I am ashamed today, I have been violated in my own home, abused by someone who thinks they can do whatever they want with disregard and disrespect for my life, liberty and happiness. Domestic violence is a very strange thing, it eats you alive, it quiets your soul, and it does not let you think straight. Abusers will never change, but there need to be laws that punish them and make them understand they cannot be violent. The people who suffer most are children. Women are at stake, but what is very hard to see is children suffering.

I call Gaza a domestic violence situation, Israel and Palestine are directed by radicals who do not care about the suffering of children. When I see a baby dying at the hands of Israel, I think of a flower growing in a garden where the gardener has watered it for nine months to make it live to its fullest. Here comes a monster and steps on it, it kills the life that was given to us by a miracle, by our own mother.

Abuse happens domestically, internationally, at home and in political conflicts. The same story is recurring as to who wants to show who is bigger and stronger. I stand with Palestine and condemn the actions of Israel against children who are dying of malnutrition, who are hoping that someone omnipotent, someone above them will bring reassurance and peace to the environment that their mothers created. I stand with the women of Palestine who are saying goodbye to their sons and daughters, who have nothing but a God above that they hope, will help them understand what is happening to them.

Hunger is not a comedy, it hurts, physically and mentally. Hunger is a sophisticated method to kill each other, and only human beings are capable of this crime. Just like we are capable of creating symphonies, of building the most amazing towers and of creating the greatest inventions, humans are the most cruel and capable of committing crimes against each other.

I want to bring awareness to the mothers of Palestine who have given all up for their children and have lost it all. I want to praise the men who are fighting to bring if only a little bit of support to their families, with their own hands, with their own feet, fighting like lions, like the beasts that the world has made them become. There is no grey area here, Israel needs to stop starving the people of Palestine and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu must at all cost care for our counterparts, for our fellow human beings suffering in Gaza.

I know for a fact that we have no idea about what really goes behind closed doors, we are just touching the surface, and there is no forgiveness that can cure the pain of the people of Palestine. Wars are ugly and stupid for the sake of power. We must be mindful and remember that we are part of the world and that perhaps this is also happening to us, as we sit back and watch the news and pray that things will happen without taking any action.

I lost my father a few years ago, and the legacy that he left was that of finding the truth. People will paint a picture of their situation, but reality is much different. In the United States, I have been a victim of abuse by my partner, by cruel people in the streets that I called home at some point. And today, I am ashamed to say that abusers will continue to abuse if we let them. We need to stand up to the tide, we must fight and understand that fighting means, in fact, pointing the finger and telling the world who is guilty. Those who have committed heinous crimes must pay, with jail and with the death that they have imposed on others.

Growing up in Colombia, I was unaware of the violence that surrounded me because I believed in goodness. And today, I sit here in front of my computer denying everything that I learned. But many people were right, people who told me that we will not do the right thing unless we are threatened with punishment and so, punishment exists for a reason, and the reason is to make people do good for the world.

Call me crazy if you want, but the last time I checked the world was in disarray, the police came to our homes and ignored us and assaulted us, our jails were filled with innocent people, and perpetrators of crimes were running free in the streets killing innocents. I only hope that the future awaits with more stringent laws against those who do wrong for the world and those who instigate domestic violence.

It is my only hope that the future will show better outcomes and that no more pain and suffering go unpunished; that we are not blinded to the reality of our own lives.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 29, 2025

Every day I encounter invisible people; they are so transparent that you can almost see through them. Once upon a time, I thought that being transparent in a metaphorical sense was good. It is actually bad to be incognito, we do not see them in the streets, asking for money or sleeping on the floor and no matter how hard we try, they continue to be invisible to us.

Coming to the United States from a third world country, I was familiar with the disappearance of people. Some people turned up deceased in the fields where the guerrilla and the paramilitares did their job. It was common to see in the news, people dying at the hands of the government. That has not changed, now we do it in a more sophisticated manner, we allow people to go hungry and to die in the street.

Let us not be blinded by the lights and the pretty picture that our governments paint for us. Let us not be blinded by lying politicians who are seeking only fame and glory. Like many leaders of the world have said, we are equal and not until we understand each other’s suffering, can we have a clean conscience and move on with our lives.

