EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
SHAKING THINGS UP!
HEAVEN IN BUSINESS
Page 10 January 2018
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
SHAKING THINGS UP!
Coffee Break w / Andrea
Like most people, the new year is greeted with new opportunities and a renewed feeling of optimism. Whether you came out of last year crawling on your knees or springing into action as if you had jet packs strapped to your back, the new year is just that – a new year. As I reflected on the past year, my mind immediately went to everything that went wrong. Although I’ m an optimistic person at heart, the critical side of me focused on all of my failures. We learn from our failures, but it was like seeing a sign that reads,“ don’ t look down,” and your eyes immediately go down. It’ s as if the mind is somehow wired for negativity. Living in this negative state too long can cast a cloud of doubt over your future. This is where I was during my reflection time. Rather than being filled with a renewed feeling of optimism, I was claiming defeat before I started. Don’ t allow your failures to hold you hostage. Let that be your motivation to S. H. A. K. E. things up! 1. Sacrifice. What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want? Are you trying to get to a new place by taking the same path? That’ s as outrageous as trying to get to Miami, FL from New York by traveling North. You’ ll never get there, because you’ re going in the wrong direction. Achieving new levels of success will require new levels of sacrifice. Only you can decide what that is for you. 2. Harness the power of positivity. Having the right mindset can produce change. A positive mindset is an energy source that enables achieving the impossible. Harness that energy and let it propel you through the unpredictable setbacks that the new year may bring. 3. Accountable. As defined by www. businessdictionary. com, accountability is
“ the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner.” Being accountable to yourself is about telling yourself the truth. Be accountable for the decisions that have led you to this point and to the changes needed to get you to the next level. 4. Kill the weeds that stunt your growth. Much like the weeds in a garden, they can choke a plant from receiving the nutrients needed to promote growth. Relationships and bad habits can be weeds. It is time to remove them from your environment. 5. Eliminate the distractions. Keep your mind focused on the main thing. You do this by staying focused on the critical issues and eliminating distractions. Similar to the previous point, distractions can be toxic to your growth and ability to achieve success. Shaking things up is about doing things differently. If you intend on making this year better than the last, then you’ ll have to chart a different course. Remember,“ insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” says Albert Einstein. Start by reflecting on your 2017 experiences, cast a vision for 2018, and S. H. A. K. E. things up a bit to get there. IDG Vision Consulting & Training inspires, develops, and grows the vision inside of people / organizations by helping them get from where they are today( point A) to where they want to be( point B). Whether you are simply looking for motivation to build new skills or a strategic plan for success, we offer 1-on-1 and group coaching, workshops / seminars, and mastermind group studies to help achieve your goals. Contact us at 770-648-3758 to schedule a free consultation.
Stay Inspired! Dr. Andrea Bowens-Jones
IDG Vision Consulting & Training – President / CEO
Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, and Trainer idgvision. com | andrea @ idgvision. com
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HEAVEN IN BUSINESS
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THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT TAX REFORM: A COMPARISON OF TWO BILLS
“ I am so excited to file my taxes,” said no one ever! Yet, here we are again with another filing season upon us. As you begin to take part in the devastatingly long process of filing your taxes, there are a few things you may want to know. There are two bills in the air regarding tax reform. By the time you file your taxes either it will be law, or it will still be in the reconciliation process.
Provisions: This is a synopsis of some of the provisions included in the House bill( HR 1) that was passed by a vote of 227 to 205 on November 16, 2017, and the Senate’ s version of the bill was passed on December 2, by a vote of 51 to 49 – both along party lines. This synopsis does not include any conference amendments made after the December 2nd Senate version.
There are significant differences between the two bills, and both the House and Senate must pass the same legislation before it can be sent to the president for a signature. This involves a reconciliation process between the two houses of Congress. Most sources expect that most of the provisions of the Senate version will prevail during the reconciliation process in an effort to get the legislation pushed through before Christmas.
• Both bills cut both individual and corporate tax rates
• Both bills largely repeal the state and local tax deduction
• Both plans increase the standard deduction
• Only the Senate bill repeals the Affordable Care Act requirement that individuals buy health insurance
• The conference committee
will reconcile the two bills for a final vote and signature from the President Exemptions 1. Current Law: $ 4050 2. House Version: Would be repealed 3. Senate Version: Would be repealed Standard Deductions 1. Current Law: Single- $ 6,350; Head of Household- $ 9,350; Married Filing Joint- $ 12,700
2. House Version:- $ 12,200; Head of Household- $ 18,300; Married Filing Joint- $ 24,400
3. Senate Version:- $ 12,000; Head of Household- $ 18,000; Married Filing Joint- $ 24,000 Medical as Itemized Deduction 1. Current Law: Allowed in excess of 10 % AGI 2. House Version: Would be repealed 3. Senate Version: Would be allowed in excess of 7.5 % of AGI for two years ACA Individual Mandate 1. Current Law: Currently penalty of $ 695( half for children) or more is imposed on each individual who does not have minimum essential health coverage
2. House Version: Not Mentioned
3. Senate Version: Would eliminate the penalty after 2018
For the complete comparison chart, please visit www. bd-tax. com and grab our FREE tax organizer. At Butler- Davis, it is our goal to always provide a superior customer experience while helping our clients save money and live financially fit. Call us to start a conversation.
Nicole Davis, CPA Butler-Davis Tax & Accounting
770-500-5341