Time, Energy, and Money

 

Wow! It's October! 2020! Who saw this year coming? We still have one quarter left to make this year your best year in business. I am committed to, are you?

I'm sure you started your business for two internal reasons 1) time for that and those you love, 2) financial freedom (Also being your own boss is pretty cool too!)

This year shook many businesses up. Sadly some closed down. If you were like myself and our company, you took this year as an opportunity to refine and become even better. At this moment, stop to reflect. What changes did you or do you need to make to make this year successful? What philosophical reasons do you have that made you get into business for yourself in the first place? Maybe it was to serve the community yourself, or provide your employees with an inspiring and secure place to spend a large amount of time in their day, making the money they need to provide for their family, and serve their dreams.

 Are systems in place and working to the ultimate capacity they can be? You may not know what is possible, many of our clients thought they were operating perfectly. If you and your staff could have their day spent in building the business, generating more revenue, and serving the community, what would that day look like to you? Focusing on building your business, I'm sure, is a better use of time and so much more enjoyable than the focus and energy it takes in running payroll, staying compliant, marketing, and attracting and inspiring employees to work with you.

It is not too late to be the hero of your story this year!

Let Megan with Honeybee Photography show the world the Vision and Mission your company has for the community through beautiful photographs for all your marketing!

Myself and the MyCORE team want to compliment your marketing and guide you to becoming cloud-based and fully confident in not just surviving 2020, but THRIVING! Our clients are ecstatic at the opportunity and value MyCORE gives them to secure the future of their business, the livelihood of their employees, and the strength of community. Let our team lock arms with you to run your business in the areas of Payroll, Benefits, HR, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Taxes. Those six verticals are not fun to vet, learn; and do they work together? They do with us.

With great marketing, and incredible outsourced team, and cloud-based technology, we become a new SYSTEM for you and your business. Saving You Some Time, Energy & Money! What will you do with your extra Time, Energy and Money?

Yours in Business,

Cheryl

        

CHERYL CAGE

Partner Advisor

443-481-8027

leadwithmycore.com

Find the Positive in a Crystal

 Finding the Positive: A Lesson from a Crystal

 

By James Scott

Board Certified Hypnotist

Director, Chesapeake Bay Hypnosis

 

Within the flow of life, accidents happen. Unfortunately, all too often we focus on the negative aspects of the mishap and stress ourselves out. This happened to me recently, and it was a very enlightening experience.

A few weeks ago, I was on the road doing some live appearances in West Virginia and South Carolina. It was strange to be presenting while wearing a mask and social distancing (we are still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic at the time of this writing), but that’s a story for another time.

On my way home, I stopped at a metaphysical shop in Richmond, Va., and purchased a lovely selenite wand. It was hidden away on a shelf in the store, as if it were just waiting for me to find it. The wand had been machined to a fine point on one end and a rounded end on the other. It had an amazing feel and energy to it.

Selenite is a crystal known for clearing negative energy and instilling a feeling of inner peace. I was so excited to have found this wand, as I had been looking for one like it for quite some time. When I got home, I immediately started using it to ground myself and others.

And then it happened: I found the wand laying on my bedroom floor with the pointed tip broken off. Apparently, the wand had fallen out of my bag. Yes, I carry a “man purse” (how did I ever grow up without one?), and I had left the wand in it. The bag tipped over and the wand rolled off my bed and fell to the floor. I’m not sure if the wand broke in my bag or when it hit the carpet, but nonetheless it was broken.

I was devastated! I have a real affinity for crystals, and I felt as though I had hurt a close friend. My heart began to ache, and my eyes welled up with tears. Grabbing my phone, I frantically searched Google for ways to repair the wand. Almost immediately, I came across a blog post by Genn John of Arkansas Crystal Works (https://www.crystalgenn.com/crystal-breakage-how-to-deal-with-it-and-what-it-means/).

