Here’s What to Do Next If Filed Your Taxes.

 

Most people think tax season ends when the return gets filed… It isn’t.

Filing is NOT the finish line. It’s the starting point for smarter tax planning. Tax planning is different.  That’s the work you do throughout the year to legally lower your tax bill.

Build your community

 

Managing can be surprisingly isolating. You’re expected to support others, but you don’t always have a built-in space to work through your own challenges. Over time, that lack of outlet can make everything feel heavier and harder to navigate. That’s where having a strong community makes a difference. Peers, mentors, or even a small group of managers you trust can give you perspective, help you think through tough situations, and spark new ideas you might not reach on your own. Sometimes just talking something through is enough to get unstuck or see a clearer path forward. These relationships don’t just help you solve problems. They help refill your energy and keep your thinking fresh.

Key question: “Who are the people you can turn to when you need perspective, support, or a new way of thinking?”

It’s getting harder to be a leader right now!

The role itself has expanded. As a leader, you’re expected to think strategically, support your team’s well-being, roll up your sleeves and jump in, deliver results faster, navigate constant change, and stay on top of new tools and ways of working. On any given day, you might be switching between coaching, problem-solving, decision-making, and unblocking work, often without much time to reset in between. And it can take its toll. According to a survey, 75% of managers are burned out.

What makes leadership especially challenging is that the pressure can feel like progress. You might feel needed, responsive, and productive. But over time, that constant motion can start to replace more intentional thinking. Instead of leading with clarity, it’s easy to react in real time, making it harder to step back, prioritize what truly matters, and protect your own energy in the process.

So how can you stay effective and energized when so much is being asked of you?

Be more selective

When everything feels important, you feel the need to be involved in everything, which will likely become unsustainable. Instead, start being more deliberate about where your presence actually adds value. There are moments where your input will move things forward quickly, and others where your team can handle it without you. For example, you might choose to stay closely involved in early-stage planning or high-stakes decisions, but step back during the execution phase. Creating space doesn’t mean stepping back completely. It means choosing where to engage so you can show up with more focus and energy when it matters most.

Key question: “Where does your involvement truly make a difference, and where can you step back?”

Build small moments of recovery into your day

Most leaders think about rest as something that happens after work. But when your days are full and fast-moving, waiting until the end of the day to recharge isn’t enough. Look for small ways to reset throughout your day. That might mean taking a few minutes between meetings to step away, blocking short breaks to think without input, or simply avoiding back-to-back scheduling when possible. These moments won’t dramatically change your workload, but they will help you maintain a more consistent level of energy instead of running on empty.

Key question: “Where can you create small pockets of recovery in your day to maintain your energy?”

Focus on progress

When expectations are high, everything might feel urgent – an environment that creates a reactive mindset, where you’re constantly moving from one task to the next without a clear sense of progress. Here’s where you want to shift your mindset: regularly step back and identify what actually moved forward. What decisions were made? What problems were solved? What progress did your team make? Asking these retrospective questions helps you and your team stay grounded in outcomes rather than urgency. It also creates a sense of momentum, which is a key driver of motivation and energy over time.

Key question: “Are you measuring your days by how busy they feel, or by the progress that’s actually being made?”

If you want to be seen as the go-to in your niche, start here.

Your LinkedIn headline.

Because right now, most are getting this completely wrong.

Let's look at recruiters:

They’re using it like a job title.

“Recruiter in Manufacturing”
“Executive Recruiter | Finance & Accounting”
“Helping companies hire top talent”

“CEO of X Search”

None of that positions you.

It tells us what you do but it doesn’t tell me why we should care. And in a market where everyone sounds the same, that’s a problem.Because if your headline doesn’t immediately signal value, outcome, and specificity, you’re going to get ignored.

Here’s the shift:

Your headline should NOT be your title.
It should be a positioning statement.

And the simplest way to fix it is this:

Who you serve + the outcome you help them achieve

That’s it.

Not what you do.
Not your industry label.
Not “recruiter for X.”

