Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

You can’t pick up a newspaper or magazine, turn on the TV or checkout the on-line news sites without being barraged with all the nasty things the famous (or in some cases the infamous) people might or might have not done. And as a result the general public seems to have gotten the idea that it’s okay for them to “tell all”.

One place you should definitely not share your life stories is the workplace. First of all it is no one’s business what mistakes you may have made in your past. And secondly you will be judged on your past should you make it public. Oh, they probably won’t say it to your face, but be sure your errors in judgment will come back to haunt you. Especially if you are trying to climb the corporate ladder.

This also holds true for those email conversations you might have. You never know where an email might show up. When I was growing up the rule to live by was don’t put anything in writing you don’t want the whole world to know. With communications traveling the world in seconds through electronic means, this rule is ever so more important to incorporate into your life.

Blogging, My Space postings and other electronic diary writings are also places where you want to be very careful what you say. Employers and others are mining these web sites in order to get an idea of who they are employing or doing business with. Any postings in these venues should only show your very best side – keep your defects and naughty behaviors to yourself – or talk to a counselor if needed.

So while you don’t have to lie, don’t volunteer anything to your co-workers or online buddies no matter how friendly your relationship seems. Secrets don’t stay secret for very long even when entrusted to your closest friend. And they certainly won’t stay confidential in the hands of acquaintances or strangers. Remember when it comes to inappropriate behavior from your less than perfect past, mum’s the word.

Career Advice | No Comments »

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

Tis the season when we are wracked with indecision on who to buy for and what to buy. We don’t want to insult anyone, but neither do we want to bust our budgets. Here are some of my thoughts on this dilemma.

First of all, this is not a competition or at least it should not be one. The largest or most expensive gift is not always the one most appreciated.

Make a list – a short list. Your gift giving list should include your immediate boss and perhaps those co-workers you think of as friends. If this gets uncomfortable because some of your co-workers are less than what you consider worthy of your hard earned cash, then you might want to take the gift giving for those who have earned your respect and trust out of the office environment. For example, share a lunch with the few you wish to give gifts to or send the gifts to their homes. Hopefully they will recognize and respect your desire for private giving and not tell all at the office. Of course you could take a stand on office gift giving and not give individual gifts but instead treat everyone with homemade cookies, candy, or some other goodies. This way no one’s feelings get hurt.

Of course, some companies have instituted a Secret Santa type of gift giving, where everyone draws a name and purchases a gift for that person staying within a declared dollar amount. This can be fun in a small group where people know each other well enough to personalize the gifts. In a large group, gifts tend to be very impersonal and the whole experience, in my humble opinion, just falls flat. One company I worked for many years ago put into place a unique gift giving opportunity at their holiday party. Every employee was asked to prepare a personal award presentation for an employee chosen by passing the hat. These presentations were funny, thoughtful and often brought employees closer as each of us strove to be positive with our “awards”. It was fun for the giver, the receiver and the audience alike.

And don’t forget that gifts don’t always have to be bought. They can be gifts of service. Babysitting, gift wrapping, offering to supply a special dessert for a busy co-worker’s upcoming party, pet sitting, house sitting – the list goes on and on. Think of your talents and what may be needed by a co-worker. Just be sure to be clear as to what you are offering and when. And don’t over book yourself.

And now for your boss. Unless you are new to the company, you have been working with this person for awhile, so you must have some idea of his or her interests. Be thoughtful in your choice of gift. Just don’t run out at the last minute to pick up any bottle of wine or liquor or gift basket. Are they into reading – perhaps a book in a subject that interests them? Do they participate in athletic activities – then think about a tee shirt or sweat shirt that is imprinted with artwork that will inspire them. How about an art print to decorate their office? Or even that special coffee mug – not just any old one – but one that really makes their daily coffee a fun or inspiring event. I have found Raven Studio is just great for gift giving ideas. Whatever the interest, you will be able to find a great gift. Check it out.

Whatever you chose, make sure of two things – it’s a quality made gift (not always expensive) and it relates to their personal interest. You will make more of a splash with your thoughtfulness than by trying to impress them with the cost of the gift.

And most of all – have fun, don’t break your bank and make your gifts ones that will be remembered for years to come.

