Visualization is a technique used by athletes, politicians, CEO’s, and bank tellers alike to achieve greater success in their lives. In fact, you currently practice visualization yourself, although you may not be aware that you’re actually doing it.

When you imagine yourself sitting in that corner office with your name on the door, you’re visualizing greater success. And when you imagine yourself getting fired for a series of mistakes, you’re visualizing failure. So as long as you’re visualizing, you might as well do it right.

The brain can’t tell the difference between reality and your imagination. If you imagine yourself earning a promotion or getting a stellar job, you’ve tricked the brain into believing you’ve done that already, paving the way for reality. And the more you visualize it, the more the subconscious begins thinking and doing those things that will prepare you to actually accomplish what you’re visualizing.

The truth is we’ve spent years convincing our brains of one thing or another. If you’re a highly optimistic, successful person, chances are you think many positive thoughts. On the other hand, if you’re a pessimistic, downtrodden person, chances are you think negative ones. The great thing about visualization, however, is that by changing your thoughts you can begin to change your experiences, immediately.

Visualization

Visualization can be a fabulous tool for enhancing your career. But it first requires you to determine what, specifically, you want. Is it a promotion? A bigger and better job? Your own accounting practice? Once you decide what you desire you can begin visualizing your way to success.

The important thing about visualization is that you produce a clear picture in your mind of you achieving your goals. What does it look like? What does it feel like? What are you saying and thinking throughout? The more clarity you bring to your “visions” the more real they appear to your brain which can begin helping you manifest that vision into a reality.

And while visualizing what you desire one time is a good start, it’s not enough to bring that vision to life. Remember, you’ve probably been processing negative, self-defeating thoughts for a long time. It will take daily and focused visualization in order to combat those thoughts and develop new and improved habits of the mind.

Schedule 20 to 30 minutes a day when you can relax and visualize your desires. Select a quiet and undisturbed location so you won’t be interrupted or distracted. And while it may feel silly at first, concentrate and imagine your desires becoming part of your life, filling in all the details to make your vision as specific as possible. Each day add to these details and try to conjure those feelings you would have realizing your dreams.

Affirmations

In addition to visualizations, practice positive affirmations. Affirmations also help bring more positive things into your life as you convince your brain that you are indeed a competent and successful person. These affirmations should be in present tense and only accentuate the positive. For example, if you want to lose weight, rather than say, “I am losing weight,” you should say, “I am healthy and slender.” The first statement focuses on the weight that you’re trying so hard to lose while the second only focuses on the end result you’re trying to achieve.

Make a list of affirmations you could repeat throughout your day. It’s not a bad idea to carry them around with you until you have memorized them and they become part of the audio track that entertains your brain. You’ll find that after a few days of repeating these affirmations you’re feeling more positive and confident.

Change Your Path Today!

Every day you can take steps that will bring you closer to the realization of your dream. Take one step today!

If you wish to enhance your skills or prepare yourself for self-employment as a contract accountant, you should consider UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program. Designed to train individuals in small business accounting, this course will enable you to boost your employability, your chances for promotion, all while preparing you to start your own bookkeeping service, if that’s what you desire.

Begin visualizing today. Order our DVD “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program” now and see just how much this course can enhance your career. Or watch it online and begin changing the course of your professional future.

Is there a company you would like to work for, however, every time you check they have no openings? Don’t let that discourage you. You can still court a prospective employer even when they haven’t hung a “help wanted” sign in their window. The following 5 tips will help.

1. Make connections

Career-minded individuals should always be networking. This can help you court a potential employer as well. Do you know anyone who works for the organization? If so, see if he/she might be able to introduce you to someone in the human resource or accounting department. If not, take measures to meet employees on your own. Sometimes businesses sponsor or frequent community events and participate in job fairs. The more you learn about an organization the more opportunities to interact with employees you will discover.

2. Write a letter of introduction

A letter of introduction is similar to the cover letter that accompanies a resume. However, a letter of introduction does not discuss a specific job opening but rather it’s an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to an organization and express interest in contributing to their success. As with a cover letter, you should briefly share your professional background and explain why you are a good fit for their business. And while the letter’s tone should be confident, it should not be pushy or overbearing.

3. Consider temp work

Often the best way into an organization is through temp work. This provides the perfect opportunity to wow an employer and is a chance for you to test drive the organization to see if it measures up to your expectations. You may find that upon closer examination it’s not quite what you had hoped. On the hand, you may determine that it’s just the place you want to rest your briefcase, long-term.

