The Small Business Blog
JANUARY 13, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. What is Small Business Infrastructure? How to be successful by focusing on your core business. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online. Build your own network! Community for small business outsourcing and cost control.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 11, 2008
I hope Lynn's poem on filing will motivate you to do this necessary but boring task. Enjoy! Someone's Gotta do it. To most people filing isn't much fun But when locating a file is number one You need to know that you can find The file your boss has in mind If your company has a policy, follow those rules Otherwise, organize it in a way that's best for you Whether it's numerical or alpha is your choice to make But not having a good filing system is a big mistake A lot of paper to file, or maybe i
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On The Job
JANUARY 11, 2008
It’s no secret that many of us are doing twice -- if not three or four times -- the amount of work we were doing a few years ago. Downsizings and layoffs and the reliance on teams have caused organizations to ask each individual to perform a multitude of tasks, many of them simultaneously. And, of course, with all that works comes a lot of stress. Trying to find enough hours in the day to complete demanding projects while trying to please bosses and customers is a daunting task.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 11, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Want to Decorate Your Cubicle/Office? By The Professional Assistant on Friday, January 11, 2008 Filed Under: Organize , Productivity D o you want to decorate your cubicle/office? Are you worried that you might put things up that are not appropriate for the office? I recently had someone ask me how they should go about decorating their cubicle.
Speaker: Chester Santos
Forgetfulness is costing you time, money, and a ton of missed opportunities. In the age of automation, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a well-trained human mind. But memory isn’t just a parlor trick, it's a strategic edge. Human memory is one of the most underrated business skills. Whether you’re managing people, leading sessions, or having high-stakes conversations, remembering names, details, and concepts can be transformative in building trust, absorbing knowledge, and driving perform
The Small Business Blog
JANUARY 14, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. Enhance Your Work-Life Balance Have it all your way – family, friends, work and most of all a life! Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online. Effective Small Business Planning Strategy Planning your small business is the best way to avoid costly mistakes.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 18, 2008
Minute taking is an art! Anyone who is good at it is to be commended. I have never had to take minutes, but I almost did many years ago. My boss came to my desk and told me he needed me to take minutes for a meeting. I was not aware of the meeting so I wasn't prepared. I started to sweat and my heart started pumping as I mumbled something about it being a long time since I had taken minutes and he had better tell me when I needed to write something down.
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On The Job
JANUARY 31, 2008
I've never had a discussion about mentoring without someone offering a story about the mentor from hell. Stories of micromanagement, hostility, uninvolvment or just plain weirdness are some of the tales of woe from the mentees. The most difficult situation is when the mentee can't find a way to put an end to the relationship. Finding a way to be diplomatic and not totally sabatoging a career while ditching a mentor at the first opportunity can be tough.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 31, 2008
With the use of the wireless hand-held device, our bosses now seem to be working continually. Is the ability to conduct business 24/7 the new high? How is that impacting the role of the assistant and can we help? The Wireless Corporate Addiction A young lawyer puts his wireless hand-held device under his pillow so he won’t miss that all-important call or e-mail.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 30, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Using Subtotals Function in Microsoft Excel By The Professional Assistant on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Filed Under: MS-Excel , Productivity D o you have a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet where you have firm names and figures? The spreadsheet might contain other types of data, but is similar to this example? Imagine your boss comes to your desk and asks you to provide him/her with details of how much each firm earned in revenue on this spreadsheet.
On The Job
JANUARY 30, 2008
The last time you gave a presentation did you claim that the reason the audience dozed off was because of a stuffy room, too much lunch, or perhaps some weird sleep disorder? If you did, perhaps it’s time to go to the true source of the audience snores -- you. One of the biggest mistakes people make when putting together a presentation is that they sit down at their computer and begin writing a speech with long sentences and big words.
Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA
In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. If you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner—and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top (a concept first popularized by Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There ). What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 29, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Closing Shared Files While Away From Desk By The Professional Assistant on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Filed Under: Productivity D o you share files on a network within your office? Are you the type of person that needs to run between your desk and other places on a regular basis? I am one of these people. Since I help out a staff of 30, which includes 6 managers, I constantly am away from my desk doing different tasks such as going to the printer on the other side of the o
On The Job
JANUARY 29, 2008
I'm still waiting on the Kennedy family to endorse this blog, but until then, let's see what I can round up for this Tidbit Tuesday: * That will teach you to go on vacation: If you want to see the ultimate cubicle prank, check out this posting from the folks at TechRepublic. Personally, it's my idea of a great place to work -- I think everyone is going to want the same thing. * Where's my sweater?
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 28, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Copying Pictures To and From Microsoft Word By The Professional Assistant on Monday, January 28, 2008 Filed Under: MS-Word , Productivity H ave you ever wondered how to copy pictures from and to Microsoft Word ? Do you have a big project coming up and want to show your boss that you can handle this type of task ? Recently, someone asked me how this is done.
On The Job
JANUARY 28, 2008
Today, I put five nickels in my pocket. Now, you may be thinking that five nickels (25 cents) won't do me much good. After all, there is hardly anything that can be purchased for that amount, not even a stamp. But I believe my five nickels are going to buy me a lot. I believe that 25 cents, which I found rattling around at the bottom of my purse, will by the end of the day have a) made me feel good; b) be a great investment in my career; and c) perhaps help someone else do great things.
Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP
The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 25, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Cultural Differences in Jobs Around The World By The Professional Assistant on Friday, January 25, 2008 Filed Under: Job Seeking , Productivity C ultures and laws in different countries can vary quite largely. Here in North America, we have to abide by laws that do not discriminate against age, gender, race, etc. On the other hand, other parts of the world have different laws, where they do allow for this.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 25, 2008
I am officially on vacation for a week so this will be my only post until I get back on Monday, February 4th. Consider this my blog version of an Out of Office Assistant. Why is it when you decide to take some time off it seems like you couldn't have managed another day? I finally finished putting my desk in order for my replacement. Which is probably along the same lines as people who hire a cleaning service to clean their homes, and then they proceed to clean it before the cleaners get there.
On The Job
JANUARY 24, 2008
If you were good with numbers when you were in high school, a career guidance counselor or teacher probably steered you toward becoming an accounting major in college. Or, if you showed a flair for working with children, perhaps a counselor recommended a career in teaching. But you may be discovering as you advance in your career that you have been steered down the wrong path.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 24, 2008
In writing, it all depends on who your audience is. In personal e-mails and letters I will write don’t, can’t, doesn’t, etc., but in a business letter that would be a no-no and I would always spell the words out. Business writing is considered more formal. In e-mail it can be less formal and if writing an internal e-mail I would use a short form, but when writing an e-mail to a client outside of my company I would be more formal and write the words out.
Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 23, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Sorting Tables in Microsoft Word By The Professional Assistant on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Filed Under: MS-Word , Productivity H ave you ever wondered or tried to sort a table within Microsoft Word ? Do you already have a table set up in Microsoft Word, but dont want to copy to Microsoft Excel and back again, just to sort it?
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 23, 2008
Here are a few Latin words that will come in handy if you work in a legal office: bona fide means good faith prima facie means first glance res judicata means been determined res ipsa loquitor means the thing speaks for itself (rarely used) ex facie means on the face of it and et cetera is Latin meaning other things of that type Tip : When Latin words are used in a document they should be italicized.
The Small Business Blog
JANUARY 22, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. You ask a question, I answer! Ask me your small business questions, I will answer them ASAP. Small Business Bootstrapping How to start your own small business with no or little money. Effective Small Business Planning Strategy Planning your small business is the best way to avoid costly mistakes.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 22, 2008
Home About Me Advertise Using Microsoft Outlook Calendar Properly By The Professional Assistant on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Filed Under: Meetings , MS-Outlook , Organize , Productivity A re you trying to book a meeting with someone or a group of people? Do you find that you book a meeting date/time, but one or more people from the group let you know that they can’t make it during that date/time?
Speaker: Frank Taliano
Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.
On The Job
JANUARY 22, 2008
Well, as many of you may have noticed, I wasn't nominated for an Oscar this year, but I'm not going to be upset about it. After all, I really didn't have a thing to wear, and now I have more time to devote to this week's Tidbit Tuesday. So, without further ado, here are my nominations for interesting news items: * Thinking about Dumbo: A survey found the the "Most Outrageous, Offensive and Illegal Interview Questions” ever asked during a job interview include: "Would you be available from time t
On The Job
JANUARY 22, 2008
One of the great things about being a journalist is that you get to ask a lot of questions and people (generally) don't get annoyed with you. Since I've been covering the workplace for more than 15 years, I've spent a lot of time asking some very smart and wise people about a wide variety of issues, ranging from how to get a promotion to how to handle a bully boss to how to get along with co-workers.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 22, 2008
It is exciting when you get the call telling you that you were selected for the job. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing for the interview and to know that you were successful is a great feeling. You will want to be the best that you can be. Here are some things you can think about as you continue in your career whether you’ve been on the job one week or 20 years.
Professional Assistant Blog
JANUARY 21, 2008
Home About Me Advertise How to Cope With Co-Workers Arguing By The Professional Assistant on Monday, January 21, 2008 Filed Under: Meetings , Productivity Y ou’re on the phone with a client and an argument breaks out between two of your colleagues. You try to plug your other ear to drown out the noise. The noise keeps getting louder and louder.
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
On The Job
JANUARY 21, 2008
As we celebrate and remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, I want to share with you some insight I received from an author and diversity expert I once interviewed. R. Roosevelt Thomas Jr. explained to me me that many people believe that a workplace has become diverse when people of color or women are present at different organizational levels.
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 21, 2008
You're going on an interview, whether by choice or necessity You have to go in with confidence, and being prepared is the key When they say, "Tell me about yourself", that’s not the time to babble Don't talk about your kids and spouse or your financial trouble You could be asked things like, "What have you learnt from your mistakes?" or, "Why should we hire you over the other candidates?
Laughing all the Way to Work
JANUARY 21, 2008
What would you do if a co-worker came up to you and asked you if they had body odour? What if someone you work with does have body odour and hasn’t asked you? How do you handle it and what should you do? The first scenario happened to me many years ago. A woman I worked with told me that someone had mentioned to her that she had body odour. I was a young woman at the time and unfortunately didn’t know how to reply.
The Small Business Blog
JANUARY 21, 2008
E-Mail me or follow me. How to be successful and eco-friendly. Making your small business carbon neutral. You ask a question, I answer! Ask me your small business questions, I will answer them ASAP. Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online. Benefits of Online Software for Small Business.
Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC
Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult
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