“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft

11 Words You Should Never Use in Sales and Marketing

When talking about our own product or service, we try to use the most descriptive language we can. Unfortunately, not all of this language is particularly effective in compelling the customer to buy or even consider our offering.  As the author of a brief article from INC on this subject says, “Want to stand out from the pack? Stop sounding like the pack.”   How do you sound?

Econ Recon:  The Return of Housing. And Still No Recession

Vistage Staff Economist and Institute for Trend Research President  Alan Beaulieu explores the most recent housing data and points to the resurgence of house prices as another factor in a positive 2013 economy.  Click here for more.

Economist Brian Wesbury sees strength in factors in addition to housing dynamics that cause him to suggest that there’s  “Still No Recession in Sight.”

A Government’s Role in Job Creation

Last month Alan Beaulieu’s Comments on Job Creation caused me to consider that most people don’t have a clue where jobs come from.  I wrote a blog post A Government’s Role in “Job Creation” that outlines what I think would actually work (hint: there are no short term, quick fixes, and no spending bills disingenuously named “stimulus packages.”)  Post your thoughts and I’ll share them in a future newsletter.

“Cliff’s” Notes:  A Summary of what just happened in DC

A seven Year Vistage member, Kurt Huffman ( [email protected] ) provides us the following review of the just passed American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.   He actually read the 150 plus pages of act and offers the following summary commentary and resources ranging from a five page summary to a copy of the act itself.   My thanks to him.

“I’m sure you have seen and heard hundreds of commentaries and summaries of the “fiscal cliff tax act” officially known as the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.  I have noted the following sources from the many out there that should be helpful to you depending on your need.

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion and posturing, but I just like to know the facts.  I have read the 154 pages of the actual bill and based my opinion on how well its provisions are being communicated.  Suffice to say, the law is much more complicated with numerous special-interest provisions, patches, fixes and details than most reports.  You cannot believe the minutia included in this bill.  Tax professionals must be rejoicing.

Lastly, the humor of it all.  I get a kick out of the wording that says these new rates or provisions are “permanent”.  The real term should be “indefinite”.  We don’t know when these provisions will change, but history and common sense tells us they will.  We just don’t know when.  People cannot even agree on whether this is a tax cut or a tax increase.  Call it what you want, but most people will pay more in taxes this year than last year (at least 2%) and therefore have less disposable income.

Best factual details in understandable English – (5 pages)
http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/News/20137097.htm

Best summary and tax planning considerations in understandable English – (20 pages)
http://deloitte.wsj.com/cfo/files/2013/01/swerving_from_the_cliff.pdf

Best overview summary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Taxpayer_Relief_Act_of_2012

Actual text of the law
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr8eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr8eas.pdf