I need to check in as much as the next person. But I have to do them “off cycle” – not when anyone else would be thinking about doing check-ins. So mid-quarter (when no one else would even consider them) is my sweet spot.
This month is all about money. It always is. Everything for my taxes has arrived. (I will still get things after April 15 for my taxes but they don’t ever change my situation – it is frustrating to get them after the filing deadline though.)
So I do my taxes. They aren’t that complicated – especially now that I’m NOT using Turbo Tax. I was so grateful to be referred to FreeTaxUSA. I have a full-time job along with my business and it was so much easier than it’s ever been.
As I’m doing my taxes, I’m also re-evaluating how I’m managing it “all.”
My primary question being: Can I see it all?
Let’s start with the first thing – what does “all” even mean?
For me, it means my overall financial picture needs to be in one place. I want to see balances all in one place. I want to be able to check the activity easily. Do I have that set up for myself? Is there something I’m missing?
Right now, I do. I have a place where I keep track of “it all.”
Still it’s not really “all” in the truest sense.
And that’s okay for me.
I don’t have to have it “all” in one place. Actually, I would argue that it could be overwhelming and defeat the purpose at times to have so many dashboards, all full of stuff, that none of it makes any sense.
I have a separate place for “all” the things. I keep more details, notes and planning of my business and personal transactions. And each of them is in a separate place. (Because the one thing we can all agree on is that it needs to be kept separate! Even if you are funding it personally!) It may seem like an extra step, however, this is another “all” view that is vital for me.
I truly don’t care what system, software or shoe box you use. What I care about is that you can see what you need, quickly and easily – however that works for you.
Some people are all about Quickbooks, Freshbooks or the myriad of systems out there that do those things. Some integrate these programs with all the other programs (email, customer management systems). And that makes some people thrilled to be able to drill down to data from so many places in one place.
And for other people, all that stuff is just extra noise around what they really need to see. It overwhelms and defeats the purpose of seeing it all, when it all just looks like abstract wallpaper.
I strongly believe that less complicated does not have to mean that it is less accurate or supportive. I’m not against using a notebook or a simple spreadsheet. I don’t care what the system is as long as that system works for you. What matters most is that it is actually regularly used (updated and looked at) – in your life.
I am looking at this from a financial lens but it could also be your calendar, your deadlines, your project management tool. Can you see it “all” in these tools? Is that helping or hurting you (maybe you see too much)?
Also, you don’t have to see it “all” according to what anyone else says “all” is. You define your system and you define what “all” means. You have to decide what that is for you and create a system that works for you and your all.
I do have multiple versions of “all”. My calendar, my money app, my to-do list, my spreadsheets and my documents. Each one of them integrates into the other in a way that only makes sense to me. It integrates in my brain – not in a program or a system. That works for me. Everything I do both personally and professionally is fed into those items above. I schedule (and follow it) looking at some daily (or more!), some weekly, monthly, etc.
This current system is decades in the making. I know my system does not work for everyone – sometimes it still doesn’t work for me! That means I’m growing and the system needs to grow with it. Don’t mistake an error for a computer problem, it’s more likely a human process problem. And it is the human who needs to decide if it moves to a computer to be resolved or stays in the human realm. I have watched so many times as people try to shove things into a program that were never meant to be there – it never ends well of anyone.
There are many people who have expressed that I should “Get this system” or “Do that differently.” <Insert small rant about people selling systems and guaranteeing it will solve your problems and work perfectly for you. It won’t. And anyone who is selling you anything that way is not to be trusted.> ‘
It’s not up to them. It’s up to you. ALWAYS.
Don’t let the influencers tell you any differently – check in with what you need and that is what is going to tell you if you are on the right track or not.
