Rapp Payroll Solutions LLC

12/07/2023

The 6 Indomitable Traits of Successful Leaders that Generate Energy and Produce Results

How can there be teams that are fun to be on and produce extraordinary outcomes? Do you wonder how you can prevent energy loss and drive productivity, profitability, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement?

According to the latest research from professor Kim Cameron at the University of Michigan, the most important factor for leader and team success is the leader's positive energy.

We flourish in the presence of light or positive energy. This is known as the heliotropic effect. It's why plants turn towards the sun. The common thread of the most effective teams and organizations is the energy level generated by their leaders.

Energy is more important than strategy, processes, incentives, or even culture. And that positivity translates to higher productivity, quality, morale, customer satisfaction, and financial strength.

In this post, we will cover the six indomitable traits that generate energy so you can help your teams thrive. For more information on how to cultivate a fun, productive, and successful team, check out my course, How Leaders Generate Energy and Cultivate Commitment.

1. Selflessness - First and foremost, they elevate people and help them thrive with no expected payback. They help people feel they matter.

2. Humility - They seek feedback for continuous improvement and offer ongoing growth and development opportunities, give up control, and help others develop more self-confidence.

3. Empathy - These leaders display real empathy through active listening. They help people feel they belong.

4. Safety - They create a safe environment where they trust people to take responsibility. And in turn, the leader receives trust, and the benefit of the doubt when making decisions and providing direction.

5. Positive regard - The leader generates heroic aspirations by upholding high standards where people rise to the level of lofty expectations.

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology reported that performance can go up a full 40% by simply saying, "I have very high expectations, and I know that you can reach them." Praise and recognition are what propels individuals and teams to high levels of commitment and engagement.

6. Organized management

All the leaders I work with are great at tracking projects and budgets, yet very few keep track of how often they speak with their direct reports and what was discussed.

To be an energizing leader, keep a detailed record of conversations you have with your direct reports, that is, their business goals, their career aspirations, their progress, and how they define success. Set clear expectations.

Help others flourish by encouraging their development and genuinely and sincerely care about people as humans first, coworkers second.

Preventing energy loss with your team is all about using the concept of positivity to generate energy for yourself and influencing others with your genuine hope and optimism.

11/17/2023

Protect Your Finances Against Fraud This Holiday Season
NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Although new scams are continually emerging, holiday fraud is a trend you can count on. Whether you are shopping for gifts online or making a charitable donation, it’s important to be aware of the potential for fraud across many channels.

Despite knowing scams come from all directions, many consumers aged 18 and older are wrong or unsure about safe shopping practices, according to the most recent “Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Age 18-Plus” by the AARP.

41% incorrectly believe (or are unsure) that ads for merchandise on social media are trustworthy. 63% incorrectly believe (or are unsure) that online retailers like Amazon and eBay will request your login information to provide customer support. And 53% incorrectly believe (or are unsure) that peer-to-peer payment apps like Cash App, Zelle or Venmo have the same consumer protections as your credit card. To get on the correct side of these numbers, there are several ways you can protect your finances from fraudsters:

Identify Imposters: Fraudsters often disguise themselves as trusted figures such as government officials, family members or a company you do business with. Refuse requests for money or personal information that you didn’t expect or initiate. One popular scam involves receiving a text message or email that appears to be from a school or church official asking for monetary support in the form of gift cards. If you get a request like this, reach out to the person or organization directly — not by clicking a link in the suspicious message — to confirm it did not come from them.
Conduct Research: Type the business name in question into a search engine with words like “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes a similar situation to yours, such as, “IRS call.”
Refuse Upfront Payments: Scammers may ask you to pay in advance for prizes or vacation packages. Chances are if you comply, they will run off with your money. Recently, checks from “Santa Claus” have been sent out to businesses. Once cashed, “Santa” requests for a portion of the money back, only for the victim to later find out the check is fraudulent. Lesson: Do not cash a check from an unknown source.
Consider How You Pay: Most credit cards offer you fraud protection, but that is not the case for all payment methods. Wiring money is risky because it’s nearly impossible to reclaim money once it is sent. Honest businesses generally will not require you to use this payment method. If making a payment through a mobile payment app like Venmo or Zelle, ensure you are paying the right person or business, and mark the payment as a purchase to gain some — not full — protection.
Double-Check: Before you pay for a gift online, verify the website is legitimate. Have you bought from them before? Do they have customer reviews? Does the website appear to be brand new? Remember to check for misspellings or wrong domains within a link (for example, an address that should end in ".gov" ends in “.com" instead).
Talk to Someone: Before you pay a fee or reveal personal information, talk to someone you trust. Fraudsters want you to make quick decisions. The best reaction to a potential threat is to slow down, research, and consult a trusted family member or friend.
If you plan to travel this holiday season, be sure to take the same precautions when booking travel, accommodations and other events and entertainment.

