I career coach

A Woodchopper's Tale

W

hile delivering milk
he or she is too busy to grab
to town, a dairy
lunch? Have you ever called
farmer stopped
home to say you would be late
his truck in front of his friend's
to get ahead on a project?
farm to say hello. His friend,
Ask yourself this: How effi-
who had been chopping wood
cient is a boss going to be on
for weeks to prepare for winter,
an empty stomach? How good
appeared unusually exhausted
is that important project going
so the dairy farmer asked his
to be if you stay at work star-
friend to stop chopping and
Robert Sher
ing at your computer screen,
show him his axe.
bleary eyed, tired and over-
Columnist
The axe was as dull as a but-
caffeinated? Is this how one
ter knife. "No wonder you are so tired. You
gets ahead?
need to sharpen your axe," he said.
If you work with a dull axe, it will take
"I don't have time the friend replied,
longer to complete the job. Just like the
panting. "It is almost winter and I have
woodchopper, you must sharpen your axe
to finish chopping this wood to keep my
to chop faster, more efficiently and com-
house warm. I just need to keep chop-
plete any task better.
ping."
In a state plagued by corporate down-
This tale is a fabulous example illustrat- sizing, salary cuts, layoffs and a historic
ing inefficient work practices that can
budget crisis, uncertainty over our futures
cripple the most talented managers and
seems to be the only thing you and your
employees alike.
employees can count on, but planning
How often have you heard someone say
for uncertainty is not healthy. Investing

'111111111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1

alk

• Get organized. Make a list of priorities
and check them off as completed.
• Need help? Ask for it.
• Hire a coach or find a mentor.
• Take a Dale Carnegie class.
At some point, everyone complains
about too much work. It is easy to get
caught up in the fallacy of being too busy
to stop and ask for help.
Sharpening the axe is the single most
powerful investment you can ever make
in life.
This is a way to invest in yourself and
might very well be the only instrument
you will ever get that helps you deal with,
and contribute to, life. 7_

Robert Sher, CPA, is a certified executive

coach. Formerly CFO and partner for Schostak

Brothers & Company, he now serves on the

West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees

and is treasurer of the American Institute of

Certified Public Accountants Foundation. His

e-mail address is: info@bobshercom.

DO YOU HAVE
BUSINESS OR PERSONAL
TAX PROBLEMS?

I I c

ir

in yourselves, and in your employees, is a
more appropriate response to the volatile
environment.
To get through these challenging times,
you must each find the right tools to be
more efficient in your jobs and in your
lives. It is time to stop pushing ahead with
dull blades and start learning how to work
smart, and not just work hard.
Here's how you can start:
• Read a book on time management or
take a class.
• Do not procrastinate. Procrastinating
is like chopping wood with a dull axe.
Emergencies will happen that will take
you away from an important task so do
not put off until tomorrow what you can
do today.
• Stay up to date with technology. If you
don't know how to use it to work smarter,
get help.
• Consider replacing some out-of-town
meetings with "virtual" meetings using
technology.

Levy & Associates can help!

0

We stop and resolve the situation before going to
court, and lawyers are needed. We let you focus
on your personal and professional life.

Op

• Offer in Compromise
• IRS Collection Issues
• Release of Wage Garnishments
• Release of Bank Levies

• Unfiled Tax Returns

• Abatement of Penalties
• Installment Agreements
• Currently Non-Collectible Status
• Innocent Spouse Claims
• State Tax Collection Issues

We are a Michigan based corporation. We have successfully
represented thousands of corporations and individuals
throughout the State of Michigan.

Associates:
• Charles M. Inman, Ill, C.P.A.+
• Patricia L. Martinez, C.P.A.+
• Dale L. Gudenau, Esq.**
• Michelle C. Levy, Esq.**
• Julie Morley*

•
•
•
•
•
•

Kenneth Winston, E.A.•
Richard A. Erickson++
Renee M. Cooney*
Glenn Sturm, C.P.A. & A.I.C.P.A.
Allen Reback, Regional Manager
Jerry Becker, Regional Manager

+ Member Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
** Member Michigan Bar Association
• Member National Society of Accountants
• Former IRS Revenue Officer
++American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

• New York

• Los Angeles

• Boston

• Ft. Lauderdale

YOUR OPTIONS:

SPECIALIZING IN:

OFFICE
LOCATIONS

Payment plans

Reduction or elimination of penalties
Settlement for less than the amount demanded

EVY

We have resolved MILLIONS in tax
liabilities in the last year alone!

•
mt.
CONSULTANTS

Lawrence B. Levy

Member National Society of Accountants &
American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

28400 Southfield Rd • Southfield, MI 48075
248.557.4048 • Fax 248.443.1642
Toll Free 877.666.1evy (5389)

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www.leyygroupinc.com

November 8 • 2007

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