Career Advice | No Comments »

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

New Online Resources for Teen Business Start-Up Launched by SBA and JA Worldwide

WASHINGTON ¡V The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the launch of new online resources for young entrepreneurs at the Mind Your Own Business teen Web site to help young entrepreneurs succeed in the world of business.

The SBA and JA Worldwide„§ (Junior Achievement) have teamed up to develop three new Mind Your Own Business resources: a student activities guide, a volunteer guide, and an assessment tool — Start it, Grow it, Own it! — that serves as a companion tool to the student activities and volunteer guides. Each of these resources is available at the www.mindyourownbiz.org Web site, and is cosponsored by JA Worldwide.

Entitled Make It Your Business, the student activities guide includes an interest inventory and group activities designed to teach teens the fundamentals of business ownership. The Make It Your Business volunteer guide instructs group leaders through student business sessions that can be implemented in the classroom, in student clubs or in an after-school setting.

The SBA and JA Worldwide introduced the Mind Your Own Business teen Web site to provide support to the growing interest in entrepreneurship among teens, and to serve as a small business portal for youth entrepreneurs.

The Mind Your Own Business Web site introduces five easy-to-navigate steps on business ownership for the entrepreneurial-minded teen, each with helpful information for young entrepreneurs who want to start, run or grow their own businesses.

—

SBA¡¦s participation in this cosponsorship does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs, services and cosponsored activities are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Bookkeeping Articles, Career Advice, Hints & Tips | No Comments »

A Business Start-up (Chapter Two)-Educating for Success

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work? The first place to start is acquiring knowledge. You need to know all you can about business in general and your product or service specifically. And there are many ways to find this information, some of which will only cost you your time and energy. But before you invest any money in your new business you need to invest in information.

So what do you need to know? First and foremost is whether your product/service is unique or if not can your company provide a better, more reliable and/or less costly version of your competition’s version. Know who your competition is, the market area they cover, their price points, warranty coverage, marketing campaigns, etc. And then ask “can I be a worthy competitor?” “Will my product/service stand up and exceed what they provide to their customers?” To be successful your company must stand out in the crowd in the areas of quality and customer service. And to stand out in the crowd you need to know just what the “crowd” is doing.

Once you know you have a viable, sellable product/service, than you need to ask “who will be my customers and where do I find them?” This is where demographics can help. Demographics in its simplest form is knowing the answers to who, what and where and how much. Who will purchase from my company, what are they most likely to purchase, where are these customers likely to shop, and how much are they likely to spend on the type of product I wish to sell. The answers to these questions will help you make decisions regarding your business location, marketing plans and pricing formulas.

And finally, you need to educate yourself in the fine art of running a business. This includes financing your business both for the start-up and for growth later on, professionals you will need to rely on, marketing strategies, employee laws, state and federal laws, tax planning and compliance, financial statements and record keeping. And this is the short list.

Don’t get discouraged, there are many ways to accumulate this information and I will be giving you some straight forward solutions in the next chapter. In the meantime, buy yourself a deck of index cards and a container to keep them in. I found some brightly colored plastic boxes that are only slightly larger than a 3×5 index card and are only 1” deep. The have built in dividers and I also purchased multiple color index cards. The bright color of the case enhances my imagination and the narrow size allows me to take the cards everywhere. I use the dividers and different colored index cards to break down my projects into segments. So off to your favorite office supply store because we will be using the index cards in the next chapter.

Chapter One

A Business Start-UP, Bookkeeping Articles, Career Advice, Your Business | No Comments »

A Business Start-Up

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

Quite a few of us have a dream of working for ourselves. It goes something like this – I will leave my job and take my idea into the world and achieve great success. But so many just dream. In order to make our dreams come true we need to take action, starting today. So just where do you start? At the beginning of course.

Just what does it take to become your own boss and take your ideas and dreams to the level termed as success? It takes an all consuming passion combined with hard work and long hours. If you think working for yourself will be easier than working in your present job, no matter what you do now, you are wrong. You will work longer hours, give up your present life style, sacrifice life’s extras and keep on keeping on long after you thought you could. Sound like fun? It is and it is also rewarding in ways you can not imagine.

