Alternatives TLC, LLC

09/04/2026

𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

I loved this article by Angela Duckworth.

She studies successful people and found something they have in common:

𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽.

That really resonated with me.

I've worked with business owners for decades, and one of the things I've seen repeatedly is how easy it is for an owner to become the person who does everything.

They know how everything works.

They make all the decisions.

They solve all the problems.

And, very often, they're the only person who knows how to do some of the things that keep the business running.

There's a certain amount of pride that comes with being able to say, "I'll take care of it."

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱.

One of the examples in the article is Nicolai Tangen, CEO of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund. He talks about the importance of his assistant, Grete Starheim. He trusts her enough to speak on his behalf and, just as importantly, to tell him when he's wrong.

I think that's an important part of asking for help that sometimes gets overlooked.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.

I've built businesses. I've sold a business. I've consulted with business owners for years.

And I've never seen a successful business where one person really did it all alone.

Knowing what you do well matters.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵.

This is well worth reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/opinion/successful-people-help.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-lA.n-4F.sKQ31ZRKVnYw&smid=url-share

Being a successful self-starter doesn’t mean pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.

09/03/2026

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

There's a lot of emphasis on visibility in marketing.

• Post regularly.
• Stay in front of people.
• Make sure people know your name.

And yes, visibility certainly matters.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

That's something I've seen repeatedly in working with small businesses, and in marketing my own businesses.

Someone may see your name or your posts over and over again without really knowing what you do, how you work, or whether they would trust you enough to call you.

Trust comes from something more.

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼.

That's why this Business.com article caught my attention. It talks about how social media marketing is changing and why simply being present on multiple platforms isn't enough anymore.

I think that's an important distinction for small-business owners.

We can spend an enormous amount of time trying to get more views, more followers, more impressions and more visibility.

Those numbers have value.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗜'𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁.

Visibility gets someone's attention.
Curiosity is what gives them a reason to come back.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹.

https://www.business.com/articles/how-new-age-social-media-marketing-is-changing-and-what-you-need-to-know/

Social media marketing is shifting to niche platforms, short-form video, influencer partnerships and AI tools — demanding agility and authenticity from brands.

09/02/2026

"𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲."

Not necessarily.

Finding a mistake on a Form I-9 doesn't mean you should simply throw it away and replace it with a clean one.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 - 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 - 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿.

How the correction should be made depends on what the mistake is and who made it.

If an employee made an error in Section 1, the employee must make the correction.

If the employer made an error in Section 2, the employer or authorized representative makes the correction.

For many errors on a paper Form I-9, the correction can be made on the existing form by drawing a line through the incorrect information, entering the correct information, and initialing and dating the correction. You are not permitted to erase the original information or use correction fluid.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲?

In some circumstances, completing a new Form I-9, or the appropriate section of a new Form I-9, may be the more acceptable way to make the correction.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿.

The new Form I-9 should be attached to the original, along with an explanation of why the new form was completed.

That's an important part of correcting Form I-9s that employers sometimes miss.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱.

A Form I-9 is a federal form that virtually every employer must complete for every employee hired to work in the United States, regardless of the employer's size and nationality and the employee's nationality.

08/28/2026

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆'𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿?

Many employers don't.

→ Some don't even know what a Form I-9 is.
→ Some don't know whether everyone who needs one has one.
→ Some don't know whether they're correct.
→ Some don't know whether they could produce them within three business days, given a 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
→ And some simply assume everything is fine because no one has told them otherwise.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸.

It's a quick, free assessment designed to help employers using paper Form I-9s identify whether there may be issues they should be looking at.

It won't audit your Form I-9s.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸:
https://training.alternativestlc.com/form-i-9-readiness-check

08/27/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗢𝗻”

It's easy to convince ourselves that constant activity means we're being productive.

One more email.
One more phone call.
One more thing to finish before we stop for the day.

But there's a point when continuing to work doesn't necessarily mean we're doing our best work.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

That doesn't have to mean taking a vacation or disappearing for days.

Sometimes it's much simpler:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀. Take a walk, read something completely unrelated to work, cook, garden, exercise, or do something else that gets your attention away from work.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲. Not every minute needs to be filled. Some of my best ideas come when I'm not sitting at my desk trying to have them.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆. Everything doesn't have to be answered immediately. Decide what really requires your attention now and what can wait.

Taking a break isn't the opposite of being productive.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.

08/26/2026

"𝗜 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀."

Nope.

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵.