In the post, Genn wrote that when a crystal breaks there is almost always a lesson to be learned. Usually, this is a lesson about self-love, acceptance, and forgiveness. What a revelation! I dried my tears and meditated on this point while holding the damaged wand. I felt the empathy flow between myself and the crystal and I instantly felt at peace. I saw that the broken tip of the wand was actually beautiful, and it made the crystal unique. I also realized that I had been focusing lately on perfection, and the crystal was trying to show me that sometimes imperfections are what make us special.

So, when an accident occurs in your life remember to look for the positive lesson to be learned from it. Sure, this may be challenging in some cases; but isn’t that what growth is all about?

That’s it for this month. Until next time, keep thinking good thoughts!

Did you like this article?  Here's more like this one:  A Simple Way to Toss Away Stress

It's 4th Quarter! Do you know where your bookkeeper is?

WOW! - where did the time go?

Can you believe that October is already here? In a few short months we will, literally and figuratively, close the books on 2020.

From a bookkeeping standpoint there are numerous things that the business owner can do to assist with the end of year bookkeeping close out task.

Time and space won’t allow us to look at all of them and to be honest, many of them are best left in the hands of your bookkeeper or accountant.

 So let’s just look at what can be considered to be the top 3 things that you can do right now.

This year has been anything but ordinary. COVID -19 has resulted in many changes. One of those changes that has had quite an impact on businesses are PPP loans.

Have you started on the forgiveness process yet? -- Yes.

That’s probably not a bad thing. You do want this liability off your books before it turns into a loan.

 I would wait before actually submitting the application however…at least until a final decision is made on automatic forgiveness.

 It’s looking more and more likely that one won’t be made until after the elections so breathe.

 You can find the application as-well-as instructions for forgiveness here but remember to breathe. You have some time.

 In a related note are EIDL loans. Did you get one?

 If so, they like most loans must be amortized or tracked.  Having a separate bank account for these funds makes this task so much easier.  

There are 2 other related things you can do that would be helpful and hopefully your bookkeeper... you are all working with one right...please say you are 😊

 I jest, not everyone needs a bookkeeper - at least not all the time. It’s wise to have one look things over, at least once a quarter, though.

 As I was saying, hopefully your bookkeeper has been able to assist you throughout the year in making the financial decisions that will enhance the growth and profitability of our business.

 At the very least, he or she should have you prepared for taxes.

 The mad rush and the headache that often comes with it need not be some yearly rite of passage. It can and should be a time of strategic planning and, believe it or not, anticipation... No I am not joking.

 Getting down from my soapbox.

 Two other super helpful things that you could do right now would be to make a quick check on your accounts receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP). Run an aging report on both these items. It should allow you to catch all the problems.

 If you are uncomfortable running the aging report, simply do a visual of your overdue by 60 and 90 day AR & AP figures and correct any issues – have you already collected on some of those receivables…do you need to resend some invoices…have you already paid some of those bills?

 You do want to have everything correct and up to date because, to a large degree, this is what your financial statements and ultimately your taxes will be based on.

 Why not set yourself up to win?

Mike Coombs – Flawless Bookkeeping Services

Flawlessbookkeepingservices.com

mikeyourbookkeeper@gmail.com

301-821-0076  

The day after the first day of school

 Hi there!

I wanted to wait til today because it was the first day of school to finish writing my newsletter, because I want to say this.

That first day of school is always bumpy.  I know what you're going to say.

"Megan, you don't have school-aged children.  You have no idea what this is like with distance learning and working at the same time."

I don't, but I feel you.  I feel you right here.  You're in my heart.

That's why I've put such a special newsletter together this month for you.  I have wonderful associates.  I love them!  They inspire me, and I inspire them.  

The Eyes Have It by Brandie Bates  Look gorgeous from the nose up!

Three Easy Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall by Shaun Leway  So easy!

An Easy Way to Keep Yourself - and Your Kids - Focused and Productive by James Scott  It's brilliant!

Vision by Cheryl Cage  Look at the Day!

