Alternate Pathways, Better Work, Better Lives

As we proceed into a fresh year, I’ve been thinking about how often we inherit ideas about work and success without ever choosing them. We get handed a model—of what a career “should” look like, how many hours we “should” work, what we “should” sacrifice to prove we’re committed—and we run on that track so long that it starts to feel like truth.

But here’s a question worth sitting with each year: What if some of the things you’ve been doing faithfully… no longer fit the life you’re trying to build? Not because you can’t do them—but because you don’t want to anymore.

Real change rarely happens in one dramatic decision. More often, it’s the quiet accumulation of tiny steps: a new boundary, a better system, a different way of leading, a willingness to design work around real life instead of forcing life to squeeze around work. Sometimes growth looks like doing less—more intentionally. Sometimes leadership looks like questioning what everyone else accepts as “normal.” And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is step off the hamster wheel long enough to ask: Is this still working the way it’s supposed to?

Let’s stay curious. Let’s challenge the assumptions that keep us stuck. And let’s build careers, businesses, and families that don’t require burnout as the price of admission.

I’m really glad you’re here. And I’m cheering for the tiny steps that change everything.

January through April is chaos for CPAs.

Returns are stacking up.

Deadlines looming.
Clients calling.

They're trying to process as many returns as possible before April 15th.

And that's the problem.

When your CPA is buried under 200 other returns, how much time do you think they're spending on yours?

They're not digging deep into your business.

They're not researching industry-specific deductions.

They're getting your return filed and moving to the next one.

I don't blame them. The business model forces it.

But the person paying the price? That's you.

Every shortcut they take costs you money.

Every strategy they skip adds to your tax bill.

Every minute they don't spend on your return is a minute of savings you'll never see.

Our free online caiculator analyzes your specific situation and identifies every opportunity — no shortcuts, no rushing, no "good enough."

Want to see what a thorough analysis actually looks like?

Cold emails don’t need to be long

Cold email is noisier than it’s ever been and that’s exactly why shorter wins.

 

Most high-performing cold emails follow the same

simple structure:

 

Four sentences. 

One clear signal. 

One relevant problem. 

One future state. 

One easy “yes.”

Filing a return isn't just paperwork.

Tax season is officially here.

Your CPA is likely reaching out to request documents. W-2s. 1099s. Receipts.

The machine is spinning up.

But before you hand everything over, I need you to consider something.

Once that return is filed, it's done.

The deductions you claimed? Locked in. 

The strategies you missed? Gone. 

The structure you used? Set in stone.

Filing a return isn't just paperwork. 

It's a commitment to every tax decision you made — or didn't make — in 2025.

And here's the problem.

Most CPAs will file exactly what you give them.

They won't say, "You could have saved $18,000 with cost segregation."

They won't mention, "WOTC would have worked perfectly for you."

They'll just file the return and move on.

That's why getting a second opinion before you file is so valuable.

Don't file your 2025 return without knowing what you're leaving on the table.

Is this your CPA around tax time?

 

With all of the new tax credits that have been released for employers our company has added a new Specialized Tax Incentive division. The purpose of this division is to make sure that our clients are able to easily access the $2.3 Trillion that’s been made available to small and mid sized companies.   

Although we will be making this program available to the entire nation later this year, I’ve been authorized to pre release it to our existing readers.   

Any employer or commercial property owner can do a 60 second search to see which programs you’re eligible for and I’ll include my link below.   

Although I’d ask that you not make it public, if you have any friends or direct contacts you’d like to share it with I’m ok with that.   

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

A wise AI app once told me

This is why things keep going wrong with you & how to fix it.

