The Impact of Gratitude

from Growth Women's Business Networks Magazine September 2021 Fall Edition

by Growth Women's Business Networks Magazine

Women Motivated by Purpose

By Contributing Writer, Tafadzwa Mazibuko

The pandemic has challenged many businesses in many ways that magnifying the negative can be the order in team meetings or offices. Gerald Good states” If you want to turn your life try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” Celebrating every milestone is an energy booster in an organization and will definitely improve productivity amongst team members.

I recall the day I read on Growth women Business Network magazine that they had been awarded Best Magazine of the year! I was so proud to be associated and motivated to do more. Being appreciated whether it is a team award or organizational award promotes resilience. A person whose work is appreciated develops the stamina to overcome obstacles. If one’s work is appreciated whether it is within the organization or externally makes one to overlook current obstacles and be more hopeful of the future. In your business what are you doing to celebrate the team members? Sometimes just a thank you for being a team member who comes to work on time everyday can go a long way. Sometimes a thank you in your email or thank you note on the desk of your team members will make them proud to be members of the organization.

When a person is not appreciated, they are not compelled to do their work with excellence. Being appreciated makes one to increase value on their work. One is motivated to upskill so that they can get more of the “well done claps” Early this month I was a recipient of African Authors Honoree Awards for two of my books:” The dream that was worth fighting for! And “The King’s dream for His daughter.” The thought that the books were read and chosen for the awards was a motivator to work harder, to upskill my talent as a writer. Charles Schwab states that “The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. In your business how are you appreciating and encouraging yourself as the owner? Do you take time to celebrate when you win a proposal, or you wish you had more every time you win that client?

If you have done a project for a client and they are happy getting a reference letter is not a challenge. A happy Client will recommend you to their network or give you a letter which you can use to get more business. To get true value from clients, employees, business partners they need to feel valued. The drive to do well comes from feeling acknowledged and appreciated.

Businesswoman during this COVID era where hopelessness can easily cloud people due to closures, delayed salaries due to slow payments from clients, why not create a culture of gratitude to motivate the people around you. Just a thank you for being loyal, for being hard working, for being resilient.

Gratitude is a choice, choose wisely!

Website: www.tafadzwamazibukospeaks.co.za

Facebook:facebook.com/The-dream-that-was-worth-fighting-for-218787128459623/

Financial Literacy

Avoid Tax Traps with Loans to Friends and Family

Lending to friends and relatives can be tricky, and not only because of the stress it can place on your relationships. There are tax issues involved as well. If you have to lend money to someone close to you, here are some tips to do it right in the eyes of the tax code.

Charge Interest

Yes, you should charge interest, even to friends and family. If you don’t charge a minimum rate, the IRS will imply interest in the loan and tax you for the interest income they assume you should be getting. This can occur even if you’re not actually getting a dime.

Charge Enough Interest

Not only should you charge interest, the amount must be reasonable in the eyes of the IRS. If it's not, the IRS will imply interest at their minimum applicable federal rates (AFRs). To stay on the safe side, always charge the interest rate at or above these AFRs, available on the IRS website. The good news is these interest rates are low and almost always below the prime interest rate.

Know the Exceptions

If you don’t want to charge interest, you don’t have to IF: • The money is a gift. In 2021, you and your spouse can each give up to $15,000 to an individual each year.

OR:

• The loan is less than $10,000 and is not used to purchase income-producing property. If you don’t charge interest and the loan is used to purchase income-producing property such as capital equipment or to acquire a business, special tax rules apply. In this case it’s good to ask for assistance.

Get it in Writing

If you expect repayment, write out the terms of your loan. There are a variety of basic loan document formats online that you can use. Creating a loan document may seem unnecessarily formal when dealing with a friend or family member, but it’s important for two reasons: 1. Document your tax code compliance. By documenting the terms and charging a stated interest rate, you can clearly show you are within tax code rules. 2. Avoid misunderstandings. Creating a written document will make it clear that it is a real loan, not an informal gift. Your friend or relative will know that you expect to be paid back and when you expect Repayment.