August, 2017

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Should You Have Friends at Work?

Eat Your Career

I’ve long believed that friendships and work don’t necessarily mix. However, in the past few years I’ve refined my stance on the topic a bit. The Argument Against Friends at Work. First, a little background: I’ve seen many situations where friendships in the workplace create sticky, complicated, and unnecessary interpersonal problems. We’ve probably all experienced it or witnessed it.

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Managing meeting rooms

Practically Perfect PA

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Was pretty much the sound I made when I was asked to take on the task of managing meeting rooms for my office. I say ‘asked’, if I’d been asked, obviously I would have said ‘hell will freeze over before I manage the meeting rooms’ No, I was told I had to manage the meeting rooms because I was the only Assistant on the same floor as all the meeting rooms so it made sense for me to manage who was using them.

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12 Strategies To Help You Cope With Change

Office Dynamics

As I’m sitting here on Friday afternoon catching my breath from a very busy week and working on my speeches for our Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence , I am reminded how change is more prevalent than ever in our lives. In the past week, I have personally been through lots of changes; my staff has gone through changes; family and good friends of mine are experiencing change; and the world is changing every day.

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Drone Sales Taking Off

Small Business Labs

Over 3 million drones are expected to be sold in the U.S. 2017, with 4.45 million forecast to be sold in 2018. This data comes from The Consumer Technology Association via the Axios article Demand for Drones is Exploding. The chart below (click to enlarge) is from the article. Most of these drones are for personal use, but a growing number are being used in business.

2018 175
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The Memory Edge: Outlearn, Outperform, Outlast

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

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Online Accounting Among Top Tips for New Entrepreneurs

The Small Business Blog

Starting a new business is more than just coming up with an idea and pitching it to customers. There is a tonne of planning that goes into a new enterprise, followed by convincing financing sources to get behind the idea. Then there are tasks like hiring, securing necessary space, developing a marketing plan, and so on. Even accounting has to be considered long before the first sale is ever made.

Finance 171
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Tips and Tricks for Making Your Business Greener

Eco-Office Gals

Going green seems to be all the rage with businesses recently, with everyone from Coca-Cola to SC Johnson launching widely publicized environmental initiatives. The shift towards this greener way of doing business is occurring because of consumer demand, increased environmental awareness and because it saves money. If you’ve been wanting to green your business, but aren’t sure how to get started or looking for the next step in your environmental impact improvement process, keep reading.

Suppliers 170

More Trending

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Skills required to be a good minute taker

Practically Perfect PA

Nobody readily puts up the hand to take minutes and those of us who do sometimes fear the job because of the expectation that is put on us to produce discussions accurately. Not everyone can be a good minute taker – it’s a definite skill and quite often an art, hence the name of my course, The Art of Minute Taking. There are definite skills required to be a good minute taker and I’ve listed some of them below: Listening.

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5 Tools to Help You Automate Your Work

Office Dynamics

One of the greatest advantages organizations achieves from automating various processes is saving time, among other resources. In the entire history of human development, the need to make work easier, faster and even cheaper comes naturally. This is what has led to various discoveries and developments of tools that automate work. Phenomenal examples include manufacturing, mechanized farming, retail, and many other sectors.

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Will Consultants be Replaced by AI?

Small Business Labs

Since we're consultants, we hope not. But that's thesis of HBR's  AI May Soon Replace Even the Most Elite Consultants. Key quote: “Quant Consultants” and “Robo Advisers” will offer faster, better, and more profound insights at a fraction of the cost and time of today’s consulting firms and other specialized workers. The reason, according to the article, is that machines are much better and faster at processing information than humans.

AT&T 173
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Career Lessons Learned from the 2017 Solar Eclipse

Eat Your Career

Those of you who have read my blog for a while know that I’m always looking for career lessons in the strangest of places. This past Monday, I found a few in the sky. Here in the U.S., we experienced our first total eclipse of the sun since the 1970’s. It was quite a sensation, as the “ path of totality ” spread all the way across the country. Enormous groups of eclipse enthusiasts gathered at various points along the way to appreciate the rare phenomenon.

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Your Accounting Expertise Will Only Get You So Far: What Really Matters

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.

