Two very different things…

Being in a groove = Performing or operating very well.

You're in your flow, living your best life and everything comes easily and simply because you know where you’re going and how to get there!

Stuck in a rut = Too fixed in one particular type of job, activity, or method and needing to change.

You're bored, not motivated and life feels difficult.Defining your Personal Brand and building Self Awareness around who you are, your purpose and your why, can change that Rut into a Groove!

Which one are you in?

Sometimes you have a question or a query about your life, business, a friendship that keeps recurring and you're not sure how to get to your answer.

It may be...

• 'How shall I grow my business?''
• How should I be balancing my time differently?''
• Am I doing the right thing?''
• Should I change career/business?''
• Should I carry on with this?''
• Should I stop doing this?'

How many voices do you have in your head? - quite a few if you're like me.

• Fearful voice
• Impatient/fun-loving/risk takerLazy
• Mother/teacher
• Rule breaker
• Want to be liked voice

Sometimes you get the feeling of being stuck because one of those inner voices is too loud and not letting any of the others speak or all of them are speaking at once.

Here is a task that will help 

1. Make a list of all your voices.
2. Write each you on a piece of paper and place them on different chairs.
3. Articulate your question and then spend 5 - 10 mins in each chair, giving yourself advice from only the perspective of the person on that particular chair.
4. Journal around the answer or say it our loud.
5. By the end you will have sat in all the chairs, opened your perspective and heard from the whole advisory board that is the makeup of you.

You will find momentum too, as you will clearly hear the advice you had to offer yourself all along!

So, a question...

Is it time to up your game in 2023?

I ask in all seriousness, hoping that you think about this in some depth before you answer.

The easy response is ‘yes’. After all, that’s what you are supposed to say. You may even add some stretching goals… maybe like you did last year?

But if you are honest, you may admit that you’ve done this before… set some goals, a year has whizzed by and you know that this year you MUST try harder.

If that is you, it’s OK.

You can take all of this year to figure it out, or you can have an almighty push and get where you need to be sooner rather than later.

If you are ready to smash 2023, all you need to do is click the link below and we’ll talk, I’ll assess whether you are in the right place to make it your year and if you are, I will tell you how I can help… no obligation, no hard sell.

https://www.sallyinkster.com/contact

Love Sally x

Finding Brand YOU!

When you're considering having a Bear made from your sentimental items of clothing it can be difficult to understand which type of bear to ask for, whether it be a Keepsake Bear or a Memory Bear.

In this post you'll find out what is meant by both Keepsake and Memory Bears. When it comes to preserving precious memories, keepsake bears and memory bears are two popular options for those who want to commemorate a special person or event in their lives. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, and ultimately mean the same thing, there is a distinct difference between the two. Continue reading to find out more or if you're short on time watch the video for a quick explanation.

What is a Keepsake Bear?

A Keepsake Bear is generally a bear made from items of clothing that hold sentimental memories, such as those old baby clothes. You won't be alone in having a boxes of those cute baby outfits months or even years after your children have grown out of them. For some reason, they have a tie to our hearts and the idea of parting with them is difficult.

Therefore, you may decide to have a selection of special baby items made into a Keepsake Bear to allow you to part with the rest. And if not then maybe a Keepsake Blanket is your answer. A Keepsake Bear doesn't have to be made from old baby clothes, you may choose to use your work uniform instead. A keepsake Bear is a way of marking a significant event of yours or your families lives.

So what is a Memory Bear?

A Memory Bear is when you choose to use clothes that belonged to a relative or friend who has sadly passed away, they also may be referred to as Memorial Bears. The idea behind Memory Bears is to preserve the memories that are triggered when you see your loved ones favourite items of clothing. Whether it be their favourite shirt, jumper or dress you can choose whatever item of clothing that makes you think of them when they were still here. But they also act as a way to provide comfort and give you a connection to the them.

By having the clothes made into a Memory Bear it brings the clothes out of a cupboard and out on display for everyone to see. Whether you have it sat on your bed or on the sofa, it makes them a great conversation piece when people come to visit. Memorial bears become great companions on those lonely days. They can be made from just 1 item of clothing, but you could include more if you wanted. "I really love my memory bear and it has brought 'Mum' back into the room rather then laying in a drawer if that makes sense!

