Accounting and Bookkeeping Articles

7 Procrastination Busting Techniques

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.- William James

Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible. - George Claude Lorimer

The best way to get something done is to begin.-Anonymous

Last week you took a quiz to determine if you are a chronic procrastinator. But whether or not your procrastination issues are severe, everyone can benefit from a few procrastination busting techniques. In this installment of our two-part series, we provide you with 7 tips on overcoming procrastination:

1. End each day by planning the next.

You will be better prepared, mentally and physically, to tackle difficult tasks head-on when you schedule time to do them. At the end of each workday, review the schedule for the next day so you set aside time to perform those functions you’ve been postponing. Often you can overcome procrastination by giving yourself the time to do those things you’ve been avoiding.

2. Tackle the most formidable task first.

Those tasks you put off are generally the most distasteful. You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor if you tackle those tasks first. You know what they say: swallow a toad in the morning and you will encounter nothing more disgusting the rest of the day. When you complete these tasks first thing, you’ll find yourself recharged and ready to tackle the remainder of your day with ease.

3. Change your vocabulary.

Sometimes a change in perspective will come easily when accompanied by a change in vocabulary. When looking at those tasks you tend to procrastinate you probably feel as if you have to do them.” Change “have to” to “want to” and see if that lightens the load a bit. Also certain projects can appear overwhelming. Rather than tell yourself you must “finish” such projects, tell yourself you will get a good “start” on the project. This may motivate you to tackle it a piece at time.

4. Break large projects into manageable tasks.

Those overwhelming projects are best handled bit by bit. Break those large projects into smaller tasks that can be handled on a daily basis. Schedule these smaller tasks into your day so that you’re able to better inch towards project completion.

5. Practice the Ten-Minute Rule.

For whatever reasons, we are unmotivated by certain tasks. Practice the ten-minute rule with these tasks by dedicating just ten-minutes to them. Often you’ll find that once you get moving, you’re motivated enough to continue long after the ten minutes have ended. And if you’re not, at least you did something that contributed to the completion of that task, and it’s probably more than you would have thought could be accomplished in just 600 seconds.

6. Reward yourself for completed tasks.

When working on especially dreadful tasks, give yourself a small reward for completing the task by a given time. Whether you take a short walk, surf the internet, or read a page from an engaging book, rewarding yourself in small doses may help you work a little harder on those tasks you tend to procrastinate.

7. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Sometimes we procrastinate certain things because we’re afraid we will fail, we don’t have the skill set, or are uncertain where to begin. In situations like these it is best if you feel the fear and move forward. Generally you’ll find that your fears were unfounded and that you were equal to the challenge.

Allow UAC to Help You Do It Anyway

Whether you want to start your own accounting practice, earn a little money on the side as a bookkeeper, or use the training to advance your career, the flexibility of the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program as well as its modest price will help you accomplish your dreams.

You will learn small-business accounting and have the opportunity to earn professional certification that will show clients you have the expertise to manage their books. In addition, we teach you how to market your new skills effectively in order to secure the clientele that will make your practice successful.

Perhaps you fear that you do not have the necessary background to learn accounting, are too old to get started, or are not ready to take the risk. The PB Program is designed for individuals just like you! Some of our graduates did not know a debit from a credit when they started our program while others had years of accounting experience behind them. All found the program to be valuable and worth the time and money spent to complete the Professional Bookkeeper Program.

Increase Your Earning Potential and Enroll Today!

When you enroll in both the Professional Bookkeeper Program and the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks, you increase your earning potential significantly. You can offer Quickbooks set-up, help and consultation services for $65-$95 per hour. Not only that, but you’ll learn a valuable software program that will enable you to do the following:

• Quickly pay your bills so you never incur late penalties.
• Be reminded when bills are due.
• Write checks with one single click!
• Quickly and effortlessly create invoices so you get paid sooner.
• Track customers and vendors so you can easily look them up in one place.
• Keep on top of incoming and outgoing payments.
• Access easy-to-read financial reports NOW!