4. Ask that your resume be placed on file

You’ve sent your letter of introduction and some time has passed. Go in and ask human resources to place your resume on file. Chances are your letter of introduction was cause to create a file for you. Your resume will draw attention to that file and evidence your genuine interest in this organization. It’s good to present your resume in person; take advantage of every opportunity to become more familiar with the staff. And always be cordial and courteous. These individuals will likely be asked what they thought of you-you want those impressions to be favorable.

5. Follow up

It’s important that you not be pesky. Follow-up frequently enough to remind the organization of your existence, but not enough to irritate or annoy. You may choose to call or email in order to keep your correspondence subtle and unobtrusive.

Regardless of whether or not a company has posted the right job for you, there are things you can do to court an employer and make yourself a prime candidate as soon as a position does open. It may require patience and determination; but it can be done.

Often the best advice you can receive regarding job hunting is from peers who are experiencing the same struggles and achievements you are. For this purpose, Universal Accounting Center has created an accounting and tax forum where you can interact and network with peers both near and far. Join the forum today. They’re free and provide you with the perfect opportunity to widen your network.

When searching for a job it’s important to have everything you need to succeed, like a toolkit with all those items prepared that will enable you to secure the perfect position. That way, you’re never taken off-guard and required to throw something together for a potential employee. And everything from your resume to your email address communicates a level of professionalism and dedication. So you can’t wait until the opportunity presents itself to get your toolkit together. Now is the time to gather your job search gear.

1. Resume

It’s important that you update your resume periodically. If you wait too long, you will forget significant achievements and responsibilities that will appeal to potential employers. And while you should revise your resume to cater to the position for which you are applying, it helps to have current information to work with.

2. Application-at-the-ready

While filling out a job application isn’t rocket science, it does take a certain amount of time, energy, and recall ability to complete successfully. Depending on the application, this may require you to sort through old documents listing previous addresses, employers and their corresponding contact information, as well as starting and ending salaries. Save yourself some time by making copies of old applications to keep on file. That way completing an application becomes a matter of copying information from one form to another.

3. Cover letter template

Most jobs require you to submit an application package which requires a thoughtful cover letter stating your intentions. While each cover letter you write should be unique to the job for which you are applying, having a standard template will help you compose the letter more quickly.

4. Elevator speech

An elevator speech is like a quick infomercial about you and your abilities that can be delivered in the time it takes an elevator to carry its occupants to their floor. An elevator speech is something you hone and practice so that at opportune moments you can network effectively, explaining what you do and why you do it so well that everyone deserves to hear about it.

5. Portfolio

Most professionals can demonstrate their expertise with samples of their work or specialized certification. All these things should be collected in one place for easy access. Then you have a portfolio prepared should a potential employer ask to see it.

6. Professional email address

While you may think smartdude28@email.com is a great email address, it doesn’t say much for your professionalism. When selecting an email address for the purpose of a job search it’s important the you choose one that will project a positive, professional image.

7. Power suit

When interacting with significant contacts and potential employers it’s important that you dress the part. You should have at least one power outfit to wear for interviews and networking occasions.

Add Universal’s DVD 4-Pack to Your Toolkit

Included in your toolkit should be strategies to increase your skills and expertise. Universal’s DVD 4-Pack is designed to introduce you to all the valuable programs we offer, each and every one of them intended to enhance your accounting career. This power pack includes:

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will improve your accounting skills, enabling you to expand your business and become a full-service financial provider.

Introduction to the Professional Tax Preparer Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Tax Preparer will improve your tax skills and help you earn a professional designation that will evidence your expertise.

Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service

Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.

The Art and Science of Getting Clients

Learn how to get more clients by using our proven methods.

Not only will these programs enable you to bolster your resume and enhance your career, but if you’ve ever considered starting your own accounting and tax practice, these DVD’s will help you get started. Order now and complete your job search toolkit!

6 Tips in Taking Charge of Your Professional Future

How many individuals lose sight of their career goals because they became “stuck” in a position they don’t enjoy, working for an employer they don’t like. Many take jobs they view as a transitional position, a placeholder that will pay the bills while they get their real career on track. Some anticipate working up the ladder to greater success, responsibility, and fulfillment. Others expect to gain education or skills that will help them find a better job elsewhere. While others still aren’t exactly sure where they’d like to end up ultimately and take positions that will buy them some time while they sort things out.

