{"id":24494,"date":"2012-11-24t09:41:18","date_gmt":"2012-11-24t14:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=24494"},"modified":"2015-10-07t11:10:33","modified_gmt":"2015-10-07t15:10:33","slug":"fun-reads-for-busy-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2012\/11\/24\/fun-reads-for-busy-season\/","title":{"rendered":"fun reads for busy season"},"content":{"rendered":"

be kind to your brain and your brain will be kind to you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong>ed mendlowitz answers some of the toughest questions practitioners can throw at him. he\u2019s the right one to ask. after more than 40 years in the business \u2013 building his own practice, running the firm, and eventually selling it to a major regional firm, withumsmith+brown, where he remains a senior partner and consultant to professional services clients \u2013 he has the answers.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

related:\u00a0 <\/strong>when not to offer a free initial consultation<\/a> |<\/strong> measuring growth in yourself, staff and partners<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 what do you think you\u2019re doing?<\/a>\u00a0 | can you teach judgment?<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 clients\u2019 calls at home<\/a>\u00a0 | what you need to know before expanding into business valuation<\/a> | asking an attorney for a referral fee<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 are partner retreats really worth the cost?<\/a> | audit reports without doing the work?<\/a> | should i really spend the time making checklists?<\/a> | what\u2019s a tax practice worth today?<\/a> |<\/p>\n

question<\/strong>: it is obvious you read a lot.\u00a0 how do you do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

response<\/strong>: it\u2019s easy.\u00a0 i like reading. i like learning.\u00a0 i like trying and doing new things.\u00a0 and i recognize that i don\u2019t know everything i should or could know.\u00a0 i sometimes get frustrated with everything i can\u2019t get to.<\/p>\n

now, before i go further, let me give you some background.\u00a0 i always read, no matter how busy i was, and i am sure that when i was building my practice i put in many more hours a year than most of you do now. i never fell short of chargeable time and certainly spent more time than anyone i know in writing, speaking and new product development and client services innovation.\u00a0 i also had two young sons growing up, was involved in charitable activities and commuted for 15 years to nyc from nj.\u00a0 if i could do it, so could you!<\/p>\n

one incident that stands out is in my coming home an end of march night about 11:30 and my wife ronnie handing me a book she bought by a new author that got rave reviews \u2013 the firm<\/em> by john grisham<\/a>, whom i had never heard of.\u00a0 ronnie told me that from what she read and heard about the book, she thought i would like to read it.\u00a0 i looked at her like she was crazy and responded with something like how could you give this to me now \u2013 i am working around the clock,\u00a0 have unbelievable pressure, have the april 15 deadline looming over my head, plus i have to make sure everyone in my office is moving the work forward.\u00a0 she said if i can\u2019t read it now, i could treat myself to it after tax season.\u00a0 later on i glanced through the book and started reading it.\u00a0 i finished it in about three or four days \u2013 still not missing a beat at the office.\u00a0 if i could do it \u2013 so could you!<\/p>\n

work, especially at this time of the year, is intense.\u00a0 however we are not machines and need a diversion and break from the pressure, no matter how busy we are.\u00a0 we wear out.\u00a0 exercise, walks, joking around, a day off and reading are some ways of recharging batteries.\u00a0 i like reading, and can get lost in a good novel. a half hour or 45 minute break works wonders.<\/p>\n

thinking back over my career, i remember always having energy and being excited about my work. i think one of the reasons is that i did not get worn out, or beat up by the crunch and mounds of work.\u00a0 i think it also helped that i loved what i did and thrived on the work.\u00a0 no, i am not a workaholic \u2013 if i was, i would never would have read anything and don\u2019t think i would be able to still be doing any kind of work or writing this and sharing my experiences as i am now. if i could do it, so could you!<\/p>\n

tip for you right now: pick an inane novel and start reading a half hour or 45 minutes a day. a suggestion is the girl with the dragon tattoo<\/em><\/a> that i just finished reading. other books i recommend for tax season are: the camel club<\/em> by david baldacci<\/a>, now you see her <\/em>by james patterson<\/a> or the wolf at the door<\/em> by jack higgins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

is ed on target? how would you answer this question? have a question of your own? email ed here<\/a>, or add to comments below.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n