Enroll in these two programs today and be on your way to a brighter and more lucrative future. Stop procrastinating! Enroll now!

Take Our 9-Question Quiz to Find Out

Someday is not a day of the week. -Anonymous

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.-Eva Young

Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin.-Victor Kiam

Everyone procrastinates at one point or another in their lives.  But chronic procrastination can hinder your professional success.  Whether you are interested in earning a promotion, starting your own business, or growing a current business, procrastination is generally at the root of most failure.  You can change the course of your future by overcoming procrastination.  But first you must determine whether or not you are a chronic procrastinator and, if so, determine what it may be costing you.

1. Do you make and miss commitments?

Many procrastinators find ways to postpone or avoid commitments they’ve made.  Generally they are enthusiastic about those commitments when they first make them and can envision how they might enhance their lives.  But for whatever reason, by the time aforementioned commitment occurs the chronic procrastinator has found reason to avoid it.

2. Do you talk the talk but not walk the walk?

There are a variety of reasons why individuals procrastinate.  Some are afraid of failure, others are afraid of success and still others may be plagued by a number of reasons even Freud may not comprehend.  Regardless of the reason, individuals rarely procrastinate because they lack the ability and know-how.  Because of this, many procrastinators have oodles of advice that they fail to apply in their own lives.

3. Are you missing out on the life you once imagined?

Regret is often associated with procrastination.  If you find yourself grieving the life you once imagined yourself enjoying, you may have let procrastination get the best of you.  However, don’t despair.  You always have time to turn things around in order to accomplish your greatest dreams.

4. Do you make and keep daily goals?

Truly successful individuals realize that they must continually set and accomplish goals.  They are able to break projects down into management tasks that can be completed on a daily basis.  If you feel overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list and suffer from a lack of direction and accomplishment in your daily life, you may be procrastinating your workday away.

5. Are you currently working towards an improved future?

If you have a dream but are not working to accomplish that dream, then you are procrastinating a grand and glorious future for yourself.  Regardless of what it may take to accomplish your dream, unless you are currently doing something, even if it’s small, to achieve your dream, it will forever reside in your future.

6. Are you often disappointed?

Chronic procrastinators are often depressed and disappointed.  Their lack of success plagues them and often their families.

7. Do you sacrifice long-term happiness for short-term comfort?

Long-term happiness often requires sacrifice and hard work.  Procrastinators often fool themselves into thinking instant gratification is what they really want.  But when you consider that a little hard work and sacrifice can change the course of your future for the better, it may be easier to forgo the short-term comfort.

8. Are you easily distracted?

Procrastinators often find ways to put off doing important tasks.  Whether they become distracted by email, television, housecleaning, or phone calls, they often welcome the interruption.

9. Do you dream often but take action less?

Procrastinators often dream of a bright and glorious future but rarely take action to turn those dreams into realities.

If you answered “yes” to seven or more of the above questions, chances are you are a chronic procrastinator.  And if you do procrastinate, you are probably experiencing continual disappointment and professional dissatisfaction.  But don’t fret; just because you’ve procrastinated in the past doesn’t sentence you to a long and dissatisfying future.  You can take action and overcome your procrastination.  Join us next week when we will discuss tips for eliminating those self-destructive procrastinating tendencies.

Stop Procrastinating, Today!

If you’ve considered enrolling in our Professional Bookkeeper Program but have procrastinated in making a decision, telling yourself you want to learn more first, today is your day!  When you order our video, Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program, you will learn all about this priceless course and will even have access to sample modules, demonstrating the highly effective instructional techniques we use.  For less than $10, you can add this video to your reference library.  Or you can watch it online for free.  Stop procrastinating today.  Order the video now!

In December 2007, Entrepreneur.com published an article entitled “Test Run” which shared ways to perform quick feasibility testing on a business idea. Jake Rockwell, owner of Rockwell Products LLC in Medford, Oregon has his own approach in determining whether or not a business venture will be successful. He takes the following three steps:

1. Check for limited competition. You want to ensure that the market isn’t already saturated with accounting practices. Take a look in your local phone book to see how many accountants are listed. Also consider whether they offer any specialized services, like small-business accounting or financial consulting, that you hope to offer. The more unique and valuable your services, the more feasible your business.