Listen.  I know it isn't easy.  It isn't easy at all.  It's never easy.  But... it's worth it.  Five years from now, you'll look back at this time in your family's life, and you'll discover that when you went through the super-hard times, they really were the best times.  It was the times that helped you to grow and progress.  It was the times that you learned to lean on each other.  It was those times that got you where you are now (of which we're speaking of five years in the future).

Embrace this time.  Cherish your kids.  I know it's hard, and it's ok to feel that way.  

You're in my heart.

Bee in love with the heartwork of your life.

September 2020: What's Coming Up

 

What's going on at Honey Bee Photography?

Plenty!

Halloween

We know that Halloween is going to be very different this year; however, that doesn't mean that you still can't celebrate.

I remember that, as a child, it was a very important decision as to what I was going to be for Halloween.  I loved putting together my costumes, and feeling myself becoming that person.  When I was 7, I was a princess, with a gossamer gown and the most beautiful sash and golden paper crown.  When I was 8, I was an "old fashioned girl" aka Laura Ingalls Wilder.  When I was 11, I was a bum for fun.  When I was 12, I was a witch with a black, pointy hat and a borrowed college graduation cape.  

For weeks before, I would think about my costume, and if I were really that person, how would I be?  What would I sound like?  I would wax philosophical and do what I could to become the person in the costume.  In my mind, I was the effervescent princess, the pioneer girl crossing the prairie, the bum hopping on a train, or a witch, ready to ride her broomstick at midnight against the full moon.

These days, though, kids get their costumes much earlier, and then they find ways to "try them on".  As parents, if we purchase them, we get them early, like in September, after back-to-school shopping is done, so that we make sure they get that costume.  Or, we start buying fabric in September to have their costumes ready by October 1, to make sure they fit and all of that good stuff.  

"Mom, I want to try on my costume, to make sure it fits."

"Daddy, can I be a princess in my Halloween costume for a little bit?"

By the time Halloween comes around... the costume is a hot mess between the trying on, the playing in, and the costume parades and parties.

Again, this year is going to be different, but the desire for the cool costume will still be there.  We here at HBP have a fun family activity for you!

We are having a food drive on Sunday, Sept 27, and Saturday, October 3!  It's so easy to participate.

1.  Schedule which hour you're going to come.
2.  Come with 10 cans of food.
3.  Get your photographs done.
4.  Receive a complementary photograph, 1 per family, and purchase extra digital photographs with volume pricing.
5.  These will be studio photographs, and you'll be able to choose a themed digital background for your photographs.  Your digital photographs will be perfect for greeting cards, decoration around the house, and to show off on social media!

Not your regular photographs, we'll have all kinds of fun photographs from which to choose, so be prepared to want them all!

No cameras or cell phones may be out while the session is taking place.

We will be observing COVID protocol with social distancing, sanitization, and masks/gloves.  You'll be able to view and order your photographs shortly after your session on the porch.  We will have a team to assist you on that day.

Your digital photographs will be sent to you, retouched, within the week.

Fall Sessions

Due to COVID this year, parks in the area are coming down hard with how we can use them for photography sessions.  That's why I'm doing some things a little bit differently.

Who do you know who, 1. loves fall... 2. has the prettiest backyard... and 3.  would love to earn incentives for purchasing family photographic artwork for themselves, while inviting their friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, and the dog walker down the street to be photographed as well?

The DATES:  October 24 and 25, November 1, 7, and 8th.  

WHEN:  In the morning and early afternoon time between 9 and 2 pm.

WHAT:  Each family will receive a lite version of our photography experience, which includes excitement and discovery calls, the session, and a Zoom-based ordering session, plus delivery of artwork to your home, and help with installation.

We will have special incentives for purchasing, and help you and yours make wonderful memories and help you relive those beautiful emotions for years to come.

Interested?  For more information, call Megan at 240-766-8966 or email at megan@honeybeephotography.com.

Recent Happenings!

I had the opportunity to work with Jen Mabe of Rommell Harley Davidson for their 22 for 22 rally, which is for suicide prevention for Vietnam Veterans.  Here are some photographs from that day.

