End of Year (2003) Thoughts
Volume 11, Number 52
Issue 548
It’s been a custom that, for each year’s last issue of TaxFax™, I write an issue that is more personal than any others that have come before it during the year. Doing this will be a difficult task this year because the majority of this year’s issues have been very personal. Regular readers of this publication know that I decided in February 2003 to change the direction of this publication away from “technical” and to “personal.” Frankly, it was rare for me to “talk taxes” this year.
Out of respect for the 500 or so issues that came before the change (just about 10 years of weekly issues), I didn’t change the name of this publication. That was a hard decision, as was the change in direction. A bit of background: I had decided in mid-1993 to publish a weekly newsletter and I would later find out that I was the only one publishing an electronically-delivered (at the time by fax machine) tax and financial newsletter anywhere! By early 2003, there was so much detailed DAILY information “out there” on the Internet about taxes and financial matters that I thought it appropriate to endorse two other websites (www.irs.gov and www.forbes.com) and to start doing something different with my weekly writings.
The “something different” was to start telling some “real life” homilies and stories, handing-out entrepreneurial ideas and giving some emotional and creative advice to small business people. I’ve enjoyed writing the new type of issues more than I ever did the old ones. This change appears to have been good—both for business and for me personally. The telephone calls that come on Mondays after each issue is released (first by fax broadcast to about 125 people then by posting on my website) are WAY, WAY, WAY up.
I’ve enjoyed “striking nerves” with some of the bold things that I have written about—business, life and politics. I’ve tried to be aggressive and I’ve tried to be a little controversial, especially with the ones that I’ve written about customer service and politics. Though last year at this time I wasn’t contemplating to do so, I did run for public office here in Chesterfield County and I did get myself elected to the grand pooh-bah position of Soil and Water Conservation District Director. My 2003 writings often took distinctively a political tone, reflective of my views about the need for limited, well-managed, fiscally-responsible government with significant and very impassioned citizen input.
Professionally, 2003 saw two key staff members, both college students, go onward to other adventures. Two other former staff members passed the CPA exam, making a total of four that I claim that I’ve grown. There are several more that have it “in the works.” These two new Virginia CPAs are especially classy because they come back often to share advice and counsel and to give credit where they think credit is due and, frankly, I will take both! I will continue to be the greatest cheerleader for former staff members who recognize that life is a journey and that you must always remember the roads and bridges that you travel over.
I’m very blessed to have ended 2003 with three exceptional young people who help oversee the administrative aspects of my little company. There were times in 2003 that, due to several critical professional and personal situations that arose, these young “staffers” stepped forward to assume responsibilities that should normally be reserved for those well-beyond their age. M. Robert Hines grew to be an integral part of my company. He joined my firm in August 2002 and will be a May 2006 college graduate majoring in Accounting. Devan H. Barber, who arrived in September 2002, grew to hold a multi-faceted role as both an administrator and as a creative talent. I’m lucky that Rita M. Cook came in October 2003. Devan and Rita are May 2004 high school graduates who have their pick of any college.
Speaking of “picks,” I seem to have had the “pick of the litter” of some wonderful and exceptional young people who will join me in early 2004 to supplement my existing staff. I savor the anticipation and look forward to it.
David B. Robinson, CPA
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