Success

"You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play" - Warren Beatty

Thanksgiving

When I pray I have often been known to ask God for healing, material things, safe travel, different circumstances, changes in my finances, patience and understanding and for his loving arms to be wrapped around my family, just to name a few.

I have changed how I pray. I am instead going to God in Thanksgiving, thanking him for future things to come such as healing, material things, safe travel, different circumstances, changes in my finances, patience and understanding, and for him wrapping his loving arms around my family.

Faith is knowing that things I need will come to pass. The best example I can think of is as follows: I thought, even as a young girl, I would one day be a Mother. The day I found out that I was pregnant, I knew and expected that in 9 months I would be a Mother....... I went from thinking to knowing and expecting it would come to pass.

I know that God has good things in store for me and all those who have faith.

Procrastination

What comedian said, “Perhaps procrastination is the solution not the problem”?

The U.S. Economic Outlook

The U. S. Economic Outlook – Recently I attended a breakfast seminar hosted by Wells Fargo where Jay Bryson and Don Jud, PHD – Global Economist were speaking on the Economic Outlook, following is my take on the seminar:
• Everyone fell off the same cliff on September 15, 2008
• The global economy is experiencing its worst recession in decades
• Net Worth dropped 13 trillion dollars – the economy now has a whole new Balance Sheet – the decline in household net worth over the past year has been unprecedented
• The worse for the U.S. economy probably behind us
• Predictions is that the economy will start to pull out of the recession at the end of 2010
• Past recessions historically have run about 14 months in cycle – this recession will run longer than 14 months
• An economy that grows saves – money in bank earns interest producing more money for banks to loan to businesses and individuals – problem now is that banks are not loaning money
• Growth in consumer spending should remain sluggish for the foreseeable future
• The consumer sector debt loan is large
• Construction industry is in a Depression
• Housing has been hit hard – home prices decline will likely continue into 2010
• Manufacturing has been hit hard
• Manufacturing sector is expanding due to the collapse in inventory for the first part of 2009 – instead of buying more inventory, businesses used what was on hand, depleting stockpile, therefore they must now purchase more inventory which will increase spending
• Purchase of inventory should boost growth over the next few quarters
• Expected that unemployment will top 11% and not reach back to 5% anytime soon.
• The unemployment rate in our area currently exceeds the national average
• Non residential construction is a lagging indicator, this will take some time to bounce back – likely will contract through most of 2010
• Commercial real estate property prices are down 25% - financing is tough and this industry could stay back into a recession after other industry is pulling out
• Write – downs related to commercial real estate represents a downside risk to the U.S. Economy
• Commercial real estate will remain a problem until the employment growth increases – businesses do not need office space if they are not hiring back employees
• It appears that stronger growth in the rest of the world is lifting U.S. exports again
• The risk of deflation exceeds the risk of inflation over the next year or two
• The credit crunch caused the U.S. economy to enter its deepest recession in decades.
• A gradual recovery seems to be happening, but business conditions likely will remain challenging for the next few years
• Growth in foreign economies also fell into deep recessions, but appears to be returning
• Interest rates will likely maintain steady in near future

Twitter, Blogging, Facebook, E-mail.........Oh My!

I am so uncertain about when I need to Tweet or Blog or add to my Facebook wall or just plain e-mail.........maybe I need to pick up the phone and call................ It appears to me that social networking can expand marketing and improve recruiting. I can also see that a company can also use social networking to identify the company and the culture within the company. Perhaps also communications with clients can be increased and improved. Maybe utilizing facebook could bridge the gap between generations.

Am I correct in assuming that a difference in Twitter and Facebook is that Twitter users can post messages up to 140 characters where at Facebook does not have a limit on characters? It also seems to me that the content on a company Facebook may remain constant, a person can then use Twitter to tweet the changes or updates regarding a company. Am I correct in assuming that Facebook can go without frequent updates but if tweeting is used as a method of communication, continuous tweeting must be adheard in order to have followers...............? See why I am so confused?

A Blogging CPA

It will be interesting to learn that anyone will read a blog written by a CPA. CPAs normally are not known for producing a good read. As an instructor once said, "CPAs are not boring people, they just get excited about boring things." I do get excited about providing exceptional service to my clients and friends. Helping clients learn to grow their business revenues and save tax dollars is not all boring.

The Secret to Life

"The secret to life is one thing, and you must find out that one thing for yourself".................line from a funny movie, anyone know the movie?

Our CPA firm hosted a dinner seminar entitled, "Gratitude", the event was well attended and we have had many positive responses about the event. We all learned the secret to happiness. If you are reading this blog and want to know the secret to happiness, just let me know and I will let you in on the secret.................