Zeroes frequently mark either the beginning or the end.
Every interstate freeway starts at mile marker 0. Every golf scorecard begins with 0. The day you are born is your 0th birthday (at least in American culture). Every college basketball game ends with 0:00 on the clock.
Most Major League Baseball teams’ first official game will be tomorrow. Every team starts with a record of 0-0. Every player starts with a .000 batting average, a .000 fielding percentage, and a 0.00 earned run average (ERA). Over the course of a 162-game regular season, those zeroes evolve into the story of a season.
Some teams will live up to or even exceed fans’ expectations this season while other very talented teams will underperform. Only one team will win the World Series in October.
Just like the beginning of the baseball season, we enter this world with zeroes. We have no skills and nothing to our name. Just like the end of every college basketball game, when we exit this world all of our assets are zeroed out.
What is your planned impact between your zeroes?
Some people have a negative impact on the world. They make life worse for their teammates through their me-first approach and unethical behavior. They actively try to sabotage their team’s success.
Some people have no impact on the world. They go about their lives trapped in their own universe, rarely thinking about how they could help their teammates. They have talents, but put no effort into improving their skills or building up their team.
Some people have a positive impact on the world. They make life better by purposefully investing their time, talent, income, and assets to live up to both their and their teammates’ potential. They are self-motivated to be a slightly better team and teammate every day.
One of our greatest joys is helping our clients have a positive impact on their families and in their charitable giving. Making a positive impact while minimizing taxes can be a winning combination.
Whether your season is in the early innings or late in the game, it is never too early or too late to make a positive impact. Use our passion and experience to maximize your impact between your zeroes.
Quote of the week: Shane Parrish: “Integrity compounds. Dishonesty eventually zeroes out.”
Graphic Credit: Compilation of: Stock photo ID:1366742392 Anja W., Stock photo ID:1019226792, VPanteon, ID:1323176670, Tasha Vector, ID:1413678309, Hammad Khan, ID:658114484 arthobbit