You have the power over the challenges and tasks you face.  You just might not know it yet.  Not too long ago I learned a new term: self-efficacy.  The concept was not foreign to me, just the term itself. Self-efficacy is your belief in your abilities.  Those with low self-efficacy believe they are not able to accomplish certain tasks.  When they face a new challenge, they lose the battle in their head before they even start.  In contrast, those with high self-efficacy believe they can conquer any  feat.  Nothing will stand in the way. We all have faced a new situation...

Read More »

Of all the taxes and fees that business owners must pay (and there are many), the least understood is probably the tax on tangible personal property (TPP).  In fact, many small business owners don't even know what constitutes TPP.  The confusion is intensified because the requirements vary from state to state.  For example, some states consider certain types of vehicles to be TPP, while others do not.  Some states will tax inventory, while others specifically exclude it. All states do agree that tangible personal property is best described as everything that isn't real property.  Real property is the ground and everything...

Read More »

About a year ago, I was asked to read a pre-release book and provide a review.  I was floored by the content and the opportunity.  This book about how to become great had lots of practical meaning and read very effortlessly.  It was even better for me to learn it was based on Christian principles. Page after page, chapter after chapter all offered incredible insight to the reader.  Now, Michael G. Holmes is offering the book for free!  I Shall Raise Thee Up, will be free for at least a month starting April 15th at the following link: Raise Thee Up. I...

Read More »

A few weeks back, I wrote about leadership secrets learned from those who have gone before us.  To my way of thinking, there has been no greater example of leadership than Jesus Christ.  I've learned more about how to lead from reading of Jesus' earthly exploits than I have in any business book, and I've read my share of those, too. I’m not referring to drawing some vague inspiration from Him in general terms.  I'm talking about concrete, applicable examples of a servant leadership style that Jesus demonstrated and were recorded for us by His followers. Jesus Christ...

Read More »

Do you remember as a child, all you had to do to find a fortune was spot the "X" on the treasure map?  In our lives it is still very easy to discover treasure.  At least, we can find the things we truly hold valuable in our own lives.  The question is, will you like what you find? The Bible offers some great advice where to look for that "X."  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21.  There are so many thing that we hold at great values in our lives.  There are things...

Read More »