Category: Post of the Moment

These are posts written for now. They are unlikely to be relevant, but just be writing about the day or whatever. They will likely only be short term posts, but some might stay just because they’re cool or I lose track of them.

Saying Goodbye, Saying Hello

Thirty-three was a great year!

A lot of good things happened. For business, I learned for to have an ounce or two of focus.

For travel, I’ve been to a  few domestic locales, plus my three week vacation where I took a cruise from London to NYC. Did I mention that yet?

Anyways, it was a good year. I also made some guy friends, very strange for me.

But as the year ends with crazy work hours and a massive party, like most years, I think it’s time to say goodbye.

But thirty-four is going to be amazing!

I’m not going to make any predictions about meeting the right girl, but I can tell you one thing–I’m going to start traveling with friends and clients as much as possible.

I’m looking forward to a record year. I have plans to bring a new flurry of passion and vigor to the TC’s entrepreneurship community. I’m going to have my business more than ever before. Right now I have three support people helping me, but I’m going to add two professionals to payroll.

But let’s be honest, I’m not doing anything until I get my 9 returns done by Monday!

So goodbye to a decent year, and hello to the incredible age of thirty-four!

It’s time to hit it hardcore!

This is Great!

You previously read about how I’d be paying more attention to me.

2018 is the year I finally figure out how to do balance.
I mean, usually I have balance by taking extravagant vacations and being super social. For 2018, I don’t see the former slowing down. Social events will be more intentional, but that’s another post.

I’m getting balance. And some routine, albeit not much. But I’m going to try to write one post per week on my steam-of-consciousness, personal blog (here). I’m also cooking more.

Also, I predict I’ll get more work done! The routine Ill have will be regarding work, and they’re in development.

Tonight’s masterpiece is what I call, Imperfect Burger

Oh, and the fries were also grilled, and they were perfect!

I’m also finally getting my house organized.

I made up a new phrase last night:
Some people have mood swings. I have energy swings. I have periods of sudden energy and motivation where I just need to do things.

The result is my coming home at 11:00 at night and cleaning my garage. And shoveling my sidewalk. And shoveling my neighbors’ sidewalks. It was my replacement run. If you can’t imagine my shoveling, just imagine that I do it very quickly.

At that, it’s time to run around a little. Goodnight!

2018 – New Goals & Predictions

Many people speak harshly of 2017. For me, it was by no means smooth, but it certainly wasn’t bad. I just planted a lot of seeds, but that’s what I’ve been doing since 2013.
They’ve all been growing at once, which is wonderful, and also frightening. Things are busy, but it’s okay.
But here’s where 2018 is headed:
It’s going to have great business results. I have a few unique surprises (service offerings) for my business that will distinctly set me apart from all other accountants.
2017 had personnel problems, which btw cripple a small business. I work with an incredible Tommie now, and all is right in the world.
Oh! And I’m actually focusing this year!
Besides Business
Besides business, I’m personally going to love 2018.
My take on resolutions made out so I only gained 5lbs from Thanksgiving through NYE.
But I do have goals for this year.
My biggest goal for 2018 is to return my focus to me. This has several parts.
Stop Being Single

This doesn’t mean that I need to get a partner. It means I need to stop telling to world that I’m single. I need to stop joking about it. So I’ve been doing that, and it’s been great!
Basically, I have been cooler with just chilling at home and getting things done, versus chilling at home and going on an internet dating site. Oh, and that also means drinking the no-cheap wine even though I’m not sharing.
Get In Shape
This one’s not a unique goal. I could diet and workout more, but that sounds like a lot of work.
I’m just doing a minimum workout in the morning. If I can workout again, great, but if I can’t, it’s fine. 50 burpees are quick and effective at waking me up. In fact, I don’t even need caffeine. Or so I imagine if I tried it….
This week I lost 5 lbs even though my feet didn’t let me run. I’ve been doing something else.
Often at night, I’m working on things that are not hard-core technical (i.e. no tax returns or accounting). It’s been all internal work, and it just needs to get done. Yes, I’m creating more routes to delegate.
So what I’ve been doing is pretty simple:
After 8:00, stop eating. And then I’ll have a yogurt of something before I go to bed at 2:00 to calm my stomach. It works.
Make Me a Priority
I’m taking time for me. For work, that means I’ll do my accounting and tax on time. That also means I’m not going to always work.
I’ll start doing things besides traveling. This means things around the house, like work on my photo wall, like I did last night.
On that note, I need to start bringing my Nikon with me on more trips, or I can wait for the Galaxy S9 to come out with a new, fancier camera (word has it you should wait for the S9+). Or really, since the camera is supposedly as good as an SLR right now, I just need to be more patient with shooting. It’s very hard to do with a camera phone. Also I need to use a tripod so I can zoom respectably.
I think that taking your time and the viewfinder is absolutely the advantage of an SLR camera.
But besides just projects, I’m going to start writing more. Well, for business, sure, but I have a travel blog, and when I talk to people, I apparently know a lot of really helpful tips. Sure, specifics about Paris and other great places, but also general travel tips.
It’ll be really easy to recall, since when I travel, if I take a picture of a great dessert, I’ll also take a picture of the menu so I’ll know where it is and what it’s called, so I can write a story.
Events
My events have taken kind of a turn. I’ve gotten busy or lazy, and I do a lot of piggy-back events, my term for making an event at a bigger. Those are okay, but then I kind of am a bad host. I just organize people and go off to do my own thing.
I’m kind of sick of events where people just thank me for organizing and that’s the extent of their interaction. With piggy-back events, I don’t really do much.
I’m now going to focus more on the group. I’ll stay with the group and take an active lead role. This will make my events better.
I’m also going to get an events and marketing intern so I can stop spending time making & promoting events. It’s not hard work – just copying and pasting what I wrote to meetup, FB, and eventbrite. It’s a pain because it’s usually to two or three of those accounts at once.
Also with events, I’ve been focused on BIG and doing things that people will want to do. That’s dumb – I’m getting back to what makes my events awesome – me doing whatever I want and letting others join me.
Summary
So basically, in 2018, I’m going to pay attention to me.

