The Stupid Tax

Again, I can't take credit for writing this blog, and I don't know who did...


The Stupid Tax


When he spoke the room grew quiet. What he said next gave the entire assemblage one of the biggest ah-ha's of the entire conference. First, he related how he had tried to go it alone and how much he had spent. It was nearly fifty thousand a month promoting his business. His tone foreshadowed his next words.

"I had been paying the stupid tax month in and month out because I thought I could go it alone. Yet when I finally did get the advice and consulting I needed, my promotion spend dropped to twenty-five thousand a month with better results."

John's admission created more than a little buzz in the room as each member of the crowd reflected on his own life and the stupid tax he had paid on more than one occasion.

For the throng, it was one of those unexpected learning moments - a treasure that made the entire day worthwhile all by itself.

How many forms of the stupid tax have you seen others pay? Have you paid yourself?

First, the definition of stupid tax: the money, time, energy or effort you paid or lost needlessly.

The stupid tax is an error that costs you that didn't have to.

Patients pay this toll repeatedly - waiting until the problems are so bad that the time, energy and expense to repair them mount to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

The tax is paid when one keeps doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

The tax is levied against one when one fails to act when one knows one should.

The tax is extracted from one's bank account when one tries to go it alone when one is not an expert in a field when one needs an expert.

This "unnecessary fee" is paid when one fails to implement what works.

The tax comes due when one tries to go cheap when one shouldn't.

The tax gets paid when patience is required and impatience reigns.

The tax is paid when one doesn't nurture one's leads and doesn't continue to communicate with both leads and existing patients.

The stupid tax is life's way of teaching us lessons - hopefully only once instead of several times over.

Do you know someone who is paying one now? Can you help them?

Alzheimer's Awareness Walk

It's coming soon. Senior Living Network, to which yours truly belongs to, is organizing the annual Alzheimer's Awareness Walk on March 20th, 2010 at Woodward Park. The Facebook link http://twurl.nl/u2qoyk (or click on title of this blog entry) should also have a registration form available for your to print out and get registered! Teams of 4 are just $50. T-shirts and goody bag for every entrant!


5K race, 2k run/walk, kids race. Benefits three LOCAL organizations: Alzheimer's foundation, Valley Caregiver Resource Center - Oasis, UCSF Alzheimer's & Memory Research. This is not affiliated with the "memory" walk that takes place in the Fall and takes donation money out of the Valley. Should be great weather, so come on out and join us. C'mon, you know you need to "move your body"...!

Rogue Fresno Is coming

Fresno's own "fringe"festival celebrating a variety of arts is coming soon! All different types of independent performers, groups, and exhibits will be featured!

It’s the All “Saints” Springtime Special

In honor of the New Orleans' Saints victory in the Super Bowl,

we feature two saints of importance: Saint Valentine and

Saint Patrick for our special seasonal offer…

Want a Whiter, More Youthful-Looking Smile?

We have two great programs that many of our patients have

had great results with: Zoom! in-office whitening (as seen on

"Extreme Makeover" TV show) which in about an hour's

treatment time gets your teeth 4 to 6 shades lighter using the

special gel and unique visible light spectrum light.

Or, our Whitening for Life™ take-home system where you may

be eligible for free whitening touch-up gel for as long as you

are a patient of Dr. Treva D. Lee.

Plus, for a limited time only, have your smile brightened and we'll give you a gift certificate for the same whitening treatment that you can give a friend or loved one. Call Jessica at 559-921-4692 to schedule now and tell her you want the "Saints-Whitening-Special"!

Hurry! This special only lasts until March 19^th!

www.DrTrevaLee.com

Free Annual Sealant and Dental Care Clinic for Kids

It's B-a-a-a-a-c-k!

SOS:Seal & Save Our Smiles Clinic, Free Dental Care!

 

SEAL & SAVE OUR SMILES CLINIC

GIVE KIDS A SMILE CLINIC

&

FAMILY CARE FAIR

 

FREE DENTAL CARE!

 

For students in kindergarten – 6^th grade who attend

Fresno, Central and Clovis Unified School Districts

 

• Dental Exams, Sealants, Cleanings, Fluoride Treatment, and Screening for restorative care at Fresno City College Dental Hygiene Clinic
  
• Crowns, White and Silver Fillings, Extractions and more off campus in a private dental office
  
• All provided by local dental providers at no cost!
  

 

Effective Jan. 1, 2007 AB 1433 went into effect requiring all children must have a dental exam before their first year in public school.

Please Note: Services will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Comprehensive treatment will not be available.

 

WHEN: Saturday, February 27^th, 2010

9:00 am – 12:00 pm at FCC Dental Hygiene Clinic

9:00am – 1:00pm at dental office (location to be determined)

 

WHERE: Fresno City College Dental Hygiene Clinic

Health Science Building

Corner of Weldon/Glenn

1101 E. University Ave.

Fresno, CA 93741

    Private dental office (location to be determined)

 

Educational Booths will be available as well as nterpreters.

 

For More Information, call the Fresno-Madera Dental Society, 438-7284.

(Posted by Dr. Treva D. Lee, 226-3010, www.DrTrevaLee.com)

Honoring Those Who Really Serve Our Country

For this little story, the author is unknown. A belated Veteran's Day thought:

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks...'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

November: National Alzheimer's Disease Month

Excerpted from the Senior Living Network (Fresno)2009 Fashion Show Luncheon Fundraiser Program--- National Alzheimer's Disease Month is an annual, national observance that was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The observance began as a way to increase public awareness and Federal research funding with the goal of finding treatments and cure for Alzheimer's disease

I just found this poem to be very moving:

SHE MISSES HIM
by Tim Johnson

She shaves his face, she combs his hair,
She helps him find his rockin'chair.
She cooks his meals, she wipes his mouth
And the window that he's lookin' out.

She reads him books, she speaks his hame
Oh, every day is much the same.
She sights that sigh from deep within.
The one that says she misses him.

She misses his gentle touch.
And the way he used to make her laugh.
She misses the man he was
In all those old photographs.
So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart.
The man who stole her very heart...
She misses him.

His children come on Saturday.
There at his feet his grandkids play.
It's sad they don't know him at all,
He's just the one they call Grandpa.

The take out his trash, they mow his lawn,
Things he can't do since he's been gone.
She's grateful that they're pitchin' in.
And like everyone, she misses him.

And yes, they're still together after all these years
But sometimes you can almost feel
The sadness in her tears
The man who stole her very heart, she misses him.

...Senior Living Network (Fresno) raises funds and community awareness through education about Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. The proceeds this year will benefit: Alzheimer's Foundation of Central California, UCSF-Fresno Alzheimer's & Memory Center, Valley Caregiver Resource Center-OASIS