CGA Professional Guide

When my boss asked me to head the 2017 Leadership Training in the company, I was extremely excited. I would finally get to showcase my organization and hosting skills, after all. It was a dream come true for me.
But then, the boss gave me a bizarre instruction: invite students with leadership potentials from nearby universities. In my boss’s mind, it would be ideal for catching the interest of such kids early so that they might want to apply for a job at our company at the right time. I didn’t know any college student, but I couldn’t say no, either, I decided to roam around universities and see which students were leader material.

To my surprise, I found 30 of them. The group consisted of activists, honor students, presidents of school clubs, etc. I picked these kids because they all showed signs of a potential leader:

Excellent Communicator
Leaders can get their point across without feeling the need to shout. They choose their words well and do not let emotions take over their system, even in situations where it’s understandable to be upset. Because of that, you commonly see them surrounded by a massive group of fans and supporters.

Problem Solver
Problems hardly faze leaders. For sure, it saddens them, but the will to find a solution comes soon after. For instance, if the club has insufficient funds for an activity that the entire university can benefit from, the leader organizes events to raise funding. They won’t postpone the action or sit idly like a lazy person.

Ambitious
Being ambitious has been perceived to be a selfish thing, but it is not. You can find this trait in almost every leader in the world. They all have a vision that they want to come to fruition for the good of everyone. If they have such a dominant status, it will be possible for them to do what past leaders should have done.

 

If you get ahold of potential leaders in your company, try to groom them instead of alienating them. What’s worse than not finding a suitable successor, after all, is letting one slip out of your grasp.

Throughout the years, the role of an accountant has transformed from simple to advanced. Most businesses and institutions seek the skills of an accountant to manage their finances, including dealing with books, computing for returns and investments, etc. Luckily, there are a lot of accountants available for immediate hiring, but recently companies look for technical abilities, innate talent, and soft skills as well.

For instance, a few years back, an accountant’s job was to sit at his desk, and he would be able to do everything from there. But now things can be unpredictable for him. His job entails him not only to work from the office but also outside – in the business world – where he needs a great personality and a lot of self-esteem to succeed.

People who lack confidence in their abilities may negatively compare themselves to others and may refrain from trying new things out of fear of failure. — Wendy Salazar, MFT

If you are one of the many accountants who are lining up to be hired by lucrative businesses, here are four vital skills that will get you to the top of the list.

 

Self-Esteem/Leadership Skills

Hiring managers know full well that a confident accountant has a strong and assertive personality. So whether you’re fresh out of college or a seasoned accountant with years of experience, interviewers will look into that confidence level because they know that if you have it, you’ll have the ability to lead, discuss findings, or defend arguments of his clients. Step up and prove your leadership skills, and surely your future is brighter than the rest.

When you feel your blood pressure rising in response to a comment – or when you hear your disagreement with someone escalating or getting “stuck” in one of those endless loops, PAUSE and take a deep breath. Do not say the next thing on your mind. — Elaine Shpungin Ph.D.

Communication Skills

An accountant who is looking to stand out in his career would have to be an effective communicator, one who is capable of listening as well as conveying statements in a way that his clients and colleagues will be able to understand very well. This means that he is verbally and orally proficient so that all types of messages go across. This also means that he has a keen attention to detail and is not satisfied with a document that is left unedited or a verbal statement that is not prepared.

Self-Determination

Work won’t always be smooth and easy, and while you must be a good communicator, you must also be able to decide for yourself which situations you need to focus on and which ones you need to let go. If you are given near-hopeless circumstances, you must have the initiative and enthusiasm to do the best that you can to finish a project that you were tasked to start and succeed in the end. To show this to the interviewer, you can recall an experience where you faced a dilemma, and you successfully pulled it through.

Self-determination is not something that can be bestowed by people in positions of sufficient power to make decisions such as this. In fact, self-determination can’t be granted or taken away. — Timothy Carey Ph.D.

Client Service Skills

This one is the last but certainly not the least. The field of accounting today requires you to be responsible to your clients, and you will struggle with this responsibility if you don’t possess skills for it. Today’s competitive market needs accountants who are proficient in explaining to clients who do not have your qualifications to be able to comprehend. An employer will truly be impressed if you can win over someone and decide to transfer to your side.

Conclusion

You may have what it takes to be a potential candidate, or perhaps your skills need polishing. Either way, possessing these skills are crucial to succeeding in your career. Start learning them today.

