appointment here!  Or, call Toll-free 1-855-254-1892.

Do you have 20/20 in 2020?

As I mentioned last week, all the “Doom and Gloom” of 2020 has reminded me how critical your beliefs are to your business success.  It all begins when you take the dream you’ve created of your new company and make it into a reality and open those doors for the first time. 

But how many companies struggle with that?  (Hint, most of them!)

How many entrepreneurs like you and I lose sight of that dream before they can ever be successful?

In 2020, so many things have conspired against us, it’s easy to lose sight of the ideas – the dreams – we founded out companies on, but how did you develop that dream into something tangible?  That’s where your vision has to be kicking in. 

When you opened the doors, what was the vision you had?  Even if you won’t admit it, you had one.  Can you remember? 

Tom Watson, the man who largely put IBM on the map, did.

In his mind’s eye, his vision of IBM was as a fully formed company.  He saw the blue suits, he saw the global reach, he saw the transformative technology that would transform the company – then known as CTR (Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company) – into the international powerhouse that was and is IBM.

Can you see it in your own business?  You remember the dream from last week, but can you remember the vision you had for your business? 

The lives you were going to impact. 

The great results your company was going to have on your ideal clients and customers? 

Why, after some time has passed, is it so hard to believe you can’t do that every single day – even in such a crazy world as we’re living in right now? 

The truth is, you can.  No matter about COVID, fires, riots, unrest in the cities, a Presidential election that will undoubtedly lead to more drama, and the oft-discussed “second wave” that health care professionals cannot agree on. 

You can. 

Use the old vision to improve the one you see right now. 

Your clients still need what you have to offer!  Maybe they aren’t sure how to access it, or they are worried about the costs. 

Your vision is still 20/20, but maybe you simply have to be more creative in your approach.  Remember, the same confusion that’s affecting you and yours are affecting all of your clients, too. 

So what should you do?  Reconnect with that vision and use what you’ve learned to decide if that vision of your company is still the right one.  Maybe 2020 has taught you that “brick and mortar” isn’t the direction you need to go.  That’s fine!  Just look at how our focus has shifted to the virtual world in such a short time.  In fact, online retailers – and even professionals like CPAs, attorneys, and medical experts – are doing the majority of their business virtually. 

The vision you opened your doors with may or may not be perfect for our situation right now, be the beauty of that is simple:  your vision is only to support your dream.  You can still fulfill the dream by simply being realistic with your vision.  Make the changes your clients want and reengage with them!

IMPORTANT: Our firm specializes in tax resolution. We also serve clients virtually so don’t hesitate to reach out.  If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.  Make an appointment here!  Or, call Toll-free 1-855-254-1892.

Theme for this Month: Quit Worrying!

Let’s just go ahead and drag it ALL into the daylight:  2020 has been tough.  Economies locked down, businesses shuttered, social activities and even traditional types of business and learning have virtually ceased to exist. 

Even mundane things like “going to the movies” or watching sports have all been impacted. 

Over an over again, my team and I have heard the worry in people’s voices as we’ve discussed plans on how small businesses can cope with this, and the truth is simple:  you either think you can (and you will) or you think you can’t (and you won’t0.

Now, of course, we’re headed into what is promising to be a crazy Fall, with elections at every level and plenty of discord around the world. 

Let me tell you something, if that has you worried – or proceeding cautiously as an entrepreneur, then you’re doing it wrong. 

This month, my goal is to share one key idea each week to keep you inspired and thinking about growth and success in business, not all the “noise” that’s affecting (or infecting?) us everyday. 

Think about it: “bad” economies and tough times have made far more fortunes than good times.  Besides – what have you got to lose!

I want to start the month off on the right foot, though, and the first thing to think about, as you consider how to grow and be successful in business no matter what is this:  What did you open the doors of your company for in the first place?

In other words, what was your dream?  What were you and your company going to do so differently than everyone else in your industry? 

Can you even remember, or has that passion been lost in all the noise of stress, growth, and “busy-ness”?

THAT’S what the most successful businesses in the world haven’t forgotten – why they do what they do. 

McDonalds – like it or not – knows what they do and how to do it. 

Starbucks – even with so many stores shuttered - knows what they do and how to do it. 

All over the world, businesses ranging from personal coaches to real estate investors are all making money and NOT stressing – because they have never lost sight of the dream they were founded on. 

Can you say the same thing? 

I really hope you can, but, as so many phone calls and conversations in my career have shown me, it’s often not the case. 

Make time this week to reflect on why you opened the doors and the reasons you did it, and then, be honest with yourself as to whether or not your company is still upholding the dream you set out to create. 

Of course, I’m always open to hear your thoughts, so don’t be a stranger!

All the best-

P.S. Notice I didn’t mention anything about taxes?  That’s NOT an accident, but we are absolutely focusing on the fourth quarter right now.  If you’ve got some worries, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and set a time to discuss ANY challenges you think you have!

IMPORTANT: Our firm specializes in tax resolution. We also serve clients virtually so don’t hesitate to reach out.  If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Make an appointment here!  Or, call Toll-free 1-855-254-1892.

Retirement Planning As A Single

For many people, the idea of retirement planning revolves around the family.  You’re not only saving money for your own use after you stop working, you’re also looking at your legacy to be left to your family in terms of financial assets and wealth generation tools. 

On the other hand, for those who are single – and especially those who don’t have a family to leave that legacy to, retirement planning can be a challenge. 

For starters, you’re truly “on your own” – if you have a financial shortfall, there simply is no one else to help you.  In generations past, adult children could often assist their elders, but the breakdown of large family units – as well as the dispersal of kids around the country and the world – makes that analogy dated. 

So what can you do to make sure you’re saving enough? 

The first thing is to acknowledge the challenge and identify the team who can support you. 

To me, the most logical members of this team are your primary care physician, your CPA, your financial advisor, and the attorney who is developing your estate plan. 

(I’ll also add in your life insurance agent, especially for those who have wisely invested in whole life or universal policies.)

Each of these folks can help you not only counsel you on how to budget, where to turn for care or assistance, and even, when the going inevitably gets tough, how to make the correct decision. 

One thing you cannot do – you can’t wait.  Even if you’re young and still might marry, having this team assembled and providing you advice and planning only strengthens your ability to retire in the style you wanted to in the first place, regardless of whether you have one or two streams of income to save with. 

Understand, though, that certain guidelines change when you’re by yourself.  For many years, I’ve advised an emergency fund of at least three month’s income, but when speaking with my single clients, I purposefully up that number to 12 months. 

Why? 

Safety.  That same winter you get laid off will be the one your furnace quits in, and remember, in the case of a family with dual incomes, one member being laid off still allows for “new” cash to be coming in. 

As a single earner, you’re making less and when you lose your job, ALL income stops. 

Better to have reserves than worries. 

It’s a complicated endeavor, so its critical you recognize that many of the traditional answers to the challenge of retirement planning are different for singles.  My best advice is to really dig into how to properly structure a long term plan – reach out to me, reach out to the others experts on your team, and get this process started. 

We’re here for you!

IMPORTANT: Our firm specializes in tax resolution. We also serve clients virtually so don’t hesitate to reach out.  If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Make an appointment here!  Or, call Toll-free 1-855-254-1892.