Those people who ignore the invisible will pay for their own success as a demise that is just waiting to happen. We are not secluded to an island, we are not secluded in our homes and any time a problem occurs in the world, we are guilty of ignoring it, of not educating ourselves and of not being one with the world.

Karma is a reality that happens every day, call it god’s punishment, revenge, whatever it is. We will pay for our mistakes as a society because what we are leaving behind is not an accurate and true picture of what we have discussed, of what we have lectured and what we desire for the world and its future.

There is still a time to change our path, the path of the future, which is only what is left. We can make a change right here and right now. Great humans have taught me that we can make things happen if we want, without being careless, but without caring about what others think. We must do right for the world; this is our responsibility.

I am checking my facts, and the last time, I looked around, there was chaos in the government, there was disruption in our homes by the police, there was suffering in the world. Let us not be blinded by the lights, let us not be naive and think that there is nothing happening abroad. We are sheltered from a situation that has escalated beyond suffering and human tragedy. Let us not be blind and help Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza.

I live in Albany, the capital of New York state, a city that is small and does no justice to the vastness and richness of the state. However, I found my niche here, an environment where I can thrive and become the best that I can be. History repeats itself, as I sit here in an unknown city, wondering about the future and yet, the past.

During World War II, there were many issues, but one of them, the hardest, was the Holocaust and those who survived were lucky enough to tell their story. History repeats itself in Gaza, as I sit here and write and struggle with guilt, guilt for being part of this tragedy and worldwide catastrophe. I feel a guilt inside that is so raw and tender and yet, it is not even enough to justify what is happening to the women and children of the world.

I used to be a great tennis player and an avid student in school, but today I find myself at a loss, writing, here, in Albany, NY. A city that does no justice to the world that we live in. There are so many issues that I want to address and there are no words to state what I feel, there are no more feelings of despair available for me to express what it means to lose our people. One soul at a time, we are leaving this world in pieces and in chaos.

I recently had a conversation with a family member who opened my eyes, they said that I am not strong, although I was under the assumption that I am a strong woman. I have been enlightened, as I sit here and write about the world, my world, which is pretty small if I were to be honest. I want to apologize to the world for what is happening, it is my fault to be so blind, so constricted, so hindered from the truth.

The truth hurts, we do not want to see it, ever. Because if we do, we are exposed to our faults, to our shortcomings, to all of the mistakes and situations that we have failed at. It is late now, and Albany succumbs to a gloomy afternoon, a city that does no justice to New York state and the cities within.

I want to say: “I am sorry world, for falling short on my desire to change you, on my desire to make it better, I have failed you and I will forever regret my demise.”

How to prepare for the CPA exam, that is a question that many graduates have once they finish this important milestone in their young life. Those attending college and universities with an accounting major, must be sure that they want to develop in this area. While accounting in itself can be a very straight forward career, it can also be challenging and difficult at times. Keeping up with the latest accounting software, making plans to open your own practice, providing services that are optimal to everyone that they see and accept as customers, it is not an easy task to keep track of all the important factors that go into building an accounting practice.

Attorneys and accountants can work together to form bonds in relation to how to develop sustainable ways to maintain the profession: professional, transparent and efficient in a manner which is effective in solving financial problems but also solving problems in society.

We are often blinded by a picture of the future that oftentimes is not accurate. We must listen to our heart and make amends with our decisions. Once we choose our profession, we should uplift it and make the best of the environment where we have been developing, where we will develop and where the future will bring a positive or negative outcome. Wishing that we did something else does not matter since we have invested so much into our education, our development and into our business.

Some of you have heard the saying: “do not cry over spilled milk”. This is true in the profession of accounting since sometimes we are mocked as boring and technical people. However, there is a silver lining, accounting is a practical and very useful trade in the business world. Many of the most respected people I have met are accountants who have or have not used their education to build a business or succeed but they have the education and foundation for the development of business.

When we think about what we would like to do with our career, we should really question our integrity, our desire to form a business and a desire to serve. Serving the community goes beyond words, we must elaborate fully what that means. And so it goes, that we sometimes are blinded by a picture of the future that succumbs us to other people’s desires.

But wait, there is still so much more to say, so much more to say about accounting as a profession and as a trade. Preparing for the CPA exam is only one portion of the equation, and we must be cognizant of what this means for us and for our team. Having a team at our disposition means growing, learning from each other and collaborating for the betterment of the organization and the community.

