The Small Business Blog
DECEMBER 12, 2012
Proud to be Micro Some of you know that I’m the co-founder of the Enterprise Rockers movement – a massive free-to-join-in, global, self help community to make life better and fairer for micro (0-9 employees) enterprise owners. We launched in January so we’re coming up to our first anniversary.
Eat Your Career
DECEMBER 4, 2012
It’s a common complaint: I’ve got too much work and not enough time to do it all. Considering the alternative (no work at all!), you’re in a decent position. That doesn’t make it any easier to handle though. So let’s talk about ways to manage this overwhelming workload without losing your cool. Note: All of these topics are explored in much greater depth in my Get Productive Now!
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Practically Perfect PA
DECEMBER 10, 2012
Pin It. A few years ago I worked in a department with a dozen or so Project Managers who were all highly qualified Six Sigma professionals. They were a great bunch to be a round and during my time there I did learn a lot about the dark art of project management! Many of the department’s projects aimed to improve the business and eliminate wasted time, effort and general errors.
Office Organization Success
DECEMBER 15, 2012
Many business owners find themselves in a situation where they are asked to send their credit card information in order to finalize a business transaction. If the vendor you’re using doesn’t have a secure shopping cart interface that you can use, there are a few other alternatives. But first, a word of caution …. Don’t EVER send sensitive financial data via email – even if it is split across two emails.
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
Eco-Office Gals
DECEMBER 6, 2012
As summer fades into fall, and fall into winter, the seasons change for everyone and we start to get a little colder. Office workers feel the change of seasons more than most, leading largely sedentary days that leave little time for activity. Those seeking to stay warm in their offices while remaining eco-friendly often feel like they are at an impasse, but there are a few great green ways that anyone can warm up their offices when winter sets in.
Small Business Labs
DECEMBER 6, 2012
Food truck are hot. They have been highlighted as a food trend, new industry model, cultural fad and a political hot potato in the press. But despite their popularity, there's been surprisingly little research on why they're so successful. We decided to spend some time figuring this out and just released our findings in Food Trucks Motor Into the Mainstream , a new research report from Intuit and Emergent Research (that's us). This continues the broader Intuit 2
Administrative Professionals Pulse brings together the best content for administrative professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Eat Your Career
DECEMBER 19, 2012
I’ve heard from a lot of people lately who are all suffering with the same problem: An overly critical boss. There’s nothing worse than working for someone who only sees the negative. When you do great work, it’s ignored. But when you make a mistake or somehow fall short of expectations (even completely unreasonable ones), you’re criticized. It feels so unfair.
Practically Perfect PA
DECEMBER 18, 2012
It’s nearly Christmas! As assistants I’m sure you have been aware of this fact for quite some time as you would have been running around organising everyone’s Christmas festivities including parties, cards, presents, decorations and goodness knows what else! I hope all of your efforts have been greatly appreciated by your colleagues and if not you at least have some time off over the holidays to relax with your loves ones.
Office Organization Success
DECEMBER 1, 2012
I speak to clients all the time who are frustrated and overwhelmed because: Their business isn’t growing; They don’t have any clients (or very few clients); And their income isn’t where they want it to be. And after having many such conversations over the past few years, I’ve identified six key reasons why they’re not seeing the results they want to see.
Eco-Office Gals
DECEMBER 27, 2012
Have you looked at your utility bills at work and wondered what you can do to lower the amount that you pay each month? One of the most effective steps that you can take the decrease the levels of energy that you (and your coworkers) use is conduct an energy audit. While you can certainly have a professional energy auditor come out and inspect your place of business, did you know that they are things that you can do on your own that will basically bring forth the same results?
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.
Small Business Labs
DECEMBER 19, 2012
I was not surprised to hear Instagram, the photo sharing site acquired by Facebook, was changing its privacy policy. But I was stunned by the change. In addition to the expected changes to allow Facebook advertisers to be able access your personal data, they are also reserving the right to use your username, photos and other data in advertisements.
The Small Business Blog
DECEMBER 18, 2012
Everyone up to speed on the Mayan calendar? Don’t rush out and buy one, because it ends … er … two days after tomorrow, as may the world as we know it.
Eat Your Career
DECEMBER 10, 2012
For some of you, the title of this article may cause a double take. “Boredom?! Are you kidding? I have way too much to do and not enough time to do it.”. If that’s you, cool. Head on over and read, “ How to Manage an Overwhelming Workload ” instead. But not everyone can be so lucky (if you want to call it that). If you experience boredom at work, keep reading.
Virtual Moxie
DECEMBER 17, 2012
Whether you celebrate the Christmas holiday or not, there's no way around the fact that, in many parts of the West, things slow down--or stop completely--around the Christmas and New Year holidays. That makes it a perfect time to either get more stuff done for your business, or take time away. I rarely hear from the people who want to use the time to get more stuff done, but the people who want to take time away often write to ask me a variety of questions about how to make it work.
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.
Practically Perfect PA
DECEMBER 3, 2012
Pin It. Unfortunately most people have lost a job in one way or another over the course of their career; they have either been let go before the end of their probation, fired or made redundant. It definitely seems the way of the world where no job is guaranteed for life anymore. This isn’t a topic I would generally blog about as I do prefer to write about happier more upbeat things but I have been made redundant in the past and do know it is a horrible and unsettling time in anyone’s life.
