p12, v6.30 — Business News & Trends

Business News & Trends

Mountain Views News Saturday, July 28, 2012

MVNews this week: Page 12

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

Mountain Views News Saturday July 28, 2012

BUSINESS TODAY

The latest on Business News, Trends and Techniques

By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA

DOES YOUR ACTIVITY TRANSLATE INTO
PRODUCTIVITY?

Measurable outcomes are the only true measurements of whether all of your activity is
resulting in anything meaningful. Far too many business owners and managers awake
throughout the workweek to tackle a Matterhorn of tasks, and at the end of each workday they
find themselves asking, “What did I really accomplish?” They scurry about from meeting to
meeting in between reviewing and responding to numerous phone calls, e-mails, texts and
Twitters. Our misuse of the current communications technology is contributing to a mound
of unfinished projects that contribute to a pattern of dysfunction that we incorrectly regard
as productivity.

Reflect on the following questions to determine if you’re truly productive, or simply very
busy.

1) What are the three major goals that you indicated (in writing) at the beginning of the
prior three month period?
2) Did you achieve at least one key milestone toward each of the goals?
3) If you had to pay someone else for what you accomplished during this time period,
how would you rate their performance? (Note: This is not a score for your level of “activity”
in your efforts to achieve the goal, rather a score of the final outcome from your personal
efforts)
4) Do you have more than three important goals or key tasks that remain as unfinished
items after more than 30 days?
5) If you function in the same manner for the next 30 days, as you have done in the past
30 days, do you anticipate that you will be satisfied with your progress?

Of course, these five items are not the end-all-be-all for the questions helpful to help you
focus on what is important. However, an honest response to each of the questions will help
you determine if productivity might be increased by finding a different approach to how you
work, and most importantly, the tasks to which you apply your time and energy on a routine
basis.

Productivity is not measured by the number of hours worked, e-mails answered or meetings
attended. Tangible or measurable results, based on pre-established goals and objectives
are the true indicators of whether you’re truly making strides or creating a dust cloud of
activity, which serves to cloud the reality that you’re simply engaging in a web of self-created,
overlapping activities. Improving your productivity is a matter of identifying and planning
for specific goals. You cannot adequately measure your progress or attainment of a goal that
you have not identified in advance.

THE PEOPLE FACTOR

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
40 percent of all American workers will
be self-employed by 2019. Working for yourself
and starting your own business seems to
be the trend.

I’ve been self-employed for 15 years and I
love helping others who want to have their
own business too. We meet a lot of people at
our social media education seminars that are
starting a business and leaving a corporate
job (by choice or by pink slip). They often
ask how we’ve managed to stay in business.
The answer boils down to one thing…people
and the relationships we’ve built along the
way.

Today’s on-line tools make it possible to stay
connected with all kinds of people. If you
look at social media tools as a way to stay in
touch with people who are important to your
business, it makes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
and Pinterest easier to digest.

Think about connecting with people you’ve
worked with in the past who know your
skills and your work ethic. I’m not saying you
have to invite them all to Thanksgiving, just
add them as a “friend” or “connection” and
let them know you are still there!

I’ve often received messages on Facebook
from people I worked with in the past who
want to refer business. I once received a
message from someone I went to school
with 30 years ago who needed some business
consulting!

Building a good social media presence makes
it easy for people to find you so that they will
think of you the next time they need or want
to recommend your product or service.

About MJ: MJ and her brother David own
HUTdogs, a creative services business that
also specializes in Social Media Education
for business owners. Join their conversation
on Facebook and get good tips and tricks
about social media, www.facebook.com/
hutdogs

OMG! OH MY GOSH DID YOU
KNOW…………….. By Patricia Richardson, M.B.A

…Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks, offers several options for payroll. As
an employer, you have specific payroll responsibilities that are required by
government agencies. These agencies can be federal, state, or local. Some of
these responsibilities include, but are not limited to, withholding amounts
from your employees’ compensation to cover income tax, social security,
Medicare, and other payments. Reporting and depositing payroll taxes to the
appropriate agency in an accurate and timely manner is vital to your business. Late or inaccurate
deposits may result in penalties and interest charges. These complex payroll tax requirements may
seem intimidating but by learning a few simple concepts, you will be able to understand your payroll
responsibilities and choose the best method for meeting them.

