This weekend I went home for a quick trip. During that time I had one goal - ask a very smart uncle of mine what I'm supposed to do about taxes. As it turns out, I wish I'd never asked. Apparently, the government hates small business and wants to kill it by taxing the hell out of it... sorry but seriously! Here's what I'm supposed to do.
First, I file as a sole proprietorship and promise myself NEVER to hire ANYONE EVER in order to keep from having to pay more taxes. Then I file quarterly - QUARTERLY as in four times a year because who doesn't want to think of that old gray man Uncle Sam just on April 15th? Then my poor, precious, hard-working husband gets roped into my income and WHAM he's taxed to the inth because all of sudden my business + his income = hay day for Sammy-boy. So he's having to have the maximum amount of withholding taken from his check so we don't get punched in the face come April 2011.
Way to go America. Ok, I think I'm done with that rant.
I was certain no one said it better than Benjamin Franklin when he said, "Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." However, that's not quite true.
Of several more things I am certain.
* The Lord is having me experience this for a reason and although it's hard I love it
* He is my provider
* and He is with me wherever I go... and however much I'm taxed
* His burden is always lighter
* My true inheritance is not what is here but what is stored in heaven for me because of Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection
As Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:17, "Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." aka pay up!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
When it rains...
... it pours as they say. Yesterday it rained all day outside and over the last several months it has been a flood of blessings from the Lord. However, it has also been pouring full-time job opportunities. Isn't it funny, that once I made this decision and began to act on it to become a consultant, people took notice and decided I'd be a great fit in their own companies! I have had at least five leads to full-time employment and two of those have been since Friday.
My standard response to this was always "Oh thank you so much but I'm really trying to grow my business and see where this leads." But yesterday, a woman from my SMU class contacted me about a full-time, great paying, great company, great benefits job that opened up on her team. I know this lady, she's awesome, smart, successful, has a wonderful disposition and darn it I'd like to work for her! This was the first time I didn't want to say "Oh thank you so much, blah blah blah." I wanted to say "Whoohoo! Full time? Paying me great money to do a cool job in marketing communications for your great company, Yes!" I told her two months ago I would've jumped at this but I turned it down.
I'm even a little bummed out about it still. I think the reason is that this path, you know, the one the Lord opened up for me and provided wonderful people to work with in just a few weeks? Yeah that path isn't as easy and it doesn't provide dental. :) I really felt my faith falter a little as I remembered how great it was to have a check automatically drafted into your account every two weeks, a check that would've been more than I'd seen in a long while. No invoicing, no wondering when I'll get paid, no spreadsheets of hours. But I stayed on this path and I prayed, "Lord, help me trust you."
I know I made the right decision and probably offers like these and leads like the ones that come up will happen but I'll just take that as a sign I'm doing a good job and move forward.
Today the sun is out in full force and I remember "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning." -Lamentations 3:22-23.
My standard response to this was always "Oh thank you so much but I'm really trying to grow my business and see where this leads." But yesterday, a woman from my SMU class contacted me about a full-time, great paying, great company, great benefits job that opened up on her team. I know this lady, she's awesome, smart, successful, has a wonderful disposition and darn it I'd like to work for her! This was the first time I didn't want to say "Oh thank you so much, blah blah blah." I wanted to say "Whoohoo! Full time? Paying me great money to do a cool job in marketing communications for your great company, Yes!" I told her two months ago I would've jumped at this but I turned it down.
I'm even a little bummed out about it still. I think the reason is that this path, you know, the one the Lord opened up for me and provided wonderful people to work with in just a few weeks? Yeah that path isn't as easy and it doesn't provide dental. :) I really felt my faith falter a little as I remembered how great it was to have a check automatically drafted into your account every two weeks, a check that would've been more than I'd seen in a long while. No invoicing, no wondering when I'll get paid, no spreadsheets of hours. But I stayed on this path and I prayed, "Lord, help me trust you."
I know I made the right decision and probably offers like these and leads like the ones that come up will happen but I'll just take that as a sign I'm doing a good job and move forward.
Today the sun is out in full force and I remember "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning." -Lamentations 3:22-23.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The Interrogation
I had several ideas as to what this post might be called including, "The Beat Down - Clint Eastwood Style", "Interviewed by Dirty Hairy" and "Are you kidding me, what just happened?!" So let me explain.