Accountants are an important part of the business structure and the team that values one is one which will succeed, not only in business but as a group altogether.

Resist the temptation to confuse a good story with good leadership. Exciting stories are usually the result of poor decisions. Good leadership makes drama disappear.

-Martin Gutmann

I love this quote by Martin Gutmann; while attempting to be the CEO and official at my startup I recognize a lot of drama in the process. My take is that we must guide our organization with charisma but with a clear mind without giving in to desperate or “poor decisions”.

Initially, it is important to set up the groundwork to organize a team and processes that are lasting, and which will accomplish the goals of the organization. Then, it is important to follow that plan and not lose sight of what we are trying to accomplish. Finally, it is important to be generous with our ideas so that everyone benefits, including employees, shareholders and customers.

When I think of great companies, I believe that planning is an important part of the process of success. Without a resolution to the small problems, resolution to big problems cannot be accomplished. Knowing the ins and outs of the organization, means knowing how each component operates and what each team member does. 

I believe that having a heart for business is not necessary, just planning and a clear path towards where we are headed is necessary. Missing opportunities to make connections is okay, failing to complete the budget for the annual report is okay, not filing your taxes on time due to time constraints is perfectly fine. However, do not lose sight of where you are going because otherwise the substance of the business and organization is lost. 

In accounting practices, there is an enforcement of rules, policies and it is a highly strict environment in which professionals must adhere to principles, structures and guides as to how to report, how to provide the appropriate information and where to go for the most updated information: irs.gov.

I have met many professionals in my career who lack an understanding, not of their job, but where they are headed or what they are trying to accomplish, and thus, things fall apart, and we end up empowering others but not ourselves. John Maxwell says that we must empower others to empower ourselves, and when we have reached a place where we can teach, we must do so, we must train, and we must educate. However, it is important to reach the appropriate time because without timing there is failure, just like the topic of planning.

I believe that many complexities of the business environment can be solved with organization, a clear mind and education about what we can and cannot do for ourselves and for others. In the end, it is our goal to help find solutions as opposed to hinder, damage or curtail any opportunities without the possibility of resolution. 

Writing, that is what I love to do, aside from swimming in the ocean or on the lake. Writing is the cure for many ills, aside from wine and I guess therapy, no pun intended. When I was a little kid in school, I used to write poems because it seemed like I was in love with everyone and with everything in my world. I was young, I was shy, and I was in school.

One day, my teacher invited a poet to give us a lesson. I was excited and mesmerized by the person in front of us. I really wanted to show them my poems and my writing. I wanted to show off, per say. The bubble burst when she told me that I did not have a clue as to how to write. Perhaps I was writing in the wrong language, and instead of speaking and writing in Spanish, I was a born English writer.

Once in a while I have read books, once in a while I have had the pleasure of reading someone’s articles and posts that make me wonder if they were thoughtful in their descriptions, grammar and storyline, but I have never heard of someone not being capable of writing. Needless to say, I was heartbroken and went to my parents and told them my ordeal, they were very upset as well but they let it be.

If I were a parent of a young child who enjoys writing, and who has a lot to say, I would encourage them to allow their son or daughter to explore those things that they like. Sometimes, we, as parents, try to impose our own desires upon our kids and do not let them blossom fully. There is so much to say, so much to be written yet, whether it is fiction, realism or simply blogs with tips about life.

While this blog is about something so far-fetched from what accounting is, I also ask myself, it may not be so farfetched. I am an accountant, I am a writer, I am a mother and in between all of these jobs, I am also human and have faults, great faults, like we all have. I write about my life because I care, because I want my mistakes to be the inspiration of others. I want my life to be an inspiration for the world to be a better place for all here in the United States and abroad.

Writing is something that we should all do once in a while, to express our anger about what is happening around the world, about happiness from what we experience at our homes with our friends and families and writing should be concise and to the point. There is no need to create issues where they do not exist, and writing should be an expression of our humanity.

Indian economy is on the verge of crumbling as more residents move abroad to find better opportunities for work. Initially, India was a country that many deemed mysterious and exotic, but with the implementation of tourism, India has become just another country where people outsource their business.

