Can’t Please Everyone

Over the last couple of months, ASTPS offered members several webinars. One series, not yet finished, provided attendees with a good look at several software products that are useful to tax problem resolution practitioners. This series had record attendance. Instead of the twenty or thirty in past webinars, we had one hundred fifty register and over one hundred twenty actually attend.

Despite the excellent turnout, I must admit to some disappointment. A handful of would-be attendees took the time to call or email asking if I had finally lost all sense of reality. That may be true, but in this case, the numbers are in my favor. Hopefully, this reaches my negative critics and encourages them to take a second look at their position. As for the choir that I may be preaching to; I apologize, and I hope you view this bit of a rant as my recognition of you being control of your practice.

Webinars are the ultimate form of communication because you do not have to move from your desk. You can pay attention or not. You can leave without anyone thinking you are rude. They are free.

They are relevant to your practice. They are one hour. They live webinar is recorded and posted on the ASTPS website. If the live event time is inconvenient, listen when it is. If your practice controls you – even in tax season – to the point that you can’t take one hour to work on your practice, it’s time to rethink your management style. The number who attended compared to the number who found fault is a telling barometer.

Even if you have a workable system, there is a benefit to learning what else is out there. You may discover something that is better than what you have. Or, you may see a tweak you could adapt to your system. You can’t get hurt by attending.

Now that I’ve likely confirmed for some that I may be out of touch with reality, I have a favor to ask. If you have a topic that you would like to see covered in a webinar – in or out of tax season – please email it to julie@astps.org. The best topics are those that can be covered in an hour. If you have one that needs more time, send it in and we may be able to get it into a live seminar.