Focus CPA

No this isn’t about sex. It’s about facing the unknown and doing something new. I just read Richard Branson’s book “Losing my virginity, how I survived, had fun and made a fortune doing business my way“. For those who don’t know of Sir Richard Branson, he is a flamboyant philanthropic British businessman that has created and promoted the virgin brand for more than 50 years.

When it comes to sales “the top line is vanity, the bottom line is sanity”. Sales do not always lead to profit. In some cases, not making the sale is the best choice. For a business to stay afloat, each sale needs to cost less than the amount charged.

My husband, Steve, made Mac n Cheese recently. Not an everyday meal in our house. When he checked the expiration date, he was shocked. The date was 2015! It had been in our pantry for 3 years. That discovery sent me to the medicine cabinet to check the over the counter medicines. Another shock – I threw out all but one bottle of cough syrup. I found one bottle dated 2005.

Do you find it hard to set goals? Are your goals bringing the joy and happiness you are searching for? I learned to set SMART goals – goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. Goals designed for efficiency and action that will create the results wanted. Personally, I find them lacking the emotional motivation. I see myself “keeping my nose to the grindstone”. You just want to get it done. It is work!

Are you lucky? Maybe luck in just being prepared and watching for opportunities. During a very challenging time of my life, I depended on a 50/50 chance – a 50% chance of good luck. It provided hope. As my life settled down, I realized that good luck or bad luck was completely a matter of perspective. If you wait long enough something good will be derived from something bad.

Through experience I have uncovered a few tools that have helped me unleash happiness. My list of seven actions comes from life experience and the research that I have done to enjoy life.

Valentine’s Day brings thoughts of romance and happiness to mind. Romance at work is usually discouraged but happiness can be a real thing in the workplace.

There’s an old African proverb that says “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Now that most businesses are gathering last year’s financial information it is a great time to review the results and make resolutions for the upcoming year. To help clarify your resolutions I listed some choices. It doesn’t matter if you are focused on growth, profitability, or reorganizing the following checklist will provide options to consider.

With the holidays around the corner, you may be donating to your favorite charity. However, come tax time, there are rules regarding donations to gain a tax benefit.