A few summers ago, I was in Italy.  Frickin’ Italy!  We stayed in the loveliest villa in Tuscany and if I close my eyes I am brought back there: I’m sitting with my morning coffee while “mammasita” is whipping up a glorious breakfast.  It was the smell of bacon that drew me out of bed, and I felt like that dog from looney toons, floating towards the alluring aromas.  Is there anything better than someone else making you breakfast??

Anyways, I digress.  Bacon distraction aside, I’m looking over this picturesque valley – hay and sunflower fields, blocks of yellow and brown and green – a farmer’s checkerboard.  And then dotted along it all are the most amazing villas and villages.  Centuries old, sun-bleached and sturdy, the bricks, beams and terra cotta tiles SCREAM old-world.  Then as shocking as the landscape, through it all darts a 200 mile an hour bullet train.  It is such a glaring contrast that my brain did a double take each time it blasts by.  The sounds of birds, crickets, and roosters overpowered by what sounds like a 747 flying by.  It’s a complete mind shift: old vs. new.  As odd as it is, it works.  It kind of has to.  These ancient towns rely on this behemoth to bring all us spending tourists to them and support the economic growth; the back and forth that enables their towns to thrive.

Which brings me back to you.  Yes you.  And yes, I’m managing to loop this Italian siesta back to real life.  You – who is convinced that all you know is your creativity and craft.  That you are incapable and oblivious to the business (and money) side of your businesses.  You, who goes in full panic mode when asked how your business is doing or when you have to file your taxes.

I’m here to tell you you’ve got this.  Money and taxes are NOT something to be feared; they’re something to welcome and embrace!  You haven’t survived this long without knowing a thing or two about managing your money, or you wouldn’t be where you are today.

 It’s time for us all to step up, face our money fears and show it who’s boss. I got you.  Here’s 3 simple things you can do today to get on track:

• Save your receipts – whether it’s in a drawer, or digitally (DO THIS!!! – click here for my secret weapon)

• Open 3 new bank accounts:

  • Business chequing

  • Business savings – for saving for your GST and taxes

  • Business savings 2 – for squirreling money away, for the sole purpose of NOT spending it ;)

• Register your business.

That’s it – start there.  3 small steps and you’ll be on the euro-train path to taking your biz to the next level.

Want my Business Done Right checklist?