Golden Practices Blog

iPods Aren't the Enemy (Neither are Texting, IMing or Other Social Media!)

A few weeks ago, I was talking with Liz Gold who is the associate editor of Accounting Today and a key author, editor & co-founder of the excellent Where It's AT, Accounting Tomorrow blog.

We got on the subject of policies firms seem to feel a need to impose, restricting the use of newer technologies, technologies they often don't take the time to investigate and understand before squelching! 

Internally, bad will is created by forbidding tools used frequently by under-35s (eg IMing or texting) tools that are akin to our desk-top telephones or cars for us over-35s. Further, these tools can be enormously advantageous for our effectiveness in performing our work and marketing ourselves.

I shared with her the story of a recent managing partner conference at which I was invited to speak, where I facilitated the group in awakening to the realization that they were, essentially, cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

Liz recently posted on her blog about an aspect of that session that I shared with her: iPods Aren't the Enemy. She did an exceptional job illustrating the ah-ha moment of the story. I couldn't be more delighted with this write-up--Liz, thank you for 1) "totally getting it" and 2) feeling impacted enough to write about it.

The managing partner conference session mentioned was, without a doubt, the most enjoyable session I've had the pleasure of leading and there will soon be a more detailed article about it in another SourceMedia publication, Practical Accountant (will share when it is published).

Seth Godin on a Roll

3 back-to-back brilliant posts:

Authenticity

(snip) Authenticity, for me, is doing what you promise, not "being who you are." That's because 'being' is too amorphous and we are notoriously bad at judging that. Internal vision is always blurry. Doing, on the other hand, is an act that can be seen by all.

The Rational Marketing (and Irrational Customer)

(snip) The problem is that your prospect doesn't care about [charts and tables and graphs and brochures]. He cares about his boss or the story you're telling or the risk or the hassle of making a change. He cares about who you know and what other people will think when he tells them what he's done after he buys from you.

Sorry, You Can't Be Our Customer

(snip) There are interactions marketers have with prospects where the prospect wants something and the marketer or organization just isn't interested in delivering it. These interactions almost always end badly.

Tips for Your Next Presentation - Start Off With a Bang!

Outstanding tips from Decker Communications' blog for starting your presentation. Leverage the most important part of your gig through drama and confidence:  Six Dos to Open Your Presentation

Operating and Growing in a Down Economy

I've written an article that came out today on AccountingWEB. Kinda relevant and helpful for non-accountants, too. Hope it provides some ideas and fresh perspective on healthy service and marketing behaviors in tough times.

OPERATING AND GROWING IN A DOWN ECONOMY

So far, CPA firms seem to be feeling limited impact from the economic downturn.

Some firms are seeing a bump in "average days in A/R" as business clientele slow their payments due, in turn, to their dipping receipts. Other firms report the heartbreaking scenario of trying to assist as their vulnerable clients take measures to remain solvent—scaling back, if not ceasing, operations.

This work is both emotionally draining and urgent, yet often gets billed lower than average because CPAs tend to be caring people who don't want to add significantly to the client's financial burden. Sadly, any bump in revenue for this consulting potentially precedes loss of the recurring work.

The bigger impact for CPAs probably still looms as more businesses will fold, especially in hard-hit fields such as restaurants and hospitality, construction, and real estate. Presently, it's mostly in the form of clients choosing to spend less. "Extra" services perceived as non-urgent or preventative such as estate or succession plans and internal control review procedures aren't hot sellers right now....

What's a firm to do to assure as much stability as possible with revenues so unpredictable? As AccountingWEB readers are pros at cost controls, cash flow management, and other tactics to mind the bottom line, we won't address those here. Instead, we'll talk about your relationships with your clients, and how you work with them.

Using any of [the following] approaches can help sustain any size firm through a rocky time.

Continue Reading at AccountingWEB.com

Accounting Scholarship Opportunity from AccountingWEB

AccountingWEB, a news and resources website for members of the accounting profession, announced on Jan 28, the creation of a new scholarship.

Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to students who are declared accounting majors based on their winning submissions of a 500-word essay.The topic: Green Accounting Firms.

Essays will be judged on both style and content. Applications are being accepted through midnight EST March 31, 2009. Winners will be selected by May 1, 2009 and notified shortly thereafter.

More details are available in the AccountingWEB Accounting Student Scholarship Rules.

Funding is provided by AccountingWEB with the goal of encouraging accounting as a major and a career choice. Participation is open to United States citizens attending colleges, universities, and professional schools of accounting in the United States.

Winners will be announced publicly on June 15, 2009.