I talked about “Forgetting the Pain” in The ParentPreneur Edge, but yesterday the pain of starting up a business came screaming back. We met with our accountant about cleaning up our books for year-end closeout and I was reminded how much I HATE BOOKKEEPING. It was one of the first tasks I outsourced with my first business once I had enough work to justify sending it out. I didn’t miss it ONE BIT.
At this point in my new business, I haven’t hit that point yet. I just don’t have enough to farm it out but it is enough to drive me nuts. I have a great deal of respect for those of you who like to figure out why the pennies don’t balance as that has never been something I’ve enjoyed. Still, it IS my business and I feel strongly that I need to know how it all works, at least at a high level.

Entrepreneurs who completely abdicate the financial management of their business are setting themselves up for failure, or possibly even embezzlement. I don’t like it, either.

Going back over it at the end of the year is critical, too. I can’t tell you how many errors I have found in my phone bill (TOO MANY!) or cash receipts that I had forgotten to enter. In this time of year where we all reflect, don’t forget to go back through your books and make sure you’ve accurately recorded everything (or someone else got everything in!). You need to know where your company is spending money, no matter how big or small you are. It is your responsibility as an entrepreneur to not only hire competent people to manage your accounts if you can afford it and in any case, like it or not, you need to be able to dig into the details every once in a while. UGH!

We are all obsessed with technology. I admit that I, too, can get easily carried away (or, really SUCKED IN) to e-mail and the internet. Some weeks, I feel like I just can’t get away from it. But at this time of year, it is CRUCIAL that we take time to put our Blackberries down, turn off our computers, and put our cell phones on silent. We all need a break.

In a recent article that was picked up by The Wall Street Journal (WOOHOO!), I shared some tips on how to make proper use of technology while vacationing, as I hope you are all doing this holiday season. One of the most essential tips for those with families is to set up strict times for checking e-mail or working, ideally in the early morning hours, and then STICK TO IT. That way, you can get done what you feel you need to and then put it away. Leave the rest of the day to focus on yourself and your family. It is hard to do - believe me I know - with all the lists of things we could be doing to move our businesses and lives forward. But when you don’t take time away from the office, you’re missing out on not only life, but some valuable down-time away from business that can actually benefit your business in the long run.

A couple months ago, HP sent me some new photo books to try out along with a portable photo printer. As is usual with my hectic schedule, I just recently got around to trying it out and am I sorry I waited! I really could have used the photo books to create holiday gifts for my mom and grandparents, but still plan to use them for other projects and maybe birthday presents.

My 13-year-old daughter actually went to town last weekend playing with the HP Photosmart A626 printer. She created a whole photo album just for herself by adding captions and clip art right to the photos through the printer’s touch screen. Her only complaint was that she could not save the edits that she made, but once she got the hang of it she created some pretty cute memories.

As for me, you have to know: I am not into scrap booking. I tried it when my kids were young and have several pages done the old, traditional way but haven’t picked it back up in almost 10 years. I just have trouble finding the time and patience to do it. Plus, so many of my photos are digital that I have to first print them out, then cut them up and arrange them. It just felt unnatural.

The nice part of the digital photo books is that you can arrange them and print them on your computer, which works out great for those of you who are like me and don’t like to do something twice. I’ve used online services for this before but felt constrained by 1) having to upload all my photos to their website and 2) being provided a very limited set of templates. These new photo books take all of that away. They come with software to help you lay it out (or you can use any program you have!) and then you just print it on your color printer. It is very simple with great results.
As a special offer to the readers of this blog, HP, in conjunction with Blue Suit Moms, is offering a 20% discount on the photo book products, but the discount only goes through the end of this year so check them out and order yours now! In addition, I have two free photo books to give away to the first two people who post a comment on this blog - tell me why YOU want to do it yourself!

When was the last time you put your life on mute?

Today as I was driving to work, which is a 45 minute drive with no traffic, I resisted turning the radio on. Being early on a Saturday morning, there was no one I could call on the phone, so I drove in silence. What a wonderful thing.

About halfway through my trip I became aware of the creativity of the thoughts entering my head. I actually ended up resolving an issue I had been struggling with and came up with 2-3 ideas for articles. My brain was on fire. It wasn’t until I turned off the noise that I could hear it.

In the last few years before we cashed out of ACT, I didn’t realize how deprived I was of my creativity. The din of activity was constant. It wasn’t until I quieted my life that I rediscovered the my previously-dormant imagination.

As entrepreneurs, especially for those of us who are also parents, it is hard to find time to be quiet. For me, I had to take advantage of being in the car. Whatever works.

If you’re an entrepreneur, I hope you are planning to take some away from your work for the holidays. Take a look at what I had to say about that in a recent article on Smart Money Magazine’s website.

How much do we go through life surrounded by noise? When do we enjoy the silence other than when we’re sleeping? Try hitting the mute button on your life and you’ll be amazed what emerges from the depths of your mind! You’ll be glad you did…

Ever since I was little and went with my dad to work, I have LOVED office supplies. I don’t know what it is - maybe the idea of feeling ‘grown up’ when I would look at all the pens and pads in the supply cabinet at my dad’s office (he was an entrepreneur, too). When I went out on my own I remember my first shopping trip to Office Depot to pick out my desk. It was an important milestone - this made it REAL. I was really starting my own business. Stocking up on post-it notes, paper clips, staples and that stupid desktop set with the pencil holder, business card holder, and inbox (which I still use but collect junk in it) made my business somehow feel legitimate. The business card was the next step towards cementing my entrepreneurial fate. I had to make my business successful now or what else would I do with all these supplies?

This was, of course, back in 1995 before the emergence of the bulk office supplies at Costco or Sam’s Club. While I will buy some supplies there, I don’t really need 50 Sharpie pens and it would take me 10 years to get through 20 steno pads. I also buy some products online, but every once in a while I just have to go back to The Mother Ship - the office supply store.

Just this evening I had to run out to pick up some raffle tickets for my daughters and I found myself lingering. While most people likely pour over the electronic devices, I was looking at the new types of organizers, the vast array of pens and pencils, and just about every kind of removable-sticky-paper-thing I could have ever imagined. I even stopped to marvel at the fact that they still sell WHITE OUT! Anyone have any idea what it is still used for? I mean, isn’t that what the backspace key is for?

How about you - do office supplies have that same magical effect on you or is a pen really just a pen?