While studying at the university, many of my friends came from an Asian background. They were either in IT, or they wanted to work for a big firm in Plano. Plano sits in the middle of Texas, and it is the Silicon Valley of the state. Texas, during the 2000s was a hub for students coming into the country to learn and to get better jobs and then, it lost its way. The state remained conservative and it that did not allow for the integration of newcomers.

India is struggling to find Visas for professionals to come to the United States and they have resorted to producing low quality work to survive, because India, as a partial Muslim country still believes in an uncertain future, something that many countries struggle with around the world, including those in the third world. There is poor planning and a hope that the future will align with their desires.

New changes in technology have not made India more competitive, and if anything, they have made the country more obsolete. Indians do not have the language skills that their counterparts have, for example people from Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Muslim countries are underdeveloped because the value of women is minimal and there is a waste of human capital. However, India has potential in the manner that they handle the next steps in their journey. They can make a change that allows them to grow exponentially and sufficiently to support their goals as a country and as an economy. The economy that has struggled for decades of colonialism.

This is not to say that Indians are not hard-working individuals, they mostly work long hours in the United States to bring in money towards their families back home and they are well traveled and smart, but they lack on the practice of good economic strategies.

The continent of Asia is well developed in many regards, but some countries need to explore new ways to tackle the changes in the economy, global warming, poverty and hunger. Without those elements under control, the country cannot thrive.

When we are faced with an ethical issue, it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. For example, taking a kick back or a bribe to clean up books in a manner that pass an audit. There are situations which are not completely black and white, and which create an ethical dilemma.

Accounting is a profession that thrives in honesty and transparency, not to say professionalism and respect for privacy, or maintaining a high level of confidentiality. Aside from that accounting as a profession is complex, it is not always as straightforward as we would like it to be, but we can be transparent about our demeanor.

Businesses will always try to hide certain parts of their books to auditors because they have to, not because they want to. And as far as auditors go, transparency but rational is also important, not rationalization of fraud. It is not necessary to deem a business incompetent based on factors that are irrelevant or minimal.

Sometimes we encounter situations that are complicated, but we must break them down and recognize what is important to an audit or a tax return and factors that are outside the norm or policies implemented by the Internal Revenue Service.

We are not the friend of the client, we are their accountant and as auditor roles go, we are a professional looking for errors, and not participants in their business. Now that this is clear, it is necessary to maintain a level of neutrality in which we are not biased nor veered in any direction, only making decisions based on facts.

As I recall during the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci kept a cool head during a tragic moment in history around the world. Everyone was affected but Dr. Fauci focused on the data that was provided by medical staff and other counterparts to have the least casualties.

In one way or another, we can learn that keeping a neutral, transparent and unbiased demeanor can provide outcomes that are relevant and forthcoming for the audit. An ethical demeanor is necessary for the performance of duties in the accounting and auditing profession, even when the direct elements are not clear because two wrongs do not make a right and right is sometimes not as uncomplicated as we want it to be.

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a system developed by economist William F. Sharp; he described his recognized system as a manner in which to be risk averse by using data that historically has evolved into allowing the system to predict when investments value in price and when they tend to devalue. By participating in research of trends and various other information that is presented via interaction with clients, brokerage companies can overcome the challenges that the market presents.

By allowing a mutual interaction between the broker, the investor and the customer, a possible prediction in price can be presented in order to make decisions for those who have placed a “bet” in the system that should operate mostly automatically if all the elements are positioned in the right place. The role of brokers is to actively research and investigate the trends of companies earning profits and making a clear improvement in their income statement. Income Statements provide a clear picture of how a company is performing monthly and quarterly, year end reports provide a picture of the fiscal year and thus, investors must be aware of these documents.

Initially, the first thought when entering into a contract with a broker, the fear of losing out on the investment can be very difficult to overcome. The challenge that most people have when entering into the area of securities and the stock market is aversion to risk. When participating in the process of inversion and securities value, one must have a tough heart. Emotions play a big role in the decision making over the resources that will be used to “recycle” the value of those resources.

A startup investor must be mindful of the decisions made on one’s behalf and should make decisions based on the financial priorities at hand. When beginning the process of learning the trends, information and education is crucial, just like in any other area of finance and business. Several times, investments fail due to the lack of willingness to make a clear distinction between the cost to the individual and that of the business itself, if one is associated with the former.