According to a report from the American Psychological Association, financial stress is one of the most common causes of stress that is seen in all parts of the world. Nearly 75% of Americans struggle with money problems, which is a significant number, as financial stress is strongly associated with various health problems as well. These problems include depression, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and heart disease, among others. With the continuing rise in the cost of living, a lot of American families undoubtedly feel the burden of financial stress.

…23% of all participants scored positive for PTSD-equivalent scores for financial stress, and 36% of millennials. Due to diagnostic roadblocks (mentioned below), we aren’t calling this PTSD, so we’re calling it AFS. — Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP

How Financial Stressors Affect One’s Health

Worry over money can tremendously affect one’s health in various ways:

1. You may develop coping behaviors that are not geared towards making you better. Some people don’t want to think about the financial problems that they turn to alcohol and drug use, binge eating, or smoking. All we all know that these won’t solve the problem but rather add to it.

2. You may oversleep or lack too much sleep. It’ll be difficult to sleep normally with all the anxiety over how you’re going to pay your bills or put food on the table for your family. Erratic sleeping patterns will likely lead to a lowered immune system, impaired cognitive abilities, and mood swings.

3. Negative Emotions. Frustration, anxiety, and hopelessness can arise due to lack of funds or a buildup of debts. Negative emotions increase stress levels, leading to self-neglect, decreased self-esteem, and poor coping skills.

When considering financial knowledge, many psychologists and public policymakers focus on financial literacy, defined as an understanding of basic economic principles and financial concepts such as how interest rates work, the effects of inflation on savings, the differences between individual stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and so on. — Utpal Dholakia Ph.D.

How To Cope With Financial Stressors

If you are determined to learn how to manage your financial dilemma and move toward a financially stress-free life, try following these tips:

• Understand How The Debt Process Goes. It would be wise to learn the steps of the debt cycle so you won’t fall into a trap. When you have sufficient knowledge about what debt does to you not only financially but also mentally, then it will also help you detach from it. Then you want to find ways to build a future that starts from practicing positive habits that don’t involve borrowing money.

• Don’t Spend More Than You’re Earning. If you have a family, you must know how to budget your earnings and don’t spend more than your income. Even better, learn to spend much less than you’re earning so that you have a little more left for savings. Living within your means is one of the best ways that you can manage your finances and reduce your stress.

• Find Simple Ways To Earn Extra. If you need additional money to come in, look for means to earn extra income, means that you don’t take much of your energy so you won’t be adding stress to you. Talk to family members or friends who might know about some part-time jobs you can do. Or you can check online for some easy tasks that you can do after your full-time work hours.

 We may notice changes in our concentration, appetite, and energy or a whole host of changes in our behavior. Other times we are less aware of how we are affected in the small ways, and before long, we feel overwhelmed. — Marni Amsellem, PhD

• Practice Stress-Relieving Strategies. While you’re going through the process of resolving your financial situation, don’t forget to balance it with healthy activities that can help you relax and stay focused on your goal. Exercise, meditate, eat right, and get enough sleep.

By trying to follow the tips mentioned above, you may be able to get your finances going your way. Soon, you’ll be able to adapt these into your lifestyle and reducing financial stress will be easy and more manageable.

 

Most, if not all, of us, want to have more financially, right?

Wherever you are right now – whether you’re only earning enough for you to live by, or you are trapped in a web of debts, or you just want to modify your financial skills to accomplish a major life goal, these ten things will help you improve financially and have a happier, debt-free life.

In our research, we found that a higher degree of self-awareness about one’s finances translates into feedback about past successes and failures with money, lower uncertainty about the strengths and weaknesses of the current finances, and clarity regarding how to move forward. — Utpal Dholakia Ph.D.

1. Learn To Budget. If you’ve just entered into a new stage in life, like marriage or having a baby, then you must learn how to budget your money from now on. Begin by arranging your expenses list and your goals list, then set up a budget If you already have one but you’re having difficulty making ends meet, find out where you need to cut on, so you will know which part of the budget you need to fix.

 

2. Cut Your Regular Payments. This can make a big impact on your changing your financial picture. To lower your electric bills, turn off lights that you’re not using and unplug appliances when you’re out of the house. When grocery shopping, prepare a list that you can bring because you will tend to buy useless things if you don’t prepare one. Also, buying at discount stores or items for sale will help you save a lot.

