What happens when tax laws change halfway through the year? If you're a business owner with employees, purchased assets in 2025, or live in a high-tax state, you might be sitting on tax savings you don't even know about—or worse, facing confused employees with incorrect W-2s.The 2025 tax code overhaul, via the One Big Beautiful Bill, brought massive changes that caught most business owners off guard: overtime became tax-exempt (with conditions), bonus depreciation returned at 100%, and the SALT deduction cap quadrupled. But because these changes happened mid-year, payroll systems weren't ready, business owners weren't prepared, and now the 2026 tax filing season is shaping up to be one of the most confusing in years.HIGHLIGHTS• Why the 2026 tax filing season will be uniquely confusing for business owners• The 55-employee W-2 crisis: what went wrong and how to fix it• Bonus depreciation is back at 100%—but only for assets purchased after a specific date• How to write off $50,000 in equipment while only spending $5,000 out of pocket• The overtime tax exemption explained: who qualifies and how much you can save• Why most payroll software failed to capture overtime exemptions correctly• SALT deduction changes: the cap increased from $10,000 to $40,000• How high-income earners in high-tax states can finally itemize properly• The critical questions your tax professional should be asking you right nowCHAPTERS0:00 - 55 W-2s Missing Overtime Info: What Went Wrong?0:24 - Welcome to Simplify My Numbers + Why 2026 Taxes Will Be a Mess1:18 - Mid-Year 2025 Tax Law Changes You Must Know2:48 - Bonus Depreciation Is Back: The Write-Off Opportunity Explained5:18 - The Catch: 100% Bonus Depreciation Only After Jan 19, 20256:32 - Overtime Tax Exemption: Rules, Limits, and Who Qualifies7:48 - Payroll Software Fail: Fixing Incorrect W-2s for Overtime10:38 - SALT Deduction Changes: Standard vs Itemized (and the New $40K Cap)14:07 - Final Takeaway: Plan Early, Ask the Right Questions, Save MoreWant to keep more of what you earn? If you’re a 7-6-5 business owner ready to move from financial chaos to CFO-level comfort, visit www.simplifymynumbers.com to schedule a call with our team. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help us grow the community, and be sure to share this episode with a fellow founder.This show is designed to be used for educational and informational purposes. For your own situation, be sure to contact a tax professional directly.This show is part of the ICT Podcast network. For more information, visit ictpod.net

What if the key to becoming a better leader isn't learning more skills, but simply becoming more yourself?I sit down with leadership coach Jeana Marinelli for an honest conversation about the journey from "good girl" to authentic leader. We explore how women are conditioned to disconnect from their inner knowing, the physical sensations that signal something needs to change, and why the path to leadership starts with self-awareness, not achievement. Jeana shares her own story of walking away from medical school, finding her calling in Italy, and learning that becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. We also talk about the tools that help us disentangle from societal expectations—therapy, coaching, movement, and community—and why the answer is almost always in the gray, not black and white.HIGHLIGHTS• The early signs that something isn't working often show up as physical sensations in your body—tightness in the chest, restlessness, discomfort• Society, education, and the "good girl complex" systematically disconnect us from our inner knowing• Movement and somatic work are powerful tools for reconnecting with your body's wisdom• Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself—it's that simple and that difficult• The stories we tell ourselves are often binaries that hold us back; nothing in life is truly black and white• If you can't do something perfectly, the temptation is not to do it at all—but the messy middle is exactly where we should show up• Standing at the edge of change means you've already begun the change processCHAPTERS[0:00] Introduction[2:15] Early Signs of Something Not Working[5:05] The Good Girl Complex and Socialization[7:59] Therapy and Personal Growth[11:46] Leadership and Becoming Yourself[18:37] Navigating Life's Decisions[32:26] Final Thoughts and Upcoming PlansRESOURCES MENTIONED• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom• Beverly Daniel Tatum's work on "smog" and socialization• Come to the Edge poem by Christopher LogueCONNECT WITH JEANAWebsite: https://jeanamarinelli.com/Want to learn more?The ThreadBe sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedInThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