Eco-Office Gals
DECEMBER 26, 2012
All of our wordpress sites are under constant attack from hackers looking for loopholes into our websites. Hackerbots don’t care about traffic or ranking, they are programed for one thing only – to find weak spots in our platforms. Some of you have experienced the misery of compromised sites in 2012, it’s not fun or cheap and if you didn’t I promise you don’t want to.
Office Dynamics
DECEMBER 11, 2012
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight maids a milking and a great offer on the new book, Who Took My Pen … Again? This book was written by assistants for assistants! The content in this book is rich and you’ll enjoy every bit of it. Get your copy of Who Took My Pen … Again? along with extra copies for your friends at $15 today only!
The Small Business Blog
DECEMBER 17, 2012
Top 5 Tips posts from the SME Blog are always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners. 1. Once you start employing people it is essential that you are aware of your obligations as an employer.
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
DECEMBER 18, 2012
As part of the broader Big Data for the Little Guy project, Intuit surveyed 500 small business owners to learn more about how they view big data and its potential. The results are pretty interesting. Small business owners see the potential power of big data, but also realize there are costs and barriers associated with its use. 71% of the respondents noted potential barriers, with the top being: 15% felt big data might be too costly. 14% said they didn't have the time for impl
Job Advice Blog
DECEMBER 17, 2012
Growth, evolution, changes. Technology may be a wonderful thing, but it has negative elements—especially if you’re in transition and looking for a job. Why? Perhaps you don’t know how to conduct a contemporary job search. Well, that may not be true, and don’t blame yourself. The résumé Two decades ago, applicants would submit their IBM [.].
Laughing all the Way to Work
DECEMBER 13, 2012
I have mentioned it a few times that when my desk is cluttered then I feel cluttered. I like to put everything in its place so I will find it easily. Is it any wonder if my Outlook is messy and cluttered that I feel the same way? I was at a recent IAAP Chapter meeting and we were discussing best practices for organizing our Inboxes and there were a lot of good ideas.
Eco-Office Gals
DECEMBER 5, 2012
Trying to find the perfect gift for your Eco-concious friend or just want to make a lighter impact with your giving? Here are some of our favorite gift picks: For Kids: Eco-Friendly Gourmet Chef Kitchen in Green – My girls always loved their play kitchens growing up and this product made from sustainable, renewable and durable materials that can endure children’s play would have been perfect.
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.
Office Dynamics
DECEMBER 5, 2012
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four calling birds - calling out this slick deal to get our hands on today! Purchase all three of Joan Burge’s authored books for $30. That’s only $10 per book when you buy this 3-book bundle! Become an Inner Circle Assistant excerpt – Know Thyself: Internal vs. External Wiring.
The Small Business Blog
DECEMBER 10, 2012
Top 5 Tips posts from the SME Blog are always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners. 1. Take a close look at your current relationship with suppliers. Is there anything that can be done to sweeten the deal for both of you?
Small Business Labs
DECEMBER 17, 2012
The New Data Democracy: How Big Data Will Revolutionize the Lives of Small Businesses and Consumers is a new research and trends forecast report from Intuit and Emergent Research (that's us). The report is on big data for the little guy , which is Intuit's phrase for describing how the data and analytics revolution is empowering consumers and small businesses with new opportunities to improve their lives and businesses.
Virtual Moxie
DECEMBER 6, 2012
It's important to always speak your truth. It's even more important, however, to speak it consciously. and very gently. There's no such thing as brutal honesty there's brutality, and there's honesty. and the two don't go hand in hand. Always be fully aware of what you're saying, and how you're saying it. To free yourself from stress that isn't yours, speak your truth with love, conviction and clarity.
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.
Ian's Messy Desk
DECEMBER 27, 2012
Project planning (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Each January 1 my wife and I head for a quiet table at a local coffee shop and set some goals for the upcoming year. We begin the process by reviewing what we set out to accomplish in the year past: to look at our successes and failures. It would be easy for us to spend the time focusing on the things we didn’t get done.
Eco-Office Gals
DECEMBER 28, 2012
lt almost doesn’t matter what you do — your smartphone, tablet, or mobile device has probably helped you do it better or more efficiently, in one way or another. No matter what it is you’re trying to accomplish, your smartphone or tablet has a way to help you accomplish it in serious style, and it can get to the point where it’s pretty incredible to imagine that these devices are actually only a few years old.
Office Dynamics
DECEMBER 4, 2012
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves sitting pretty with this deal for me! These little love birds have a secret to their success and you want to know what that secret is? It's a great attitude! You can pick up the audio program, Success is 90% Attitude, today along with all my other audio CD or DVD programs for 50% off!
The Small Business Blog
DECEMBER 5, 2012
As readers of this blog may know that I am a fan of Seth Godin’s work. In a recent post on his blog he wrote a short, yet insightful, post about the purpose of customer service.
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
Join this brand new webinar with Tim Buteyn to learn how you can master the art of remote onboarding! By the end of this session, you'll understand how to: Craft a Tailored Onboarding Checklist 📝 Develop a comprehensive, customized checklist that ensures every new hire has a smooth transition into your company, no matter where they are in the world.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
217 
Let's personalize your content