Accounting platforms? What platform do you recommend for manufacturing, sales orders, PO’s, AR, AP GL, Banking, PR?? Is quickBooks enterprise reliable? Thank you for your help

As I start this community, one thing is becoming apparent to me. I have way too many connections on LinkedIn and friends on Facebook that I have no relationship with. I have always wondered why I have so little reach on social media. I believe this is one reason why. These are networks of people you know, not a list of potential prospects or just people that randomly want to connect. If my connections on these networks were more authentic, they would be much more effective as my network. We all need each other, and we need real connections and friends online that we can support and who can support us. Too many people that you have no relationship in your social network connections, dilutes your ability to use your network for a resource, and to be able to support others as well. I am making a commitment now to unfriend people who are not real connections on Facebook, and disconnect with people on LinkedIn that are outside my domain of influence or whom I am not seeking a relationship online. As a CEO, your personal network is vital to the future of your career. I learned after my first business that you can't just go out and find another CEO job. You have to develop close relationships with other business owners or company directors or boards of companies that can be a potential for you to either consult with, or possibly work as a CEO. Without these, when you leave your CEO post in your current job, you'll be unemployed for an extended period of time, and your next job will likely not be a CEO, or even in the C-Suite. You'll be left with consulting as your only option besides dumbing down your resume and pretending to be an experienced (whatever you are good at). Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are about this.

In recent years, the landscape of education has been undergoing a significant transformation. The advent of online learning platforms has provided an alternative to traditional college degrees, with many suggesting that these new methods of education could make conventional degrees obsolete. As the value of traditional college education continues to decline, and as colleges fail to adequately prepare students for specific careers, the potential of online learning becomes increasingly evident. The Decline of Traditional College Education The value of a college degree has been diminishing for several reasons. Tuition fees have skyrocketed, leaving students burdened with debt. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2023–2024 academic year is approximately $10,560 for in-state students at public colleges and $27,020 for out-of-state students at public institutions. For private colleges, the average cost is even higher, at $38,070 per year. Despite these high costs, many graduates find themselves underprepared for the job market. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the employment rate for recent college graduates was 76% in 2020, compared to 69% for high school graduates. However, a significant number of college graduates end up in jobs that do not require a degree, highlighting a mismatch between education and employment. The Rise of Online Learning Online learning platforms offer a flexible, affordable, and practical alternative to traditional education. According to a report by the Babson Survey Research Group, more than 30% of higher education students in the United States were taking at least one distance education course in 2019. This number has undoubtedly increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of online learning. Moreover, online learning often provides more targeted education tailored to specific careers. For example, platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer courses developed by industry leaders and top universities. These courses cover a wide range of subjects, from programming and data science to digital marketing and business management. Many of these platforms also offer certification programs that can be completed in a matter of months, providing students with practical skills that are immediately applicable in the job market. This is one reason sites like Skool are rising in popularity.

It is easy to log into Skool once and then forget about it. You don't know what you are missing if you do that. You will benefit enormously if you participate in our community. So take a few minutes right now and do this: 1. If using a computer - Bookmark the link to this community on your Google Chrome bar. 2. Use something like LastPass and save your login details. 3. Pin this community to the left side of your Skool page (settings, community, pin it). 4. Explore the tabs and you’ll understand how simple the tool is to use and navigate. 5. Get the Skool App on your phone. 6. Introduce yourself on the pinned welcome post and you’ll see a bunch of people like it, which will unlock level two and you can now post and make some new connections you could have missed out on. 7. Complete the training in the Classroom, it’s literally the key to millions of you take it serious enough and go all in. As amazing as the content is here, I think what will be even more valuable over time are the people you’ll meet and the opportunities you’ll create with them.

Creating and maintaining a positive company culture is essential for driving employee engagement, boosting productivity, and retaining top talent. Start by fostering open communication and encouraging feedback at all levels. Empower your team with clear goals and recognize their achievements regularly. Cultivate a shared sense of purpose by aligning your company’s mission with your employees' values. Remember, a positive culture isn't just about perks—it's about creating an environment where your team feels valued, motivated, and inspired to do their best work every day. Invest in your culture, and watch your business thrive! 💪 I had to learn this when I became the CEO of my first company. I had to first learn how to lead, so I could influence the culture, but also get my employees to follow me. They had to feel like they were valued and important, they needed to feel heard, and they needed a vision to follow and get excited about. I also learned that I needed to have a set of common values that our company adhered to. Those values would define the character of our company. Like it or not, as a CEO, you will determine what your company culture is. You can either do it intentionally, or it will form itself. On its own, it may not turn out so good. You set the culture because the company will be a reflection of you.