There’s more to appreciate in life than just the best Tax Season season ever.
Debbie Lessin, CPA (bio)
D. J. Lessin & Associates, Inc.
Chicago, IL
I learned many years ago to manage my time and client load, stick to deadlines and know when to cut it off. I left the office at 5:00 PM last night with all the returns picked up and all extension checks in the office, including the one sent to the wrong suite in the building (I moved from there over 12 years ago), that I figured that we’d never see and I’d have to cover. All that’s left for this morning is to do the 4/15 extension ritual. I am writing from home when I am usually in the office already. I know I am done.
But what I learned most was to listen to my body. When I started to kick up the hours in early February, my body had some severe reactions. I am in tune enough with the work/life balance thing (have a 2nd business related to this (see www.lifeisabalancingact.com) to understand that after working 3 days/week faithfully from 4/15 – 12/15, my body did not get these increased hours. For 4-6 weeks, walking from the parking lot to the office required was a physical test. The past two years my hands blew up. I was happy that this year it was my leg. But no…the hand just waited a month but didn’t interfere with the work load, just sleeping.
So I limited my hours from 7 am (often there at 6:30) – 7 pm, leaving at 5 on Fridays and working from 8 -3:30 most Saturdays (ending the day with a weekly accupuncture appointment). Never worked on a Sunday but to pay bills in my pajamas at home. Usually by March I’d be at the office until 8, then 8:30 and the last week 9:00 PM. It’s always been a marathon the last few weeks. And yet, by limiting the hours, I was more productive when I was there, same billable, more energy, happier.
My story of growing a business and downsizing it 3 times to going back to me is an interesting one. This year I had less administrative help and didn’t need it. There is a pattern to the week, busy at the beginning, quiet by Thursday and Friday. Clients smartly email me with questions rather than bother me by calling. This way my mind stays focused and the files are better documented with questions and responses.
But to say after 24 years that this was the best season ever – well, that’s something that I will celebrate today. My mind was sharp. It was the best mental season ever- great planning ideas, eyes wide open with suggestions.Sometimes I think we are in such a rush that we simply try to finish the returns without doing our best mental work. That’s why the really complicated ones get extended for another look. A clear hear is worth far more than meeting an artificial deadline.
I can’t wait to get back to some of my creative writing projects. And by sharing this with you today, I guess that I have already begun.
Time to go and start the day and finish the season. Have a massage at 1:00. None of this midnight filing me. No more listening to bad tax tips on the news. Time to finish the extensions, play and get back to the three day CPA work week that I have created for myself.
We all have the opportunity to create our own lives. Most of us are too fearful to take advantage of those opportunities. I am thankful that I have taken the right steps over the years and actually done it. It’s been a process. But on this April 15th, I am as happy as can be. And not just because it is over!
Thanks for listening!