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5 Amazing Ways New Farming Methods Will Save Our Fresh Water

Eco-Office Gals

There isn’t a lot of fresh water on earth and 50 percent of the total amount lies in half a dozen countries. It means billions of people are currently living without enough clean water. How much do you think that number will increase by due to population growth? It’s even worse because our supply of fresh water is running out. NASA satellite have already shown a third of our largest aquifers reached the point of no return a while ago.

AT&T 140
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Podcast 068: Start somewhere

Clutter Coach

by Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. You can leave a review here! This podcast is about a trick you can use if you’re having trouble starting something. Back in podcast 24, called Baby Steps, I talked about a similar thing, how you can make progress on a project by taking the smallest possible step; the least intimidating, easiest step.

Google 100
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Is running your own VA business the new career progression for PAs?

Practically Perfect PA

The roles of Personal and Executive Assistants are changing. For many, that means increased responsibility and a role that’s evolved from the traditional one they first stepped into. Many EAs and PAs are therefore looking for viable alternatives, where they can be more in control of their working patterns and tasks – and running their own VA business is becoming a preferred career progression option.

Holidays 177
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Is it ok to leave the office for lunch?

Office Dynamics

Each month we feature a question from our friends at Business Management Daily’s Admin Pro Forum. Please enjoy engaging in a conversation over this month’s question. Question: “I’m starting to feel a little natural pressure to eat lunch at my desk—not because I’m so busy, and not because anyone’s recommended it, but just because there are so many people around me who do it, and I get the feeling that when I leave the building for lunch, there’s the perce

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How To Overcome Change Fatigue In Finance With Neuroscience-Backed Strategies

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.

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42% of Young Small Businesses Use Contract Workers

Small Business Labs

The U.S. Federal Reserve released the their Report on Startup Firms. This is the second in a series of reports based on their 2016 small business credit survey.  The focus of the report is credit experiences of startups with employees, which they define as firms 5 years old or younger that have at least one traditional full or part-time employee.

2016 170
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How to Make a Small In-Home Office Work for You

Productivity Bits

Working from home offers many benefits to those that simply don’t want to drag themselves to the office every day. For instance, you can create any type of office you want, maintain control over your schedule, and even be your own boss. Plus, your salary is seemingly limitless, you can take your work on the road with you, and you even avoid the sometimes petty office politics that swirl the office cubicles.

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Pet Boarding Video for Come Sit Stay in Parker Colorado

Andrea Kalli

It was fun creating a special video for a local Pet Boarding place – Come Sit Stay in Parker Colorado. They wanted to promote their special VIP boarding service. Designed and edited by [link] – Andrea Kalli – Video Design. Video Editing Services. Video Marketing. If you want to see more, check out my showcase videos: [link]. The post Pet Boarding Video for Come Sit Stay in Parker Colorado appeared first on Video Design, Editing, and Marketing Virtual Assistant.

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Podcast 067: Project strategies

Clutter Coach

by Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. You can leave a review here! Got a big event coming up? Here’s how not to go crazy and get the wrong things done. Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. This podcast is based on my book, 52 Simple Ways to Get Organized, available on my website.

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Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

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.

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Day in the life: Torsten Maerz, PA at Deutsche Bank

Practically Perfect PA

Today’s Day in the life: Torsten Maerz, PA at Deutsche Bank for Dr. Ulrich Stephan, Global Chief Investment Officer of Private & Commercial Clients in Frankfurt, Germany. What are the main aspects of your role? My most important tasks are to make sure my boss is well-prepared for meetings, to take care of his schedule and to ensure that his diary isn’t overloaded.

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Create Your Own Eco Bedroom for Summer 2017

Eco-Office Gals

Summer has officially begun! School’s out on summer break, so it’s time to spend and spend some outdoor fun with the kids—pool parties, picnics, barbeques, you name it! If it gets too warm outside, or you just prefer to be indoors, you can still enjoy summer relaxation mode with a good book and some iced tea. Usually air conditioners are used for cooling off, but with our society’s growing concern for the environment, they aren’t as eco-friendly as we may want to live.

