Art of Accounting: Opportunities for You

IMGCAP(1)]I have been fortunate to have opportunities that helped me grow and have a great fun-filled career.

The key was that I did not pass up opportunities that I stumbled on as they crossed my path. As payback I offered to assist many accountants in a like fashion and my regret is the lack of success in that regard. Too few takers! Here are some opportunities for you that I am willing to assist you in.

Just do what I suggest and contact me. I call these a graveyard of missed opportunities because of the too many that passed by unused.

• Write an article. To start, all you need to do is pick three topics you feel you can write about, pick a publication with readers the articles would appeal to, contact me, and I’ll help you get started and published.

• Present a speech. Same process—pick three topics and an intended audience, and contact me.

• Get a blog started. Here you need to have experience writing and have a portfolio of published articles; or an outsized ego with strong opinions about topics people would be interested in reading. Contact me to get started.

• Social media involvement. Determine your goal in doing this. Then get signed up for the major media vehicles and contact me.

• Firm publicity. Write three sample press releases of 300 words or less about your firm and what you do, and contact me.

• Tax Court Admission. This is a great credential that will open opportunities to service clients better in tax controversies. Go to www.ustaxcourt.gov, read about how to be admitted to the court, purchase the last two exams, and contact me on how to study and tips for passing the test.

• Publish a book. Buy a book from www.2020groupusa.com. For $500 you can have a print-on-demand book to distribute. They have two different books. For ways to use them, contact me.

There are others, but these are some easy pickings. I will gladly help you, but you must do what I said you need to do before you contact me. My email address is emendlowitz@withum.com and I welcome hearing from you. Send me an email with the info I suggested and provide your phone number. I will call you to help you get started.

Edward Mendlowitz, CPA, is partner emeritus at WithumSmith+Brown, PC, CPAs. He is the author of 24 books, including “How to Review Tax Returns,” co-written with Andrew D. Mendlowitz (published by CPATrendlines) and “Managing Your Tax Season, Third Edition” (published by the AICPA). Ed also writes a twice-a-week blog addressing issues that clients have at www.partners-network.com. Art of Accounting is a continuing series where Ed shares autobiographical experiences with tips that he hopes can be adopted by his colleagues. Ed welcomes practice management questions and can be reached at (732) 964-9329 or emendlowitz@withum.com.

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