Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/511071
4 May 2015 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-In-Chief FROM THE EDITOR I atend many of these conferences during the year, ofen as a speaker, moder ator, or pa nel member, i n addition to helping to staf the CPA Practice Advisor booth on the exhibit hall foor. In my various roles at these e vent s , I c ros s pat h s w it h m a ny accountants and frequently ask what keeps them up at night. I also sit in on many of the education sessions and listen to the questions and concerns voiced by other atendees. T here is a theme, a direction, a c u r rent t hat f lows t h roug h ever y conference, every session, every weary pair of eyes that look around the lec- t u re ro om a nd t he e x h i bit h a l l , seemingly asking without saying out loud, "A m I the only one here who doesn't know where to start?" We are in the middle of a food of solutions to our problems, tools to make our lives easier and beter. In fact, we're almost drowning in this tidal wave of technology. But don't get me wrong - this isn't a bad thing. A nd it's not even too much of a good thing. It's just kind of overwhelming. Tel l me one t h ing you' d l i ke to change about your accounting prac- tice, or your life - and more and more we're lumping a l l of t hat toget her because we no longer discuss work/ life balance (that's so early 2000s) - today it's work/life blend, or just life that happens to have work in it - the borders are down and thanks to easy communication and transparency in social media (you do tweet and text, don' t you?), we rea l ly don't k now where work stops and everything else begins, because actually it doesn't. Name that one thing and I'll give ten opt ion s for how to ma ke t he cha nge. Or t went y. Or wa it a few weeks and there will be more. Or hire a programmer and make your ow n perfect solution because that can be done too. Walk through the exhibit ha l l at a con ference a nd l isten to glowing descriptions and testimonials for products and services that will add time to your day, customers to your c l ient ba se, money to you r ba n k account. You name the problem, and boy do we have solutions. Pick one, pick a few, try them for free. A nd you want the solutions. You want them so badly. You want to be that accountant work ing f rom the beach on a tiny computer that runs your business for you. You can smell the sea air from here. It's the geting from Point A to Point B that is the challenge. A nd so I challenge you to a ns wer t he quest ion for you rsel f, "W here do I start?" Only you can pick the starting point that works for you. Lay out the path to that goal you are seeking, break it down into baby steps, and use the tools that are right within your reach to identif y and remove one obstacle at a time. — Gail Perry, Editor-in-Chief Follow me on Twiter at @gaperry I recently atended the New York Accounting Show put on by Flagg Management, generally acknowl- edged as the annual kickoff event for nationally recognized accounting conferences that provide continuing professional education and networking opportunities for members of our profession. "Where Do I Start?" 800-547-7377 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com The opinions given by contributing authors are their own and are not the opinions of our staff. 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Kepczyk, CPA.CITP Art Director: Rhonda Cousin National Sales Manager: Barry Strobel Site Manager: Lester Craft Media Production Representative: Barb Evenson Audience Development Manager: Angela Kelty Editorial Advisory Board: Bob Cedergren, CPA.CITP, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CGEIT Chris Fraser, CPA.CITP, CISA, MCP Jason Lawhorn, CPA.CITP Gary A. Masino, CPA Ryan McCowan, CPA.CITP Linda O'Neal Troy Patton, CPA David Primes, CPA.CITP Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP Doug Sleeter Sandra L. Wiley CYGNUS BUSINESS MEDIA CEO: Paul Bonaiuto PRESIDENT: Chris Ferrell CFO: Ed Tearman VP, Human Resources: Ed Wood VP, Technology: Eric Kammerzelt CYGNUS PUBLISHING Executive Vice President: Gloria Cosby Vice President of Production Operations: Curt Pordes Director of Digital Business Development: Lester Craft VOLUME 25, NUMBER 4 For reprints and licensing please contact Nick Iademarco at Wright's Media 877-652-5295 ext. 102 or niademarco@wrightsmedia.com. Gail Perry is the Editor-in-Chief and a CPA. She is the author of over 30 books and she maintains a small tax practice. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism fom Indiana University and studied accounting at Illinois State University before starting her professional career at Deloite. Gail is the former publisher and editor-in-chief at AccountingWEB and is a former columnist for the Indianapolis Star. Contact her at Gail.Perry@Cygnus. com.