Business News

Did you know how many funny, famous, and entertaining people got their start as accountants?
• Comedian Bob Newhart, famed for the dry, deadpan delivery you might expect from an accountant, started his career with US Gypsum.  He claimed that his motto, “That’s close enough,” showed he didn’t have the temperament to be an accountant.  He also joked that he once worked for the unemployment office making $55 a week - but quit when he learned that unemployment benefits were $45 a week and he “only had to come into the office one day a week to collect it.”

A lot of people end up filing bankruptcy when they get to the point of feeling hopeless about their financial problems.  Despite what others may think, there is no shame in needing a second chance to secure your financial future.  Bad things can happen to good people as the saying goes.  Sometimes, people simply make poor financial decisions, and the result is that they find themselves stuck in a financial morass.

If you’re a business looking to attract local customers, whether business-to-business or business-to-consumer, this year’s SCV Community Expo is your opportunity to meet face-to-face with Santa Clarita Valley business owners and residents.  Just imagine, thousands of potential customers crossing your threshold over the course of one weekend.
Experts agree that marketing is more important than ever in recessionary times.  It’s a unique opportunity to differentiate your business while others are cutting back.  It’s also been shown that companies that continue to market have a head start when the economy trends toward recovery.

Getting into a car accident is not your everyday event.  No one likes or expects it.  Do you know what to do if you were involved in an accident?  Here is a simple guideline.
1. Stay calm and keep your cool.  Be civil and do not get into an argument with the other driver.  Do not talk about the cause of the accident or fault.

Communications professional Gail Ortiz received the prestigious Paul B. Clark award from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) at its recent annual conference in Sacramento.  Ortiz was honored with this top award for her outstanding service to the public, her profession and the CAPIO organization.

(NAPS)—If you work for a small business—or would like to start one of your own—you may be glad to learn there’s a government agency that can help you make the most of your company.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loans and business management advice to help Americans start, run and expand businesses, apply for government contracts, recover from disaster and have their voice heard in the federal government.

Last month, I discussed the difficulty some lenders are facing in showing that they are the current owners of a given home loan.  Not surprisingly, borrowers have been mounting court challenges to foreclosures, based on this difficulty.  They have been arguing that the foreclosing entity has not really ponied up the proper documents to show that it, or the lender for whom it purports to be acting, is the current owner of the note.

Economic news releases have held an ever so slight hint of positive employment news!  Almost a quarter million jobs have been added to the economy, apparently prevalently in the private sector.  Dare we think that happier employment days are around the corner?  Some people who had given up on their job searches altogether have dusted off their resumes and fired up their search engines!  But many of you have never stopped searching, right?

Despite the developing global economy, some investors still believe that owning U.S. securities is sufficient — that international securities would just duplicate their efforts.  But a closer look at economic and market trends reveals numerous reasons for continuing to diversify with investments from around the world.
Unique economic environments — There are still significant differences between countries’ markets and economic sectors.

There are many things that can influence your business in a positive or negative manner.  Some of these things are involved in the attitudes and behavior of various people in your business.
One of these things is impatience.  What are some of the consequences involved with impatience? 

The City of Santa Clarita took home two “Award of Excellence” honors this week at the annual California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) conference held in Sacramento.  CALED is the premier statewide professional economic development organization in California.  
The City of Santa Clarita won the second place “Award of Excellence” for the 21-Point Business Plan for Progress in the category of economic development program and also received an “Award of Excellence” in the category of economic development promotions for the Think Santa Clarita marketing campaign. 

Fifty percent of first marriages, 67 percent of second marriages and 73 percent of third marriages end in divorce.
Painfully sad, but statistically true.  Most divorces turn ugly, which is how lawyers stay in business.
I have heard spouses complain about what their mate did to them five to 10 years earlier as if it happened yesterday.
I have heard spouses complain about a certain trait in their mate, and the entire time I would be thinking, “I would not want to be with you either if you are like this most of the time.”

The most sought after policy and yet the most misguided and most underinsured policy. I am going to break down each section of your HO and you can decide if you are insured properly.
The most important coverage of your HO policy is the dwelling coverage.  I find that most people are underinsured and do not know what they need. 

Is there a business or non-profit professional, educator, military member, community volunteer or church leader in your life that you would like to nominate for the 2011 40 Under 40 Awards?  Now is the time to think of an incredible individual and nominate them for this special honor!
Junior Chamber International Santa Clarita Valley (SCV Jaycees) in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal and The Signal Newspaper are proud to present the Third Annual 40 Under 40 Awards.

When no other means of debt relief are available, filing for bankruptcy may be the only way to get out of debt for most people.  The good news is that the old stigma associated with filing bankruptcy no longer really exists and most people who file bankruptcy usually rebuild credit very successfully in only a few years.  Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should take the decision to file lightly. 

The 2012 presidential campaign is already well underway, with pollsters crawling through Iowa like corn-flea beetles infesting a crop of the state’s finest grain.  Surprisingly, developer Donald Trump leads the Republican field in some of those polls, ahead of even “mainstream” candidates like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

(NAPS)—According to a recent survey by MerchantCircle.com, the largest online network of business owners, about 42 percent of local merchants believe the current economy is weaker now than 12 months ago.
Improving your community is an important part of rebuilding the economy and is easier than you may realize. Here are three ways you can help your local community bounce back from the recession and thrive.

(NAPS)—In today’s world, people are busier than ever. The balance of work, life and fun makes people yearn for a phone that can do more. According to a recent study from Harris Interactive, 85 percent of adults aged 35–54 currently use a cell phone and 25 percent of those are turning to smartphones get more done and have more fun on the go. To meet this wild demand, companies such as Microsoft are developing new phones that let people do it all from wherever they are.
Search On the Go