Focus CPA

As Thanksgiving approaches, I focus on the things that I am thankful for – As for my career, I am in the right place for me. I love the challenge! I cherish the clients I serve, for the problems they bring to me to solve. I value the team that works with me to serve our clients I cherish a ... Read MoreRead More

I am not one who likes scary movies. I think life itself is scary enough. It might be that I find myself in enough uncomfortable situations that I don’t need to go looking for more. The top fears are death and public speaking. Personally, I take the approach of being grateful for each day that I am living. Tomorrow is not ... Read MoreRead More

When I graduated from high school, I had goals.  My goals were – to be a CPA, get married, be a partner in a CPA firm, own a nice house and have a family.  I wanted to earn enough to have a comfortable life.  It took 10 years to check off the goals.  However, I ran into a problem. I ... Read MoreRead More

We are in the midst of summer; the days are warm and humid in Wisconsin. We just had a streak of 3 weeks where I stayed in the house and enjoyed the air conditioning. It was too hot for me to enjoy outdoors. I don’t want to waste a day. It is time for me to adapt and make the ... Read MoreRead More

Are we free?  Free to live our life how we choose. Maybe. On July 4th we as citizens of the United States celebrate our independence from England.  As I watched the exploding, dazzling fireworks, I never gave my rights, responsibilities and opportunities as a us citizen a thought.  I take those for granted even as they influence every day of my ... Read MoreRead More

Some business owners hunt for their next sale while others grow from within. Deep down I am a farmer. I love to nurture relationships, to grow the business organically. Just look at my garden. I love perennials, plants that come back year after year. I love color; my garden is full of deep reds, purples and yellow. Once the snow ... Read MoreRead More

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 ... Read MoreRead More

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 ... Read MoreRead More

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 ... Read MoreRead More

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. While reading the “The Art of Happiness at Work” it revealed a few secrets. The most obvious one was attitude. The attitude we choose – yes, we choose – can bring us happiness or ... Read MoreRead More

There’s an old African proverb that says “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  This was the theme at James, my son, and Lauren’s wedding last month. It was held in the shadow of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. I was amazed at the passionate support expressed from family and friends. ... Read MoreRead More

Beneath the stress and chaos of the holiday season you can find the magic. This is a time to rejoice and attend to matters of the heart.  Take time to discover and absorb the magic. It could be as simple as a child’s smile, the gentle touch of a grandparent, the laughter of your friends or the love of the ... Read MoreRead More