This article is different than most.

This article is also being posted on our blog site. I hope you will post your comments and we can begin a dialogue on this and other business questions.

Besides trying to stimulate your comments, I am also introducing our new blog site. The blog is another step (I hope!) towards making our communication easier, more responsive, more focused and more meaningful.

Going through the 3rd. quarter planning process has been very interesting.

Last year, our discussion was mostly on technical tax issues.

So far this year, most questions center around these questions: How can I succeed in a market driven by fear, uncertainty and doubt? What are the core elements of business success? Can I expect to profitably expand my business next year?

Surprisingly, these questions arise regardless of who you think will become President.

In reflecting upon these questions, I remembered what Earl Nightingale, in one of his publications, wrote: Life is only boring to boring people. In summary, he went on to say that opportunity and prosperity always abound around us.it is whether we can see them or not that makes the difference.

But it is what we see that determines our view of the world.

I think he was right.

In today’s economic climate, we may have to search longer and look further but opportunity and prosperity still abound around us.if we choose to live in a state of realistic optimism.

If we choose to live any other way, we are in a world filled with doubt, fear and unrealized dreams.

I believe there are two core elements of living in a state of realistic optimism: Resiliency and discipline.

Resiliency is being able to reflect off the bumps and grinds of life without losing your sense of adventure. When you occasionally lose, you shake it off, dust off your hat and get right back to trying again. Resiliency means you have confidence in yourself that you will reach your worthy goals; perhaps not as fact as you want, but reach them you will!

Resiliency means you have adopted Mr. Nightingale’s definition of success: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal. The resilient person is successful during the journey and not just when the destination is reached.

Discipline means you focus on your worthy goals. People may focus on the steps they think will get them to your goal. And while they maintain obedience in that they follow the steps, obedience is not discipline. Sometimes the steps need to be changed.

Discipline means you keep the goal in mind and do not let obstacles get in your way…the mission is completed regardless of the hardships involved. Discipline means people trust you will get them through; in this way discipline is a key component to leadership.

Discipline comprises duty and honor.

Somebody will make money tomorrow.somebody will reach their goals tomorrow.in the same kind of business you have today.

As we are all somebody to someone else, why can’t that somebody be you?

Is it possible for you to live in a state of realistic optimism?

Is it possible for you to reach your goals regardless of the economic conditions we live in?

Somebody will.why not you?

If you visit our new web site, you will see this expression:

Most accountants are satisfied to count the seeds in the apple
and think they have helped you. 

We help you find the apples in each seed!tm

This is my way of saying we have chosen to live in a state of realistic optimism.

This is my way of saying I think opportunity and prosperity still abound around me and I will find a way to reach my goals.regardless of the economic world around me!

Please let me know what you think.