Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 23, 2012
Pin It. Here is a brief history of my career to date – After University I landed my first job as a Team Administrator at Deloitte, after a year and a half I left to join the Institute of Chartered Accountants where again I worked as an Administrator and Assistant to a department manager. Having worked in that position for a few years I was promoted to Account Manager and then a few years later made redundant.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 13, 2012
The U.S. has always had a lot of part-time employment. In 2007, a year when the economy was strong and unemployment low, a bit over 22 million Americans worked part-time. This was about 16% of U.S. non-farm employment. The vast majority of these folks - 88% - chose to work part-time. Only 12% would have preferred a full-time job. As of October 2012, about 27 million Americans worked part-time. This is just over 19% of non-farm employment.
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Eat Your Career
NOVEMBER 28, 2012
There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re being smothered, and micro-managers are really good at making you feel that way. They hover over you, constantly check in, offer instruction when none is needed, and expect you to do things their way and on their schedule. Micro-managers don’t allow you to have any freedom and eventually, work can start to feel like a prison sentence.
The Small Business Blog
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week and I’ve been busy speaking in all the major cities and on television. Not that I’m an Entrepreneur, hardly anyone that speaks on entrepreneurship is. I know as much as the next speaker, dress better, have been on television and I’ve written a best selling, funny book on enterprise.
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
Stephanie LH Calahan
NOVEMBER 14, 2012
I find that every time I share the quotes to the right on Facebook or Twitter they get shared and re-shared. When I state them in a workshop or keynote I see heads nodding around the room. Why it that people relate to those statements so much that they share them consistently? Is because deep down, way in the recesses of our mind; we believe that we are stealing from ourselves?
Eco-Office Gals
NOVEMBER 1, 2012
In the business sector, there are a lot of trends that come and go. One trend that appears to be here to stay is an emphasis on green or eco-friendly practices. Many businesses are putting more of an emphasis on green practices, and these practices help their bottom line and the environment at the same time. This begs the question: what kinds of green-behaviors are businesses doing, and how are they helping?
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Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 20, 2012
We hear lots of discussion these days about the fiscal cliff. This, of course, is about taxes and federal spending. But startups face their own fiscal cliff. Over the last few years, there's been a surge in startup activity. This has been driven by several trends. First, It's never been easier or cheaper to start a tech and/or web company. And the the maturation and growth of the Internet and other technologies and industries (genomics, clean tech, robotics, Big Data, etc.) has created v
Eat Your Career
NOVEMBER 20, 2012
You know that person who always has something to whine about? Super annoying, right? Working with a constant complainer can be a challenge for a variety of reasons. And if you’re not careful, the situation could go from an irritation to a serious career killer. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bad advice out there regarding this topic. My recommendations are a little different, but I think you’ll understand—and agree—after reading this article.
The Small Business Blog
NOVEMBER 19, 2012
Top 5 Tips posts from the SME Blog are always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners. 1. Even small businesses should be doing all they can to try and reduce their energy emissions.
Stephanie LH Calahan
NOVEMBER 1, 2012
Recently a friend on Facebook asked me if I had recommendations for my favorite mindmapping tool and I have not brainstormed much using that technique. However, I knew that I had a few friends that loved mindmapping, so I asked them to share their favorite tools. Whether you are experienced at mindmapping or you are like me and are curious about how you might use mindmapping to help you, check out the resources I have below!
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.
Eco-Office Gals
NOVEMBER 21, 2012
We’re going to try to battle the Black Friday crowd this year to get both of my girls a 4G ipod touch. If we can grab them up we can finally have our iphones to ourselves. We haven’t done this in years and I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. Yet, love it or hate it there are some great deals worth announcing. These great savings are for the greatest gift of all – your small business.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Pin It. During my formative years I had a number of part time and weekend jobs to earn some extra money. I mainly worked in shops where I would run around sorting out racks of clothes or helping on the till and changing rooms, it was a busy job, especially at the weekend, spent mainly on your feet and I must admit I absolutely hated it. I have a huge amount of respect for people that work in the retail business because I just couldn’t cut it.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 16, 2012
OK, I have to admit I think this is a great idea. DogVacay is an Airbnb-like service for dogs. The site lets users search for, find and hire dog sitters for the day, overnight or longer stays. According to the site, the sitters: "range from professional pet sitters with ranches to experienced dog lovers in cozy homes and they can't wait to meet your pup!
Office Dynamics
NOVEMBER 6, 2012
I am honored and thrilled to celebrate with Jasmine her 6-year Office Dynamics anniversary. My, how time has flown and Jasmine has grown and blossomed in ways we could not anticipate 6 years ago. Jasmine uprooted her family to come to work with me and live in a completely strange city where she knew no one. She gave up a good job to come on an adventure with me and little did she know the adventure would be a personally challenging one for me.
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.
