Last few weeks, my clients are agitated. February is the period of closings of accounts and tax preparation. It comes to bring order in the accounts, calculating depreciation and amortization and seek to to 'optimize' the results for paying the least possible tax.

Optimize: this means to declare less possible income and as much as possible expenses. It is said that statistics are a sophisticated form of lying. This statement also applies to the accounts of companies!

My clients have understood, for the many years that I advise them, that it is never too early to hire a consultant. This year, with the uncertainties of the economic situation in 2012, they all came together and I first had to calm them down.

In addition, two of them, for me the most importants, have decided to merge and thus create a larger company to attack new markets. This is a big job, which should occupy myself at least several weeks.

The only advantage of this stress is that I no longer have time to whine about the worries of my age and my health. Establishing priorities and setting in the foreground my personal activities (taking care of my wife who is slowly recovering from her surgery , of my grandchildren who call me to help them make ends meet of the month, and finally writing my memoirs).

My clients should be able to wait, and if they do not know it yet, they will have to learn it. With a little diplomacy and a good measure of humor, I intend to bring them to understand that. This will be my primary goal for this month.

What good is it to know to give good advices to others, if you are not even able to apply them to yourself ?