Unfortunately, too many individuals find that these transitional positions become their permanent positions, and the thought of finding something new becomes overwhelming and tiresome. Don’t let that happen to you. As stuck as you may feel, you can always devise a strategy that will enable you to get where you would really like to be. Here are 6 tips that may help:

1. Fulfill your position

Regardless of how much you may dislike your current job, the truth is it may determine whether or not you get a better one. Nothing looks worse than getting fired, but the runner up gets a poor review from a former employer. If you apply for other jobs you want your current supervisor to have nothing but good things to say about you. With this said, it might be a good idea to approach your employer and ask if you’re fulfilling the position as intended. Once you discover what your employer expects, you can prepare to receive glowing reviews by meeting those expectations.

2. Learn as much as possible

You may not realize it, but your current position is a training ground for the next one. Learning as much as possible from this job will only help you become a better applicant. So look at your current challenges and determine how you can grow from them. If you’re experiencing problems with your coworkers, how might you approach that challenge so that you grow and become a better employee for your next job? If you’re struggling with the workload, what can you do in order to better manage that workload so you can proudly share what you’ve learned from the experience in a future job interview?

3. Identify your “dream job”

In Lewis Carroll’s classic tale Through the Looking Glass, the Cheshire Cat informs Alice, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” The same applies to your career. If you’re uncertain where you want to go, you can pick any path. There’s just no guarantee that you’ll like the final destination. That’s why it’s important that you decide exactly what it is you would like to do. That will enable you to take the path that get you there.

4. Advance your skills and knowledge

Just because you want to do something, doesn’t mean you’re qualified to do it. Once you have identified your “dream job,” take action to become the most qualified person available. If that means furthering your education, attending conferences and workshops, or earning certification, the best time to do those things is now.

5. Build your network

The best opportunities will most likely present themselves through your professional network. The larger your network, the greater the possibilities. And building a network will take time and attention; join professional organizations, attend community events, and frequent other businesses.

6. Research the possibilities

As you work to advance your career you must always research your options in order to discover new and exciting opportunities. When you become too absorbed in your “transitional” job, your career will quickly stall.

It’s important for every career-minded professional to know what their options are and how they might achieve true success. If you’ve been wondering what steps you might take to reach your goals, visit Universal Accounting Center and take our tour to see how we can help. From gaining professional certification to providing valuable training, Universal Accounting Center is interested in helping you succeed. Visit UAC today!

Given Job Flexibility, Working Moms Deliver

By Carol Kleiman — Chicago Tribune

Donald Murray states firmly that “working mothers are among the most effective workers.”

And when Murray talks, people listen. He’s the highly successful chairman and chief executive officer of Resources Global Professionals Inc., a professional services firm based in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Murray founded the firm in 1996 and took it public in 2000. Annual revenues are approaching $500 million and today the company has 65 offices worldwide and some 3,000 employees. Fifty percent of its associates who work with clients are women.

What’s more, four out of five of the company’s regional directors are women with children.

“Working mothers are our competitive edge,” said Murray, who has a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration and accounting and a master’s degree in business taxation.

“Working mothers, in my opinion, provide much higher results with flexible hours than average guys do who could be there 60 hours a week.”

The CEO says he has observed “that no one can juggle things or multitask like a professional woman with children. But many employers don’t acknowledge that.”

It was in 1976, when Murray was hired by a large accounting firm, that he saw the potential - and problems - faced by working mothers.

“Half of the people hired at the same time as I was were women,” he said. “But by the time I became partner, none of the women were still there. You know when that happens that something needs to be fixed.”

In the early 1990s, when he became manager of 200 people at the firm, Murray observed that there were real barriers erected to the success and advancement of employed mothers.

“I saw that the company focus was on how many hours the women worked, on their input — and not on what they actually accomplished,” he said. And that is why, in his company, Murray added, “we don’t monitor hours, we monitor results.”

The CEO further shows his support for women in his role as a volunteer for Human Options, an organization that assists women who are victims of domestic violence. Since 1997, Murray has offered an internship program to provide training to women recommended by the agency.

It’s Murray’s belief that working mothers need flexibility to realize their potential: With it, nothing can stop them.

“Our company speaks for itself,” said Murray, who says he looks for quality when hiring — and often finds it among working mothers. “Our biggest region, the Northeast, is run by a woman with three children; the Midwest, by a woman with two children, and the West Coast, a woman with three children.”

Murray says he tries to attract outstanding people, regardless of gender. “And a lot of outstanding people with children happen to be professional women with children who have felt that they were not given an equal opportunity to be successful because of their family responsibilities.

“And they run the place,” he said.

