Getting my first customers

It was my very first client and my very first return.  My very first client was a deacon at my church.  He ran a full-time real-estate business.  Back in 2003 I prepared his taxes which consisted of (1) 4 chidren in college (each using either the Hope and/or Lifetime Learning Credit), (2) a gain on a sale of his old residence, (3) a home-improvement to his new residence (in the same year), (3) capital gains and losses, (4) an IRA distribution that was taxable, (5) a SEP IRA contribution, and (6) estimated tax payments. 

Talk about a feeling of getting in over your head.......what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, eh?  Well it was a close call.  It took me a week (Monday thru Friday) working off-and-on his return....calling the client (at least a few times) for additional information.  

My fee for all this???  $150  (I wont' do THAT again!)

Hey, we all learn from our mistakes, right?

I remember thinking along the way "maybe this work isn't cut out for me"?.

Advice for others

Stick with it!!  Things usually aren't as bad as it may seem.  I thought I'd NEVER get through this return; and if this was typical of all returns....forget it!  I was going to do something else.  However, my first return was truly a GREAT experience for me.  It gave me a tremendous boost of confidence knowing that I could handle something this complicated (it being my first return). 

Lesson: We really are sometimes better than what we give ourselves credit for!!!