Wall Street can teach us many lessons about how to be efficient with our resources and assets, the reinvestment of funds and how funds can create wealth while at the same time supporting businesses big and small. When we invest in the stock market, we become shareholders of a company and we should always ask ourselves, whether the investment will return any value or if the situation that we will encounter will be detrimental to our portfolio. Advanced investors know how to react to major and tragic events in the economic system, and they are prepared to make changes according to their needs and goals.

Investing is not easy, there is a necessary process that must be followed in order to thrive in a very cutting-edge environment, where clients are sophisticated and have a very good knowledge of what they want their results to be. For brokers, the idea is making the most of the funds invested and thus only positive results will define their success. In general, brokers prefer clients who are willing to risk more than less because the return on their investment as well as the commission that they receive for performing services is higher than if the opposite was the case.

Investing for beginners is always difficult and should never be taken lightly, the use of resources to learn and get information on trends, stock value and general knowledge in how companies become profitable through the provision of elements as important as a good product, and a process that creates a good service to clients is necessary to know whether the outcome of the investment will be positive or negative.

Participating in client advisory services requires that the CPA is prepared enough to ask difficult yet questions that businesses can and will benefit from by considering them. One of the many issues that accounting firms encounter in the preparation of the services that they provide is the outsourcing component. In many instances, it is difficult to be attentive and successful in all portions of the business. It is important to keep a mindset of delegation and hierarchy in which some teams which are a part of the CPA firm, participate with segregated duties while having the lead of the CPA.

Large CPA firms have the potential of providing services that small CPA firms do not. For example, providing auditing compliance services poses a liability to the firm and thus many firms steer away from this portion of the industry. Accounting services, which include taxes, general accounting and financial reporting, as well as modeling and projections and budgeting can be performed by large corporation in a streamlined manner so that clients get the just in time results that they want when they need them.

Small businesses and organizations, lack structure, which is needed for the success of the business. Without processes and systems, firms will not thrive. And CPA firms are not excluded, every step that is taken in an organization should be recorded and every team member, accountant, associate and partner must be aware of what those systems are and how they function. Everyone must be on board in order to succeed, from the sales front face of the organization to the back-end software developer and customer service component.

For individuals who operate in a solo practice, organization is key, and the questions that were posed for the success of the business must be modified and reconsidered within reasonable time in order to fulfill the obligations to the clients that the firm serves. Outsourcing is not the answer, it is a temporary solution that could help an organization grow, but it will not be a sustainable process when the time comes to explain the reports, projections and models to the clients.

The CPA must be well versed, educated and prepared to answer questions in a timely manner, particularly when regulations and policy changes rapidly in an environment that includes politics, social change and scholar and academic input.

It is important to look at the big picture, for a business to thrive. While maintaining a conservative and frugal expense base, it is also important to understand the component of risk and the component of uncertainty. Gambling with funding is not appropriate and here is where budgeting and cash flow projections come in. CPA firms are very technical operations and these firms that demand a position and a mindset that organizes data, information and provides results in the manner of reports for business owners who provide products to their own client base, something that CPA firms do not.

Consider CPA firms as a tool for businesses to hang on to and ask difficult questions and see the results of their operations in paper with the profit in mind. In the end, the proof comes to light at the end of the billing cycle, during tax season and during periods of requesting credit. It is important to put your heart in the business, but it is also important to keep a cool head to avoid overspending where it is not necessary.

When corporations are taxed on their dividends, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does it in two manners, once when they sell them to smaller corporations as stock and once when they are distributed to shareholders. We sometimes wonder as to how Walmart, Lowes or even stores like Michael's are able to maintain such high level of inventory, make the sales and earn a profit. Sometimes we may wonder as to why they are making such a high profit, and the answer lies upon taxable deductions.

Examples of deductions are the DRD, as explained above, as well as deductions for several other items that accountants come across in the Profit Loss and Balance Sheet. Many of the expenses that are deductible are meals and entertainment but also bad debt.

Bad debt is a burden to the corporation that tries to operate in a manner that is sustainable and profitable but without funds coming into the organization, the company may go bankrupt or no longer have a going concern, which means that it has enough liquid assets to pay off debts itself as well as liabilities.