 

There are two ways people try to fix what feels off in their lives. The first is pushing harder. You try to stay positive. You manage stress. You motivate yourself. You “get through” the discomfort. And for a while, it works. But the same patterns return. The same emotional triggers. The same fatigue, confusion, or inner restlessness. The second way is energy alignment. Not affirmations. Not pretending everything is fine. But understanding where your system is blocked — and correcting it at the source. Most people were never taught this difference. That’s why healing feels temporary to them. Not because they’re broken — But because they’re working on symptoms, not the system. Your body holds memory. Your emotions leave imprints. Your energy centers store stress long after the event is over.

When these centers are blocked, life feels harder than it should: • Emotional overwhelm without a clear reason • Constant mental noise or indecision • Lack of motivation, clarity, or stability • Physical fatigue that rest doesn’t fix This doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your energy system is overloaded. And unbalanced systems don’t self-correct by willpower. They need recalibration. This is not about believing something new. It’s about understanding what’s already operating beneath your awareness — and learning how to realign it consciously.

When your energy is balanced: • Emotions stabilize • Decisions feel clearer • The body relaxes • Life responds differently Not because you tried harder — but because resistance dissolved.

More Clients, Less Staff: Why CPA Firms Must Rethink Revenue in 2026

Facing a growing talent shortage and rising client demands, accounting firms must look beyond hiring to grow. Here's how engineering-based tax credits are helping firms scale smarter - not harder.

The CPA Staffing Crisis Is Here - and It's Getting Worse

If you run or manage a CPA firm, you've likely felt it firsthand: it's harder than ever to hire and retain good talent. You're not alone. Over the last decade, the number of people sitting for the CPA exam has dropped more than 30%. At the same time, over 75% of firm partners are nearing retirement, with few new professionals entering the pipeline to replace them. Meanwhile, client expectations keep rising — more advisory services, faster turnaround, and strategic guidance. The result? Firms are facing a growing gap between the demand for work and the capacity to do it.

Why "Just Hire More Staff" Isn't a Viable Strategy

Even if you can find qualified staff (which is a big "if"), hiring brings:

• Significant costs — six-figure salaries, benefits, onboarding
• Time-consuming training
• Risk of burnout or turnover

For many firms, traditional scaling isn't possible right now. Instead, the smartest firms are asking: "How can we generate more revenue without hiring more people?"

The Answer: Engineering-Based Tax Credits

Forward-thinking CPA firms are expanding their services — without expanding their payroll — by partnering to offer engineering-based tax credits to clients.

These include Cost Segregation Studies, 179D Commercial Energy Efficiency Deductions, and R&D Tax Credits.

These credits are powerful, underutilized opportunities that bring huge financial value to clients - especially in industries like construction, real estate, manufacturing, and technology.

Why CPA Firms Are Embracing This Strategy

Here's why firms are integrating engineering-based tax credit services:

• No Additional Staff Needed — All technical work is handled by a specialized partner.
• High Client ROI — These credits often unlock six- or seven-figure savings.
• New Revenue Streams for the Firm — Firms earn fees or referral revenue and can bill advisory time.
• Stronger Client Relationships — Offering these services enhances your role as a trusted advisor.

Best of all, the process is white-labeled or co-branded, so you remain front and center with your client while we support you in the background.

This Isn't Just a Tax Strategy - It's a Growth Strategy

Engineering-based tax credits allow you to serve more clients, offer more value, increase firm revenue, and relieve pressure from your internal team.

All without hiring. The CPA landscape is shifting — and firms that adapt early will win big.

How CPAs Are Taking the Next Step

Forward-thinking CPAs are adding new revenue without increasing headcount, offering premium-level services to their clients, and positioning their firms for sustainable growth through specialized tax credit partnerships.

Request a Complimentary Opportunity Analysis

We'll show you exactly how these tax credits can work for your specific clients - simple, straightforward, and with no obligation.

Your Tax Credit Implementation Partner

Larry Potter serves as your dedicated Tax Credit Implementation Specialist for CPA firms. Working through Growth Management Group, a leader in specialized tax incentives for over two decades, Larry Potter helps accounting firms implement these high-value services without disrupting current operations or requiring additional staffing.