Employers generally must complete a Form I-9 for every employee hired to work in the United States after November 6, 1986, including U.S. citizens and noncitizens.

Your U.S.-born employee?

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘐-9.

Your naturalized U.S. citizen?

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘐-9.

Your lawful permanent resident?

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘐-9.

Your employee authorized to work in the United States?

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘐-9.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗜-𝟵 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻.

A Form I-9 is a federal form that virtually every employer must complete for every employee hired to work in the United States, regardless of the employer's size and nationality and the employee's nationality.

08/19/2026

"𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁!"

Nope.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁.

When completing Section 2 of the Form I-9, the employee must choose which acceptable document or documents to present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents.

The employee may present:

• One acceptable document from 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗔, which establishes both identity and employment authorization

𝗢𝗥

• One acceptable document from 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗕, which establishes identity, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 one acceptable document from 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖, which establishes employment authorization.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

That means you can't tell an employee:

"Bring me your driver's license."

"Let me see your Social Security card."

"Use your Permanent Resident Card."

Give the employee the Lists of Acceptable Documents and let the employee choose.

The employer's responsibility is to examine the documents the employee chooses to present and determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee.

It sounds like a small distinction.

It isn't.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

A Form I-9 is a federal form that virtually every employer must complete for every employee hired to work in the United States, regardless of the employer's size and nationality and the employee's nationality.

08/17/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹?

You can spend months developing a plan.

You can establish goals, create timelines, assign responsibilities, and think you've anticipated everything.

Then you implement it.

And that's when you find out what you missed.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

The people actually doing the work encounter things you didn't anticipate. A process that made perfect sense on paper doesn't work quite as well in practice. Something changes. Or an employee sees a problem, or an opportunity, that management didn't.

Not just before the plan is developed.

While it's being implemented.

Ask what's working.

Ask what isn't.

Ask what you're missing.

And be willing to change the plan when what you're hearing tells you that you should.

I recently read a Harvard Business Review article that reinforced something I've seen repeatedly over the years:
https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/march-2026-the-leaders-agenda-when-senior-leaders-lack-people-skills-transformations-fail/

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆-𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

A good plan matters.

𝗦𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻.

When the people leading the transformation can’t read the people living it, even the best-designed initiative stalls.

08/12/2026

"𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲."

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵?

I've heard variations of this from business owners who know their Form I-9s may not be correct.

If your company receives a Notice of Inspection from ICE, you generally have 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 to produce your Form I-9s.

That's not much time to locate the forms, determine what's missing or incorrect, find records for terminated employees, figure out what can and can't be corrected and who has to correct what, and respond to the government.

And "the fine" may not be one manageable number.

Form I-9 penalties are assessed for each form containing violations, so problems across multiple Form I-9s can add up quickly.

Compare that with identifying and addressing the problems yourself, on your own timetable, before an inspection ever occurs.

• You can review the forms carefully.
• You can determine what needs to be corrected.
• You can make the corrections properly.
• And you can put a process in place so the same mistakes aren't repeated.

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.

A Form I-9 is a federal form that virtually every employer must complete for every employee hired to work in the United States, regardless of the employer's size and nationality and the employee's nationality.

Wouldn't you rather find the problems before the government does?

08/10/2026

𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗. 𝗦𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

This weekend, someone close to me was almost scammed by a caller claiming to be from her credit card company.

The caller was convincing enough that she went to her bank to withdraw a substantial amount of money.

Fortunately, the bank became concerned. The police ultimately became involved.

Afterward, we talked about something even more frightening.

What if someone called and said her child or grandchild had been kidnapped, arrested, or seriously injured, and she needed to send money immediately?

She acknowledged that she might believe them.

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆.

They want you to react before you have time to stop, think, verify what you're being told, or call someone you trust.

And this isn't just a problem for seniors. Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and any of us can be caught off guard.

The best time to outsmart a scammer is before they scam you.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘅.

In my family, my son and I have had a secret password since he was seven years old. He's never told anyone what it is.

If someone were to call me and tell me they had my son, my first question would be:

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱?"

I suspect the phone would disconnect.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.

• Create a private family password or phrase.
• If you get a call unexpectedly asking you to take financial action, hang up and contact the company yourself using a number you know is legitimate.
• Never send or withdraw money because a caller says you must act immediately.
• If someone claims a family member is in trouble, independently contact that person or another family member.
• Agree on someone you trust to call before taking unusual financial action.

Talk about the plan now, while everyone is calm and thinking clearly.

𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯. 𝑨𝒏𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒔?