I am patting myself on the back and hoping someone will celebrate with me! I passed my 2014 QuickBooks Pro-Advisor Certification today. In addition to attending several QuickBooks trade shows and educational conferences every year, I take a test to prove I deserve the Certified by Intuit logo. Its official, I have been certified since 2007.
Here is the really, really big news…..I also passed my QuickBooks Online certification! I know many of you rushed to the window to see if the sky was falling 🙂 as you have heard from me several times that I am not a big QBO fan. I am making a very concentrated and intense effort to adjust my QBO attitude. It is the product of the future and I decided to get on the train before it was moving so fast I wouldn’t be able to catch up.
I am attending a conference in October where I will be concentrating for three solid days on QuickBooks Online training and an Advanced Certification in QBO. QuickBooks Desktop is still a more feature rich product and is the best fit for our industry. QuickBooks Online has some advantages over QuickBooks for Desktop and I will let you know when I think it is a product that some of you may benefit from the change.
Vickie Ayres, our QuickBooks Pro Advisor, shared this tip she received via email today. I loved it, and I think you will too. I use the calculator on my iPhone a lot but after learning about this trick I won’t be using my calculator app anymore.
Did you know Siri will do calculations for you? Yep, we can add this to the long list of things Siri can do. It’s so simple all you need to do is hold down your Home button on your phone to activate Siri….. and say “25% of $360.00,” or in the blink of an eye she will add, subtract multiple numbers for you. She uses Wolfram Alpha do her calculations. The bonus is Siri shows a record of what l said, so I can check it. And if I made a mistake, all I do is press tap to edit (under the formula) and correct it and it calculates again. I don’t have to do it all over again like I would in the Calculator app.
I love this tip ~ who knew Siri could do that too?
Siri calculated 25% of $360 in a split second
Siri added 75 + 105.5 + 7.5 ~ WOW, I’m impressed!
This tip was compliments of iPhone Life as their “Tip of the Day.” If you have an iPhone or iPad sign up for their tips and tricks.
For those of us that compose emails, blog posts, emails or Facebook posts, wouldn’t it be great to have someone read over your document before it goes live for the world to see? Me, I always welcome any help and critiques I can get. My problem is when I write something I am ready to post/send it as soon as I finish the article or email and well that’s how I get myself into trouble. YIKES, I see a typo after I hit the SEND button. It’s hard to believe that I can’t seem to find anyone that can proof for me the instant I finish.
Last year, I decided to subscribe to Grammarly, which is an automated proofreader that corrects spelling mistakes, checks for more than 250 common grammar errors, enhances vocabulary usage, and suggests citations. I selected the yearly plan for $139.95 because it was the best value. Grammarly has prevented me from many embarrassing moments. They recently updated their interface and what an improvement; I love the simplicity and the speed. You simply copy & paste your text into their page and within a few seconds you begin to see their suggestions appear on the right showing you what needs to be corrected. They also have the option to send your document to a professional proofer but . . . ain’t nobody got time for that!!! Everyone knows Minutes Matter . . .
Here are the corrections Grammarly suggested for this blog post.
Visit the Grammarly website and sign up for their 7-day free trial!
How would you like to have more confidence with your graphic design skills AND be able to produce a rendering faster? If your answer is yes, don’t miss this opportunity to make a drastic change in your business.
Sign up for Minutes Matter Coaching Level I Coaching program and we guarantee you’ll see great changes in your business in 2014. Education keeps your business moving forward. DON’T WAIT, our coaching sessions usually fill up several days prior to the first class. Don’t miss your chance for this incredible opportunity.
You’ll Learn:
- One-on-one assistance in creating a logo template customized to your branding
- Learn new internet and computer skills (this knowledge will help you in all aspects of your business)
- Set up a proper filing system for client projects
- How to use Irfanview
- Uploading and downloading files from The Lounge and the Internet
- Customizing templates including a logo wall template
- Using Dimension tool
- Paper sizes
- Adding color and fabric to images
- Creating workroom and installation spec sheets
- Using Transparency, Pattern Texture and Gradient Fill
- Photo editing
- Set Scale Tool
- Photo Knockout
- Photo Clip
- Introduction to drawing tools
- and so much more . . .
Click on the link to our shopping cart below for more details . . .
If you’ve recently purchased a Windows 8 computer, you’re definitely in for a shock on how to use your computer. Microsoft recently updated their Windows 8 operating system to Windows 8.1 which allows users to use their mouse easier. Windows 8 was developed using the touch/tap technology, of course, Microsoft quickly found out there are many users that want to use their mouse. Thus, the reason for the new 8.1 update. Once you get accustomed to Windows 8.1 you’ll find lots of great features and the more you use it, the easier it is to use. However, it is a must to watch a few videos to help you jump start the learning curve and then just breathe.
You can view all four videos in under 30 minutes.
