Rethinking the Meaning of Tax Day [Two on Tuesdays]


Happy Tuesday, Reader!

Today is many people’s least favorite day: The day most personal taxes are due. This week, I’d like to offer two mindset shifts for any of us who dread paying taxes:

Tax Day Mindset Shift #1:

In a capitalist society, when we love something, we generally want to give it money (paraphrased from Ronny Chieng—watch the full clip here).

Paying taxes is literally what we do to show our love and appreciation for living where we do.

If you can show me a well-organized society that doesn’t pay taxes in some shape or form (and often a lot of them), fine. But I’ve studied a whole lot of history and never found one. Taxes are a collective offering to each other’s well-being.

Tax Day Mindset Shift #2:

For most Americans, paying taxes, means we’re doing pretty darn well. As of 2022, about 40% of American households pay no income taxes at all. With the exception of the ultra-wealthy and their tax havens, not paying taxes isn’t a sign of doing well. It’s precisely the opposite.

A huge percentage of American adults don’t make a middle-class income. If you’re paying taxes—especially as a business owner—it probably means that you do. Be grateful.

Grateful to pay my taxes?! You bet!

When I finish mine each year, I’m grateful to send that money to the federal government. It means we made a reasonable income this year. It means I get to keep supporting the building of roads, the teaching of children, and—yes—the care of our own children, all three of whom are in the military.

There is no modern life without taxes. Remembering that would do us all a lot of good, especially in this moment.

If you’d like to get angry about something, let’s talk about…

  • The ultra-wealthy companies and individuals who don’t pay their fair share, or
  • The complex tax code that transfers wealth from all of us to those ultra-wealthy folks who can afford the teams to help them with all financial loopholes.

The taxes are not the problem.

If you are reading this, you probably own a business. Please be grateful for the taxes you pay. They are our tithe on a decent life for ourselves and future generations.

Until next time,

Renia C.


Renia Carsillo

Renia (pronounced R-EE-n-a) Carsillo hates business silos and marketing hacks. So, she spends her days working with mid-size and small companies to integrate their business strategy with their impact strategy, design sustainable marketing frameworks, and find a growth cadence that works for their team and their lives. Renia believes founders are uniquely positioned to create a kinder, more equitable world. She is passionate about bringing C-level strategic support to the small and mid-size companies shaping their communities every day. Renia says, "Sustainable marketing is built on a solid business strategy. A solid business strategy is built on values-driven habits. Values-driven habits are built on healed/healing leaders. We can’t do these things separately. They’re all interconnected. ”

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