Corporations bring jobs to the public and they are part of the history of the United States, from Ford which built cars in amounts of less than $1,000 for sale as well as low capital which allowed the company to grow potentially in Detroit, Michigan. Other companies that are important to the American public are Honeywell which provides technology and General Mills, which produces nutritious meals throughout the history of the country and during the wars that the country has endured; also during periods of peace.

Corporations are a good thing, as they are straightforward entities that create jobs and profit to invest in the government, the military, peace at home, social care and energizing the country with new ideas to develop and continue to have the most advance economy in the world. While it may seem weird and crazy to think that break even situations are bad, they are acceptable, and corporations should aim for that if nothing else is foreseeable in the landscape. Profits are better, but no losses are also okay.

Finally, all business structures are important, and they all play a fundamental role in the economy, the environment where they operate and the public and the customers that they serve.

An angel in investment terms means someone who believes in your company and is willing to invest on it. I learned about angels a few years ago, when I was beginning to acquire funds for my company, the Stagnaro Financial Group. I am pleased to say that there were angels who lent me funding and allowed me to grow potentially during the first months of my startup, and for that I am extremely grateful.

It is impossible to have a startup without an angel, someone who believes in you and in your goals, in your mission and the journey ahead. While it is important to believe in ourselves, it is important to have others backing us; it can be family, friends or companies that care about the future of small companies, woman owned companies and minority-based organizations.

I have had recurring conversations as to why I should or should not go in the path of business ownership and why my edge would be to be the best at what I do. I do not like hand me downs, I do not like second places, and I like to be the best at what I do. We all want that in one way or another and we try our best to attain what we believe in.

I believe in angels, both in investment and on earth and while this may seem quite metaphorical, it is the only way to explain why we stay afloat, why we survive and why we move forward. There is no clear explanation about the support, encouragement, push forward, and many more characteristics of those people who surround us. It is sometimes by chance that we encounter opportunities and those opportunities are sacred, something that we must not waste; because as Frank Sinatra stated in his song "I Did It My Way", we must live without regrets.

Angels are here on earth, they are people with a desire to help us, not only because perhaps they were in a similar position before, but because, and here I give my opinion, there is still something to be believe in the good of humanity and in business. Ending the suffering of people is a long journey, but we can do it, we can end those elements that bring sorrow to our lives and to our communities.

I stand united with my community and hope that in the future, more of us become compassionate and selfless enough to help others. Because in the end, it is not the success of our business what counts but the success of the whole business community, the success of society in an attempt to curb problems in the world that are rampant. In today's world we are interconnected, we are a global community, and the news tell us that there is little to be overseen. Nuclear bombs can fall on anyone's ground, and turmoil in war zones affects our economy in many ways, as a matter of fact the economy of many other countries and places in the world.

I believe that change starts in our heart and in the way that we see problems, in the manner of how we approach complexity and in the manner in which we prepare for an uncertain future, that can bring us peace and comfort or violence and chaos.

I stand with those who believe in change and who have taken steps to move forward with the mindset of selflessness, collaboration and a mindset of strength, to stand up to the waves of change and to see what we are and where we are headed. We are strongest together.

I like to use my own experience as a way to explain events in my life and in my organization. Many times, I use examples that hit close to home, that are too recent or that are perhaps a bit offensive to some. In one way or another this all has to do with communication and how we understand each other.

In a perfect world, there would be no arguments, no disagreements and no wars; however, the truth is that without them there would not be peace. So, we must use communication to get our message across regardless of how we feel or think. This seems like a very difficult phrase to understand, but it is simple.

When we approach people, we have an agenda in our mind as to what we expect, what they will say and how we will react to their comments and conversation, regardless of the topic. This blog does not have anything to do with being professional, or mature or experienced, it has to do with how we communicate with other people and understanding what they mean while at the same time understanding what we try to convey.

Sometimes, we see things from one and only one perspective, maybe we are in a rush, or we are stressed, and we do not get to the bottom of a conversation, we do not understand the words of the person we are talking to. We do not pay attention to the environment or the place where we are having the conversation and our words come across as rude, bland or simply careless.

