Would you consider yourself a marketing pro? How up to date are you on the most important marketing trends? We've got a fast way for you to test your knowledge. Take our short, 10-question quiz to discover the information you need to keep your company ahead of the pack.

Most businesses typically use one of two basic accounting methods in their bookkeeping systems: cash basis and accrual basis. While most businesses use the accrual basis, the most appropriate method for your company depends on your sales volume, whether or not you sell on credit, and your business structure. The cash method is the most simple in that the books are kept based on the actual flow of cash in and out of the business. Income is recorded when it is received, and expenses are reported when they are actually paid. The cash method is used by many sole proprietors and businesses with no inventory.

You've heard it all before: the "goddamn" printer jam, the "f-ing" fax machine, the "asshole" who took the last danish. Colorful language has always been part of the workplace, but employers and employees are increasingly unleashing strings of profanities reminiscent of a George Carlin show. It seems that, frankly, most people don't give a damn about what they say at work.

Building your brand encompasses a range of activities that are focused on a common goal: creating strategic positioning for your company. Many elements go into brand development including your copy style, layouts and colors, and core messaging. But perhaps nothing is quite as compelling, or can have as significant an effect, as your logo. Once you've designed your logo, your work has just begun; you need to creatively use it to ensure maximum exposure to your target market.

When it comes to hiring staff for your business, you probably most often consider bringing full-time employees on board. But there are certain tasks and positions that might best be filled by an independent contractor, such as one-time or intermittant projects, graphic design, copywriting, research and development, and accounting. And while most business owners understand that independent contractors can't be treated like employees, you may not know exactly what the differences are. So let me spell it out for you with a few questions and answers that explain just what can be required of any independent contractors you hire and that offer tips on how best to manage them.

The biggest obstacles in my life were usually put there by me. To quote the cartoon character Pogo, "We have met the enemy, and he is us." As a life coach, one of my jobs is to help people get out of their own way. In their hearts, they know what they want to do. They know right from wrong. They know when they are lying to themselves. They know they have choices. But sometimes they forget. Instead, they get in the habit of reacting to external demands, or following the herd, instead of listening to their own inner wisdom.