Basic Windows 8 videos ~ Getting Started
Great overview video by JAGTutorials for Windows 8.
Windows 8.1 update (part 2)
Windows 8.1 update videos by Microsoft
The two videos below were produced by Microsoft are very short, demonstrate several shortcuts and how to move and organize tiles.
Yesterday, my friend and colleague Gail Doby, founder and Chief Vision Officer of Design Success University, hosted a live Q&A call all about their upcoming Interior Design Summit.
The call was absolutely packed with great information! We heard brilliant questions from designers just like you, and of course, Gail’s informative answers. It really provided fantastic insight into the Interior Design Summit.
Because I don’t want you to miss out, I wanted to let you know you can get the recording of the entire call for FREE to help you decide if the event is a match for you – AND, because you’re a member of my community, you can also save $500 on enrollment for the Interior Design Summit through this SUNDAY! Here’s the link you need to access the call:
Gain Invaluable Insight <<< Q&A Call Recording Access
Get in on the Interior Design Summit – and the savings – here:
Attend THE Event Of The Year <<< Save $500 On IDS Through Sunday
As a quick reminder, the Interior Design Summit is the event of the year for interior design professionals who are ready to infuse their businesses with more passion – and earn more profit.
During the Interior Design Summit, you learn:
- Why having a value-rooted vision is crucial for your bottom line, and how to identify the values that matter most to you and your team
- Design Success University’s proprietary tool for measuring – and improving – your productivity
- How to qualify your prospects so you work ONLY with clients you love
- How to delegate & outsource effectively so you keep your business humming without micromanagement and dropped balls (and WITH more of the design-centered activities you love)
- How to create a team of problem-solvers so you don’t have to do it all
- Proven, top-notch strategies for time management, rapid profit growth, and team motivation, action-orientation and responsibility
- How to develop “decision confidence” so you can take decisive action to move your business forward
- How to build a business that runs without you – while avoiding common pitfalls and setbacks along the way
- And so much more!
And even more importantly, you’re spending time with designers with whom you can network, share ideas, and swap advice!
Gail Doby and her team also want to share with you some comments they received from one of their students, Cheryl Stauffer, a designer from Columbus, Ohio.
Cheryl said she wanted to elevate her business to the next level, and knew she needed expertise outside of herself and her team. She and her husband and business partner Luis signed up for a VIP Day with Gail. Together, they all went over what Cheryl and Luis expected from their time with Gail, and based on what they said, they created new strategies for their business.
By making some changes to the way they were charging clients, Cheryl and Luis increased revenue by $70,000 in the first 6 months after their VIP Day.
How would you like to experience this kind of success?
I’ve heard Gail teach before, and I highly recommend her. Her talks and events are always infused with powerful concrete information designed to dramatically increase profits.
Here’s the link where you can read success stories from Design Success University’s previous students who have attended Interior Design Summits in the past and where you can RSVP by filling out the order form.
Save $500 Through Sunday <<< Interior Design Summit Access
P.S. The Interior Design Summit is scheduled for August 1-3 in Denver! Summer is already flying by and it’s coming right up! The Design Success University room block at the Four Seasons is closing soon, too. So if you want in, take advantage of the $500 savings and reserve your seat and your discounted room now!
Save $500 Through Sunday <<< Interior Design Summit Access
Do you ever feel like you’re working pretty much 24/7, only to earn part-time money?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout … while scraping the bottom of your bank account every month?
You’ve probably heard this before: It’s time to work SMARTER, not harder.
Because my friends Gail Doby and Drue Lawlor from Design Success University are dedicated to helping brilliant design professionals just like you to build highly profitable, passion-filled businesses, they’re prepared to stand behind that statement, by showing you exactly HOW to work smarter.
Go here to grab their complimentary special report, “Interior Designers: Worried About Where Your Next Client is Coming From?”
Work Smarter <<< Instant Access
Read this workbook-style mini-course and discover key success factors you MUST possess if you want to become successful, as well as why you need more than interior design skills to make positive change in your business.
You’ll also learn what you’re likely doing right now that is stopping you from becoming the expert you want to be (and CAN be) and how to diagnose exactly what’s going wrong, so you can finally begin moving forward.
Through plenty of trial and error, combined with hard-earned expertise in finance, banking, and marketing, Gail and Drue have developed actual working systems for working smarter. And now they’re sharing them with you, absolutely free.
I’ve heard Gail and Drue speak before, and I highly recommend them. They always overdeliver, providing you with actionable information you can use right away to improve your results.
Here’s that link again where you can download your complimentary workbook-style mini -course (aka special report) right away, so you can begin implementing powerful positive changes in your business.
Make The Change <<< Instant Access
P.S. Isn’t it time you felt like your pay was commensurate with the amount of work you put in? I think so, and so do Gail and Drue! Grab your copy of their workbook-style mini -course now. And remember, it’s absolutely free. Go here now to sign up to receive it.
