Tax Season--by the Numbers

Or, what I want to remember about tax season:

1.  90.5--number of hours I've worked in the last 9 days, without a day off
2.  29.5--number of hours I worked April 14 and 15
3.  355--number of clients I worked with this year, plus a few more who did not have to file
4.  353--number of clients I really enjoyed working with this year
5.  34--number of years I've worked for H&R Block
6.  3 weeks--how old my youngest son was the day I started working for H&R Block
7.  26--how old I was the day I started working for H&R Block
8.  7--associates who worked directly for me this year
9.  7--number of associates who said this was their best year ever
10. 2--number of direct bosses I reported to
11. 2--number of direct bosses who really appreciated my efforts
12. 200%+--amount my office did over budget target
13.  500%--how happy I am we had such a record-breaking year and a happy office environment
14.  0--number of days until the next tax season for me

It's been a great run.  I am one of those lucky people who found the perfect career fit--I could talk to many different people each day, help them with their tax and financial issues, teach my co-workers how to improve their skills and knowledge so they could help people too, and I know I made a difference in the lives of some of my clients, and some of my associates--because they took the time to tell me so.  Sure, I'll be missed for a while but life goes on and others will surface to fill the gap.  And I will miss my clients and my co-workers, but life goes on and I have quilts to make.

Here's a poem my father always kept on his dresser--it was the one thing of his I wanted when we cleaned out my parent's home.  It's a yellowed piece of paper now, but one of my great treasures:

THE INDISPENSABLE MAN

 

                       Sometime when you're feeling important

                       Sometime when your ego's in bloom

                       Sometime when you take it for granted

                       You're the best qualified in the room;

                       Sometime when you feel that your going

                       Would leave an unfillable hole,

                       Just follow these humble instructions,

                       And see how they humble your soul.

 

                       Take a bucket and fill it with water,

                        Put your hand in it up to the wrist,

                        Pull it out, and the hole that's remaining

                        Is a measure of how you'll be missed.

                        You can splash all you want when your enter,

                        You may stir up the waters galore;

                         But stop, and you'll find that in no time

                         It looks quite the same as before.

 

                        The moral in this quaint example

                        Is do just the best that you can;

                        Be proud of yourself, but remember

                        There's no indispensable man.

 

                                                                              Author Unknown

 

Let's Quilt!

 

Barbara