Top 20 Tax Deductions for Small Business | Small Biz Trends

February 4, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

On Wall Street, there’s a saying that past performance is no guarantee of future results. When it comes to taxes, however, past performance is a great indicator of the types of deductions that businesses typically take each year.

Last winter the IRS released data on Schedule C filers. Here are some of the most popular tax deductions for small business that were claimed by sole proprietors as determined by the dollar amounts, starting with the largest category. The same types of deductions can be claimed by other entities — C corporations, S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs) (although there may be slightly different rules for some deductions). See which of these tax deductions for small business apply for your 2015 tax return.

Why Does the Sound of Water Help You Sleep? | Live Science

February 4, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The crash of ocean waves, the babbling of brooks, the pitter-patter of rain on shingles — many people swear by these watery sounds to help them fall asleep and stay in la-la land. Why does flowing “agua” apparently have such a powerful and popular drowsing effect?

Part of the answer lies in how our brains interpret the noises we hear — both while awake and in the dead of night — as either threats or non-threats.

Millennials: 10 Things Old Farts Won’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship (Third in a series) | Peter Mehit

February 3, 2016February 22, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

3.You can’t succeed without the ‘f’ word

I know what you’re thinking. Either a.) he can’t possibility mean that ‘f’ word or b.) the ‘f’ word is focus. Focus would be a good ‘f’ word. Nothing truly gets done without it. People who think they are multitaskers are really deluding themselves. Not even computers multitask. Designers just add more cores, but each one of them is only processing one instruction at a time, really, really fast.

We teach people how to visualize businesses and focus is an important part of it. I can tell you I get my best results when I can eliminate distractions. But that’s not the ‘f’ word we’re talking about.

Continue reading “Millennials: 10 Things Old Farts Won’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship (Third in a series) | Peter Mehit” →

How to Test Your Business Idea | Business News Daily

February 3, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Think you have a great business idea? Maybe it evolved from multiple brainstorming sessions, or perhaps it popped into your head fully formed. While you may think it’s awesome just the way it is, you should test your idea before launching your business. This could save time and money if your idea is a dud.

Here are a few simple but effective ways to test your business idea.

6 Reasons Not to Go Back to School | Page19

February 3, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You may be looking for a new challenge, you may be bored of your job and want to switch career, you may want to enhance your job prospects, or you may just want to quench your thirst for knowledge. No doubt, there are many good reasons for going back to school.

But, wait—before you consign yourself to poring over books in dark libraries all day long to churn out abstract essays of questionable value or choose to suffer the pain of reckoning with your intellectual limits, expressed through test scores, and alongside people, what, 10 years younger than you?—consider that, while going back to school might be the conventional choice, it might not actually be the best one.

Why You Should Ditch the Keyboard and Meet in Person Instead | Entrepreneur

February 3, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Face-to-face communication is a dying art, or so it seems in the digital age. The majority of our communication with clients now takes place over email and instant messaging. While digital communication certainly has its advantages, experts warn their overuse may lead to some fundamental flaws that could derail your success.

Michael Diettrich-Chastain, a business consultant in Asheville, N.C., who helps business leaders understand the human side of their business, says while digital communication now prevails, we should beware the consequences of avoiding face-to-face meetings altogether. Diettrich-Chastain says some important elements of communication are lost in digital exchanges. Although phone conversations now sound an intimate way of connecting, even these don’t allow for body language and eye contact that are only available to you in an in-person meeting.

7 Common Misconceptions Business Organizations Believe About Customer Service This 2016 | Getentrepreneurial

February 1, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We all do know and are aware of the fact that how difficult it is for the business organizations to stay ahead of their competitors when it comes to customer service trends. Consumers continue to demand a change and evolve unless and until your organization continues to stay current and the customers move ahead without even noticing you. Given below are the 6 major common misconceptions the business organizations generally believe about customer service this 2016.

Fine Brothers spark fury with YouTube trademark attempt | BBC News

February 1, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The creators of one of YouTube’s biggest channels have sparked fury over plans to trademark and license a popular video format.

The Fine Brothers produce a popular series of “reaction videos”, in which people watch online clips and respond.

On Tuesday, they revealed a scheme to let other video-makers use assets from their version of the format.

But they have faced a backlash from viewers for trademarking “react” – a term widely used by other creators.

Taking Care of Business by Taking Care of Yourself | All Business

February 1, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Are you the type of person who thinks of everyone else before yourself? If you are, you probably don’t even realize it. Business owners are particularly prone to this trait. We have a responsibility to our team and our customers, and that can become a singular focus.

But when your weekly date night starts to become monthly, and your evening workouts are replaced with late night office hours, you might be putting yourself on the back burner–and that doesn’t help anyone.

This Super Bowl Ad Thinks Buying Mortgages on Your Phone Will Save America | Bloomberg Business

January 29, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes, it feels as if we just can’t stop thinking about the financial crisis. Every macro event is the next “Lehman moment;” every retreat in stocks marks the early innings of the next crash.

Other times, it’s as if we’ve all forgotten that the financial meltdown ever happened. Quicken Loans’ 2016 Super Bowl ad falls into the latter category.