Who you help and what changes because of you.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Example 1: Helping manufacturing leaders in the Carolinas make the right finance and operations hires- so they can protect margin, performance, and momentum

Example 2: Adding revenue-generating partners to AmLaw 200 firms with long-term strategic fit

Those are different.

They signal:
• Specific buyer
• Specific problem
• Specific outcome

And more importantly, they create recognition.

The right people read it and think, “That’s for me.”Everyone else moves on and THAT is hat’s the goal.

Because LinkedIn is no longer a people-first platform. It’s a relevance-first platform.

If your positioning isn’t clear, the algorithm doesn’t know who to show you to and neither does your market.

So if you want to become the go-to in your niche, don’t start with posting more.

Start with fixing the way you’re positioned.

Your headline is the first signal.

The fastest money you'll ever make online won’t come from social media.

It comes from something way more boring.

Email.

Back in 2007, Kelly was just figuring out what online marketing even was.

No agency.
No offers.
No funnel.

Just late nights teaching herself HTML and SEO and reading every marketing blog she could find.

One rule stuck:

The money is in the list.

Fast forward to 2026.

Kelly. Real businesses.

Same rule.

Social platforms are powerful.
But they’re rented land.

Your email list? That’s property.

When you hit send, it goes out.
No algorithm mood swings.
No praying for reach.

Use social media to attract.
Use content to build authority.
But move people somewhere you control.

I had no idea I was overpaying!!

 

I heard from a business owner recently who thought their taxes were "pretty optimized."

Their CPA was responsive. Their returns were filed on time. Everything seemed fine.

Then they went through a tax strategy review.

Here’s what they found:

They had been overpaying for years. Nobody was proactively looking for opportunities throughout the year.

The strategy work just wasn't happening.

Your Bottom Line

You don’t rise to goals. You rise to identity.

Your identity is the story you tell yourself about who you are.

And that story drives every behavior, decision, and result in your business.

Limiting identities create limiting results:

• “I’m not a salesperson” → Poor sales

• “I’m just getting by” → Survival mode

• “I have to do everything myself” → Burnout and small business

Empowering identities create empowering results:

• “I’m a CEO building equity” → Strategic decisions, long-term growth

• “I’m a high-performer who charges what I’m worth” → Premium pricing, quality clients

• “I’m a specialist known for [niche]” → Focused positioning, referrals

The shift happens through:

Define who you need to become to achieve your goals naturally

Write your “Future You” identity paragraph in present tense

Read it daily to rewire your self-image

Make one decision per week from that new identity

Watch as behaviors and results shift to match

Your self-image is the ceiling on your success.

Raise the ceiling. Step into who you’re becoming.

Your action this week: Write your “Future You” paragraph describing the person you’re becoming. Use present tense (”I am...”). Make it powerful and specific. Read it every morning for the next 30 days. Then make ONE decision this week from that identity instead of your old one. Watch what changes when you stop trying to achieve goals and start becoming the person who achieves them naturally.

Define who you need to become.

Think about your primary business goal for the next year.

Now answer: Who is the person who achieves that goal naturally?

Not what do they do. Who are they?

Example:

Goal: Build a $200K book with 90% retention.

Who achieves this naturally?

Someone who:

• Values quality over quantity

• Builds deep client relationships

• Thinks strategically about retention

• Operates like a CEO, not just a producer

• Invests in systems and team

• Charges confidently because they know their value

That’s the identity you’re stepping into.

Why Goals Alone Don’t Work

Most people approach growth like this:

Step 1: Set a goal (”I want to make $100K”)

Step 2: Work really hard

Step 3: Hope it happens

Result: It doesn’t. Or it happens briefly, then you slide back.

Here’s why that doesn’t work:

Goals are about outcomes. But outcomes are driven by behaviors. And behaviors are driven by identity.

The hierarchy looks like this:

Identity → Beliefs → Behaviors → Results

Your identity determines what you believe is possible and natural for you.

Your beliefs determine what actions you take (or avoid).

Your actions determine your results.

If you only focus on goals (results) without changing identity, you’re fighting upstream against who you believe you are.