Earlier this week my new client asked me if she could introduce me to her mentor and of course I obliged. So Thursday morning I drive up to Lewisville (about 20 minutes north) and walk into a room at their Chamber of Commerce office. A 6'4", 70-something man greets me and introduces himself with a very sturdy handshake. He seemed nice enough and we small talked as we waited for my client to arrive.
Dr. Srinivasan (my client) gets there, the door shuts and the giant spotlight clicks on (not really) and the interrogation began. For 45 minutes I was grilled into the floor by Al aka Clint Eastwood about what on earth I was going to do to help Dr. S's school. It was one of those "read my mind" type interviews and I was in trouble. At some points I would look at him and there would be NO WORDS in my head to respond. I had been jumped! So I had to take a deep breath, have a little humor and do the best I could.
Towards the end of the beat-down I think Al warmed up to me, he even told me I did well and handled the pressure better than most. I felt fried and victorious all at the same time. And I learned a lot in the process. He's smart and the questions he asked were right on and I know that he'll be a great person to run ideas by.
That morning I didn't have time to do my Bible study like I normally do so I did it later that night. The verse for the week was so appropriate as we studied Deborah, the Judge and prophetess of Israel, she told the commander in Judges 4:14, "...Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" And that's just how I felt. The Lord went ahead of me and I think softened Al's heart just a little.
Earlier this week my new client asked me if she could introduce me to her mentor and of course I obliged. So Thursday morning I drive up to Lewisville (about 20 minutes north) and walk into a room at their Chamber of Commerce office. A 6'4", 70-something man greets me and introduces himself with a very sturdy handshake. He seemed nice enough and we small talked as we waited for my client to arrive.
Dr. Srinivasan (my client) gets there, the door shuts and the giant spotlight clicks on (not really) and the interrogation began. For 45 minutes I was grilled into the floor by Al aka Clint Eastwood about what on earth I was going to do to help Dr. S's school. It was one of those "read my mind" type interviews and I was in trouble. At some points I would look at him and there would be NO WORDS in my head to respond. I had been jumped! So I had to take a deep breath, have a little humor and do the best I could.
Towards the end of the beat-down I think Al warmed up to me, he even told me I did well and handled the pressure better than most. I felt fried and victorious all at the same time. And I learned a lot in the process. He's smart and the questions he asked were right on and I know that he'll be a great person to run ideas by.
That morning I didn't have time to do my Bible study like I normally do so I did it later that night. The verse for the week was so appropriate as we studied Deborah, the Judge and prophetess of Israel, she told the commander in Judges 4:14, "...Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" And that's just how I felt. The Lord went ahead of me and I think softened Al's heart just a little.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
And then there were two.
Today marks the signing of client number two! Riddle Street Montessori, a private school in McKinney has bravely and fearlessly signed on to be my client! Our first project, an open house, after a one hour brainstorm turned into a community-wide family fun day and fair at their amazingly gorgeous facility - go figure! So it will be exciting and fun to be busy helping wonderful places get the recognition they deserve over the next few months.
I had some worry about taking on too much at one time while I was getting used to the idea of being a consultant full time. However, after much prayer and pleading I felt like the Lord just said "Opportunity". So I have to look at this time and the blessing of another client as just that, an open door with room to walk through. It's really exciting and makes me feel like I did the right thing by taking a leap of faith, but I am also reminded that you can be right where God wants you and think NOTHING is happening... I know because I was there for the past six months.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Just because you can't see God working, doesn't mean He isn't. I'm proof.
I had some worry about taking on too much at one time while I was getting used to the idea of being a consultant full time. However, after much prayer and pleading I felt like the Lord just said "Opportunity". So I have to look at this time and the blessing of another client as just that, an open door with room to walk through. It's really exciting and makes me feel like I did the right thing by taking a leap of faith, but I am also reminded that you can be right where God wants you and think NOTHING is happening... I know because I was there for the past six months.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Just because you can't see God working, doesn't mean He isn't. I'm proof.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Trust in the Lord... always.
Yesterday was my first day to go to the Head Start of Greater Dallas headquarters. I had to be there at 1 and it was raining a little bit but I thought, no big deal. As it turned out being on a large highway headed south with a hundred different 18-wheelers in the rain is a big deal. I was fairly certain at several points during my 30 minute drive that Head Start may not have a marketing person after all!
I laughed because I thought, I had to trust the Lord to get this job, and now I have to trust the Lord just to get TO the job! And I did and I got there on time to their great facility, just as the rain let up. :)
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."
