Dare to Care

The one thing standing between us and greatness is the tendency to Compare — ourselves with others. Magic happens when we stop the comparisons and Dare to Care.

To dare means to have courage, to be a Trailblazer, and to go where angels fear to tread. To care encompasses a desire to serve. The focus is on others; it is NOT on ourselves. In other words, our worldview is outward not inward.

Last week on Friday, two Master Craftsmen were discussing a “fair price” for their Customers. Earlier in the week on Wednesday, the three of us had met and prepared a Better Business Plan for the remainder of their year.

At the moment we finished preparing their Better Business Plan, they were quite confident in what a “fair price” was —for themselves and their Customers. Yet, two days later they were talking about a “flat rate” book.

Vision to Succeed

An old Proverb states the premise nicely, “Without vision, the people perish.” Or to frame the same principle in the vernacular, “Stand for something, or fall for anything.” We need vision to succeed in Life.

You’ve heard the expression, “Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.” An experience last week reminded me of the incongruity of dysfunctional thought patterns, in the face of reality and facts of imminent demise.

While prattling on with the rah-rah nonsense of a used car salesman, the Owner of a roofing company (known to me from prior experience as EGO) wanted me to believe he was ready to manage in a new and better way.

His new CEO is quite fluent in Corporate Speak, which we all know wedges itself into the category of: Talk is Cheap. Between the two of them, the cacophony of their silliness lasted all of 30 minutes.

Leadership Solution

A recent request for help by a dedicated Employee prompted this synopsis, “The stress you’re experiencing is caused by a lack of leadership.” In other words, there is a leadership solution to every problem.

As happens in our Digital Universe, some of our early “conversations” were via email. Although, the first contact with this frustrated Employee was a phone call from her on Tuesday, April 23rd, 4:02 PM.

From the very beginning, I could hear the urgency in her voice. She had invested two months of her life to find some semblance of order to the chaos she inherited from another bookkeeper.

The accounting platform selected by her Employer was QuickBooks Online, which is a powerful SaaS (Software as a Service) tool for managing financial information.

TAP Into Success

How do you define Success?

The definition is unique for each of us.

For some, success is simply the accumulation of money. Others view success as building something special for themselves and their Family. A select few believe Success is creating and leaving a Legacy.

Regardless of your definition, Success does not just magically waltz into our lives. And, about the time we think we have achieved IT and arrived at our ultimate destination, we become enlightened to how small our original vision really was. The more we know and do, the smaller our stature.

We become smaller in perspective to the larger Universe. As we begin our Crusade, our egos are as large as our Plans. Yet, you’ve heard the expression: If you want to hear God laugh, boldly declare your Plan.

Speed of Belief

I’ve had people suggest that I wear darkened eyeglasses — because my gaze is too intense. It’s true — I’m intensely passionate about my purpose in life. And, I thoroughly enjoy that far left lane, designated Speed of Belief.

Remember, when we were first learning to drive, how we had to keep staring at all the gauges to make sure our speed was right, the engine had oil pressure, and the coolant was staying cool. Now, we seldom think about it — we glance, every now and then.

Same song, second verse: I’m operating at the Speed of Belief — not by sight but by feel. Because of the “Curse of Knowledge,” I assume (yes, I know, makes an ass out of u and me) everyone else is comfortable with their hair blown back, too. (As a side-bar, that’s why I wear my hair in a crew cut.)

Benevolent Leader

In serving the public for 35+ years as a CPA, I’ve worked with many leaders. Some were wanna-bees; some were dictators; some were regular bosses; very few were benevolent.

The launch of WordPress 5.0 has opened my eyes to understand more about Matt Mullenweg — creator of WordPress and founder of Automattic.

WordPress, “We don’t make software for free, we make it for freedom.”

Automattic, “We are passionate about making the web a better place.”

Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (NOVEMBER 27, 2018)
Mr. Kim Foard
SageTalk, LLC
406.855.8384
kimfoard@gmail.com

TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

An Event for Dreamers and Doers

Billings, Montana: Kim Foard, CPA attended the 2018 QuickBooks Connect conference in San Jose, CA, November 5 – 7, 2018. More than 5,000 accounting professionals, small business owners, self-employed, and developers came together to learn, be inspired, and connect with each other. This is the fifth year Intuit, the provider of QuickBooks software, has hosted the event.

Lucky

Recently, someone frustrated with their life blurted, “You’re so lucky!”

I almost responded with, “Those who work the hardest are the luckiest.”

Instead, I simply replied with, “Yes, but if you only knew my story, you might think differently.” I went on to mention, “You’ve heard the proverbial theory of gathering people around a table to share their problems. After looking around the table, everyone grabs back their own.”

She replied with, “I’m so envious of you. You’ve been in love, got married, had children, and enjoyed success in business. My mother has used you as an example of who I should be.”

That individual was consumed with the drama of their existence and was not interested in my Story. So, I’ll share it with you.

Grab Another Plate

Having just returned from the QuickBooks Connect technology conference in San Jose, CA, I am more mindful of possibilities.

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), I was trained in probabilities — however, life is best encountered and enjoyed in the realm of possibilities.

At any conference, many times we learn as much outside the formal sessions as we do sitting in them. A presenter’s opinion is relevant to a specific topic — yet, the surprises usually come at the lunch table.

For our physical nourishment, yes, the provisions were spectacular. Even better were the conversations, which offered food for thought — to stimulate mind, heart, and soul.

Leverage or Lifestyle

Notorious for bragging about their lifestyle are the Montana ranchers — while they use the leverage of debt as a crutch to hobble down to oblivion.

There is a better way.

Million or Penny a Day?

What would you rather have — a million dollars, today, or a penny doubled for a month?