KIS & Tell August 2020
As I was finishing up my yoga practice this morning, a thought popped into my head about small business. In particular, the word "small." It was something the instructor said that reminded me of SEO research I did a few months back.
Phrases with "small business" don't rank high. It appears that business owners don't call themselves "small business owners." I like that mindset, because it speaks volumes.
Running a business is no small feat. Your dreams, plans, and goals aren't either. Your business is a test if you can cut your own path in this world. Any entrepreneur will say it’s not a "small" effort.
But more insidious than saying “small,” is playing small.
Playing small is when you're scared of success. When you don't believe in your dream and abilities. It's wrought with self-sabotage and limiting beliefs.
You may have visions and goals written down, but the commitment and conviction isn't there.
So let's not call our businesses "small," because we aren't playing small. We have big dreams. We're taking a huge risk, putting in the work, and dedicating a chunk of our lives to make it work. What you’re building is a big deal.
Wholeheartedly, let’s play BIG.
Fresh Content
Hot off the press & onto the blog, website, and beyond.
How to clean your home is obvious. Bookkeeping is not.
Starting out, most small businesses don’t know how to manage their business’s finances or can’t afford to hire a pro to do it for them.
If you’ve ever wondered what you’re supposed to do when it comes to bookkeeping, here’s a guide. Check out this blog for the steps you need to do weekly to keep your finance house in order.
App of My Eye
I'm always on the lookout for new apps that help make running business easier! Here are the best finds over the past month.
This has to be the best push notification ever!
If you send invoices through QuickBooks Online, accept electronic payments, and have the app on your phone, you’ll get text notifications like the one in this photo. How sweet is that?!
If you don’t have the app, it’s called “QuickBooks Online Accounting, Invoicing, & Expenses.” Beyond these notifications, you can also send invoices, upload receipts, track mileage, and more with the app.
If someone knows how to change the push notification sound from “ding” to “cha-ching,” please let me know!
Best Reads
I love to learn. Especially with business, there are always new perspectives and information we can benefit from. Here's my latest fav.
Not all stress is bad. Through stress we find our resilience and capabilities. In moderation, it’s even motivating.
Learning how to shift stress from bad to good is a necessity, especially now. No one can promise when we’ll go back to “normal,” and even then it won’t be the same as before. Instead of dwelling on what we’ve lost, let’s work with what we have.
Here are three steps on how you can make stress more productive. The most important part is aligning your actions with your values. So while this advice may seem counter-intuitive at first, it’s worth a shot.
Practicing Simplicity
Practical tips to simplify your business.
Practice: Write notes on receipts for meals
Rationale: When you need to remember the business purpose and who you met with, write it on the receipt directly. That way when you upload a copy of the receipt, all the details are right there.
Tools: A pen or pencil
Tax Tips
The world of tax is constantly changing. Here's what you need to know.
This year only, you can donate $300 in cash and write it off on your taxes. If you don’t itemize, you can claim this deduction.
Right now the $300 is per return, so married couples filing together cannot deduct $600. It’s a dollar for dollar deduction (compared to if you itemize and can only claim half of the amount donated).
In effect, Tax Reform eliminated the benefits of owning a home and giving to charity because it made it harder to itemize. It’s good to see part of the incentive coming back.
Out & About
We're going places! Whether it's for networking, client meetings, or personal travels, I love to explore. Here's one recent stop.
Let’s hang out. Not in person, but online. 😉
I’m dipping my toes back into social. This summer I started working with an operations manager, the amazing Nicole Boucher, to help me with marketing. It’s going well, and I’m diving in!
One of my stumbling-blocks is the “publish” button. You wouldn’t believe how much content I’ve started and kept in hiding because I dread clicking “post”.
Nicole’s helping me cannonball in now. She posts. I write and connect. Simple.
Let’s connect if we aren’t already. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. See you there!
Kitty Corner
It's probably impossible for me to get through a newsletter without mentioning my furbabies!
A butch, ex-military German Shepherd befriends a tiny, heart-stealing kitten.
That’s the premise behind Pet Foolery’s Pixie & Brutus.
In each comic, you see them in imaginary quests, rescuing each other, or playing with the neighbors. And each one is so stinking cute!
Yigit introduced me to this Instagram account last year. It brightens up my feed with a change of pace and dose of fur. My favorite one is when Pixie discovers her claws! 🙀
On the Horizon
Here's what we'll be focusing on over the next few weeks.
Now that we are past tax season and the crazy COVID aid programs, I can turn my focus to working on my business more.
I’ve got a few internal projects on my plate this quarter. I’m editing my services, updating workflows in my CRM, and revamping my website.
Phew! This is no small feat! (But I'm super motivated to get it done.) I’ve learned a lot since I first set them up, and am excited about what’s in store!
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Go big!