Communicating properly means leaving aside our personal engraved judgements and listening. We can listen and understand what others say at which point we can agree, disagree or comment. But without understanding that communication requires really hearing the other person's message, it is impossible to understand each other and get along.

Oftentimes, I have met people who I assume will understand what I am saying or who will agree with me, and I leave conversations with a bitter taste because I did not truly listen or because I assumed that they would agree with my message or understand it. On the other hand, sometimes we are left with a taste of knowledge and satisfaction when we encounter someone who understands our message and our words.

So, it's simple, it is like playing with strings phones when we were children, sometimes the string breaks and we cannot hear each other, it could be because of events in our community, or situations that we encounter or simply because we don't want to communicate. And here I end, I leave my message: communicating properly matters and active listening is important for organizations, communities and governments to succeed.

When we appoint a member of our family, a friend, an acquaintance or anybody that we know as an agent, and we must be careful as to how much power they have over our own lives and decisions. Legal processes would factor in what is authority, for example that which is express and implied as well as estoppel and ratification. When entering in conversations about contracts we must keep in mind that the Universal Uniform Code (UCC) states they must be in writing and there are some other causes related to the mailing rule and FOB shipping or delivery point.

Let's look at an example, a manager gives the authority to an employee to contact customers and collect payments due. When the employee calls the customers, they are acting as an agent of the manager and the employer and in fact, they are representing the company itself. However, the owner of this company or manager can avoid misuse of authority by providing feedback and declining unwanted actions due to the agent's behavior.

CPAs are agents of the public and the customers that they attain should understand the term: contract. Contracts can be verbal or written and while written contracts carry more weight if they are not signed under duress or with the purpose of unjust enrichment, verbal agreements can also be upheld in court.

Legal representatives of the public and to private parties have a duty to do their due diligence and to present cases in tax court that would probably be upheld by the same court as opposed to a case that is only possible. In accounting terms, this means that clients must feel comfortable with the decisions that the CPA is taking on their behalf and as their agent.

In today's business world, we see many agents acting in a manner that is not ethical or appropriate and their principals must adhere to their rights and make sure that the agent is providing the best representation and best outcome for their case and service. Agents are important for the public because in many instances, courts, for example, will not hear an individual case from someone who is not familiar or knowledgeable of the legal, accounting and business lingo and process.

Business is wonderful when everything works according to a formula that allows us to provide a service with measure, caution, dedication and accuracy. As an agent of my clients, I would like to believe that I am offering a service and that my clients benefit from my work and skillset which is highlighted in various places such as my website, our social media pages and in my interactions with those who seek results in their livelihood.

Leaders must disrupt the workplace, industry and environment and lead by example; but most importantly, they must be able to tell a story about why they can lead and how they can influence their business environment. Leadership in finance is based on knowledge, attitude and disposition to learn from peers, companies and clients. In this historic time, clients and the public are technically savvy, sophisticated and knowledgeable, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, accountants and financial advisors must not be left behind in their goal to create a climate that both benefits them and their clients but that serves a purpose for the public.

Nonprofit leaders are very good at telling a story; each organization that is based in the desire and goal to achieve a better future for society must be able to relate to all portions of the community where they function and to have a close understanding of why they exist. Nonprofits and for-profit businesses must have different goals, and they can help each other to succeed in many ways and areas of business. While a story may relate to the hardships that people experience on a day-to-day basis such as basic needs, other issues could relate to the economy, jobs or housing, and they all interrelate.

While working as a Direct Sales Representative at Comcast in Atlanta, Georgia, I learned to tell a story to my prospective customers. When we approach people, a connection is made and the time to reach that person is very short, but we can create rapport and elaborate a story that tells them who we are and why we can discuss topics that are similar to both and that connect us in one way or another. The trick in being a leader is to stand out due to our traits, our work and our perseverance. Financial and accounting professionals struggle with the challenge of competition, just like any other profession; the trick is to become unique in our own way, helping each other and addressing those issues which are important to our profession and our peers.

Disruption in business does not mean breaking the rules; it means disrupting the status quo, or the state of where things currently stand, at the Latin phrase goes, the key in making a difference is placing ourselves in someone else’s shoes and seeing their views and opinions from their side of the fence, even better, breaking down the fence and sharing, elaborating, brainstorming and collaborating in the creation of bigger, better and more sustainable opportunities for all.