The Small Business Blog
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
Top 5 Tips posts from the SME Blog are always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners. 1. Your business needs a policy that applies to the archival of incoming communication.
Stephanie LH Calahan
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
A few days ago I shared the second of three videos from my friend and video fun guy Steve Washer. I've been enjoying his tips here on my blog and on his new series. Today, I'm sharing the last of his guest blog posts as he talks about how to go from camera shy to camera "fly." If you've ever found yourself a bit self-conscious in front of the camera, I know you'll love today's tips. If being in front of the camera does not make you nervous, then you'll be a
Eco-Office Gals
NOVEMBER 28, 2012
Many business owners are unaware of just how important location and space are to their business. Getting the right office space is essential from the beginning because you will need to stick with this space until your lease is up. This makes it very important that you choose wisely. Here are some essential aspects to consider the choosing your new office space: Space – When choosing office space you have to ensure that you are getting the right square footage for your needs.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 28, 2012
Pin It. I got back from my holiday last week to discover over 200 emails for me to read, delete, action and generally sort through (I’d only been away for 4 days and that included the weekend)! As with any administrative task I crack on in a ruthless manner because I just want the job completed as soon as humanly possible – in other words I take no prisoners.
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.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 21, 2012
I saw two good articles on working from home yesterday. Is Working at Home Right for You does a nice job outlining the key issues one should consider prior to deciding to work from home. The one item they left out is loneliness, which is interesting because it's the single biggest complaint about working from home we hear in our research.
Virtual Moxie
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
As you build or grow your virtual practice, choosing clients will be one of the most exciting and difficult things you'll have to do. So we offer this list of 10 for you to think through as you move through the process. 1. Am I moved and excited by the client's work and personality (do I like who the person seems to be)? If you're not absolutely jazzed by both, the relationship isn't worth pursuing because it will end up being a huge energy drain for you later on.
The Small Business Blog
NOVEMBER 18, 2012
I like the Enterprise Rockers – a group founded to make life fairer for micro-businesses. The way it works is that anyone can become what is known as a “Band Leader” – meaning form a local group with the aim to support each other in business.
Stephanie LH Calahan
NOVEMBER 23, 2012
As a business owner with children, your schedule often changes as your kids' schedule changes. I'm experiencing that right now! My son, David, has decided to join the wrestling team. That means that rather than counting on the bus to bring him home daily, we're going to have to work out a plan to ensure he gets home after practice, not to mention back and forth to meets. My nice, smooth-flowing schedule just hit a snag!
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.
Eco-Office Gals
NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Many people have heard about going green with one’s business, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that not everyone realizes what this actually means. The fact is, there are hundreds if not thousands of ways to make one’s business more green, and doing so can be extremely beneficial not only to the environment, but to your business as well.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
Pin It. Last week I wrote a blog which asked the question ‘ Should assistants make themselves look busy? ’ I’ve had some great responses from people regarding the issue of perception, the way we carry ourselves in the office and the interaction we have with our colleagues. All of this lovely feedback got me thinking about office politics in general.
Small Business Labs
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
No, DuckDuckGo is not a children's game (that's duck duck goose). It's an Internet search engine. As a recent Washington Post article on the company points out, it has two major differences from Google - they don't track their users and they don't filter search results based on tracking their users. Not tracking their users is, of course, of interest to those concerned about online privacy.
Virtual Moxie
NOVEMBER 26, 2012
Tidbits about me. I have come, over the years, to know that I do my best work in a space that is, to me, lovely. As part of that, I surround myself with things that have meaning to me on a personal level, and use products that are efficient, effective, and generally beautiful. My feeling is that if I need to use paper clips, for instance, there's no reason they can't be different/special/beautiful.
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.
The Small Business Blog
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
For busy people consuming a hamburger is much like consuming I.T. these days. You drive along to a burger restaurant, buy your burger and consume it. It’s integrated – bun, burger, salad, onion …, all ready to eat. No cooking, no getting the individual bits and assembling the burger yourself.
Productivity Bits
NOVEMBER 17, 2012
To get started, you only need a to-do task list and the Pomodoro Timer (affiliate link) or any 30-minute kitchen timer. Start with your first task in the list. Set the Pomodoro Timer to 30 minutes. Start working. Pay attention to the timer. If you reach the 25th minute, stop working and take a short 5 minute break. You might get tempted to just continue working but you must stop.
Eco-Office Gals
NOVEMBER 17, 2012
In today’s society, it is incredibly important to instill green practices into your business. More and more companies are beginning to understand the importance of implementing these kinds of practices into your company. By moving into a green mindset, you will save money and help the environment by not being as wasteful with your energy and resources.
Job Advice Blog
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
Consider yourself very lucky for being considered for a face-to-face interview. It just means that you survived the first phase of the competition; your résumé projected you as someone deserving of further exploration; and you outshone the vast majority of your competition. The most critical test, however, is still ahead of you. You are at [.].
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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