The Grateful Country - Our 2020 Christmas Message
As the 2020 year comes to an end, I reflect on a year that wreaked chaos, death and economic collapse in every corner in the world. Before 2020 dawned, we were looking forward to the year 2020. Everyone I spoke with wanted to “manifest vision 2020”. What did we really get from 2020?
I cannot deny that the 2020 year has been challenging and exhausting. At the height of the lockdown from March till June, here at Money Intelligence HQ, we felt that we were in a war zone, fighting for every single client’s financial survival. When it all started, we didn’t realise that we became your “financial nurses” helping you get the JobKeeper and JobSeeker oxygen masks on, getting you every possible grant to help you get through the harsh winter months. We found ourselves working from my home’s dining room from early morning till late nights, reading legislation, analysing your accounts and tax returns to work out every single legal avenue possible to keep your finances afloat.
Now it’s the end of the year, and when we look back, we have no regrets. Despite the lack of sleep, the daily “meltdowns” and overeating to manage the stress and anxiety (Covid kilos are real!), all we are left with is memories of “fighting clean” and taking another quantum leap towards scoring a new “personal best” for each one of us.
When we sat down for the team’s Christmas lunch, we reflected on this tumultuous year and realized the “blessing in disguise” that this year has brought for each one of us. We realized that the wealth of knowledge we possess, the values we uphold, the solidarity of community that we are surrounded by – family, friends and clients – are the true marks of success. We realized that loyalty, integrity, and courage are the true representations of wealth. We encourage you to do the same with your team and with your family members when you sit down for Christmas lunch or dinner.
Here are some of the lessons shared:
“Life is too short, that’s correct. But life has an end. That’s the truth. So we must live our best life where work should be a part of our life not the only part”.
“We (as in humans) are naïve. We forget that we are small living in a big world. We should not aspire to accumulate more. We should aspire to become better human beings”.
“If something bad happens, it’s not the end. It’s the beginning of a new chapter of strength and overcoming. We need to have faith in God and in each other. Once we have faith, even when bad things happen, if we decide that we will overcome them, then courage will fill our hearts and we become better and stronger people”
“Don’t listen to outside voices. Go within and follow your own intuition and advice”
“If we think first about helping other people, then we will get rewarded. When we are in service to people, they will appreciate us and money will follow. So, we shouldn’t think about making money first. We should think about helping people first”
The Grateful Country
We are grateful that 2020 made us better, stronger and more determined to make a difference in this financial world that we live in. 2020 marks 25 years of starting this practice. We started it two months before my niece Janette Kayal – our Practice Manager - was born. I remember driving from a new client meeting going to visit my sister Wendy at the hospital on the day Janette was born. She was tiny and fragile. She was the first born grandchild and my first niece. Seeing a new baby born was life changing. She is now 25 years old and just got engaged last month to her best friend, Jacob (see photo on the right!). She is strong and amazing and I am in awe of the gift she has been to our family.
I see the practice that we started 25 years ago as a gift too, a gift from my family to yours. It became so obvious for us this year how much of what we do every day impacts you financially. We take what we do at Money Intelligence HQ seriously! For us it’s not about “filing your taxes”. It’s about empowering you to make Wise, Money Intelligent decisions.
We are also in awe of how some of our clients overcame and continue to overcome the past few months. There are so many stories of clients we would love to share with you, stories of clients’ hardest hits during this pandemic who have gone above and beyond to reinvent and reset their businesses. We want to leave you with a message of hope and empowerment. We also want you to know that you are not alone and that you can overcome.
Be of Service:
Allan Hopper’s corporate travel agency - Hopperound – came to a complete halt the moment the airlines stopped flying. But he has not stopped working every day processing refunds/credits to his customers. He didn’t get paid for the past 9 months and ensured clients got their money back. But he pivoted and reinvented his travel agency and is now open for tours and cruises. Once you meet Allan, you wouldn’t want anyone else to manage your travel needs https://www.hopperound.com.au/
Find Your Calling:
Sunny Grace runs a production company providing A-Z services in the fashion industry. But her passion is writing and film directing. So, she used the lockdown time to pivot and reset to produce and direct her own films. She won a grant from AACTA to make a short film about life under the lockdown. Watch it here: https://www.screenfest.com.au/program/charging-premiere/
Just Keep Smiling:
Renowned Australian chef Simon Ekas and his life and business partner Amber Byrnes are the most positive and optimistic people I know. But when the lockdown started, their business of catering for corporates and weddings stopped. In less than a month their team of chefs and cooks created a new product that was stocked on the shelves of IGA. They refused to give up. Even when business stopped, they kept smiling and stayed positive. If you want yummy food for your next event, call Simon and Amber https://simonekascatering.com.au/
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work:
Brenda Miley and Craig Wachholz run Let’s Go Surfing (Bondi, Maroubra and Byron). When the beaches were closed, their sales came to a halt. They didn’t know what to do and how long the shutdown was going to last. At some point I didn’t think they could make it. Thankfully the JobKeeper was announced “in the nik of time” so they could keep their employees. Their motto was “leave no one behind”. Now they are busy teaching kids and adults alike how to surf. Here’s to an amazing couple who created a business Australia is proud of. If your kids get bored this summer, you know where to go https://letsgosurfing.com.au
We will be back in the new year with more client stories of hope and resilience.
We are grateful for how Australia weathered the Coronavirus storm, for our governments’ support and for the love and care we get from our family, friends and clients.
From our family to yours, we wish you a happy Christmas and New Year. May we stay stronger together.
The Money Intelligence Team
December 2020
Clients Covid Gratitude testimonials
“Thank you so much Susan !! We couldn’t have made it thus far without you guys. Amazing work from your family helping our family”
“I don’t normally read Christmas messages and end of the year rap ups, but I have to say that yours was fantastic! Yes, what a year, and your assistance has been invaluable and much appreciated.
Many congratulations to you for your 25 years of business, and Janette also many congratulations to you on your engagement - What exciting news!”
“Thank you again to you both and your team for all your support this year. We don’t know what we would do without you.”
“Thank you so much for your heart felt message of love and caring for Christmas and beyond. Your continued support to our very modest business, and all your clients is so very much appreciated.”
“We could not have gone through the year without you”
“How lovely you guys are!”
“Susan, what a lovely message – so great to be reminded of the silver linings. Thank you for all you have done, going above and beyond this year – it’s appreciated! Blessings at Christmas xo
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“Thanks for being great again but particularly in such an unusual year. Hopefully 2021 will make up for this year. All the best to you and your families and have a fun, safe break and we wish for a prosperous, successful 2021.
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“Thanks for your loving support over the years especially this crazy Covid year. Wishing you all a brilliant well-earned Christmas break and may all your wishes and dreams for 2021 be fulfilled.”