 

3. Have Your Cable Disconnected. This costs a lot, and if you’re just starting a family with a baby and just your spouse, chances are you’d be out of the house mostly for work, and your wife would also be at work or tending to your baby. The Internet has blessed us with so many movies we can watch for free!

 

4. No More Eating Out. This is one of the most practical ways to save a lot of money, as food in the restaurants cost twice compared to food cooked at home. And don’t forget the health benefits of eating without much of the additives from restaurant or takeout food. If you don’t usually go home for lunch, then pack yourself one. You’re in for a surprise a month after when you check your savings.

 

5. Invest Wisely. Find a financial advisor near your area who can teach you tutorial lessons or you can enroll in short courses. You might need to spend a little but not for long, though. Learn from the financial advisor or someone in the family who knows about investment, so you can start putting some of your money in the stocks or other businesses. Start small.

 The trick is to pay attention to your regularly needs and to find stress management strategies that allow you to let it out. Once you’ve identified your strategy, you’ll then need to take action and put it into practice. — Marni Amsellem, PhD

6. Aim For Realistic Goals. Work on goals that are related to the work you’re aligned with or the business you want, and of course, the income you’re bringing in. This ensures that your goals are realistic. If you’re making $40,000 a year, don’t aim to pay the same amount of debt that you earn, or else that would be insane, right?

 

7. Don’t Get A Credit Card. Getting one is a surefire way of incurring more debts than you can handle. It’s not the solution to making ends meet – saving is. If you already have one, then cut it off.

 

8. Make Weekly Savings. If you were able to save a few dollars from your grocery shopping, then save that immediately. Don’t add it to your money for the next week. Whatever little amount you save from cutting off from your bills, set it aside.

 

9. Look For Other Ways To Earn. If you’ve been spending wisely and your budget is being followed, then perhaps the problem is not in the spending but the earning. You can try looking for a higher-paying job, or you can learn to find other ways to earn, like selling food and other items or working part-time online.

   

10. Choose The Appropriate Kind Of Insurance. Insurance may be a little costly but it is important. A practical move would be to just choose what kind of insurance you’re going to get, the ones that are more relevant to you, like health, home, or car insurance. Those are at the top list of priorities that you can have insured initially.

Under ideal health insurance, …, accurate consumer information is a positive. The reason is that the insurer and the insured are on the same team, with a similar interest and objective: acquiring good value in a competitive market. — John C. Goodman Ph.D.

If we have missed other ways that are equally important and useful, do let us know!

 

 

 

Accountants may be a part of the lucrative group of professionals, but their job is one of those that encounter several pitfalls too, and they are in for a risky ride. Accountants need to be accurate in processing and documenting financial details of a company, whether it’s big or small. With the numbers that they’re dealing with every day, they can commit errors, especially if they’ve been working for long hours. When sleep deprivation and stress sets in, even their physical and mental health is affected as well.

So, to the professional accountants and looking-to-become the best accountants in the future, here are some tips to help you reduce the risks that you encounter throughout your accounting career.

Grad school is more than undergrad life on steroids; it requires developing the ability to think, write, work, and research increasingly independently. It can be a heady time for many people and a real downer for others. If you are not self-motivated and a self-starter, you might want to think twice. — Dana S Dunn Ph.D.

Continuing Education

For one to be a licensed accountant, he needs to earn a bachelor’s degree. It may be possible for him to get a job without it if he, say, has some experience and some college years. However, there will be missed opportunities for promotion and advancement. Even having a bachelor’s degree might not get you one, seeing as to how many accountant graduates there are yearly. Other employers prefer a master’s degree, so if you have the time and resources, it would be wise to study for another few more years. It’ll all be worth it.

 

Stressors

A lot of accountants are categorized as exempt employees, meaning that they don’t aren’t qualified to ask for overtime pay per the Fair Labor Standards Act. This also means that they won’t be given extra pay for work outside office hours, particularly for tax season or book closing during the end of the month and fiscal year-end. All these can become stressors, along with other issues. Staff cuts and economic recessions can also lead to overwork and more stress.

Defined as the beliefs regarding one’s capabilities for a particular task or endeavor, self-efficacy has been shown to have multi-faceted benefits, from experiencing a greater interest in life activities and greater commitment in chosen goals to quicker recovery from setbacks. — Utpal Dholakia Ph.D.

