No, not that kind of streaker. You know, the kind someone (hopefully not you) did in college on a dare. The kind that can be an even more exciting concept that can transform your life. It is called Postive Behavioral Streaks (PBS). Imagine if every time you completed a task, you got a gold star, just like in kindergarten. Sounds fun, right? Well, that’s the essence of PBS, a simple yet powerful tool to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. I found that being a concrete, sequential tax professional (aka a little OCD), streaks help me accomplish more in a short period of time.
Understanding PBS: The Gold Star System for Grown-Ups
Positive Behavioral Streaks work on a simple principle: consistency is key. It’s about creating a chain of positive actions and keeping it going. Each day you complete a task, you get a virtual (or real, if you’re into crafts) gold star. The aim? Don’t break the chain. It’s like playing a game where the prize is a better you! Here are some things you can create a streak for as a tax professional that will help you either personally, in your business or both.
Mentally: Turn Your Brain into a Knowledge Sponge
Let’s start with mental growth. Ever wanted to be that person who knows a little about everything? PBS makes it possible.
- Book Worming: Set a goal to read, say, 10 pages a day. Each day you do, give yourself a star. Soon, you’ll have devoured books on topics from astrophysics to zen gardening.
- Writing Buff: If writing is your thing, commit to writing a daily blog post or email. It could be about anything: your cat’s philosophical musings, new tax tips for your clients or how to stay out of trouble with the IRS. Star it up!
- Podcast Power Hour: Listen to a podcast episode each day. From marketing tips, new tax ideas, to running a business, there’s a podcast for everything. You might not learn a lot, but you might learn one new nugget of information, look at some concept from a different angle that will help you explain things better to clients or just might inspire some great idea.
Physically: From Couch Potato to Fitness Fries
Now, let’s get physical, and no, I don’t mean an Olivia Newton-John workout tape.
- 10-Minute Movement: Commit to 10 minutes of exercise daily. It could be yoga, a brisk walk,