Tax Day is the day on which individual income tax returns are due to the federal government. When the country was in its infancy, it struggled to raise funds from the 13 original states. The government collected the first income tax during the Civil War (1862 – 1872) to fund the war and its costs. Early taxes were based on assessments, not voluntary tax returns. They set a flat rate of 3 percent on incomes higher than $800. Over the next four years, Congress expanded the tax as members cut the amount of income that could be exempted and introduced higher, graduated rates. By 1865, the last year of the Civil War, the highest income tax rate, 10 percent, was applied to income in excess of $5,000. Congress,

Have you ever noticed that motivation is a DAILY job? It’s not one of those ‘get it done once’ things, it is something that we have to work at all of the time! You might think that being a SMILEY makes my job easy but let me tell you- I have to work at it every day as well! OK- so when I look in the mirror- I am immediately reminded that I am HAPPY most of the time but even those optimistically minded among us, need to be sure to get daily doses of motivation! Here are a few of my best Sir Smiley Tips on keeping that attitude right where it needs to be to keep both your business and personal lives- moving in the skyward

I just finished saying- TGIF- when this story landed in my INBOX: I hope you enjoy it and I hope you have a GREAT PERSPECTIVE! The Power of Perspective by John G. Miller The QBQ! Guy I don’t know about you, but from what I hear and read, people don’t seem very happy nowadays. The economy is struggling, the stock market is dropping, and consumer confidence is in the tank. A brand new poll shows that 89% of Americans are unsatisfied with the way things are going in the United States. Meanwhile, our political “leaders” can only seem to point fingers at the media, whine about their bad luck, and attack each other. Maybe it’s those “dog days” of summer. Maybe we’re just cranky. I don’t know. But

We get the answers to the questions we ask- which means that asking the RIGHT questions can have a very dramatic impact on our daily lives! Ask a BAD question (Why do bad things always happen to me?) and your mind goes straight to work finding the answer! Ask a GOOD question (How do I always end up in the right place at the right time?) and your mind goes straight to work to find the answer. The magic part of this equation, of course, is that WE decide what questions to ask and so by asking better questions, we have the opportunity to get better answers! Here are a few ways to determine if the questions you ask yourself set you up for success! Do you have

As we take the time to honor Martin Luther King Jr today, it seems appropriate to ask the question he once asked of those around him. What are you doing for others? There are nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States. Those small businesses employ nearly 50% of Americans. Can you imagine what would happen in our communities if every small business asked that question on a regular basis? There would be an amazing shift in how we treat others and our communities would forever be changed for the positive. On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr shared his I Have a Dream speech- it was a turning point in our Nation’s history. Today is a very good day to remember what others have done

You may know how AMAZING your team and your service is, but telling your prospects yourself may not have the desired end result! The very best way to let your future customers know how fantastic you are is to let your customers do the talking! Testimonials are POWERFUL tools when it comes to selling your products and services. Earning, collecting, and using testimonials needs to be a STRENGTH in your business- here are some tips! EARNING: This may seem like a ‘no brainer’ but you need to decide what you want your business to be known for. Teach your team exactly how you want your products and services delivered. Inspect the process so you can ensure the quality. No matter how large your business gets, dedicate yourself to