Intuit Online Payroll is a perfect companion for QuickBooks online because it does not require the
actual purchase of QuickBooks because it allows “Anytime, Anywhere Access”. The Desktop payroll
versions include Intuit QuickBooks Payroll Enhanced for Accountants and Intuit QuickBooks
Payroll Enhanced. These two payroll options require the purchase of QuickBooks software and allow
integration between the programs. This includes employee Direct Deposit and updated financial
statements. Intuit Assisted Payroll and Intuit Full Service Payroll include several important functions
of payroll (reporting and electronic filing) provided directly by Intuit. You can bet that Intuit will be
ready come January 1st to implement all Federal and State tax changes.

…Straight from the IRS

Employers will be required to withhold an extra 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes for high-income
earners.[i] The following questions and answers provide employers, employees and payroll service
providers information that will help them as they prepare to implement the Additional Medicare
Tax which goes into effect in 2013. The Additional Medicare Tax applies to individuals’ wages, other
compensation, and self-employment income over certain thresholds; employers are responsible for
withholding the tax on wages and other compensation in certain circumstances. The IRS has prepared
these questions and answers to assist employers and payroll service providers in adapting systems and
processes that may be impacted.

BASIC FAQs

• When does Additional Medicare Tax start? Additional Medicare Tax goes into effect for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2012.
• What is the rate of Additional Medicare Tax? The rate is 0.9 percent.
• When are individuals liable for Additional Medicare Tax? An individual is liable for Additional
Medicare Tax if the individual’s wages, other compensation, or self-employment income (together
with that of his or her spouse if filing a joint return) exceed the threshold amount for the individual’s
filing status:

Filing Status

Threshold
Amount

Married filing jointly

$250,000

Married filing separately

$125,000

Single

$200,000

Head of household (with qualifying person)

$200,000

Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child

$200,000

• What wages are subject to Additional Medicare Tax? All wages that are currently subject to Medicare
Tax are subject to Additional Medicare Tax if they are paid in excess of the applicable threshold for
an individual’s filing status. For more information on what wages are subject to Medicare Tax, see
the chart, Special Rules for Various Types of Services and Payments, in section 15 of Publication 15,
(Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide.
• What Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) compensation is subject to Additional Medicare Tax? All
RRTA compensation that is currently subject to Medicare Tax is subject to additional Medicare Tax if
it is paid in excess of the applicable threshold for an individual’s filing status.
• Are wages paid to employees that are nonresident aliens or U.S. citizens living abroad subject to
Additional Medicare Tax withholding? There are no special rules for nonresident aliens and U.S.
citizens living abroad for purposes of this provision. Wages earned by such individuals that are
subject to Medicare tax will be subject to Additional Medicare Tax withholding if paid in excess of the
$200,000 withholding threshold.

For additional questions and answers this publication can be found at www.IRS.gov

[i] Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-148), §9002

Patricia Richardson the owner of Monrovia Computerized Business Service and is a local accountant, educator and
trainer working to help business owners realize their business mission and vision by empowering them with tools
and training in areas that may not be their core competency. For additional information, patti@qbworkshop.com.

UNLIMITED HOMECARE SERVICES

159 E Huntington Drive #4 Arcadia, CA 91006

Tel # 626 446 5468/Fax # 626 446 7068

Services Offered:

Skilled Nursing Care (RN, LVN)

Home Health Aide

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Speech Therapy

Medical Social Services

Diet Counseling

Wound Care

IV Infusion

We are a home health agency licensed by the California Department of Health, accredited
by the Joint Commission and Medicare certified. We provide quality medical, physical,
psychosocial care and assistance in the comfort of your own home.

Do you have to many books at home? Wondering
what to do with them? Come to The Book Rack and
trade them in for a book you have not read.
We have 1000's used and New books for
your reading pleasure.
204 S. First AveArcadiawebsite: bookrackarcadia.comPhone 626-446-2525