Moe Grzelakowski is a successful businesswoman, mother of two and author of “Mother Leads Best: 50 Women Who Are Changing the Way Organizations Define Leadership” (Dearborn Trade, $22). In her book, Grzelakowski asserts that “motherhood has a positive impact on women’s ability to lead.”

And here’s why; “Motherhood has helped women executives change from good leaders into great ones,” the author says.

“Children transform ultrahigh-achieving women, leavening their highly focused, intensely driven, tough-minded traits with character and compassion. . . . (They) become softer, yet stronger; more confident, yet more humble; more directed, yet more tolerant. All in all, children not only give them a greater capacity to lead, but they stimulate a greater capacity to love.

“Leadership, coupled with love, is very powerful.”

Is Your Career In a Rut? How to Get Moving Again

Without constant forward motion, careers stagnate. We find it easy to do what we have always done, and get what we have always gotten. So how does one break out of the rut that they have found their career in?

When your employer sees you, is their vision limited by what they have seen you do in the past? You need something to get noticed. It is an established fact that if an employer cannot picture you in a role, they will not put you there either. If you work in Accounting, Bookkeeping, or a related field, the best way to get noticed is with additional training. And the best way to get accelerated training is with the Professional Bookkeeper program. In just 60 hours of video-based teaching that you learn at your pace, you will learn the full Accounting process that will make your boss notice you and picture yourself in internal promotional opportunities as they arise.

Maybe even more important is that upon successfully completing the Professional Bookkeeper course, you will be able to add the PB designation to the end of your name. Bearing the PB designation states boldly to potential employers that you have what it takes to do the entire Accounting process from clerk to Full Charge Accountant with emphasis on small to mid-sized business accounting. The PB designation proves that you have the hands-on skills to work in a variety of Accounting tasks and can be called upon to perform a broad range of Accounting and Bookkeeping responsibilities. With the PB designation, you show that you know!

Learn How to Accelerate Your Career With the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Moving Forward After Losing a Job

That which does not kill me makes me stronger. - Nietzsche

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. - African Proverb

You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. - Walt Disney

Whether you get fired, laid off or are forced to resign, losing a job is difficult. It can cause an enormous amount of stress and a considerable financial burden if you don’t move through it quickly. But is it really possible to turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones? Can a kick in the teeth really, as Walt Disney once said, “be the best thing in the world for you?” While it may not seem so initially, you can turn this obstacle into an opportunity and make your life better because of it. Here are some things you should consider if you find yourself in this trying situation.

Take care of the basics
First of all, find out what your options are. Depending on the circumstance you do have rights and can and should take advantage of unemployment benefits. Contact the HR department and see what their policy is regarding severance pay, accrued vacation, sick leave, pension, benefits, and unemployment insurance. Also remember that in some cases the employer is responsible for giving you resources through which you can find new employment; often this includes access to a computer, printer, fax machine, and long distance phone services.

Achieve a positive outlook
This might be the most difficult thing to do once you’ve lost a job. But we assure you that it will make your journey much easier and enable you to adjust your career path more quickly, finding a destination that is pleasant and favorable.

You’ve probably heard the hype about “The Secret,” a DVD that talks about how to achieve success in every aspect of your life by thinking positively. “The Secret,” while inspiring, is not much of a secret. It’s simply the Law of Attraction, a concept that’s been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Like the Law of Gravity, it influences your life whether or not you believe in it. Plainly stated it goes something like this: your life is a reflection of what you think, what you focus on, and what you expect to happen. Take this opportunity to imagine a positive future filled with everything you desire, including the career of your dreams.

Assess your goals
Now is a good time to ask yourself what you really want from your career. Perhaps this job loss is simply the chance for you to readjust your journey and get back on the right path. Did you enjoy that job much in the first place? Had you been imagining a different future with a different company? Or had you been considering furthering your education and training? This is your chance to pursue goals that align with your true aspirations.

Consider self-employment
On that same note, if running your own accounting practice has been something you’ve wanted to eventually pursue, maybe now is a good time to look into that a bit more. Consider what you may need to do in order to accomplish that dream. Perhaps it includes continued training, certification, and marketing help, all of which Universal Accounting Center is happy to help you with.

Take action
Wallowing in your own pity won’t get you anywhere. Whenever faced with difficulty it’s important to do the following: appraise the situation, make a decision, and act on that decision. Once you’ve determined the best course of action, take it.

Of course in situations like this, it’s always easier to give advice than it is to take it. We recognize that suffering a job loss can be extremely difficult and taxing on you and your family. But we hope that you can hold yourself up and see that regardless of where you might currently be, the future is open, wide and full of possibility. And consider where you may be years from now looking back on what was potentially the best thing that ever happened to you.