2. Consider the likelihood of returning customers. Accounting services are great because all businesses are required by law to perform various accounting tasks, and the need for this service is long-lasting. Businesses need payroll services performed on a monthly and even semimonthly basis. Most accounting tasks as like this, which means most of your clients will be regular clients.

3. Consider how management-intense the venture will be. You must consider how much of your time will be dedicated to managing the business as opposed to performing billable hours. If the venture requires enough managerial oversight you will have to hire staff to which you must delegate various tasks. Luckily, when first starting an accounting practice, you can work from your home and manage your business without much effort. However, depending on your visions for growth, you may eventually need to expand your efforts to include a rented office space, partners and a support staff.

In addition to Rockwell’s three feasibility steps, Entrepreneur.com recommends that entrepreneurs get feedback from prospective clients. As you ask these individuals what they want from their accountants, whether or not they’re satisfied with their current accountant, and how much they’re willing to pay to get the services they need, you will have a better idea of how sustainable your business idea is and how you might tweak your services in order to achieve your profitability goals.

The Social Enterprise Reporter, in an article entitled “The Quick Feasibility Test,” shares Rolfe Larson and Andy Horsnell’s four criteria used to test for feasibility:

• Strategic alignment-Do you want to do it?
• Operational-Can you do it?
• Marketing-Will customers buy from you?
• Financial-Will you achieve your profitability goals?

They also suggest a graduated series of feasibility tests that take you from self-assessment to a more researched-based, data-driven process of determining whether your business is earmarked for success.

Whether you plan on starting a business from scratch or hope to add new services to a current business, feasibility testing can help you determine whether or not the venture is worth the effort, and if so, how to best approach it.

Financing a Small Business

If, after performing feasibility testing, you feel it’s time to start your own practice but would like to take out a small business loan first, you can order Universal’s valuable manual Financing a Small Business which will walk you through the process of preparing a loan package. This 126-page manual includes clear-cut instructions, valuable resources, and sample loans that provide valuable models which will make the process of applying for your own loan much easier. Order now! This manual will help you start your own business today while enabling you to consult countless clients on the same process in the future.

References

Hendricks, Mark. “Test Run.” Dec. 2007 Entrepreneur.com

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “The Quick Feasibility Test.” 13 Feb. 2005 Social Enterprise Reporter

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “Quick Feasibility Screen.” www.rolfelarson.com

Larson, Rolfe and Andy Horsnell. “RLA Quick Feasibility Test.” www.rolfelarson.com

While now is probably not the most stressful time of year for you, we’re guessing that business will pick up in the fall and, come the holidays, you’ll be overwhelmed and inundated with stress. And instead of scrambling to survive the stressful time, it’s best if you already have a few stress-busting strategies with which you can meet this anxiety-ridden season head-on.

Here are ten tips to file away for later:

1. Recognize stress

Before you can adequately manage your stress, you must first learn to recognize how your body responds to stress. Only then will you be able to take the necessary steps to reduce or maybe eliminate the anxiety that accompanies it.

2. Practice relaxation techniques

When you practice relaxation techniques can help reduce stress. Consider practicing deep breathing, meditating, listening to soothing music, or using imaging techniques to visualize a more relaxed response.

3. Get enough sleep

Often we become so overwhelmed with stress that we neglect our health, and sickness only causes more stress in the end. One way to prevent illness is by getting enough sleep. This also enables you to be mentally prepared for all the work that awaits you in the morning; lack of sleep only makes you less efficient.

4. Set priorities

Generally stress is the result of being overwhelmed. When you have lots of work to be done in little time, the best way to manage projects is by prioritizing them. Then you at least have a plan of attack; you know what needs to be tackled and when.

5. Let the small stuff slide

Now that you’ve prioritized your projects you can determine what you can and should let go. When dealing with stress overload, you need to be able to focus on what matters and put the rest on hold.

