By abcsmallbiz.comSome of the reasons people start or buy their own businesses are to:- be their own boss or create their own job - seek an alternative to their current career - make better use of their skills and knowledge- introduce a new product or service, or - take advantage of a business opportunity. These are all valid reasons to want your own business, but the success or failure of a person's business venture is as unique as their fingerprint.

By Jim Wagner, President & CEO, Trust Administration Services - Do you have clients that are frustrated with their retirement plans because of limited investment options or poor investment performance? Today many accountants are finding the answer to this question is a resounding YES.It is easy to understand why. It is estimated that investors lost in excess of $7 trillion in the equity markets from 2000 to 2002.

By Allan S. Boress, CPA, CFE, and Michael CummingsWould you like to close more sales - faster -easier? Work with a better quality of client? Never be concerned about where the next client is coming from?Mistake #1 Selling On The Customer's TurfProblem: Professionals try to qualify and close at a prospect's office -- because it is more convenient for customers and makes it easier to get meetings.Solution: NEVER conduct the initial sales interview on the client's turf.If you do, two problems occur.

By, Phyllis Weiss Haserot - People at all levels have some power to influence factors in their work lives based on their personal strengths, their ability to interact with others, and the knowledge that they hold or share. Those in leadership positions are poised to exert more influence than followers, but they have to be willing to take a stand, give consistent support, and be ever vigilant to maintain trust among their colleagues and "followers." Unless the leader is truly a dictator, direct influence is limited.

By White-Collar Crime Fighter - The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires audit committees of public companies to establish procedures to confidentially address all employee complaints regarding questionable accounting practices.While that requirement doesn't specifically guarantee protection to whistleblowers who want to report other internal frauds, the spirit of the new law does strongly encourage companies to set up systems and procedures for encouraging employees to come forward when they observe or suspect internal fraud.Key: With the new emphasis on corporate ethics i

Effective delegation will not only give you more time to work on your area of expertise, but you will also give others in your firm the opportunity to learn new skills and achieve their goals. Delegation helps people grow underneath you in an organization and thus pushes you even higher in management. It provides you with more time, and you will be able to take on higher priority projects. Delegate whole pieces or entire job pieces rather than simply tasks and activities.

by Cheri L. Swales, Monster.comDedication to your company is not the only thing you need to consider when developing your career. Volunteering can be an important part of your leadership skills repertoire. Networking is the best way to enhance your career status, and volunteering is one of the best networking opportunities. Why Do People Volunteer?People volunteer in the community for a variety of reasons.

If you create charts in Excel, chances are good that you adjust the formatting of the standard chart style each time you create a new chart. You may change the size of the font, perhaps you add some background color, you might include your company logo on the chart, you may prefer the currency format for your numbers, or you may prefer a line graph to the default column style.

By Gale Crosley, CPAFor decades, a simple, one-to-one relationship existed between CPAs firm and clients. Now, Sarbanes-Oxley has changed the landscape, potentially pairing a single client with multiple providers. Although the legislation chiefly affects the public environment, it has brought heightened sensitivity to conflict-of-interest in the private sector as well. The scenario is analogous to 1984 and the breakup of AT&T, which had held a virtual monopoly in the telecommunications industry.