Ultimately, Keepsake Bears and Memory Bears are the same...

In conclusion, both Keepsake Bears and Memory Bears serve as a way to commemorate loved ones AND special memories. However, the difference lies in the type of clothing used to make the bears. Keepsake Bears are made from baby clothes and are typically created for parents or grandparents. On the other hand, memory bears are made from cherished clothing items of a loved one who has passed away.

Both keepsake bears and memory bears are special, sentimental, and meaningful items that will bring comfort and bring back memories for many years to come. Whether you choose to have a keepsake bear or a memory bear made, the end result will be a unique, one-of-a-kind treasure that you will cherish forever.

Hopefully you now have more of an understanding in the difference, why not go and check out our Keepsake Bear and memory Bear and book your place on our waiting list. If you still have some questions around this leave a comment and we'd be happy to help.

These days social media is a crucial for businesses. But, apart from by selling your soul to the devil, how do you cut through the noise and get your posts seen by more people?

Well, small, simple steps can get you a long way, so if you’re not already, make sure you’re doing these 5 things:

1. Use Relevant Keywords and Hashtags: keywords and hashtags make it easier for people to find your content. Research popular hashtags in your industry and make sure you include them in your posts.
2. Post at Optimal Times: Timing is everything when it comes to social media. Find out when your target audience is online and schedule your posts accordingly. This way, you'll be more likely to reach them.
3. Engage with Your Followers: I can’t stress enough how important this is and how often I see it neglected. Social media is a two-way thing. Respond to comments and messages and it not only helps build relationships, but it also signals to the algorithm that your post is valuable and should be shown to more people.
4. Use Visually Appealing Content: Graphics, videos, and images are more likely to catch people's attention and get shared. Make sure your posts are visually appealing and relevant to your audience.
5. Spark Conversations: Create posts that spark conversations and encourage audience interaction. Ask questions, run polls, and share user-generated content to keep your audience engaged and interested in your page.

There isn’t a quick fix - increasing your social media reach takes time and effort, but by implementing these tips, you'll be well on your way to reaching a larger audience. Remember to analyse and adjust your strategy as needed, and always aim to create valuable content that your audience will love. And get in touch if you’d like some help:

E: karen@littleacornmarketing.co.uk

M: 07988 676219

*Image credit Canva*

Choices.

Every day you choose a hard choice or an easy choice…

In everything you do!

Understanding that the choices you make each day are the key to improving everything about…

⭐️You
⭐️Your business,
⭐️Your personal brand

The concept is knowing how to..

🌟Improve something
🌟Do it
🌟Keep doing it!

Success doesn't happen overnight it is the result of consistently making the right choices! That is what will bring success to you.

Understanding that the choices you make each day, are the key to improving your Personal Brand, your business and overall success.

But... Often these habits are subconscious, you need a coach, mentor or trainer to point out the bad habits that you have developed and help you change them.

Dazzle

I've got some fantastic free training on my website that will help you to make the right choices when it comes to your personal brand. Taking only 1 hour of your time, this free presentation reveals: HOW TO CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE PERSONAL BRAND (THAT LASTS A LIFETIME).

You can find it here sallyinkster.com

Do you make good choices daily?

We’re always in so much of a hurry. Do we expect the success of our business to be like a microwaved dinner? Ready quickly? In today's society it’s easy to expect everything immediately…

🙈Hot dinners - Microwaved or fast food

🙈Things we can't afford - Credit Cards

🙈Muscles - Steroids

🙈To get better, quickly - Antibiotics (not knocking them but there is a time and place)

🙈Love - Internet dating sites

🙈Business Success - The insider secret to get rich quick.

Those of us who have been in business more than a few weeks realise that success comes from within... And from the formation of good habits, done daily over a long time!

❓What's your best habit?
❓What's your worst habit?

Would you agree that the establishment of good habits is one of the foundations of success?

As we begin the new year many people are now preparing their self-assessment tax returns to be filed. However, leaving your tax return until the last minute can lead to mistakes. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid.

