Queercents Professional Directory

I, for one, am a person who never cared that much for socializing with people except my group of close friends who would get together at regular times throughout the month.  However as I’ve gotten older and more business savvy, I’ve learned that you never ever know who you will run into that could be a beneficial relationship for both of you either professionally or socially.

It was interesting that I used to have a client that dated a premiere socialite in a rather large city, and he remarked that “She knew everything about everyone, because everyone made a point to say hello or at least be introduced to her.”  That obviously was not only part of her attraction that people adored, but also the fact that she obviously worked at it very diligently too.  Although he never pursued her but for a short time, he realized how important it was to go to the events where he thought he was going to make the most opportunities not just on a business level but also on a personal level.

I see opportunities all of the time myself that I have to evaluate and determine if they are worth attending.  In fact I also have a “partner in crime” that I work with on a regular basis because there’s not only safety in numbers, it also helps when there’s a lull in the conversation and you can utilize each other’s strong points to accomplish your objectives in meeting as many people as possible.  We arm ourselves with business cards, pick different sides of the room, and then rotate as we go through in meeting people.  We will even compare notes during the event to help us get a better background on the attendees. Some may think it’s cold and rather business-like, but on any level you have to utilize all of your resources.  You may be in need of someone to work on your house, give you an introduction for a potential new job, or seeking out a new friend to do something no one else you knew enjoyed. Read the rest of this entry »

I have learned a lot from the people I’ve taught my QuickBooks and Business Financial Basics classes for small business owners and bookkeepers.  Fortunately I’ve also come across people who actually chose to take these types of classes before starting their own business, and I admire them for taking the initiative.

I provide this information because I have been there, done that.  With the way the economy has been going, many people feel that the best way of staying employed is by employing yourself.  Unfortunately not everyone understands the amount of work that often comes with it, even for people who have been researching this for quite some time.

Paperwork
Can you keep up the amount of paperwork you have to file?  These are the basics, although there are numerous others.  The local/state forms I refer to are for my home State of Texas.

Local – property tax reports are filed one time per year

State – unemployment reports are filed four times per year
State – sales tax reports are filed either one time, four times, or twelve times per year
State – franchise reports are filed one time per year Read the rest of this entry »