First let’s break down some of the sacrifices you will be making for your dream. If you now work an eight hour day, five days a week, realize your new business will take a commitment of 10 to 12 hours a day every day of the week. Any many new business owners work even longer hours to get started. Is this hard? Not if you have a driving passion to succeed.

Your current life style probably needs some adjustments. If you are putting in all these hours, you will not have time to hang out with your friends, occupy the couch watching television. If your hobbies are shopping, club hopping, sport participation or watching then you will be getting a new hobby – it’s called your new business. Although any activity that allows you to get some exercise on a solo basis (such as walking, running, etc) will bring multiple benefits. While you are getting healthy or staying healthy, you can be running ideas through your head – ideas that put into action will make your business succeed.

If you don’t have any responsibilities now except yourself – keep it that way for awhile. While having a mate and/or children doesn’t make success impossible, it will make it harder for both you and them. Family members will need to be onboard with your plans, as they will be making sacrifices as well. Money will be tighter and you will have less time to spend with them. But please do not sacrifice the ones you love for this dream, if it can’t be done now, you can plan for the future now. Or you can take it slower than you would if you were single. However, do sit down and talk this out with your family (include the kids as well). Perhaps they have talents that can be of help. And if you are all working together towards a common goal, they will feel a part of your life, not excluded from it. Also, as much as I love pets of any kind, they also require your attention and care. And you are better off not taking on any kind of responsibility at this time in your life if at all possible. You may need to travel; you will be working long hours. Giving a pet the care it needs and deserves will be problematic. So if you don’t have a pet, now is not the time to get one. If you do, than line up some friends or family members that can pitch in when you can’t. And remember you are not going to have the extra money to pay for pet care in the beginning unless Uncle Harry left you a fortune or you were lucky enough to win the lottery.

About this time you are probably thinking that your job isn’t all that bad. But if your dream is still beating strong within you, then know that the rewards that come from the sacrifices are wonderful. Should you succeed you will not only be rewarded with more money and a better life style, but also the unbeatable feeling of winning against all odds.

In the next chapters, we will be covering planning for your new business, financial issues, legal and tax matters, marketing and once you have gone through the start-up phase how to continue to grow.

A Business Start-UP, Bookkeeping Articles, Career Advice, Your Business | No Comments »

Stuck in Mud (or I Really Hate My Job

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

I have been thinking about a conversation I had last night with a young woman I used to work with and thought I would share what may be possible solutions for all of you who are feeling frustrated, angry, unappreciated and just plain crummy about getting up and going to work everyday. So what are you going to do about it? And just when are you going to stop making excuses for staying and get yourself out of the mire you call a job. Of course, you need to make the decisions based on what is good for you – and what is good for you should be first and foremost in your mind – not what others might think or loyalty to people who are not loyal to you.

What gets you excited (we are not talking about that really cute guy or gal you ran into last night) but what would really make you feel good about yourself, your work, your place in society. Make a list of all your interests and than expand that list to include jobs that correlate with your interests. Think out of the box with this exercise. Really stretch your imagination and don’t worry if you have the skills or knowledge to do the job while you are doing this. For example if accounting or bookkeeping is your dream job (and yes there are some us who really think that way) then your options are unlimited. All companies and all industries need this type of service. So pick an industry you would like to know more about – medical, manufacturing, construction or real estate, education and the list goes on forever.

Once you have narrowed down your career desires then it is time to look at your options for accomplishing your dream. Having said that – if you really want to go back to school then how about looking at companies that will help you with that – some that come to mind (now don’t fall over laughing and think I have truly lost my mind) are places like Wal-mart, Lowe’s and Home Depot. Just about all large retail chains have good education programs for young people and even those not so young. And you are not limited to stocking shelves or sitting at a cash register – these companies all need people who can work in the background doing bookkeeping, payroll, scheduling, managing, etc. And your hours can be flexible.

Another option is temp work – there are lots of temp jobs out there for every type of work. Try getting a position in an industry you might be interested in – if you want to work in the environment field, for example, look for a company that does that type of work. This will give you real world experience to see if this is really your dream career.

Also try looking for jobs at the college you might want to attend. Course costs are often reduced and sometimes free for employees. That way you can experiment with different subjects until you find the one that is right for you.

