Client Compatibility: Check it Out Early to Avoid Big Problems

August 30, 2011 By 2 Comments
compatibility

Recently I upgraded my Office software to Office 2010 when I got a new laptop. Little did I know that Office 2010 isn’t totally backward compatible with previous versions of Office. It caused major headaches when creating a PowerPoint presentation that my client and I were both going to be editing: formats were lost, charts needed to be reworked, etc. It was a MAJOR headache and caused the client a lot of extra work…not my favorite thing! Going forward I will definitely be integrating … [Read more...]

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The Five P’s: An Alternate Approach to Time Management

June 30, 2011 By 1 Comment
Sands of Time

The concept of time management remains an enigma for many and it’s understandable. On any given day, we start with 24 hours and within that time-frame process through personal and professional needs, tasks, projects, responsibilities, priorities, and everything else. There are days when we feel very accomplished and others when we feel completely defeated. It can be a continuous see-saw of productivity versus ineffectiveness. Rather than monitor the minutes and attempt to control every … [Read more...]

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The Home Office Tax Deduction… To Take or Not to Take?

June 2, 2011 By 1 Comment
Home Deductions

Has your friend, neighbor or colleague told you that if you take the home office deduction, it will be a “red flag” to the IRS that will trigger an audit?  Well, that is just not true! In order to claim the home office deduction, you MUST QUALIFY.  To qualify, you are required to meet 2 tests: regularly used and exclusively used for business. Regular Use:  this test is clear – you use the area on a continuing basis.  Occasional or incidental business use does not meet the … [Read more...]

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Top Social Media Tools For Consultants

April 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
socialmedia

There are so many social media tools available it can be overwhelming to choose which to use and how to allocate your time. Here are my thoughts on which tools are the best choices. The big four are Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and blogs. Facebook is by far the largest social media site with over 600 million users worldwide, and 51% of the US population using the site each day (Edison/Arbitron).  LinkedIn and Twitter are much smaller, used by 9% and 8% of the US population, … [Read more...]

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Consulting Tip: Get a Coach – Even If You’re Wildly Successful & Driven

March 17, 2011 By 8 Comments
dreamstime_8432278 Thumbs Up

In 2010, I got a coach, two actually. And it’s been a great benefit to my business and my sanity. One of my coaches is a benefit of being WIC’s president: a WIC member donates her coaching services to support me during my tenure. She holds me accountable, provides feedback, and is a wonderful sounding board for different ideas. Would I’ve been a good president without her? I’d like to think so. Am I a better president because I’m working with her? Most definitely! Thanks Angel … [Read more...]

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Consulting Tips from Lilo & Stitch

January 27, 2011 By 2 Comments
dreamstime_16639183 (Persevere)

“Earth people do this every day, so why to bother?” asks Jumba. “Because if everyone gave up, nothing would get done,” answers Lilo. Who says you can’t learn anything from cartoons? ;-) While brushing my daughter’s hair this morning, Lilo’s wisdom floated into my consciousness, compelling me to write a blog post that was already on my to do list. Just yesterday, the latest quote on my Women’s Advantage calendar read “Success is a result of diligence, not just … [Read more...]

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The 7 Secrets To Creating A Fashionable Brand!

December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever been confused about branding your small business, here’s a simple way to think about it: Branding Is Your Business’s Fashion Statement. Here’s how branding is like fashion: When you’re picking out a fashionable outfit for a night out on the town, there are several angles to consider, like: 1. Your fashion style. Do you consider yourself a sporty dresser, vintage, a bohemian, urban, or a little bit rock and roll? A trendsetter or more classic style? Your … [Read more...]

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Mentoring…are you a good candidate?

October 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Fall 2010 WIC Mentoring Group is quickly taking shape, with just a couple of spots still available. Again this Fall, WIC Members Desiree Lehrbaum and I will lead the Mentoring Group. We developed and piloted the program in 2009, and also led the Spring, 2010 group. If you think a peer-to-peer mentoring experience may be right for you, take a close look at this opportunity. We will meet by webinar (and have an in-person kickoff session, if we can) on Wednesdays, 10-11 am, starting … [Read more...]

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April 15 deadline: Register with the Board of Equalization

February 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

According to an article in the February 18th San Francisco Chronicle, every business with gross receipts over $100,000 has to register with the Board of Equalization by obtaining a use tax account by April 15th, even though the business is not required to hold a seller's permit or certificate of registration for use tax. The law came into effect in July 2009, but they had no money to advertise the fact so it may come as a surprise to many self-employed consultants like us! According to the … [Read more...]

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CA Independent Contractor Withholding – Where Do YOU Stand?

February 17, 2010 By 11 Comments

I just heard last night about a California state proposal to begin to require companies to withhold three percent of all monies paid to 1099 independent contractors.  MANY organizations are opposing this for the following reasons: Extra costs for local governments to enforce the withholding Extra costs for businesses to administer the withholding This is not incremental revenue for the state...just accelerated revenue These are some good reasons...but I have a few more … [Read more...]

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