Ever wonder where those grocery store flowers actually come from? Most of us never think twice about it—until we meet someone like Ashley Vail, who turned a pandemic chicken hobby into a thriving half-acre specialty cut flower farm in Kansas. From planting nearly 2,000 peonies to surviving 110 mph winds, Ashley's journey proves that flower farming is way more intense (and way more rewarding) than you'd think.HIGHLIGHTS• A McPherson antique store's viral TikTok ad featuring Sarah McLachlin's iconic ASPCA song—but for abandoned antiques• How Ashley went from zero gardening experience to farming thousands of flowers on half an acre• The difference between annuals and perennials, and why Ashley's back is grateful for the peony pivot• Why Kansas weather is the biggest challenge for flower farmers (spoiler: it's not just the tornadoes)• The surprising number of flower farmers across Kansas—probably one in your county• How Bobcat let Ashley test drive a tractor for a week, knowing she'd never give it back• Why Ashley prefers being the grower over being the florist (wedding pressure is real)• The "reluctant farmer husband" phenomenon and how military training prepared Matt for flower farming• Victory Gardens during WWII: Kansas grew 17 million quarts of canned food in 1943 alone• Container gardening tips and when to plant: potatoes on St. Patrick's Day, tomatoes on Mother's Day, peppers by Memorial DayCHAPTERS[0:00] Local TikTok Find: McPherson Antique Store Ad That Cracked Us Up[1:02] Why the Ad Works: Sound Effects, Song Choice & Instant Nostalgia[1:53] Welcome to Ask A Kansan + Meet Today's Guest (Vail Family Farms)[2:53] Getting Set Up: Ashley Joins the Conversation[3:22] What Is a Specialty Cut Flower Farm? Size, Scale & What They Grow[4:41] Annuals vs Perennials: The Peony Pivot (and Saving Your Back)[5:58] How It Started: Pandemic Chickens to Full-On Flower Farming[7:40] Year One Reality Check: No Tunnels, No Tractor, Just Prairie Ground[10:22] Extending the Season: High Tunnels, Grants & Kansas Wind Survival[12:39] Selling the Blooms: Subscriptions, Farmers Markets & U-Pick Events[15:35] Bouquets & Weddings: Design Pressure vs Being the Grower[17:10] From Nursing to Farm Life: Making the Jump + Family Behind the Business[19:18] 'Reluctant Flower Farmer': Matt's Role and the Support System[19:60] Reluctant Farmer Husband: Military Life Meets Flower Farming[21:25] How Many Flower Farmers Are in Kansas? Finding Local Growers[22:14] The Biggest Challenge: Kansas Weather, Wind & Growing Zones[23:51] Support Networks & The Insurance Gap for Specialty Crops[26:23] Next 5 Years: Peony Expansion + Spring Crop Strategy[27:42] Building the Farm Brand on Social Media (and Keeping It Real)[29:32] Scaling Advice: Home Garden Tips vs Farming Thousands of Plants[30:44] Where to Find Vail Family Farm + Wrap-Up of the Interview[31:40] Post-Interview Chat: Farm Visits, Book Clubs & Photo Sessions[32:27] Theme Segment: Victory Gardens—History, Kansas Stats & Why It Matters[36:19] Planting Calendar & Container Gardening: Potatoes to Peppers[39:31] Final Thoughts: Gardening Trends + Subscribe, Newsletter & MerchRESOURCES MENTIONEDVail Family FarmInstagram: @vailfamilyfarmFacebook: Vail Family FarmLearn more about Victory Gardens: https://kgi.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16884coll1/id/2183https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/victory-gardens-were-growing-all-across-kansas-during-wwiiLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What if the secret to success in your beauty business isn't growing bigger, but getting smarter about who you serve? After 20 years in the aesthetics industry—including 11 years running a seven-room spa—I made the bold decision to close my doors and return to solo practice. The result? More clients, better income, and the freedom to take a 10-day sailing trip to the Virgin Islands. I'm sharing the mindset shifts, business strategies, and hard-won lessons that transformed my career from stressed-out spa owner to thriving solo esthetician and business coach.Highlights• Why I closed my successful seven-room spa to become a solo esthetician again• The unexpected result: gaining 28 new clients in my first year at Utopia• How identifying your ideal client changes everything (and why most estheticians skip this step)• The #1 obstacle holding beauty professionals back: fear and self-doubt• Why "bigger is better" is a myth that nearly burned me out• Client retention secrets: why keeping clients is easier than finding new ones• Competition anxiety: why you literally have no competition when you own your niche• The power of repetitive communication (and why clients need to hear things multiple times)• How I built a business that lets me take 3-week vacations without stressChapters[0:49] Meet Pam Edmondson: A Journey in Aesthetics[2:47] Challenges and Changes Post-COVID[4:06] Transition to Utopia: A New Beginning[4:47] The Unexpected Growth and Benefits[7:42] Pam's Coaching Business: Helping Other Estheticians[10:05] Success Stories and Coaching Insights[15:28] Mindset and Overcoming Fear[18:28] Personal Freedom and Adventures[19:03] Returning from Vacation: The Importance of Communication[20:42] Defining Success in Business[21:12] The Reality of Building a Business[23:10] Transitioning from Spa Owner to Solo Practitioner[26:36] Embracing a Niche and Authentic Client Relationships[28:33] The Challenge of Client Retention[34:12] Overcoming Competition Anxiety[36:54] Conclusion and Contact InformationResources Mentioned• Evergreen Skin Studio - Pam's esthetics practice - https://www.evergreenskinstudio.com• Professional Coaching for Estheticians - Available through Pam's website at https://www.evergreenskinstudio.com or Instagram @evergreenskinstudioTo learn more about Utopia Modern Salon Suites, visit our website at https://utopiamodernsalon.com/ or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe and share with a friend!

Today is my birthday (38 years around the sun) and marks eight years in business, so I’m kicking off something new: Simplify My Numbers, the show built for the 7-6-5 entrepreneur. After helping more than 300 business owners secure over $7.1M in tax credits and save more than $2.6M in taxes legally—and seeing too many tax horror stories along the way—I’m here to help you stop getting shocked at tax time.