An easy way to increase your security in-store or online is to download the Mobile Wallet app. This tool replaces your card information with a token so it is never exposed. Once you download the app and set up your payment information, you can simply hold your device up to the contactless symbol for safe in-store purchases.

Another security solution is the ability to control how, when and where your debit card is used. SecurLOCK Equip™ gives you full control to temporarily disable your card, restrict card usage to certain areas, block transactions occurring outside your area and receive alerts for card transactions.

As a reminder, if you contact Enterprise, we may request certain information to verify your identity. However, Enterprise will never ask for your password. Unless you initiate contact with us directly, we will never ask you to provide your personal information, such as your account number, Social Security number, PIN, Secure Access Code (SAC) or user ID, through email, U.S. mail, live or automated phone call, or text message.

If you receive any suspicious emails or phone calls claiming to be from Enterprise Bank & Trust and asking for your personal or account information, please do not respond and contact us immediately at (833) 896-2850. If you suspect or spot a scam, tell the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

06/02/2023

please vote for us under best in payroll!

Vote For The Best Businesses In St. Louis

Here's your chance to vote for the Best Businesses In St. Louis. Small Business Monthly's annual Best In Business contest will run through July 5. Each month we've asked our readers to help us locate the top companies in 19 categories. Now, it is time to find out who is the BEST.



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Winners will be featured in SBM's "Business Owners'

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03/02/2023

RK is a very reputable company and I do not hesitate to refer to any of my clients!

Post a review to our profile on Google

02/14/2023

Saint Valentine is the patron saint of love. Believers say God worked through his life to perform miracles and teach people how to recognize and experience true love.

This famous saint, an Italian doctor who later became a priest, inspired the creation of the holiday of Valentine's Day. He was sent to jail for performing weddings for couples during a time when new marriages were outlawed in the ancient Rome. Before he was killed for refusing to renounce his faith, he sent a loving note to a child he had been helping to teach, the daughter of his jailer, and that note eventually led to the tradition of sending Valentine's cards.

12/20/2022

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope we take the time during our busy season to appreciate our blessings. I

I had one of my clients reach out and ask for help in raising funds for a family in need. Imagine, one of your worker's family members in a situation like this, especially during the holidays. Please consider making a donation! Any amount, nmatter how small, will all add up.

Hi Sally,

This Family Needs Your Help

Jose, 25 years old, was working hard on a Saturday in the freezing cold to provide for his family and make some extra money to give his 4 kids the best Christmas he could.

Unfortunately, this past Saturday on the way to get some more project materials the crew of 4 was hit by a semi-truck and 3 of the 4 died at the scene. (One crew member is fighting for his life in a coma right now at the hospital) One of those crew members was my friend Jose. We had worked together for nearly 2 years. He was an incredibly humble, hardworking, and beautiful human being who always had a smile.

He has left behind his girlfriend Blanca and 4 young children. (ages 7 to 2 years old)

Many of us in the landscaping industry knew Jose and his crew and are devastated. I am asking you to please donate whatever you can to help this family.

I can't even imagine what they are going through and how lonely they are feeling. Funerals are incredibly expensive, especially for a super young family that would NEVER expect this.

Please help them. Donate what you can.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/xnxjhc-jose-betancourt?qid=adeafe6f4a6260d60f7ce9fcdc36b9fc

Happy Holidays and thank you so much for your support!!!

Soy Blanca esposa de José Betancourt recaudando fondos para el funeral de mi esposo que falleció en un … Blanca Duarte needs your support for José Betancourt

12/19/2022

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about

a person by the way he/she handles these three things:

a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

Maya Angelou

12/13/2022

5 Tips To Prevent ‘Holiday Burnout’

Tip #1: Welcome the chaos.

Accept that you will experience stress — and don’t worry about it too much.

Sure, long-term stress is unhealthy… but occasionally feeling overwhelmed isn’t the end of the world.

In fact, some stress is actually healthy for you.