I’m Back (Again)

Taken away by first tax season, then nonprofit founding, I was struggling.

After the gala, I had to catch-up.

I was busy, and there’s still a ton to do.
My firm decided to hire a colleague to help. Not another contractor, but a full-time employee. It’s great!She’s to the point where she can get things done.

*Whew*

Lots of work, work, work. Naturally, I needed to travel.

After long weekends in Amsterdam and NYC, then catching up from those, I can say “I’m back.”

Kickin’ ass and taking names. Kicking ass, because I can’t help it. I’m just me, and people say that’s what I do.

I’m taking names, usually for two reasons: either they’re a potential client or a potential friend, or both. Usually I just want to learn more about them.

So of what does ‘being back’ consist? This weekend is a good example:
Last night, I hosted a drive-in movie event.
Today, I went to a French conversation coffee event, now I’m at home working real quick. Then, I’m going to host an event at an awesome distillery. Before then, I’m working and maybe owing the lawn.

I will also likely go to the Uptown Swingout tonight, too.

Then tomorrow will be doing everything at home I didn’t do yet, plus getting everything ready for my gal to kick ass this week.

I was going to put the “I’m back” song by Aerosmith, but this video let me know it’s kind of inappropriate, so don’t watch this video. It’s not approriate:

Half Way Through December

As 2015 closes, I’m doing what I’m good at: Working a bunch.

But it’s different this time. The difference?

This time I’m actually focusing! It’s weird….

I’ll tell you to where I am and where I’m planning on going, give or take, at this point, subject to change….

First I’ll talk about my non-business stuff:

I feel like I’ve never had more energy or looked better! For those who know me, that is a well controlled energy.

I’ve been very happy lately, especially with myself. I don’t think it’s directly related to a lady-type, but it maybe an indirect result. But yeah, the independent piece is kind of important.

There are a lot of people out there who are really independent, or so they claim. And they are, mostly.

But then there’s my level of independence. Unlike everyone who talks about their independence, I actually am independent. Being financially independent is the crux of independence because that means my time is independent. I love it.

Now that I’ve left the Strib, I’ve been getting back to some things. I’m making events occasionally. It’s nearly impossible to make a huge one bc of the proximity of the holidays.

Some people may think that my events are very impulsive. In reality, I have 7,000 members, so making them suddenly is how I control size, yet I let the market rule. Someday I’ll actually post about my event beliefs.

My health is very good. My diet is a very strict “reasonable” and I exercise sometimes.

Second, I’ll talk about business stuff:

In reality, I’ve been short on time lately. I’m trying to do business events soon because it’ll allow me to make all my value-added tax work available to more people because they’ll do their own accounting, instead of me doing it for them and billing them for it.

That’s one of three event-types I’ll be doing for business.

So I’m designing a website for that. Thinking about hiring someone to do that.

I’m also still doing some 2014 returns bc they delayed getting me info. I have bookkeeping too.

All whilst working blog posts, updating my website, and building for my 2016 tax season.

I love who I am, and I love what I do. If course I work with numbers, but I must read for work. I’m also in sales. I can talk, so I can talk about the one thing I sell…. Me.

My goal for 2016 is huge growth. If course I have a number, but I won’t share it here.

All I know is that I’m building to and looking forward to an awesome 2016!

Run in 2016
You can tell this isn’t me because I would never wear orange.

And Now….

Tomorrow is the first day when I won’t get up to and go to work, and I’m super excited because I will finally get to work!

The reason why I’m wrapped up at my work is because there is so much interest. On excited because I can follow up with people I met networking, people who have found me on Google Maps, or small business owners I randomly meet going through life.

The timing is perfect. I have time to get some things ready for tax season. 2016 is going to be incredible. I’m just excited to not have to go to work so I can actually get some things done.

Excited to Work

If You Didn’t Hear My News About the Strib

Since only 40 people clicked my email blast of 1,200 about my news about the Strib, and my social share may have been corrupted – without all the self-promoting language and getting right to it:

Yesterday was my last day at the Strib. My firm has gotten so busy that I can’t maintain both. So I left the Strib to pursue my own venture with all of my focus for the first time ever.
I think I’ll be able to do very well.

That is all.

thumbsup

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

It was a good Halloween. Multiple parties, and a fire has been lit.

Happy Halloween Vector Illustration. Hand Lettered Text with HauI’m going for stable weather so it stays lot this time.

Regardless, I’m probably getting user to windy weather. I’d bet that i can broadcast in any weather!

 

 

Fall Busy Season Celebration

On April 15, I went to Bar La Grassa and Freehouse with Lesya. It was an awesome time!

The spring deadline is great because if you have clients who are being a pain,  you just extend, and everyone’s okay with that.

In the fall, there is no extension. If a return is filed 5 minutes late, it’s an automatic 5% penalty.

This year, for me, 10/15 ended at around 11:40. My celebration involved going to the only fine dining open after midnight, getting a McFlurry, going home, and watching a movie (side note: Reasonable Doubt is a pretty badass movie).

But my Friday I had “off”, so naturally, toured potential offices for my business.

In the night, I misunderstood my friend and thought we’d hang out, so wasted it waiting for her to get back to me. While waiting I cleaned part of my house.

I’m now having dessert at BWW and watching the end of the Wild game.