No one likes to be without a job, and in this day of employment uncertainty it can be difficult to find a full-time position that enthuses and impassions you. But if you’ve been looking for awhile and have run out of leads, you may consider temporary work. Because while temp work has had the reputation of being thankless and unpleasant, there are many advantages you just might want to consider.

Advantages of Temporary Work

1. Keeping the bigger wolves at bay while looking for full-time work
You need to buy groceries, pay the electric bill, and buy the stamp that goes on the remittance envelope. These are all good reasons to get a temporary position; you can earn money while continuing your job search. Now maybe it’s not as much you’d like to make ultimately, but a lower-paying job is sometimes better than no job at all.

2. Getting a flavor of different organizations and positions
I’m sure there are a few of us who wish we could have sampled our current company before going full-time. Temp work puts you in a prime position with some companies; you become familiar with their policies, procedures, and work environment which can give you the advantage when a full-time position becomes available. And you’ve had the time to determine whether or not this is even a company you’d like to work for long-term. Sometimes it exposes you to your dream employer, providing you with just the focus you need in your job search.

3. Showcase skills to potential employers
Like we mentioned above, when positions within a company become available, if you’ve done well in the temp position you can become a prime candidate for their full-time positions. See this as an opportunity to showcase your skills and abilities. “Wow” potential employers. “Temping” comes into play much more brightly when you are able to gain a temp position in the company you would like to eventually stick with. This is a great way to get your foot in the door.

4. Network with new people
In a temp job you’re exposed to a new group contacts you can network with. And it’s no secret that you’re temporary; these new acquaintances might be able to connect you with that perfect job. This may not happen if you are working an assembly line when you are looking for desk work, but you always need to keep your Networking “radar” keen, you never know what connection can get you into that dream position.

5. Choose a more flexible work schedule
Life can be full of stressful situations, including significant life changes (divorce, death, birth, illness, a move, schooling, etc.) that may require you to take a more flexible approach to work. With temporary positions you can work part-time, full-time, for a month at a time, or longer. While benefits aren’t part of the temporary package, this flexibility may be just the benefit you need right now.

Temping Tips
But let’s be honest. Temporary work isn’t all roses and sunshine. But knowing what you’re getting into will help you make the most of temp opportunities. Here are just a few things to remember when going to a temporary staffing agency:

Check the temp agency’s reputation
Do your homework; first and foremost, check the agency’s reputation. Look online, ask around, check with your state’s consumer protection agency to see if they have any complaints filed. Just don’t walk blindly into the first temp agency you see.

Avoid temping agencies during college holidays
You can imagine that this is a busy time for temp agencies. Not only will you avoid this rush, you’ll also avoid being grouped with all these students who lack advanced shills and experience.

Negotiate wage before starting
Some temp agencies try to pay you as little as possible. Understand that you won’t make as much as you would with a full-time position, but you also shouldn’t have to settle for minimum wage. Ask skill assessment and how wages scale to match more advanced skills. On your Temp Application they usually ask the wage you are willing to accept.

Understand your obligations
Be sure to understand the terms and conditions of your employment through the temp agency. You don’t want to get a full-time job offer, only to discover you’re required to work for the temp agency for 3 more months.

If possible, go to a specialty staffing agency
Depending on where you are, there are some temp agencies that specialize in various occupations. With accountant and bookkeeper skills, you could look to a staffing agency that fills financial positions. There are also some more progressive temp agencies that offer benefits.

Whatever you do, don’t disregard temp work. There are many advantages that have permanent results. And who knows, it may be just what your job search needs to get you the full-time position you’ve been looking for.

Use this time in a constructive way to enhance your job opportunities in the near future. Temping or in a full-time position you need something to get noticed. It is an established fact that if an employer cannot picture you in a role, they will not put you there either. If you work in Accounting, Bookkeeping, or a related field, the best way to get noticed is with additional training. And the best way to get accelerated training is with the Professional Bookkeeper program. In just 60 hours of video-based teaching that you learn at your pace, you will learn the full Accounting process that will make your boss notice you and picture yourself in internal promotional opportunities as they arise.

Maybe even more important is that upon successfully completing the Professional Bookkeeper course, you will be able to add the PB designation to the end of your name. Bearing the PB designation states boldly to potential employers that you have what it takes to do the entire Accounting process from clerk to Full Charge Accountant with emphasis on small to mid-sized business accounting. The PB designation proves that you have the hands-on skills to work in a variety of Accounting tasks and can be called upon to perform a broad range of Accounting and Bookkeeping responsibilities. With the PB designation, you show that you know!