Our bodies are not only designed for challenge, they’re built to thrive under the right amount of adversity.

So accept or even enjoy the ‘holiday madness’ — and embrace it as part of the overall experience…

And don’t let the idea of stress become the cause of it.

Tip #2: Slow down.

Especially during the holidays, our brains can feel so full of thoughts that it’s hard to focus.

“I have to get those shoes Betty wanted from Macy’s before they run out of them!”

“Oh! I can’t forget to order Josh’s shirt, or it’ll never arrive in time!”

“Oh no! I still haven’t sent Courtney and Max their Christmas cards! Will they get them before Christmas?”

When this mental chaos starts brewing in your head, here’s what I want you to do:

Slow down — literally.

Slow down your breath, move at a slower pace, and avoid multitasking.

Then, take a few breaths.

Slow, deep breaths can help lower blood pressure and heart rate, and calm the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight or flight response.

Here’s a quick and very effective yogic breathing technique you can try:

Alternate-nostril breathing to instantly banish stress:
Exhale completely and use your thumb to close your right nostril.
Inhale through the left nostril and then close the left nostril with your fingers.
Open the right nostril and exhale through this side.
Inhale through the right nostril and then close this nostril.
Open the left nostril and exhale through the left side.
Repeat two or more times.
It may take a few breaths to get the hang of it…

But once you learn this technique, you’ll see how wonderfully it works — and you’ll have another excellent science-backed tool for combating stress in your arsenal.

Tip #3: Move your body.

Hands down, the best antidote to stress ever discovered is moving your body.

Exercise releases ‘feel-good hormones’ in your body — and science shows it can even produce the same chemical reaction in your brain as an antidepressant.2

And you don’t have to go crazy either! You don’t need a gym membership, exercise program, fancy equipment, long workouts, or any of that.

If you ask me, it’s much better to just move continuously throughout the day, and fit in small bursts of vigorous movement whenever you can.

It could be doing squats (deep knee bends) while brushing your teeth…

Taking a short walk after dinner…

Parking your car a little further up the street…

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator…

You can even get some movement in while you’re shopping! If you’re stressed out at the mall, do a 15-minute power walk, then resume shopping.

The point is to just move around whenever you can.

It’s really the best way to stay mentally and physically at the top of your game any time of year.

Tip #4: Do something kind for a stranger.

The evidence is clear: When you do nice things for others… it makes YOU feel good, too.3,4

It can be as simple as holding a door open for someone… helping another person put something in their shopping cart… or just initiating small talk with another shopper.

I think you’ll find simple interactions like these really brighten your mood and make you feel more connected with others — especially during the holidays.

For example: Next time you’re out getting a cup of coffee, smile and greet the barista with a “Hi, how are you?”

Aim to do this year-round, of course…

But it can really make a difference during the holidays — when almost all of us are facing at least some stress.

Tip #5: Do something kind for yourself.

Shopping for gifts or making gifts, making sure the house is clean, preparing the food, making sure presents are wrapped and ready to be opened…

The act of giving gets so much attention during the holidays, it can be easy to forget to give back to yourself.

So remember to set aside time to do things YOU enjoy, that refill your own batteries.

Whether it’s making your favorite meal…

Binge watching your favorite show…

Taking a bath…

Whatever ‘rekindles your spark’ — do it!

After all, the only way to take care of others is to take care of yourself first.

Matter of fact — here’s a quick way to practice a little ‘self-care’ right now, without even stepping away from the computer:

Bonus Tip: Give yourself a hand massage.

This DIY hand massage for instant relaxation works wonders for calming an anxious mind.

It helps activate an anti-stress pressure point between your thumb and index finger called your hegu — which in acupressure is known to relieve tension.5

Here’s how you do it:
Gently press the web of skin connecting your index finger to your thumb.

In a circular motion, gently massage this area for 5 minutes.

Do this again on your other hand.
Pretty neat, right?

