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The appointment is set for 10am on Wednesday morning. You aren't exactly looking forward to seeing a tax consultant that day, especially since you haven't kept good records all year. All things considered, you are sure Mr. Taxman will understand-its what he's used to. Your biggest fear of all is that you have to unload all your personal debt to a new tax accountant because the one you faithfully hired for the past ten years and held the utmost confidence in, has moved away.

More then anything, you yearn for that blessed assurance that this professional is highly trained and he knows all there is to know about the tax biz. You arrive a little early and at 9:45am, you check in and take a seat. At 10:02, Mr. Taxman's associate walks up and invites you to a room where you will bare it all, including the kitchen sink.

There, in the accountant's office and in the midst of your unanswered questions about how Mr. Taxman will handle your possessions, he begins his introduction: " Hello neighbor, I hope you don't mind that I have just spilled coffee on my desk. I can't seem to stay awake without it. I hope you don't mind that I am just a klutz and a rotten housekeeper, as you can see. But if my wife hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten to get dressed today" he continues, as he laughs at himself.

At this point you hesitate, reluctant to say a word. You are stunned at the lowliness displayed, as the self-image of the businessman screams-I Don't Care, Why Should You? In this very instance, Mr. Taxman presents a side of his self-image that can make or break doing business with him.

After seeing the direction of Mr. Taxman signals of low self worth, do you think he had a confident self-image? Not hardly. The masked portrait he paints sends a negative message and leaves you undecided on whether you want to do business with someone who maintains little confidence. His poor self-image sways you with the idea that he cannot succeed until someone else carries him through; and that without his coffee, he may not make it through the next hour.

What cost is it to Mr. Taxman and why is self-image important in the business world?
While Mr. Taxman may be highly skilled at manipulating numbers, he also knows all the right forms to send to the government. Still, no one will want the help of his business if he leaves you with the impression that your tax information will develop stains; that the accountant will possibly fall asleep at the wheel; or if you feel

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