Your Hard Work CAN Pay Off – FINALLY <<< Web Access Here
P.P.S. I’m an affiliate of Design Success University, which means I believe in what they’re doing. It also means that although this mini-course is complimentary and there is no obligation to invest with DSU, if you do decide to invest with them in the future, they may thank me with a commission.
If you like blogs, I highly recommend that you subscribe to Lauren’s blog. She’s a charming interior designer with a unique style that’s casual and so inviting. She shares her clients projects before and after as well as lots of other tips. NBC recently featured her home on two Open House episodes of Designer Living.
|Tour of Kitchen & Master Bedroom|
I wanted to let you know about some BIG news I just heard from my friends and colleagues Gail Doby and Erin Weir, co-founders of Design Success University.
Right now, they’re hard at work preparing for their annual Interior Design Summit… and through May 1 ONLY, they’re offering a $500 savings on the ticket price!
They have an impressive roster of speakers lined up for the event, and they told me they’re just as impressed by the attendees who have reserved their spots in the past couple of weeks.
So how about you? Will you be there, too?
Again, the $500 savings on this powerful event end Thursday, May 1, so now is the perfect time to register!
Put Yourself On The Roster <<< Reserve Your Seat By May 1 & Save $500
Not sure whether the event is for you?
To help you decide, meet Cheryl Stauffer, a designer from Columbus, Ohio, who works with her husband, Luis.
Cheryl wanted to elevate her business to the next level, and knew she needed expertise outside of herself and her team to do so. She and Luis signed up for a VIP Day with Gail. Together, Cheryl and Luis went over what they expected from their time with Gail, and based on what they said, Gail helped them create some new strategies for their business.
By implementing these strategies, and by making changes to the way they were charging clients, Cheryl and Luis increased their revenue by $70,000 in the first 6 months after their VIP Day.
How would you like to see those results in YOUR business?
Make a commitment to yourself to come to the Interior Design Summit, where you can learn exactly how to make it happen.
And right now, when you enroll by Thursday, May 1, you save $500 on the regular investment!
If you’re interested in information Cheryl Stauffer called life-changing … information that, in Cheryl’s words, sets you up for success and makes it so work doesn’t overtake your life, then you’ll definitely want to grab a seat!
I’ve heard Gail and Erin – and their team – speak before, and I highly recommend them. They always provide powerful, easy-to-implement information designed to transform your business so you can earn more money and infuse your business with more passion!
Here’s the link to read even more spectacular real-life success stories and reserve your spot right away – and so you can take advantage of the $500 savings:
Dramatically Increase Your Profits <<< Register By May 1 & Save $500
One of the most significant takeaways of this event is a network of driven, brilliant design professionals with whom you can brainstorm and share with for years to come … and as Gail mentioned, the list of attendees is very impressive. There’s one person missing: YOU! Sign up here to reserve your seat and save $500!
You should know I’m an affiliate of DSU, which means I believe in what they’re doing. It also means that if you do decide to invest with them, they may float me a commission to thank me!
I’ve heard from several people who are excited about the brand new webinar from my friends at Design Success University, “7 Keys to Transforming Your Interior Design Business – and START Making More Money.”
Will you be there? Go here to sign up!
As a quick reminder, there are three available viewing options:
Thursday, April 17 at 6 pm Eastern
Friday, April 18 at 8 am Eastern
Saturday, April 19 at 1 pm Eastern
If you’re like so many of Gail Doby and Erin Weir’s students at Design Success University, you’ve probably noticed that you spend a good portion of your time on non-billable activities, like marketing, billing, and business planning.
You’ve probably even thought about the ratio of time you spend on those activities to the amount of time you spend on billable activities, like designing.
Well, did you know there is an actual formula that tells you how many of your working hours you should spend on billable activities?
There is – and Gail and Erin are sharing it on their newest webinar in just 2 days.
At Design Success University, they’ve gotten the business of design down to a science – so YOUR business can feel more passion-filled AND turn a better profit.
Join them for an airing of their webinar to learn more!
I’ve heard Gail and Erin speak before, and I highly recommend them. They always over deliver and I am positive you’ll walk away from this complimentary training with ideas you can implement right away to make your business more passion-filled and profitable.
Here’s that link again where you can sign up for the complimentary webinar, “7 Keys to Transforming Your Interior Design Business – and START Making More Money.”
And even if you can’t make any of the viewing times live, don’t worry – sign up and Gail and Erin will send you the replay.
Hope to “see” you then!
P.S. Feel free to invite your friends and colleagues to the webinar as well – but be sure to grab your own spot, first!
P.P.S. You should know I’m an affiliate of Design Success University, which means I believe in what they’re doing. It also means that although this webinar is complimentary and there is no obligation to invest with them, if you do invest in the future, DSU may thank me with a commission.
