Formula for Success: Rise Early, Work Hard, Strike Oil

 I am an early riser, a morning person to some.  As the owner of a business I generally am at my desk very early in the morning.  I have found that many other owners and managers start their day before the rank and file employees and also before the posted business hours of operation.  Knowing this has helped me get ahead of the game.
I have been able to reach these people by phone and get my agenda on their to do list before others.  I have also been able to have their attention before they are distracted by other responsibilities.
Working hard to me means to work consistently and to work smart.  Sometimes it means to put myself in another location with different activities and reflect on my goals, strategies, and tactics, (including what I have been doing and the way I have been doing it) and brainstorm for alternatives.  After a period of intense busy periods, vacation/traveling allows me to refresh and then accomplish more when I return, than if I had not taken the time away.
Striking oil can mean different things to different people.  As a C.P.A., I help my clients strike oil by first understanding their goals, strategies and tactics.  Sometimes we start with the definitions of each and how they affect each other.  It is helpful to understand that a tactic may be part of a strategy and a strategy is not the goal.  This can take a little effort to sink in, however once understood, clarity of one’s goals starts to take place.
As a C.P.A., I help my clients with their financial goals.  Sometime we analyze strategies and tactics to increase revenue, decrease costs, increase the value of assets, or decrease liabilities.  Any one of which, or a combination, will have the effect of increasing net worth.
Non-financial goals can have an impact on the financial strategies and tactics used.  Therefore it is important to communicate with your C.P.A. your non-financial goals, so that strategies and tactics can be designed with your non-financial goals in mind.
Jerald Schneider is a Certified Public Accountant providing tax, accounting and financial advice for more than 30 years.  He can be reached at 661-297-1072 or by e-mail at jerald@jeraldschneider.com.