6. Think positive

Often you can think away your stress. When you change your thought patterns and continually repeat positive affirmations, like “I have plenty of time to fulfill all my work obligations” or “I am feeling calm and relaxed,” you increase your capacity to manage difficult situations.

7. Sweat it away

Exercise is one of the best stress relievers. You may feel you can’t afford the time required to actually get your heart rate going, but you’ll find that taking the time buys you more energy and endurance in the end.

8. Minimize work-environment stress

A messy or tense work environment often invites more stress into your life. When you minimize workplace stressors, you will be better equipped to handle the stressors that truly matter. So take the extra time to clean your office, reorganize your space, or create a more soothing environment.

9. Do not self-medicate

When you feel overwhelmed it can be tempting to reduce stress by drinking alcohol or finding an anxiety-reducing medication that you think will help. Unless prescribed by a doctor, these methods will only increase your chances of encountering more stressors later.

10. Build a support network

Often the best help for stress is being surrounded by a network that understands your struggles and can offer you emotional support. You can find this network with professional peers or even your family.

The better equipped you are to deal with stress, the less anxiety you will feel when you encounter stressful times or situations.

Visit Universal Accounting Center (UAC)

If you were wondering what, exactly, UAC offers, visit our website and take an electronic tour. You’ll learn more about our programs, our products, and other services we offer. Don’t wait to find out how UAC could change your professional future. Take a tour today!

Just answer a few questions for us:

• Would you like to make more money?
• Are you interested in being your own boss?
• Would you like to enjoy a flexible work schedule?
• Have you considered spending more time with your family?
• Do you want to improve your standard-of-living?

Not many people would answer “no” to any of those questions. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not know how to accomplish them. Luckily for you, Universal Accounting Center is in the business of helping their students see that all of the above do indeed happen.

What Are You Waiting for?

A more prosperous economy? Your ship to sail in? The perfect time?

When you take a passive approach to life, waiting for something good to happen, you’ll find those good things are forever beyond your reach. Truly successful people don’t wait for anything; instead they choose to make good things happen for themselves.

A little work, a small investment, and some elbow grease are all that’s required to start and build your own accounting practice. That and two power programs.

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

In order for your accounting practice to be more appealing than the competition, you must offer specialized services. Small business accounting is a specialized service. Consider that your prospective clients will need someone trained to do one or more of the following:

• Master accounting for retail and wholesale businesses
• Establish the accounting method that best fits the business
• Set up an efficient system for a “Ma & Pa” manufacturing company
• Track job costs simply and efficiently for a construction company
• Effectively handle flooring for an inventory financed business
• Consult on key business issues with confidence
• Enter data quickly and accurately
• Prepare payroll like a seasoned pro
• Avoid costly IRS penalties
• Spot and avoid dangerous trends before they become tragedies
• Save a company thousands of dollars in auditing costs
• Prepare a loan application package
• Make positive change happen!

The PB Program will teach you how to do all that and more. In less than 60 hours you can receive professional certification that demonstrates your expertise to potential clients. You will be able to do for them what few other accountants could do. The only thing left for you learn would be maketing.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

Marketing strategies, promotional campaigns, advertising techniques. Those are generally things accountants are unfamiliar and even uncomfortable with. Knowing how to appeal to your particular demographic will enable you to create a marketing approach that is successful, lucrative, and productive.

The Universal Practice Builder Program will help you do that by equipping you with 12-proven marketing strategies that will enable you to secure 15 to 25 qualified leads per month. You’ll also learn how to prepare instructional seminars that will enable you to demonstrate the value of your services to prospective clients. In addition, for three months you’ll have access to a personal coach who will help you apply the things you learn while setting and achieving your business goals. Not to mention, all this comes with a guarantee that you will earn $30,000 more in annualized billings in just 12 months!

Again, what are you waiting for?

It’s time you took action! Pursue your dreams, start that practice and take a bigger piece of the pie. Go on! You deserve it. Enroll now.