Salary

In 2011, the yearly salary for accountants was a little more than $70,000, as stated in a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, 10% of these accountants were only earning close to $40,000, which proves that being an accountant is not always a profitable career. Also, from 2011 until today, the job growth was noted to be 16% (more or less). Ultimately, this goes to show that accountants who are paid higher are those that have acquired advanced degrees.

Physical And Mental Health

Accounting does not require much movement; thus, it’s not a ‘physical’ profession. An accountant’s task involves reading and writing on books, which mostly is done sitting at the front of a desk – not very healthy at all. Researchers in several universities have found that sitting for hours or not doing any active activity in a day increases one’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and other debilitating conditions. Accountants and other employees who do desk jobs are advised to do at least 30 minutes of exercise to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy.

Older adults face unique life conditions that can contribute to stress, including declining health and loneliness. Conversely, stressful conditions can cause people to become physically and psychologically ill. — John Smith Ph.D.

Employment Opportunities

Accountants are privileged to work in any field that they might find attractive or stimulating. They can apply for the government, as many departments in the government entail financial transactions. Private companies hire a lot of accountants as well. In fact, they are one of the most important and sought-after professionals in big and small-scale businesses all over the world. But as mentioned above, chances are higher if you get into continuing education courses.

 

Conclusion

Indeed, accountants are among the world’s most vital workers, but the risk of being one is also equally crucial. An accountant must, therefore, learn to balance working to be successful and living a life that is healthy and stress-free.

 

 

 

It’s been common knowledge for all women in any part of the world that a little black dress is one of the “necessities” that any female should have in her closet. Whether you are a psychologist or florist, for instance, you can wear it on any occasion. You may not need a dress for different events because it can work for casual parties, galas, and even corporate gatherings. If push comes to shove, you can wear a little black dress to meet your clients.

What most career women do not know, however, is that LBD is not the only must-have apparel out them. You can also make good use of a blazer. After all, this type of coat is not only for guys or for formal parties anymore. Like a little black dress, you can put it on regardless of the occasion without receiving weird glances from the people around you.

Another great thing about blazers is that it doesn’t matter if you have just one or two. Some females tend to stay away from this piece of clothing because: 1) they are afraid of others thinking they only wear the same thing, and 2) they do not want to always spend on blazers. The truth, though, is that you merely need to have a creative mind to be able to accessorize your blazer so that it will fit for a particular occasion.

In case you are unsure of how to do that, here are some tips for you to consider.

1. Choose Between Boyfriend Or Short Fitted Blazer

A boyfriend blazer is what’s gaining popularity among female consumers right now. The reason is that the women who dress in one give out the impression that she has snagged it from her boyfriend and just donned it without much thinking of how she’ll look like. Thus, it makes them look sweet, chic, and free without being too obvious about the fact that they have genuinely thought about the outfit.

For the ladies in the corporate world, Mother.ly suggests a short fitted blazer tends to work best as it exudes elegance and power without making you look too bland. This kind will allow other people to think that you are not one to mess within the industry and that you are as sharp as your clothing style. Because of that, you may garner immediate respect.

2. Wear A Belt

Aside from those two types of blazers mentioned above, women of any age can wear a blazer that has a belt in the middle section. This one is not much different from a short fitted blazer, although it is more of daywear than nightwear.

A belted blazer can help you decide on your office clothes faster than ever, no matter what the season may be. For one, you can wear it over a dress and get a slimming effect. Your jumpsuit or flared pants will seem classy with this coat as well. Even when you go on a holiday in the summer, you may layer it over your shorts.

3. Make Sure You Look Feminine

Before you add more spice to your chosen type of blazer, please do keep in mind that you’re wearing apparel that’s supposed to be intended for a man. However, you are still a woman, so you have to let your femininity outshine the masculinity of this clothing.

The boyfriend blazer is the easiest to accessorize to get this effect because of its loose style. Since the opposite of loose is fit, you can wear any clothes underneath it that hug your natural curves. It can be a fitted casual shirt, a bodycon dress, or skintight jeans, and it will still look chic with the blazer. Long-chained necklaces, scarves, and bangles can complement your style as well.

A short fitted blazer, on the other hand, is more on the sophisticated and somewhat conservative side, so pants and not-so-short skirts and dresses will look good with it. You can pair it with pearls, too.

Meanwhile, it’s safe to say that a belted blazer is for those who are aiming for a piercing look, based on the idea that it can only be worn with fitted skirts and pants and not with shirts that have longer hems than it.