Example:

Goal: “I want to make $150K this year.”

But your identity says: “I’m not really a businessperson. I’m just a person trying to help people.”

Belief that flows from that identity: “Aggressive selling feels inauthentic. Real success happens organically.”

Behaviors that flow from that belief: You avoid asking for the sale. You don’t follow up persistently. You undersell your value.

Result: You make $70K. Again.

The goal failed because it conflicted with your identity.

Your CPA filed your return, but who's handling your tax strategy?

Filing your return and building your tax strategy are two different things, and most preparers only do one.

Tax preparation reports on what happened last year. By the time your preparer reviews your return, there’s almost nothing they can change. The tax strategies that save money require decisions made during the year.

Your CPA closed your 2025 taxes. Stryde builds your 2026 plan. Those are two different conversations, and only one of them changes what you’ll owe next year.

The reality? Businesses overpay constantly. Subscriptions auto-renew. Tax codes change. Fees get tacked on invisibly.

A legitimate refund recovery isn't magic; it's just a no upfront cost audit of what you already overpaid.

Skip the skepticism and just run the numbers. See if your business qualifies in 60 seconds 👉 BusinessRefund.com

Business Tips

Many people in business use LinkedIn consistently but still struggle to create genuine engagement, meaningful conversations, and strong business relationships.

They post content, add connections, and remain active, yet often feel invisible, overlooked, or disappointed by limited results.

The challenge is that LinkedIn success is rarely built through posting alone. Real momentum often comes from how well you engage, support others, create conversations, and build trust over time.

There are practical ways to turn everyday LinkedIn activity into stronger relationships, increased visibility, and better business opportunities.

See prior posts.....

The field is wide open!!

The P&C industry is looking for talent and that's why recruiting submissions are being taken for the P&C space - text Larry today 847-872-4047 or book a call in seconds.

 

Conversations Around Industry Challenges

People engage fastest with problems they already recognise. When you discuss common frustrations, obstacles, or pain points in your industry, you create relevance and spark conversation.

Benefits

✅ Increases comments and engagement

✅ Builds authority by showing understanding

✅ Creates discussion around real-world issues

Ways to Apply

1️⃣ Identify common client frustrations in your niche.

2️⃣ Write posts that speak directly to those challenges.

3️⃣ Offer perspective or a practical solution.

4️⃣ Ask your audience how they handle it.

5️⃣ Reply to comments to extend discussion.

Promote People in Your Network

Supporting others publicly through shares, mentions, or shoutouts helps build goodwill and stronger relationships. People remember those who help them get seen.

Benefits

✅ Strengthens business relationships

✅ Increases your visibility positively

✅ Helps build community over competition

Steps to Apply

1️⃣ Identify people sharing quality content.

2️⃣ Share their post with your own positive comment.

3️⃣ Tag them where appropriate.

4️⃣ Give credit genuinely.

5️⃣ Make supporting others part of your weekly strategy.

Celebrate Others’ Achievements

When someone in your network wins an award, gets promoted, launches a business, or hits a milestone, acknowledge it. Genuine support strengthens relationships quickly.

Benefits

✅ Builds deeper personal connection

✅ Keeps you visible in positive moments

✅ Creates trust through sincere encouragement

Steps to Apply

1️⃣ Watch for milestones in your feed.

2️⃣ Leave a genuine congratulatory comment.

3️⃣ Send a supportive direct message if suitable.

4️⃣ Be sincere and specific.

5️⃣ Celebrate regularly without expecting anything back.

Warm Prospects Before Messaging Them

Many people rush straight into direct messages. A smarter approach is to engage with prospects first through likes and thoughtful comments so they recognise your name before outreach begins.

Benefits

✅ Builds familiarity before contact

✅ Increases trust and credibility

✅ Improves response rates to future messages

Steps to Apply

1️⃣ Identify ideal prospects.

2️⃣ Engage with their content consistently.

3️⃣ Leave meaningful comments that add value.

4️⃣ Allow familiarity to build naturally.

5️⃣ Reach out only after warm engagement has begun.