Learn How to Accelerate Your Career With the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Reroute your career before hitting a breaking point

By Carol Kleiman

From 1995 to 1998, when Mary Lou Quinlan was chief executive officer of a major advertising agency, she used to dream about breaking a leg. Today Quinlan, 51, is founder and CEO of Just Ask a Woman, a New York-based marketing consulting firm — and she’s not a masochist:

She simply used to fantasize about a way to get a break from the “cutthroat” ad world and her demanding job.

“My work schedule had gotten out of control and I didn’t have a life,” said Quinlan, who supervised a staff of 400 people and earned in the six figures. “I was working 15 hours days and traveling a lot — I even took off my heels and ran barefoot through an airport to make a flight — and I was overwhelmed. I was a human FedEx package.

“Dreaming of breaking a leg was really my way of trying to think of something temporary that I could survive and that would give me a few weeks away from work. After 23 years, I was exhausted.”

And she’s not alone. “According to my research, almost seven in 10 people who make $40,000 or more a year fantasize about taking at least several months off, and one in five 35- to 40-year-olds fantasize about it daily,” said Quinlan, who has an MBA and who has also worked in public relations and in fund raising. She quotes this statistic in her new book, “Time Off for Good Behavior: How Hardworking Women Can Take a Break and Change Their Lives” (Broadway Books).

In 1998, Quinlan, who is married to Joe Quinlan, an independent television new producer, asked for five weeks off to focus on herself. “I combined my vacation and time due me, so it was paid leave,” she said. “I fully expected to return to work.”

The weeks of time she claimed for herself were better than healing from a broken leg: “I lived my life for the first time,” said Quinlan, “I took walks in my neighborhood, I met friends for lunch, I took salsa lessons, I kept a journal — and the big thing was that I was relaxed and thought about my life for the first time. Did I have a life? No, I worked.”

She soon realized she wanted to do research and create strategies for companies that wanted to build their business with female customers. She also wanted to write and give talks and be in control of her life.

“I went back to work and quit the first day,” Quinlan said. “I couldn’t get back to that life after I once had seen the other side of the fence. It opened my eyes to what life can be.”

Fortunately, the agency’s holding company liked her idea and provided funding for Just Ask a Woman, which she started in 1999 and bought in 2002. The marketing firm has three employees and, she says, “is very profitable.” She works normal hours and has reduced her travel.

Because she at first remained under the aegis of her employer, Quinlan’s leaving her job was not a financial hardship and her benefits were maintained. But she does has specific advice for others who must take a break before they break.

“Don’t do it just on the spur of the moment,” the executive advised. “Plan ahead. Figure out how much time you’ll need. Make a financial plan, an escape hatch to bide you over in case your leave is unpaid. Get support from friends and family who might pitch in on child care, if you need it, and give you space and time to get a rest for the first time in your life.”

Then, negotiate with your boss for what you need, she adds. “Suggest how work might be covered in your absence. Discuss your plans to return to work — and assure them you will. If you’re really miserable you should just quit. Don’t lie.”

And use your time off wisely, as she did. “Reflect,” Quinlan urged. “Start to draw some boundaries at work so that you have time for yourself, too.” The executive believes it is possible to reduce stress by setting a new schedule at work.

But first you need the time to do it: “Don’t break a leg when you’re at that serious breaking point,” Quinlan said. “Do something about your situation. It’s scary to take the risk of a leave of absence, but the alternative is worse.”

Do You Enjoy What You Do?

For way too many of us, the answer is no. Work can be hectic and stressful. Often, our careers just are not going anywhere. We need something to get them going again. The Professional Bookkeeper program gives you hands-on training in the full range of Accounting and Bookkeeping skills needed to succeed.

Learn How the Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Get Your Career Back On Track

Stay-at-Home Accounting and Tax Preparation? You Bet!

Victoria Richardson started her business in January of 2004, and has seen incredibly rapid growth and profit ever since. She only spent the first 6 weeks marketing. Since then, she has had all the clients she can handle. In fact, she tells us that she has had to cut down to “only” 18 clients so that she has the quality time that she wants to spend with her children. Victoria is a stay-at-home mom and Professional Bookkeeper.

