Make the Most of Your Resources

My Friend Ric Payne, CA shared the following information on Facebook this morning:

I read that the source of competitive advantage had shifted from access to natural resources, financial strength & market access to: technology, human capital & organizational capacity to manage change. Little wonder intangibles have gone from being 38% of market cap in 1982 to 85% in 2000! Where will it end? Will tangibles even be relevant in the future?

With this in mind, many small businesses may think they are at a disadvantage due to the limited resources (technology, human capital and organizational capacity) that they have internally. But, this does not have to be the case. Many small businesses over come the lack of internal resources by making the most of the opportunities available through external resources. Such resources include CPAs who are members of the Principa Alliance, their bankers, their attorneys, industry organizations, and fellow business owners (through the Business Boot Camp).

Brenda Richter, CPA is a member of the Principa Alliance.

Fearless - The True Entrepreneurial Spirit

Rebecca Tervo, CPA shares her entrepreneurial experience.

http://tervofinancialfitness.com/blog/2010/03/fearless-and-in-pursuit-of-my-business-dreams/

If you are looking for a CPA like Rebecca in central and southern California, please contact Brenda Richter, CPA.

One Page Financial Report

Check out a sample of the best one page financial report in the universe.

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1800190&da=y

Do You Believe In Miracles?

Congratulations to the 2010 US Olympic Hockey Team on their 5-3 victory over the Canadian team. This allows the team to advance to the quarterfinals. Just one day shy of the 30th anniversary of the historic USA win over the Soviet team in 1980, some are calling this win a second Miracle On Ice.

Today marks the 30the anniversary of the original Miracle On Ice. This has always been my number one favorite sports moment.

In the book Finish Strong, (published by Simple Truths) the author Dan Green recounts the events that led to the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team's gold medal. The story demonstrates the winning effects of combining strong leadership with a strong team. And, of course, how "belief" contributes to one's ability to Finish Strong.

As I've suggested earlier, I would like to recommend that businesses hold a special session with their team and watch the movie version of this story as an inspiration on how the business can Finish Strong.

Brenda Richter, CPA and other members of the Principa Alliance can enhance your team building activities with Team Advisory Boards (TAB) and Towards Awesome Service (TAS) training.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Brenda Richter, CPA who was featured as a guest blogger on America's Best Business Practices.

http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/02/08/tips-for-small-business-2009-income-tax/

Drew Brees and The Saints Finish Strong

The Team at Simple Truths is thrilled about the Super Bowl. Back in the Spring of 2009, Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, picked up a copy of their book
Finish Strong. He felt so motivated by it that he got copies for his entire team to use as their season theme.

When I first saw the Finish Strong book and video featured on the Simple Truths web site, I was awe struck. I immediately saw that this should be the theme for business in 2009. My New Year message to my customers and business associates was to FINISH STRONG! And, like Drew, I purchased copies of the Finish Strong book for my customers and some of my associates. Through out the year, I sent on going messages to these same people to remind them of the commitment to Finish Strong!

In approximately six months, Drew Brees used Finish Strong to take the Saints to a winning season, to the NFL play-offs, to the Super Bowl, and won the Super Bowl. Most of you have had the Finish Strong message for over a year now. What did you do with it?

Brenda Richter, CPA continues to be available to help your business with these concepts. The firms can work with you to identify areas in your business that are not realizing their full potential and help you improve them to build a stronger, more profitable future. This is a step-by-step process that includes creating a strategic plan, plan implementation, systems development, customer service and team training, and ongoing monitoring and management advice.

Calling All Hands On Deck

In the old sailing ship days, the captain’s cry of “all hands on deck” spurred every man on board into action, whether or not it was his watch. The welfare of the ship and all who sailed on her depended on it. The command is still used on naval ships and as a general call to action.

Mike Cough, serial entrepreneur and SCORE business consultant, recently issued the command “Calling all hands on deck” to the American small business owner. His opinion is that the needed economic turn around is dependent on small business. He then asks business owners to issue the “all hands” command to their team.

Clough goes on to point out that change will only happen when people take action.

I would like to take Clough’s idea one step further. Not only should business owners call on their team, they should also issue the command to their fellow business owners.

I have created the Business Boot Camps to bring business owners together and give them the opportunity and place to develop their “all hands on deck” strategy.

Read: Clough’s All Hands On Deck Blog

The Impossible Dream

“The annals of American business are filled with ‘impossible dreams’ that have come true. I believe in those dreams, and most importantly, I believed in my dream.”

Mary Kay Ash, The Mary Kay Way

Every business owner has a dream for their business.

When was the last time you thought about the dream you have for your business.

This is why I created the Business Boot Camps. The Business Boot Camps are designed to give small business owners the opportunity and place to think about their dreams and do the learning and strategic planning necessary to make those dreams come true.

Get together with a group of fellow entrepreneurs to enhance your CEO skills and become a more effective business owner. Start to think about your dreams, believe in your dreams, and make your dreams come true.

It's Always Nice to Get Feedback

I received the following note from one of my students:

I would like to thank you for a wonderful class. I truly enjoyed learning because of your enthusiasm and sense of humor. I also appreciated your patience with each of us. I have never taken a college class where the instructor has involved everyone in the class. It was very refreshing and made the class interesting. I will definitely recommend your class to anyone wanting to take an accounting course.