02/16/2026
In 1796, a weary George Washington declined to serve again as our nation’s executive. Having seen his luster as the hero of the revolution tarnished by the controversies inherent to executive power, he published his farewell address to enjoin the nation to carry on the experiment he had fought to see realized. The remarkable quality of the address to my mind is that in it, he does not point to his many successes as a sign of his greatness. He is not defensive regarding his decisions nor does he blame his enemies for his failures.
Instead, this notoriously proud man admits gratitude for the honor of serving his nation, confesses his insufficiency for the post to which he was called, urges the nation toward unity, and closes with the now-famous remark quoted below. This mature reflection is refreshing in an age of politicians of all stripes who claim they would have led us into the land of milk and honey with their perfect leadership if it were not for the evil team on the other side of the aisle who are trying to destroy everything dear and precious to life.
But our need for public humility and acceptance of our limitations extends beyond the political. From the small-business owner to the homemaker, the pervasive power of social media tempts us all to present ourselves as perfect, as the solution to all problems, and to stoke the fires of partisan outrage. As we advance through 2026, how could we transform our relationships and communities if we spent less time selling ourselves and more time serving one another?
As a man in business for myself, I feel this pressure every time I write a blog, share a post, or interact with a neighbor. It would be much easier to gather clients by portraying the IRS as the big, bad wolf out to get you or telling you that without me you’re bound to make a massive mistake – rage and fear sell in the world of digital marketing. I could have ChatGPT churn out optimized posts to fill a content calendar to drive engagement. But do any of us really need more AI-generated fluff stirring up our baser passions?
I believe that our families, communities, and nation need a new telos – a new story of what we’re here for. We each have our part to play in this, and I hope to show how even a tax firm may strive to stir up “the better angels of our nature,” in Lincoln’s phrase.
In the spirit of Washington, I must acknowledge my shortcomings ensure that I will always labor with “usefulness unequal to my zeal,” and anyone who will not say likewise is selling you the stars. Rather than making empty promises with endless caveats in tiny print, I will only say that I will always seek to provide the human, professional touch that the digital age is sapping from our lives. If you're tired of anonymous software with offshore support or seeing a new preparer every year, I may be able to help.