1. Not declaring all income

    

   Various types of income must be included on your tax return, failure to declare all relevant income (including capital gains) can result in penalties. Some of these include;

   • Employment income
   • Pension income
   • Interest income (excluding ISAs)
   • Dividend income
   • Property income
   • Foreign income
   • Capital gains from the sale of assets (i.e. property, shares, investments)

   You do not need to include income from premium bonds, national lottery, gambling winnings, or interest awarded for damages for injury or death.

    

2. Claiming expenses that cannot be claimed

    

   There are complex rules around expenses you can and cannot deduct. Some expenses that cannot be claimed are;

    

3. Forgetting deadlines

    

   Deadlines for filing a self-assessment tax return are;

   Registering for self-assessment as soon as possible is advisable as receiving a UTR number can take a while, and HMRC does not always give it to you over the phone. A UTR number is usually received within 10 days and is needed to file the return.

    

4. Forgetting about tax reliefs

    

   Some forget about the various tax reliefs available such as;

    

5. Forgetting about payments on account

    

   When a person’s tax liability is over £1,000 HMRC request payments on account are made for the next tax year and are usually 2 payments of 50% of the previous tax year’s liability and are made in January and July.

    

6. Incorrect figures

    

   Any error can result in penalties and interest being charged and any errors found to be deliberate can result in prosecution. Double-check all calculations.

    

7. Incorrect UTR & National insurance numbers

    

   This can result in the return and liabilities being allocated to the wrong account.

    

8. Forgetting to date & sign the return

    

   If you are filing your return by paper, you must make sure the return is signed and dated in the right places.

    

9. Getting your tax code wrong

    

   You could be paying too much or too little tax. For example, if you have 2 jobs your personal allowance should be allocated to one or apportioned to both, it could be both jobs are claiming the allowance and the tax is incorrect.

   Your tax code is adjusted for job expenses such as cleaning of uniform, working from home, professional fees and subscriptions, traveling, etc.

    

10. Forgetting to enclose supplementary pages

• Entertaining
• Depreciation
• Non gift aid donations
• Customer gifts over £50
• Governing body penalties & fines
• Some legal fees

• Paper returns must be filed by 31^st October
• Online returns must be filed by 31^st January
• Payment of liabilities by 31^st January

• Tax-free allowances;
  • Personal allowance - £12,570 (this reduces if your income is over £100,000)
  • Transferable Marriage allowance - £1,260
  • Blind person allowance - £2,520
  • Self-employment trading allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
  • Property allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
• Self-employment allowances;
  • Trading allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
  • Home office allowance – you can claim a proportion of your home costs used for business or use a flat home allowance of up to £26 per month.
  • Mileage allowance – first 10,000 miles at 45p per mile, 10,000 + at 25p per mile (cannot be claimed if claiming expenses for business vehicle)
• Property allowances;
  • Property income allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
  • Rent a room scheme – first £7,500
  • Private residence relief – if you live in the rented property for some time (on disposal)
• Investment allowances;
  • Capital gains allowance - £12,300
  • Dividend allowance - £2,000
  • Savings interest allowance - £1,000 basic rate taxpayer, £500 higher rate taxpayer, £0 additional rate taxpayer
• Pension allowances;
  • Private pension tax relief – contribute up to £40,000 per year or 100% of your relevant income (whichever is lower)

Additional income not covered by the main tax return needs to have supplementary pages included.

What to do if you find a mistake?

If you make a mistake on your tax return, you must inform HMRC as soon as possible. You normally have 12 months from the submission deadline to amend the return. For example, the 2021/22 tax return must be filed by 31^st January 2023 and you will have until 31^st January 2024 to file any amendments.

There are a lot of complex tax rules around the various points above and for peace of mind, a lot of taxpayers ask for the assistance of an accountant to help them complete their tax return. Some accountants also offer their clients a fee protection service which will cover the fees incurred for the accountant to assist in any investigations the revenue may carry out into the returns filed.

If you require any assistance in preparing your self-assessment tax returns or want to discuss our fee protection service, please call, or email me and I will be happy to help.