USA Today notes that while there are no statistics on the number of work-at-home moms (WAHM), the National Association of Women Business Owners reports that there are more than 10 million female-owned businesses in the USA. Many of those are run by stay-at-home moms who manage their businesses and take care of their children from the comfort of their own homes.

Perhaps you’ve wanted to return home to raise your kids but have worried about losing that stable income. But there’s no need to worry. Accounting is a lucrative profession that can easily be done while taking care of your family. Just ask Victoria.

Victoria Richardson, AAHM (Accounting-at-Home Mom)

At the time Victoria started her own accounting business she had two young children: ages one and two months. She was having ethical conflicts with her employer and had reached a point where she wanted something different.

As she considered her options Victoria said:

. . . my list of wants and needs included: complete flexibility to be able to be with my children when they needed me, if they were sick, or something had come up where they needed to spend time with me. I needed to be making at least $60,000 a year. I needed to be able to have a lot of flexibility, and wanted to work an abbreviated work week. And what I found was that … there was nothing out there that was willing to give me that package. . . . I discovered that the only option that was available for me was to be able to start my own business.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

But Victoria knew she needed more practical education. She had a bachelor’s degree in business, but didn’t feel she had the confidence to manage the accounts of multiple clients without hands-on training. So she decided to enroll in Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program; it would give her the flexibility she needed to finish the course quickly and at her own pace.

When she was close to completing the course, she decided to quit her full-time job and become an independent contractor. Her ex-employer became her first client, and within 6 weeks she had enough clients that she could stop marketing.

Victoria feels like she has the edge and doesn’t worry about competition.

I know what they want to hear. I know what’s going to make them feel comfortable, and I know what their concerns are. And the Universal Accounting Courses taught . . . a lot of it has to do with . . . it’s semantics . . . it’s the language that you present it in. When I talk to them about increasing their profitability, they listen. It makes sense to them. I can feel confident in helping them discover what problem areas they have, and what ways they can work through that, so it’s not a situation where I feel like, you know, anybody else is coming in and giving them that because, unfortunately, that’s what they’re looking for and they’re not finding it anywhere. I can come in and do it, and I can do it and save them money.

The PB Program not only teaches you practical, day-to-day accounting for the small business, but it also trains you on marketing your unique skill-set. It gives you the edge over the competition so that you can feel confident in your ability to provide a better service for your clients.

Adding Tax Preparation to the Mix

Ralph Barnes quit his job as an accountant for a radial tire chain 14 years ago. He performs regular accounting tasks for 20 clients and prepares, roughly, 150 tax returns every year. He’s as busy as he would like to be and enjoys a flexible schedule, spending leisurely time with his wife, adult children, and young grand children. What’s the benefit of adding tax services to your menu? Ralph says, “That’s where I make my living. I get 75% of my money from taxes.”

If you want to give your business the chance to truly excel, you’ll learn tax preparation and become the one-stop financial stop for all your clients. Everyone is required by law to file taxes; what an expansive base of potential clients!

Universal’s Professional Tax Preparer Certification can train you in the preparation of individual and business returns. And because their practical programs enable you to learn at your own pace, you can earn a professional designation in as much, or as little time as you feel is necessary.

In just a matter of months, you can be ready to launch your own accounting and tax practice. No longer need you feel confined to work a 9-to-5 job in order to pay the bills. You can enjoy the flexibility to raise your family, set your own schedule, and enjoy as much profitability as you wish.

For the next two weeks, Universal Accounting Center is offering this power package for one low price. The sooner you enroll the sooner you can enjoy the independence that comes from being your own boss. Take the initiative and Order Now!

References

“Job Opening? Work-at-Home Moms Fill the Bill” by Stephanie Armour, USA Today

Interest in Older Employees Rises as Seniors Confront the Need to Work

By Brad Foss — AP Business Writer

After her husband’s death, Doris Pease needed time to grieve and piece together her life as a widow.

She sold her house in Nevada, paid off her husband’s medical bills and bought a mobile home in Pocatello, Idaho, to be closer to her brother. Pease, now 68, dug into her hobbies — reading, gardening and embroidering — but after about six years the funds from the home sale, and her peace of mind, began to run out.

“I was getting so depressed sitting around the house that I needed to get back to work,” she said.

For many older Americans, retirement is not a viable option; many are postponing retirement, while others are going back into the work force, driven by personal or financial reasons.

The trend is evident in the number of older workers — the number of people 55 and above in the work force rose to 22.7 million in May, up from 22 million in 2003 and 20.7 million the year before that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The increase in older workers coincides with a shift in employers’ attitudes — while there has long been an aversion in corporate America to hiring seniors, who were deemed expensive or difficult to train, that view is changing somewhat at a time when the government is forecasting a significant labor shortage by the end of the decade.

