Voices

The secret, magnetic pull of tax season: A wicked illness

[IMGCAP(1)]How did it get to be tax season again? Where did my off season go?

When we emailed the 2011 organizers, would you believe I got as excited as a kid in a candy shop? I know it’s a crazy, wicked illness but the excitement and freshness of another tax season always makes me happy and puts a little jump in my step.

Is it the relationships with the special individual tax clients I see once a year? Is it my staff’s teamwork that's brings a smile to my face when I see them pull together to get the job done? Is it the complex tax research situations that always come during tax season that get my juices flowing?

I'm not sure what it is about January and the anticipation of a new filing season, but I’m psyched to start again.

Accountants like to complain about these crazy three months, but deep down, I think of tax season as a “magnet pull” I actually love—and I think others do, too.

Perhaps it has something to do with routine. After all, who likes change? While I embrace change and all the opportunities that go along with creating a winning solution for a client, as humans, most of us thrive on keeping our lives as level as possible.

Still, I think of tax season as a giant magnet ready to suck me in to the day-to-day chaos that occurs every year. And, I know this isn’t going to change!

At conferences, on the phone, or on social media, my colleagues discuss various ways we can share this kind of excitement with our clients. Who wants to keep it all bottled up inside when you can share it with others, right?

Here’s an easy acronym to remember: REV, as in “Rev it up:”

R = Renew. Whether you see clients just once a year or once a month, you absolutely have to renew your relationships whenever possible. What this means is you need to take the time to show your enthusiasm about their lives and their businesses. Showing you care for them as a person will go a long way to not only retaining them as a client, but continuously receiving referrals from them throughout the year.

E = Energize. Your natural energy with that magnet pull will transfer to your clients, providing you the ability to energize your work. While it’s true that a 2011 tax return may require the same abilities to complete as a 2010 return, your positive outlook is good for your health and client rapport.

V = Victory. What does a successful tax season look like to you? Is it just the ability to complete all your work on time, or are there other ways to look at your outcome? The way to be able to figure this out is to write down a simple list of goals you want  to accomplish by April 17. The list might range from “Get more sleep” to “Have date night” and even something like “Continue networking during busy season.” Whatever you want to write is up to you. The bottom line is to strive toward ensuring a healthy outcome.

So embrace tax season and celebrate that pull. Let’s roll!

What is it about tax season that creates that magnetic pull in your soul?

Jody L. Padar, CPA, MST, is a Certified Public Accountant experienced with Complex Federal & State Income Tax Compliance for Business & Individuals. Jody is an adjunct professor at Oakton Community College, where she teaches Taxation and QuickBooks Courses. She is part of Intuit Trainer Writer Network and speaks nationally on various Technologies and Taxation. She can be reached at www.newvisioncpagroup.com.

 

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