I laughed because I thought, I had to trust the Lord to get this job, and now I have to trust the Lord just to get TO the job! And I did and I got there on time to their great facility, just as the rain let up. :)
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."
Friday, February 5, 2010
Let's give credit where credit is due.
Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."
As some of you know, I had a meeting today with Head Start and Zar, the contractor who is transitioning the account to me. As some of you may also know, I have been jittery, nervous, excited, worried, excited, and nervous about this meeting. I knew the Lord had arranged this, and yet I held my expectations back, thinking they might just need for small projects or a media call here and there. I was wrong and as usual completely underestimated Him who sent me.
I sat there with three of the coolest women listening and writing down notes and asking questions for an hour and a half. As it turns out, they need help. They need rebranding help, web site help, event help, newsletter, donor communications, social media implementation - the works. And all things I LOVE, I'm good at and am excited about. This means they could use me 40 HOURS A WEEK! I can work in the office or at home and help them rebrand to make Head Start (the second largest nonprofit in Dallas btw) speak with one consistent message.
Did you hear that? 40 hours a week, communications consultant for the second largest nonprofit in the Big D? How did this happen you might ask? The Lord. Period. End of story. I literally was trying to give myself one ounce of credit thinking, ok I had to have done something but no, it wasn't me, it was Him. And my job now is to honor that gift by honoring Him and giving him all credit for there is NO other explanation.
The details are mostly worked out but I'll be transitioning in the next few weeks to take full responsibilities. I even have two other organizations interested in my services so we'll see what happens, it might be that 40 hours is more like 30 and 10 to other smaller ones but that'll work out. And it could be that the Lord says, just this for now, and I'll pass. But this is so wonderful, so beyond my expectations and so just like the Lord to surprise me beyond my wildest expectation. He is good.
As some of you know, I had a meeting today with Head Start and Zar, the contractor who is transitioning the account to me. As some of you may also know, I have been jittery, nervous, excited, worried, excited, and nervous about this meeting. I knew the Lord had arranged this, and yet I held my expectations back, thinking they might just need for small projects or a media call here and there. I was wrong and as usual completely underestimated Him who sent me.
I sat there with three of the coolest women listening and writing down notes and asking questions for an hour and a half. As it turns out, they need help. They need rebranding help, web site help, event help, newsletter, donor communications, social media implementation - the works. And all things I LOVE, I'm good at and am excited about. This means they could use me 40 HOURS A WEEK! I can work in the office or at home and help them rebrand to make Head Start (the second largest nonprofit in Dallas btw) speak with one consistent message.
Did you hear that? 40 hours a week, communications consultant for the second largest nonprofit in the Big D? How did this happen you might ask? The Lord. Period. End of story. I literally was trying to give myself one ounce of credit thinking, ok I had to have done something but no, it wasn't me, it was Him. And my job now is to honor that gift by honoring Him and giving him all credit for there is NO other explanation.
The details are mostly worked out but I'll be transitioning in the next few weeks to take full responsibilities. I even have two other organizations interested in my services so we'll see what happens, it might be that 40 hours is more like 30 and 10 to other smaller ones but that'll work out. And it could be that the Lord says, just this for now, and I'll pass. But this is so wonderful, so beyond my expectations and so just like the Lord to surprise me beyond my wildest expectation. He is good.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Don't go there
Today I did another round of letters, this time to private schools in the area. Another spreadsheet, more fighting with the printer, signing letters and licking envelopes (yuck!). During this somewhat mindless task I found myself thinking, "It was so much easier when I was doing this for someone else, they were paying me to do this!" And down I go backwards through the coulda-woulda-shoulda rabbit hole. I actually do this a lot and have found that it doesn't help anything and only makes me feel depressed and bummed out. But I recently found an antidote.
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."
So whatever your situation, whatever you dwell on, make yourself sick over what you should've done, it's ok to let it go and move forward. The Lord doesn't want us wallowing in guilt or frustrated over the past, He wants us to follow Him and following Him always means moving forward and expecting new and exciting things.
Do you believe that? I'm starting to.
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."
So whatever your situation, whatever you dwell on, make yourself sick over what you should've done, it's ok to let it go and move forward. The Lord doesn't want us wallowing in guilt or frustrated over the past, He wants us to follow Him and following Him always means moving forward and expecting new and exciting things.
Do you believe that? I'm starting to.
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