4. Style Your Hair Well

The hairstyle depends on how you want to look like in front of your colleagues or clients. If you go with an updo, for instance, you may give off the strict or powerful vibe. When you allow your hair down, others may sense your sassiness and uncomplicatedness.

 

Final Thoughts

Generally, a blazer can make a difference in how people will perceive you as. So, choose the right blazer and style it with the tips above in mind. Good luck!

Professionals tend to consult a therapist at least once throughout their career for various reasons. Some do so because they cannot find the perfect balance between work and life, and they are afraid of losing either or both in the end. Others may have developed anxiety, depression, or anger management issues due to the stress that comes with the position that they are holding. If these folks avoid meeting a counseling expert, they might blow up one day and lose everything.

Continue reading Expectation Vs. Reality For Young Professionals About To Join The Workforce

Traveling is always a fun activity to engage in, especially if you are doing it with the people you love such as your family and friends. It is a pleasant experience to check new places, enjoy local foods or explore tourist spots together. However, there are tons of things that you need to take into consideration when it comes to traveling, one of which is your diet. It can be challenging to make the most out of your trip if you are a vegan.

 

 

In this article, we are going to provide you with some tips and tricks to follow so that you can still fully enjoy your travels without sacrificing your choice to become a vegan. Here are some of the tips to keep in mind:

A little bit of organization before you travel can ensure you have a stress-free and enjoyable time. — Alice Boyes Ph.D.

Choose Your Destinations Correctly

Before you book a ticket for a quick visit to a new city or country, it is best to research first about it. The ideal step to do is to look for places that are famous for having restaurants dedicated to serving vegans like you. Luckily, it is now easy to make this happen. All you need to do is to read resources available online. Make sure to use only reliable websites as your references.

At the same time, it is also imperative on your part to read the culture of the place that you intend to visit. It is essential for you to understand the economy and industry of the area so that you will know how its people treat meat consumption. You need to be mindful of these things.

 

Learn The Common Local Terms

Always remember that it is crucial to understand some common local terms of the area that you are going to visit. Remember that in some countries, people consider vegan and vegetarian as the same thing. As such, they may make suggestions about your food order without fully understanding what you mean. Some of the words that you need to translate include chicken, meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Learn how to speak to the locals how you do not want any of these items.

Even if you are only traveling for a short period of time to a new place, it is still best if you will find time to research the language used by the locals. In so doing, you will not have a hard time to communicate to them once you are already in their area. Fortunately, there are already tons of devices that can help business travelers translate certain words to something that they can understand.

After returning from their trip, those who traveled tended to show an increase in Openness to Experience, Agreeableness (which reflects a need to get along with other people) and Emotional Stability relative to those who did not travel.  The effects were not huge, but they were reliable. — Art Markman Ph.D.

 

 

Be Prepared At All Times

Do not forget the significance of preparation for a beautiful trip with the people close to your hearts. If you are traveling with persons who do not have the same diet as you do, it is highly recommended to talk to them about your preference ahead of time. Let them know the types of restaurants that you want to dine or the bars that you want to visit. However, make sure to do it in such a manner that will not offend them in any way.

Aside from this, it is also necessary to bring in some vegan snacks that you can enjoy during the entire duration of the trip. Take note to choose the travel sized items for these snacks so that you will not have a hard time carrying them. Go for dried fruits, nuts, and butter that will come in handy whenever you are placed in a dilemma where your options for food choices are limited (see more recommendations here: www.momjunction.com)

 

 

Prioritize Your Safety

A good business traveler is one who understands the reality that there are certain risks to every trip. Because of this, it is best if you will bring some items that can keep you protected at all times. Remember that you must always prioritize your safety to avoid more significant problems from taking place in your travel itinerary. An excellent way of keeping yourself safe is being mindful about where you, what you eat and whom you talk to. As much as possible, avoid talking to strangers as you may fall victim to the common modus operandi committed by people who take advantage of Filipinos.

When traveling to a place for the first time, be sure to find out more about the area ahead of time. Do not just go to the town or city without learning the essential details about the place. With the use of the Internet, it is now possible to obtain sufficient information from online resources. Make sure to do some readings for a worry-free business trip.

 Regularly finding healthy outlets for yourself is key to successfully navigating daily challenges and maintaining emotional health. — Marni Amsellem, PhD

Conclusion

Just follow the four simple tips mentioned in this article to start enjoying your business travels despite being a vegan. There are many ways on how you can make the most out of your official trip. Connect with other vegan travelers for more convenience on your journey.