The EDGE - December 2011 

Sunday Night Blues—Can You Survive?
When should you stick with your job and when is it time to bail? With your nose constantly to the grindstone, most of us never stop to think about any options. Don’t ignore the warning sign, learn how to spot them and proactively respond.

Presentation Tips and Tricks That Work
If you think you’re the only one of your peers who gets stage fright, think again! Whether you present to clients and customers, or internally within your firm or company, learn a few presentation tips and tricks guaranteed to help you improve and find the self-confidence you need to succeed.

Time—It’s All About Managing
Who wouldn’t want more time in the day? Time management is one of those tasks that, on the surface, seems easy … but if you’re juggling a full workload, personal commitments, and still want to have time for a “life,” how do you squeeze more time in your day? Here are some pointers to help you get more done.

Send the FAF a comment letter supporting an independent board for private company GAAP modifications
The AICPA is urging members to respond to the Financial Accounting Foundation's Plan to Establish the Private Company Standards Reporting Council and express support for the Blue Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private Companies’ recommendation that FAF create an independent board to set exceptions and modifications in U.S. GAAP for private companies. According to FAF's proposal, decisions of the new council would have to be reviewed and approved by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which FAF oversees. The AICPA believes that true differential standards for private companies would be better achieved through a board consisting of members with private company constituent experience and having the authority to act on its own. A quick and easy online tool enables you to send a comment letter in just 30 seconds. Use the outreach toolkit to get other private company constituents involved. The public comment period closes Jan. 14. More information is available at aicpa.org/privateGAAP.  

Now Accepting Nominees for AICPA Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award 
The AICPA is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award. The award recognizes full-time college accounting educators distinguished for excellence in teaching and for national prominence in the accounting profession. The award serves a dual function: to extend profession-wide recognition to the recipient and promote role models in academia. State CPA societies and individuals may submit nominations for the annual award until the nomination deadline on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Self-nominations are not accepted. For more information, click here.

Purchase today: Learn how to be a great leader
The secret ingredient to any successful firm is great leadership. Fortunately, this new book, Leading an Accounting Firm: The Pyramid of Success, demonstrates that great leadership skills can be nurtured and learned. Using the model of the pyramid to illustrate his concept, author Troy Waugh builds a case for ongoing leadership development, guiding you through the essential ideas and practices that are at the core of great leadership and great firms. Using this powerful framework, you can improve your personal leadership and build great leaders around you. Purchase today.