The need to work can be explained in part by money problems — AARP estimates that 1 in 10 Americans age 65 and over lives below the poverty level, explaining at least part of the phenomenon. Though most seniors aren’t technically poor, many nonetheless struggle to make ends meet because of limited savings, expensive medications to buy or the loss of a spouse.

Others find employment critical to their mental well-being — contrary to how they expected to feel in their golden years.

“The money helps, don’t get me wrong, but that wasn’t the ultimate goal,” said Ray Clark, 68, of Springfield, Mass., who took a part-time job at the Basketball Hall of Fame because he found retirement boring.

Clark, who spent much of his life as a machine operator for a company that makes corrugated boxes, said he would stick with his current gig — a minimum wage job — “until I can no longer do it.”

While older workers are well-known for such commitment, there is also the perception among would-be employers that they require considerable training, particularly in the area of technology, according to labor experts.

That’s why organizations that advocate for the elderly sponsor job training and placement services through a federally funded program called Senior Community Service Employment.

It was through this program, authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965 and funded by the Labor Department, that Pease landed a job at Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare, gaining experience in health care and general computing skills.

Today she is employed by the American Red Cross, where she works scheduling blood donations and organizing events in the field.

“Basically, I think they wanted somebody reliable that they could depend on,” Pease said.

That, it turns out, is what many U.S. employers are looking for these days and, to help find it, they’re turning more frequently to the growing pool of older workers, according to human resources executives and job-training specialists.

Home Depot Inc., CVS Corp., Anheuser-Busch Cos. and dozens of other major corporations have partnered with or contacted AARP, which recently started a program to identify job-seeking seniors and match them up with the right employers.

This effort came about because executives identified a dearth of younger workers, particularly in the areas of retail, health care and transportation, according to Jim Seith, national director of the AARP Foundation, a sponsor of the Senior Community Service Employment program.

Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there could be a 3 million-person shortfall in the labor force by 2010 — when the oldest boomers could conceivably begin retiring.

At Toys “R” Us Inc., executives are eager to bring more older workers for two key reasons, according to Jim Gorenc, director of staffing for the company in the United States.

The first is the aging of the U.S. population. Having older workers “opens up a channel for customers to be serviced by someone like them,” said Gorenc, noting that 10 percent of Toys “R” Us employees are currently 50 or older.

The other factor, Gorenc said, is that “there is a work ethic from a mature worker that is very strong,” and not as easy to find among younger generations.

Charlotte Lee, the director of Senior AIDES in Springfield, Mass., a municipal job placement program for older workers, said such private sector interest in the senior labor force couldn’t have come at a better time.

She said those seniors who most need to work face stiffer competition than ever before as retirees — stung by recent stock market losses — return to the workforce and many baby boomers make plans to work well into their 60s and 70s.

Billy Joe Brady, 60, of Norton, Va., never intended to leave the labor force. But he lost his job in 1998 when the local coal company moved out of town and the thought of hunting for a job for the first time in 25 years frightened him.

Instead, Brady collected $1,300-a-month disability checks for a couple of years, while his wife, Linda, went to work for a nearby Holiday Inn. “We were doing pretty good,” he said, referring to their financial needs.

But gradually Brady’s self-esteem began to deteriorate. “I kind of felt like I was sliding into nothingness and that didn’t sit well with me,” said Brady, who works at a non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities to live independently.

“It feels good to get up every morning to say, ‘Well, I have to go to work,”‘ Brady said. “I have a purpose every day. Not every day when I get up do I feel the best in the world, but I feel that if I get up and get started, that kind of goes away.”

Better Jobs = Better Retirement

It is a fact that one of the best perks of working in a successful career is a good retirement plan. Especially for companies that want to attract employees with more experience, a rewarding retirement plan remains one of the best hooks to get the most seasoned workers. However, many of the positions with the best retirement benefits are far from entry-level jobs. The more that an employer pays you, the more that they will match in 401k programs, so getting the top jobs really pays off when you retire.

The Professional Bookkeeper program will give you the practical skills to compete for Accounting and Bookkeeping jobs that may have passed you by in the past for lack of certifiable training. If you are one of countless workers that have concerns for their own retirement, the job security that the Professional Bookkeeping program will help you to secure will be of great value to you now and when you retire.

Learn How Professional Bookkeer Certification Is the Fastest Way to Advance Your Accounting or Bookkeeping Career