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result in expensive mistakes. By not “self- promoting,” you are not being “humble.” You are depriving people of the opportunity to engage in your services, possibly to their detriment, all because your subconscious mind did not want to be perceived as arrogant or boastful. “IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO TOOT YOUR OWN HORN, I DON’T KNOW WHO ELSE WILL.” As lawyers, we’re storytellers, and that’s one of the best ways you can promote what you’re doing. Sharing examples of your
experiences and accomplishments speaks for itself. By telling your story, you allow people to draw their own conclusions and get an understanding of what you and your business are all about. I launched a lawyer consulting company about 10 years ago and engaged coaching program to help me with the launch. The program required me to do a 30-day video challenge where I shot a Facebook Live about my services and delivered valuable lesson to my audience every day for a month. As uncomfortable as I felt, completing the video challenge showed me a way to put myself out there without being “look at me,” and instead educating people about my experiences so they could learn from the mistakes that I’ve made and avoid unnecessary pain. There’s no bragging in that; it’s sharing practical information,
and I was amazed at the positive feedback I received from my videos (I didn’t think anyone would watch them). Self-promotion is an essential part of business, but it doesn’t have to be about ego. It’s about making sure the people who need your help know you exist and are willing and able to help them. By approaching it as storytelling, shining a light on others, and focusing on educating, you’ll find putting yourself out there feels less like bragging and more about making a difference. So, take a moment this October to put yourself out there! You never know who needs to hear what you have to share!
Q4 Is Here Your End-of-Year Legal To-Do List
October is here, and along with pumpkin spice and Halloween costumes, it also brings the official start of Q4. For small-business owners, it’s the perfect time to focus on wrapping up the year with intention so you can start 2026 off right. Here’s a legal end-of-year checklist with some of the main steps to ensure your business stays compliant, protected, and set for another year of success. 2025 TAX FILING PREPARATION It’s never too early to start preparing for tax season, and Q4 is a great time to review your company financials and start gauging potential tax liability. Review your company books to identify individuals or companies that should be issued 1099 forms in January and meet with your tax strategist or CPA to review opportunities for potential tax avoidance strategies. This is also a good time to look at any work-in-progress and determine whether or not your business should aggressively close the year strong from a revenue standpoint or look for opportunities to push some potential revenue into the next year. Regardless, you can avoid a lot of stress by getting organized for April 15th by doing a little “front- end” work toward the latter part of the year. FINALIZATION OF BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET With the new year right around the corner, Fall is a great time to either start preparation of your company’s 2026 Business Plan or put the finishing touches on it. Take a look back at your goals from this year and see what initiatives were completed and what projects should be
pushed forward to next year. Additionally, it’s important to establish an annual budget for next year before the December holiday push. Take a look at your company’s hiring plan to determine what positions need to be filled or added the following year and review the company’s marketing budget as well. If you complete your company’s Business Plan and Budget before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, you’ll be able to unwind and recharge for next year! REVIEW CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS You should review all your company’s contracts, agreements, and essential documents to make sure they are in compliance and up to date. Review your employee personnel files in advance of any “end of year” performance reviews and ensure that any job descriptions or KPIs have been updated for 2026. Update any of your confidentiality agreements and the terms of all your vendor or client agreements. You want to make sure any contracts that need renewal are ready to go before the end of the year. You should check for any contracts or information you need to renew, like your office lease or essential subscriptions and tools. Review any business licenses or permits to check if the information is correct or if anything needs updating. At Douglass & Runger, we can help you review all your agreements and any other Q4 necessities so you stay compliant and are ready for a great new year. Contact us today at 901-388-5805 to schedule a meeting with one of our seasoned business lawyers.
2 • DouglassRunger.com
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