I like to think that putting words in this spot gives our company the chance to reach out to you in a way that goes beyond a business transaction. That is a gratifying part of being in business that does not always get embraced, the building of relationships. I am sure that no matter whether you’re a long-term client or one on the newer side, and whether we have multiple interactions per year or only talk during tax time, we each have things we could say to each other that stretch beyond business.

So this is a way to do some of that, to put my thoughts onto virtual paper, place it where those I know can see it, and hope it resonates with some of them. Yet, it is impossible to say that it is not partially business-driven, for I also hope that it also gives a chance to make you aware of some aspects of our business you did know about.

That last bit there is what I want to focus on for the rest of this piece. First, if there is ever any sort of financial service that you wonder if we provide, please ask. I certainly cannot promise that the answer is yes, but if it is not, I am sure we can at least help point you in the right direction.

Beyond that, though, please also do not be afraid to let us know if there is something YOU do that we could benefit from. It is possible that we only know you as an individual whose taxes we see once a year, and those W2s and 1099s don’t exactly give the full picture of what you do. We are all more interesting and useful than those numbers, so if there is more to you that you think we should know … let us know!

Also, let us not be afraid to go beyond that.  We would love to be a place you feel comfortable sending your friends. So if you know someone who would benefit from any of the services we offer, please feel free to put us in contact with each other. And again, from the opposite direction, if you think we may be doing business with people who could benefit from your services, let us know and we would love to point them in your direction.

Too often, being in business can feel like you are on an island. We get into ruts where we do not branch out enough beyond what we have always done. We know what others do for us, trust in their work on those tasks, but it goes no further. So consider these words an attempt to go a little beyond that with those we work with. (Or have yet to work with, if you are looking for new services, we want to hear from you, as well. In the interest of ‘going beyond,’ new networks would only help.)

It is an idea can be taken beyond the business world, too. Let us be open and honest about who we are, what we do and the things we desire. Let us then be open to accepting help from those who give it, give it those we can help, and lead others to where they can receive it.