The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.



So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash…would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent YOUR dash?

Desperation spending disguised as a tax strategy.

December rolls around, and your CPA says the same thing every year.

"Buy some equipment before year-end to depreciate."

So you scramble to find something to purchase, throw it on the company card, and hope it moves the needle.

But here's the problem — that's not tax planning.

That's desperation spending disguised as a tax strategy!

Most CPAs default to "buy equipment" because it's easy. But it's not always the best move for your situation.

Real tax planning considers your entire financial picture and finds the strategies that actually make sense for you.

We only have a few weeks left in 2025 to implement strategies that could save you tens of thousands.

Want to see what you should actually be doing before year-end?

3 proven tactics that top emails use to get replies:

 

• Give first: Lead with value — share a quick idea, framework, or resource before asking for time. Reciprocity builds trust (and reply rates 3–5x higher).
• Break the pattern: Ditch “Hope this finds you well.” Ask an unexpected question, use humor, or send a short personalized video. Different = noticed.
• Open a loop: Create curiosity by teasing insight (“Most teams make this one mistake…”). The brain has to know the answer.
• Combine all three: —Reciprocity, Pattern Interruption, and Curiosity — to make your cold emails stand out, feel human, and earn real replies.

These principles work because they align with how people think — not just how they buy.

Is business supposed to suck sometimes?

Well, not all the time, but enough to make most people quit.

Here's the difference though.

Most people quit when it hurts. But the ones determined to be successful keep moving anyway.

Every deal I've done and every next-level I hit always looked messy in the middle. I'd be full of stress and doubt. Chest pains and dry heaving daily. Being hit with delays that cost money. People not showing up.

If you refuse to quit, those problems will resolve themselves.

The breakthrough always shows up after the day you wanted to quit.

It feels impossible sometimes. It's supposed to.

Just don't let it stop you.

It’s okay to stumble.

It’s okay to miss the mark.

It’s okay to not have it all figured out right away.

Every stumble is a lesson in disguise — shaping your skills, sharpening your mindset, and building the resilience you’ll need for the next step.

And when you do find that success?

Own it. Be proud of the work it took to get there. Keep your confidence.

But never let that confidence turn into arrogance.

Arrogance looks down on others.

Humility reaches down and lifts them up.

The truth is, arrogance isn’t a sign of strength — it’s the first crack in the foundation. And given enough time, it leads to a downfall.

This week, embrace your journey — stumbles and all.

Learn from them. Grow from them.

And when success comes, let it make you better, not “bigger.”

Because real leaders don’t stand above people — they stand with them.

Poke the bear.

One of the best ways to improve your cold email openers is to use “Poke the bear” style questions. 

Here are five examples you can use. Each a different style, depending on how bold you want to be:

1. Classic – How are you currently handling ____?

2. FOMO / status pressure – Are you already doing ____ like the top teams in your space?

3. Humble – Totally possible you already solved this, but how do you handle ____ today?

4. Ego-stroke – You probably already have this dialed in, but what’s your approach to ____?

5. Risk-framed – How do you make sure ____ doesn’t slip through the cracks as you scale?

Pick 1–2 that fit your tone.

Rotate them in your emails this week, and give’em a try!

December 31st isn't just New Year's Eve.

It's the tax deadline most business owners miss.

Once the clock strikes midnight, your 2026 tax-saving window closes.

No more deductions. No more credits. 

Everything you could have done? Gone.

Most CPAs don't bring this up until February or March - by then, it's way too late.

But right now, you still have time.

• Time to accelerate deductions.
• Time to claim credits you're missing.

The free online calculator analyzes your business and tells you exactly what moves you can make before year-end to reduce your 2026 tax bill.

Don't wait until it's too late.