Did you know that here at HBP, we specialize in helping you combine the love you have for your family with the activities in your life that are dearest to your heart?  If you have a specific lifestyle, like riding cycles, horses, or 4-wheelers, or you love to boat or fish, or hike, or shop, or ski... any of those things, we can create artwork of your family that will make an emotional impact on your entire family for years to come.

Until October, Bee You, Authentic!

The Eyes Have It

 The Eyes Have It

Once upon a time, the lips were having a field day.  Everyone wanted to find ways to love their lips.

And then COVID-19 happened, and masks became the style.

The lips were hidden.

Now, all the attention is back on the eyes.  Let’s talk about Mary Kay’s Liquid Eyeliner Pen.

First of all, I hate mess, especially messy eyeliner.  I also hate not being able to control my makeup, so it does what I want it to do.  Finally, I hate wearing masks… but that’s for another conversation.

Eyelashes are fantastic, and I love wearing fake ones.  I also love our different mascaras; they are able to build lashes from the bare minimum, like what I have.

There’s something really wonderful about a great liquid eyeliner, though. 

What we have is so easy to use, even Megan can use it, and she’s extremely near sighted!  It’s so easy to apply with its pen-like tip for ultimate control.  Those cat eye swoops have never been easier.

The color is a rich, dark black that doesn’t flake off.  The high-definition formula stays on all day.  Best yet, it’s waterproof, so go ahead and cry when your kids go back to school. The waterproof formula is perfect for drama-free wear.

Now that we’re wearing masks, making your eyes as expressive as possible is so important.  Wearing our waterproof eyeliner is a sure way to express yourself.

I recommend as companions to the purchase of our Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, is our Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, and our Lash Love Waterproof Mascara.

Until next time,

Brandie Bates
https://www.marykay.com/bbates5766
https://www.facebook.com/brandiebatesmarykay/
808-383-1338

Three easy ways to get your home ready for the fall!

Shaun Leway, owner of Core Value Property Management, is a contributing author to our blog and newsletter.

As the owner of Core Value Property Management, I get to see a lot of issues with homes.  From clogged drains, to dead trees, to flooded basements, I've seen quite a bit in in the last year.  Maintenance costs money, so here are some things you can do to improve the functionality of your home and help it run smoother for longer.

1-Replace your air filter. This is one of the biggest issues for homes.  Not only is it necessary to change your air filter to help your HVAC work better/last longer, but it's also key to improving the air quality in your home.  You can improve your over all health, as well as the functionality of your home's equipment.  Here's a short Youtube video about chainging your filter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGYrVgFSzV4. If it's been a few year, or if you don't know if it's ever been done, we'd recommend you get your ducts cleaned as well.

2-Clean your gutters.  This is my number one fall home maintenance item.  Clogged gutters can lead to roof issues, siding issues, and even damage to wall and windows of your home, not to mention potential water intrusion cause by pooling water next to your foundation.  I know gutters may not be an easy DIY project for everyone, but it is absolutely one of the essential home maintenance issues, and we should all be thinking about it this fall.

3-Drain hoses, and turn off exterior spigots. This is one of those small items that may not cause you an issues right away, but can really be a big hassle if not appropriately managed.  A burst spigot in the middle of winter is not something anyone wants to deal with. That's why this one makes our list of essential fall home maintenance.

Honorable mention: Clean/inspect your Chimney.  Not every home has a chimney, so it's hard to recommend this to everyone.  But if you're planning on enjoying a nice cozy fire when it starts snowing this winter, you definitely should make sure your chimney is cleaned and inspected. According to the latest statistics available, there are over 25,000 Chimney Fires per year in the US that are responsible for over 125 million dollars in property damage.

Core Value Property Management is a veteran owned & operated company serving customers in Anne Arundel Co, Howard Co, and Prince Georges Co. We love managing property, and we would love to serve you.   Check us out @ www.corevaluepm.com or www.facebook.com/corevaluepm.  

v/r,

--

Shaun Leway

301-857-CVPM (2876)