Author Archives: marionyoder

Tax Terms

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been working in a tax office, done call-in radio shows on taxes, and had a few TV appearances. Whenever you talk about taxes people always resort to using all the tax terms like deductions, write-offs, credits, short form, long form and of course refund! Often times refund is the only term that is understood 100%, so I’ll enlighten you with some knowledge on the other terms. A deduction or write off reduces your taxable income, thus reducing your tax or increasing your refund. A business would deduct their business expenses and an individual might deduct their real estate taxes. A credit is much more beneficial because it directly “credits” your tax. Most commonly known is the child tax credit, which gives you $1,000 per qualifying dependent. Short or long form are completely outdated terms, but most commonly refer to whether someone takes advantage of itemized deductions or uses the standard deduction.

About Me

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been interviewing lately and I’ve run across the opening question of, “tell me about yourself.” Therefore this blog post is about myself. I started my career working in a local tax preparation office in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Many people expected me to take that on into an accounting career, but I was more creative than that. I pursued a degree in marketing from Kent State University. During my senior year of college I went into my first Marketing Coordinator position with Jackson Hewitt in Akron. Upon graduating I moved into a bigger marketing role in Cincinnati. In 2008 I strengthened my core management skills as an Area Manager in Atlanta where I managed 28 offices. Thereafter I lead the Eastern US as a Senior Manager of Field Marketing. Today I’m looking for a new career in marketing or multi-unit management.

Stone Mountain

Posted on by
Reply

When I work out I prefer to be outdoors and breathe fresh air!  It’s why you’ll find me jogging instead of pumping weights. Most days I jog around my neighborhood, but when I want a really great workout I’ll head out to Stone Mountain. The 5 mile perimeter is great for running, but a rigorous climb is the best. Walking at a fast pace gets my heart rate thumping and by the time I reach the steepest point I’m panting like a dog. Leisurely strolling up the mountain is also a great place to take out of towners like my family!

Neuromarketing

Posted on by
2

Neuroscience tells you that a picture of someone eating a chip is a better selling preposition than this image of the bag and tomatoes. It also tells you that the soft flowing design of the Coca-Cola bottle is a good selling point because the brain has a natural aversion to sharp objects.

At what point does your brain get most excited while you’re eating chips and salsa? That is the kind of question that neuromarketing research can answer. While you are reading this your brain will observe, react and express to what you are seeing. Neuromarketing measures the reaction using advanced neurological science. Typically only 8 respondents will be studied in a scientific environment where they’ll wear a cap with sensors that measure the electrical signals sent off in different parts of the brain. No, they are not reading your mind. In the chips and salsa example the brain activity is at its height right before the chip hits the tongue. Using this research marketers know that using a picture of an open mouth with a chip going in will get people sold on buying chips and salsa.

BeltLine

Posted on by
Reply

Art is interactive. Pedal and the skeleton comes to life!

The BeltLine is often a topic of conversation in Atlanta. Some people are really excited about it. Other people are really impatient with the 25 years it will take to complete. Personally I feel connected to the BeltLine because it’s largely responsible for where I chose to live. In 2009 I volunteered on a BeltLine cleanup day that met at Studioplex. That’s where I first fell in love with industrial style lofts. Later I went on the BeltLine tour and it was the first time I had ever been through the Krog Tunnel. I had always been sure nothing good could be on the other side of a tunnel like that, but today I enjoy living on that other side. To me it’s exciting to see the project unfold while walking along the dirt track that’s already filled with art. Parts that are finished like the Old Fourth Ward Park are absolutely amazing. Just like you appreciate something more when you work for it, I think you’ll appreciate the BeltLine more as you wait for it.

This park is even fun for adults like Ed!

 

 

 

Cabbagetown

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

If you’re a resident of Cabbagetown you are sure to have a unique residence.  I live at The Stacks, a redeveloped cotton mill first built in 1881.  My loft is a perfect blend of historic charm and modern design.  The community surrounding the mill is just as unique.  Many of the descendants of the mill workers still live there and are referred to as Cabbageheads.

Government

Posted on by
Reply

I enjoy being an informed American citizen and following politics. Last night’s CNN Tea Party debate was filled with heated discussions. For me the political drama is pure entertainment. I do not sit and wait for the government to save me.

I grew up with an 8th grade education. I fought my way to get my GED, an Associate’s Degree and finally my Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Last year I oversaw the Eastern half of the country as the Senior Manager of Field Marketing for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.

Currently I am one of many Americans seeking a new job. My past has taught me that I must use the strengths that God has blessed me with to find that next career. Yes, government programs may help create more jobs, but Americans need to give it their all to make a good life for themselves.

Walkability

Posted on by
Reply

Would you prefer to walk along the serene path of a country road or through a park in a bustling city?

I start out everyday with a jog along Boulevard, past Martin Luther King Jr’s neighborhood, through Freedom Park and back to Cabbagetown through the Krog Tunnel. It’s a varied scene of beauty, busyness, art and decay.

I grew up with 98 acres of farmland to romp around on.   My siblings and I splashed in the creek, built tepees in the woods and steered clear of the cow patties. It was a varied scene of beauty, serenity, stillness and dirt.

So why do I choose to live in the city today?  Because I love all the places my lifestyle ITP (i.e. inside the perimeter) allows me to walk to. I can pick up a gallon of milk at Little’s Food Store, a meal at the Carroll Street Cafe, and a beer at Milltown Arms. Many of my friends and City Church-Eastside are all in walking distance as well.

The best advantage of all is that I can still slip back into the country at times, and also expose some country folk to the glamour of the city!

 

Diversity. Do you embrace it?

Posted on by
Reply

I grew up on a farm in rural Sugarcreek, Ohio.  Today I live in the heart of the thriving metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia.  You may say the city is infinitely more diverse, but let’s take a look at what diversity really is.

Growing up in Sugarcreek my first measurement of diversity was how many people in a room were Amish, Mennonite or high. No, not high on drugs. Amish people refer to non-Amish people as “high” or “English”. High is a literal translation from Pennsylvania Dutch, but refers to a less conservative lifestyle. English is referring to the English language since most Amish people’s first language is a dialect of German (i.e. Pennsylvania Dutch).  Essentially diversity was measured by what church you attended, which also dictated your lifestyle.

In Atlanta there are many more ways people are categorized.  Nationality, social status, and career are much more influential symbols in the city.  With a larger population of diverse people you also have the opportunity to find more like minded people. One of the reasons I love living in the city is I’m on the Board of Directors for the American Marketing Association where I get to know marketers from a huge variety of industries and niches within marketing.  In Sugarcreek I rarely run into anyone with a career in marketing, and when I went to business association meetings I was the only one under 40.

I encourage you to appreciate the differences of those around you. You don’t have to look far. Think back to the diverse faces and opinions we saw in the Republican Presidential Debate this week.  Notice your neighbors and the diversity they bring to your surroundings everyday.  In many cases you measure diversity in a room by how the different people around you look. I don’t know about you, but I value that not everyone looks like me.  Variety truly is the spice of life.