In response to a particularly rough year, to say the least, Xero Australia launched an “Emotional Tax Return” competition.
In a nod to the emotional toll tax season can take on small businesses, Australia’s small biz owners were invited to submit competition entries to win tailored experiences.
For the competition, Xero called for entrants to fill out an Emotional Tax Return, i.e. an entry form, detailing the emotional expenses they incurred due to the demands of running their businesses. These could be anything from sleeplessness to missed date nights and birthdays. Entries were judged by a panel, and the most creative and original responses won a customized experience from a prize pool of $50,000 AUD.
“Following your passion and owning your own business can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences,” said Joseph Lyons, managing director of Xero Australia and Asia. “But, of course, it’s not without its ups and downs. There’s often a need to make sacrifices when it comes to your personal life — and at no time has this been more apparent than over the past 18 months.”
Xero conducted a survey to gauge the experiences of Australian small businesses during the pandemic, and almost seven in 10 (68%) of respondents found the 2020-21 financial year more emotionally draining than any other they’ve been through in business. Lyons explained that the Emotional Tax Return competition is Xero’s way of recognizing the sacrifices made by small business owners in pursuit of their dreams.
The winners, who were announced this week, ranged from moms and dads who wanted to do something special for their kids, spouses who wanted to celebrate their partners, and business owners who were just run down:
- Daniel Bottros of Porters Fine Cleaning, a single dad of two boys, submitted an entry detailing how he felt burnt out and exhausted running a small business during COVID-19, and how he missed out on taking his boys on a planned Europe trip when COVID struck. He won a weekend with his kids, plus some new items for his wardrobe as he is looking for love.
- Katherine Hayes of Hayes and Co. Insurance was too busy during tax season to tackle re-doing her 12-year-old's bedroom, which looks the same as it did when he was a baby. She won the services of a handyman to make over the room.
- Natasha Leppard of Soft Rigging Solutions and her spouse never got to celebrate their anniversary, as it falls on June 30, the end of the Australian financial year. They won a two-night stay in a luxury resort in Queensland to rekindle the flame.
- Annette Nayda of Adelaide Hip and Knee Center spends 10 hours a day in front of her computer screen, which she said has contributed to knots in her back and wrinkles around her eyes. She won a voucher for some pampering.
“Tellingly, while the emotional cost of running a business has been made clear, our survey also found that the majority of Australians running a small business (77%) wouldn’t change it for the world, underscoring the small business community’s passion and commitment for what they do,” Lyons said.