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Tech Jobs Moving to the Midwest

Small Business Labs

U.S. companies have long moved work overseas to save money. But a long emerging trend of moving work to lower cost areas of the U.S. instead of overseas appears to be gaining steam. The New York Times article  Hot Spot for Tech Outsourcing: The United States looks at the outsourcing of software development tasks to lower cost U.S. cities, mostly in the Midwest.

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How to Choose The Best Type of Ice Machine for Your Business?

Small Business CEO

Are you looking for the best type of ice machine for your restaurant, bar , hotel , smoothie bar, or coffee shop? With different types, styles, and sizes of ice makers on the market—it’s hard to know if you are choosing the right one. We’ve collects some the steps you need to take, and the questions you need to cover, before you buy an ice machine. Ice Machine Styles and Configurations.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook for Smarter Knowledge Work

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.

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The Shut Up Strategy

Productivityist

A few weeks ago, I shared a post from Austin Kleon called Just shut up and write the book. This post reminded me of a video by Derek Sivers. I had the opportunity to meet Derek at World Domination Summit, a couple of years ago. He talked about not sharing your goals and that there’s some science behind like keeping those things to yourself. A couple of months ago, I spoke with Jeff Goins.

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Podcast 066: Attachment to things

Clutter Coach

by Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play. You can leave a review here! People keep things they aren’t actively using for many reasons. Sometimes these things are valuable items that could be sold. Sometimes they’re gifts one can’t bear to get rid of. Subscribe: iTunes ⋅ Stitcher ⋅ Soundcloud ⋅ YouTube ⋅ Google Play.

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5 Ways People Dislike Your Emails (And Possibly You)

Practically Perfect PA

An interesting bit of research came to my attention recently, courtesy of the BBC website. It concerned the findings of Professor David De Cremer from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School who’d looked into the emotional undergrowth of office email (at least that’s how the BBC put it). From what he uncovered, Professor De Cremer highlighted 10 things many people do when sending an email, which could lead the recipient to dislike or even distrust them.

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Don’t Let Your Workplace Culture Boil Over

Energage

You’re Only One Frustrated Employee Away From a Scandal. Organizations face a real threat to their stability when employees’ frustrations boil over. Very public takedowns of an organization’s workplace culture throw them into the court of public opinion, catching leadership teams off guard. So how can organizations protect themselves in a media-driven society that feeds off cultural scandals?

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Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape

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.

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Small Business Owners Getting Older and Not Planning to Fully Retire

Small Business Labs

According to Barlow Research, the average U.S. small business owner is 60.3 year old. As the Barlow chart below shows (click to enlarge), 57% of small business owners are over the age 60, up from just 38% a decade ago. Barlow defines small businesses as those with revenues between $100,000 and $10 million. This range includes the vast majority of U.S. employer small businesses.

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7-Step Checklist to Successfully Launch Your Startup

Small Business CEO

Launching your business takes a lot of hard work and determination. However, many still believe that launching a startup is like switching on the light. Having launched a couple of businesses, I’ve realized that launching a startup is like launching an aircraft. You need to keep pushing till you hit the right speed and take off. It doesn’t happen overnight.

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Worth It with Amanda Steinberg

Productivityist

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Amanda Steinberg. Amanda launched DailyWorth in 2009 to bring a fresh voice and an outsider’s perspective to personal finance and the Daily Worth website has made Forbes’s 100 Best Websites for Women three years running. Amanda has appeared on Good Morning America, Today, CNN, and MSNBC, among others. Forbes named her one of the twenty-one New American Money Masters, Oprah Winfrey chose Steinberg for her inaugural SuperSoul 100 list, and Fast Company

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5 tips to help you identify your next career opportunity

Page Personnel

5 tips to help you identify your next career opportunity Anonymous (not verified) 24/01/2023 Climbing the career ladder can be an exhilarating but sometimes overwhelming ride. For the majority of professionals, the conclusion of academic study leads to starting out professional working life in an entry level position in their chosen field. For many, the ambition to build a career results in a focus on working hard, developing and improving skills and remaining open-eyed to possible opportunities

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The Hidden Skills That Separate Good Leaders from Great Ones

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