Get your resume out. Do it today!

If there is one thing I know if you stay at a job where you are miserable, it won’t get better. If people don’t treat you right in the beginning when you are new, they certainly won’t be treating you right when you have been around for awhile – it will just get worse not better. And making excuses for staying doesn’t work either; you will just prolong the pain.

Your job should be rewarding, and let you feel good about what you are accomplishing no matter what you choose to do.

Bookkeeping Articles, Career Advice | No Comments »

Get Organized to be Effective

Copyright 2006 Bookkeeping R Us All Rights Reserved

Do you feel overwhelmed at work? Does there never seem to be enough time to get things done? If so, the primary cause is probably a lack of organization. Taking the time to get organized and staying the course will bring both you and your company rewards. Take a look at your desk right now. Is there stacks of papers to wade through? Is your inbox overflowing? Well today is the first day of the week and it’s as good as time as any to get started. If you take the time now, you will be organized and feeling better about your job by the end of the week.

First of all clear your desk of any unneccessary clutter. And then go get some file folders - if you are fortunate enough to have access to different colors so much the better. Set up a folder for each of the following categories:

Immediate Action Items
End of the Week Action Items
End of the Month Action Items
Reading
Filing

Now sort all the items in your inbox into each folder. Discard any item that does not fall into one of these categories. These are the only folders that should reside on your desktop. The immediate items are items that need to be dealt with on the day they are placed in their folder. All other actions items are to be placed into the End of the Week Folder or End of the Month folder.

Now sort any paperwork sitting on your desk into these folders. Your desktop should be clear and you are ready to work. At the end of each day, take 10 to 15 minutes to sort through any items put into your inbox during the day. Also if you are using a calendar/diary tool such as DayTimer, then list any important tasks that need to be accomplished the following day. Now you have a good idea of what your schedule for tomorrow will be.

Upon arriving at your desk the following day, after checking your email and listening to your voice messages, the first thing to do is to review your lists of items to accomplish for the day and the actions items in your Immediate Action folder. As these are the most important tasks to accomplish attend to them first. Unless there is an emergency, answering your email and voice messages can be done after taking care of the items that need to be addressed today. Select a time that you will either be finished with your list or can take a break from them to answer email and voice messages. And then only answer those messages that were in place when you arrived in the office. You will have the opportunity to address any others later in the day by setting aside a time slot in the afternoon. Emails, telephone calls and other interruptions steal from your productivity. Unless your prime responsibility is contact with customers, vendors or employees then these tasks need to be managed in a way that allow you to perform your responsibilities.

That takes care of your everyday responsibilities, but what about those projects you need to work on? This is where the End of the Week and End of the Month folders come in. Leave enough time in each day to spend working on those projects. What ever you do, do not wait until the deadline is looming. A little done every day will get the project done right and on time. Use your planner to track key points for each project.

Your Reading folder is for items that have come across your desk that don’t require any action, but you want to read or research. Review the contents of this folder at least once a month, more often if possible, and discard anything that is not pertinent. Any item or article you would like to retain place in your Filing folder.

Select a day and time to file. If done regularly, once a week for example, then it will not take much time. If you leave it until the folder overflows, it will turn into a project.

If you follow this plan and you are still overwhelmed, then it is time to talk with your boss. Make an appointment, come prepared with an explanation of the problem and possible solutions. Continuing to take on more work than you are capable of doing does not make you a hero. It will in fact result in you and your boss being unhappy with your performance.

To Help You Be Organized

Day-timer / Portable Organizer, 6-Ring, 1\” Ring Size Loose Leaf, Black / DTM44336

Day-Timer 88844 Starter, Distressed Cowhide, 3-1/2\”x6-1/2\”, Tan

Fliptop Mouse Pad & Day Planner - Pen Included - (White)

Concord Industries Boston Red Sox Day Planner

Day-Timer Organizer 2000 Deluxe with Rand Mcnally Route Planner

Day Planner for Palm

Leather Day Planner

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tan Leather Day Planner

Concord Industries Houston Astros Day Planner
Organized for Success : Top Executives and CEOs Reveal the Organizing Principles That Helped Them Reach the Top

Bookkeeping Articles, Career Advice | No Comments »