Early Estimates Help

       Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. said “Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society.”  Now is the time to start organizing yours.  Gather all of your receipts and notes.  Look at major differences between your 2010 numbers and those for 2011.  You should have all of your W-2s and 1099s by January 31.

       The earlier you file the faster you can get your return.  Estimating your liability early, even if you don’t file early, will allow you to manage your budget more accurately. Dragging your feet until the last moment could be costly.

       This is also a good time to adjust your W-4 deductions.  You should only be withholding enough to cover your taxes; getting a big return means you let the government use your money, interest free.  Wouldn’t you rather have that money in your pocket?  If your refund totals more than $1000.00, you are having too much withheld.  A common strategy is to adjust your withholding and put the extra money into your emergency fund or retirement.  You won’t miss the money out of your check, you aren’t seeing it now, but you will be better prepared for the future

Are You a Turtle?

TURTLE  an order of reptiles that have a shell of bony plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn. The move at a slow, timid pace and are very rarely aggressive.

Does this describe you? Are you a turtle? Do you tend to be meek and timid? Like the turtle, do you pull up inside yourself any time you are challenged?

There is nothing wrong with being cautious, but always avoiding confrontations can hamper your success, both in business and life. Sticking your neck out, just a little, allows you to determine the facts so you can act accordingly. Hiding from reality, retreating any time your comfort zone is nudged only yields missed opportunities. The world is full of all kinds of adventures, information, and opportunity. If you are always hiding inside your shell you are guaranteed to miss out.

It may take some time and patience, as well as practice, to become more daring. Try a little at a time. At a mixer or party talk to the person alone in the corner; they are just as apprehensive as you are. See, you already have something in common. Remember, you are both at the same event so that is something else you have in common.

When all else fails, just ask yourself, “What is the worst possibly thing that can happen if I take this action? The consequences are probably tolerable so you might as well move ahead. You will probably find that reaching out is not that freaky, and can be very rewarding.

A goal is a dream with a deadline
Do you have a good map for your future? Whether you are assessing your business or personal relationships; truly understanding your core values is the basis for your map. It is critical that your Core values be written and reviewed on a regular basis. Keeping them in your head defeats the purpose of using them as a tool for growth. They are only dreams if they are not written, reassessed on a regular basis, and used as a learning tool.
Your Core Values should not reflect who you want to be or who you think you are. Those are the job of your Vision and Mission Statements. Core Values represent a searchingly honest assessment of who you really are.
Writing our your Core Values is not a test; there are no right or wrong answers. Keep in mind that these answers are not carved in stone. This is a living document. You should do periodic review to be sure you are still on track.
Some of the questions you might ask yourself are:
WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT MYSELF?
How do I see myself; Will I accept compromise and at what level; Do I like
people?
WHAT ARE MY FEARS?
Do I fear failure, do I fear success, Am I a risk taker?
WHAT IS HOLDING ME BACK?
Am I concerned about what others may think; are my fears blocking me?
WHAT IS MY ATTITUDE?
Am I positive or negative; Do I smile and great strangers openly; Is life an adventure?
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD?
What is really getting in my way and stopping my forward progress?

These are just a few of the questions that you might ask yourself. There are probably plenty more. The more information you have, the better tools you can create and the more successful you will be. Absolute and candid honesty is essential to make your Core Value statement a good working tool. Remember, no one is judging you, they may never see your notes, but you will have a much better sense of who you are and what is most important to you.