12/01/2022

Avoid Fraud This Holiday Season

We all look forward to the holiday season, even fraudsters! Unfortunately, all it takes is one quick scam to ruin the season of merriment. Stay ahead of the fraudsters this year with these helpful methods to spot and avoid common scams.
Helpful ways to stay ahead of fraudsters
Take time to carefully review all payments. Fraudsters often rush their targets to confuse them.
Only use mobile payment apps with friends, family, and people that you personally know.
Turn on alert notifications to monitor account transactions and balances. Ensure your contact information is up to date in Online Banking to receive alerts.
Utilize the Card Lock feature in Online Banking to prevent future debit and credit card purchases if you believe your card has been compromised.
Common Holiday Scams
1. Suspicious Emails & Text Alerts
Be wary of emails and text alerts from unfamiliar senders. It's good practice to double check the sender name, email address, and phone number. Also be on the lookout for any misspellings or unfamiliar language, as those are indicators of someone impersonating the communication. If you're ever unsure, just contact the business directly to confirm the communication.
2. Wire, Mobile Payment, & Gift Card Requests
Watch out for any purchases or donations that only take payments in the form of wire transfers, mobile payment apps, or they ask you to purchase a new gift card. All of these forms of payment are hard to trace and recover lost funds, making them ideal for fraudsters. If you encounter anyone requiring only these payment methods, then end the purchase immediately.
3. Package Thieves
Its not uncommon for packages to go missing from front porches during the holiday season. Prevent thieves from walking off with your deliveries by creating a hiding place. Good ways to hide packages from plain sight include behind outdoor furniture or landscaping. Another common solution is to have your packages shipped directly to a delivery service store.
4. Too Good To Be True Promotions
Everyone wants to get the best holiday best deal, which is what fraudsters use to their advantage. If a deal sounds too good, then it probably is. Double check all websites and vendors you're purchasing from, including online and in person sellers. A quick online search will often tell you right away if you're actually being scammed or if the deal is real.
5. Fake Charities
It's unfortunate, but fraudsters often take advantage of people's generosity. That's why it's important to take time and review all charities and causes you plan to donate to this year. Avoid being pressured to donate immediately, which is a good indicator the charity isn't legitimate. If you're ever unsure, just give the charity a call or visit their local office.

11/30/2022

IR-2022-206, November 29, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2023.

For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 7% per year, compounded daily, up from 6% for the quarter that began on October 1. Here is a complete list of the new rates:

7% for overpayments (payments made in excess of the amount owed), 6% for corporations.
4.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.
7% for underpayments. (taxes owed but not fully paid)
9% for large corporate underpayments.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during October 2022. See the revenue ruling for details.

Revenue Ruling 2022-23PDF announcing the rates of interest will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-51, dated December 19, 2022.

11/07/2022

“It’s Your Ship’

Leadership lessons occur in many arenas, not just business. Take a few minutes for one such story. “Michael Abrashoff was in his mid-thirties when he took command of the USS Benfold, a guided missile destroyer and one of the worst-performing ships in the navy. Despite her potency, the “dysfunctional ship had a sullen crew that resented being there and could not wait to get out of the Navy.” By the time he left, less than three years later, Benfold had become the highest-performing ship, and retention was amazing. And he did it all without changing a member of the crew.”

The key lessons from Captain Abrashoff ’s turnaround are provided in an executive summary on the Farnum Street Blog’s Lessons on Leadership: Michael Abrashoff on Turning the Worst Ship in the Navy into the Best. After reading this, you may want to listen to an in-depth interview with Captain Abrashoff by clicking here.

The whole story of this remarkable achievement is set forth in his book “It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy.”

08/19/2022

Businesses, Homeowners, and Renters Are Eligible for Disaster Assistance for July Flooding in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties and St. Louis City
Time is limited to apply for assistance, so please apply TODAY!
If you are a business which sustained flood damage, please visit the Business Recovery Center or apply online at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.

Business Recovery Center (BRC)

Urban League of
Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc.
Second Floor, Room # 219
1408 N. Kingshighway Boulevard
Saint Louis, MO 63113

Mondays – Fridays
9:00 am – 6:00 pm CT

If you are a homeowner or renter who sustained flood damage, please visit the Disaster Recovery Center nearest you or apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.

St. Louis City Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

Ranken Technical College
Mary Ann Lee Technology Center
(On the corner of North Newstead Avenue and Page Boulevard)
1313 North Newstead Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63113

Monday – Sundays
8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT

St. Charles County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

Development Disabilities Resource Board (DDRB)
1025 Country Club Rd
Saint Charles, MO 63303

Opens Saturday, August 20 @ 8 am
Mondays – Sundays
8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT

St. Louis County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

Hazelwood Civic Center
8969 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, MO 63042

Mondays – Fridays
8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT

Schedule Change:
Monday, August 22 only
12 pm to 7:00 pm CT

Effective August 23:
Tuesdays – Fridays
8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT