Keeping good records yourself, no matter how unpleasant it may seem, will minimize costs of paying an accountant and allow you more control of your financial information and operations. Maintaining good records can also help you avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of your receipts and other records throughout year. This can help you remember various transactions you made during year so you can properly document and maximize your tax deductions.

Normally, tax records should be kept for three years, but some documents - records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, IRA and business or rental property - should be kept longer.

Good record keeping not only enables IRS to evaluate your business activity through original and supporting documents, but it also gives you information you need to properly manage and grow your business.

You can keep track of your business transactions by writing them down, usually in books such as journals or ledgers or by typing them into a computer software program. It's best to choose a system that's simple, yet can be changed to meet your needs in future. An accounting system should show your income and expenses and can be easily understood, especially by you. If you have more than one business, it's best to keep completely separate books for each type of business activity.

The two basic types of bookkeeping methods are single entry and double-entry systems. Whether you choose to keep a written ledger or use computer software, record only information that needs to be documented.

Single-Entry Bookkeeping Single-entry bookkeeping uses a cash receipts journal, a cash disbursements journal and also use of a checkbook. All business transactions are recorded in one of these journals. It is a practical bookkeeping system for small businesses that are just starting.

When you are going in to work every day to do a job that seems boring and routine, how do you keep going?

When business that you have started up does not seem to be going anywhere, how do you keep motivated?

When you know that you have talents that are unused and unrecognised, how do you keep at it?

In short, when faced with these situations how do you keep flame alive? The flame of enthusiasm, of interest, of pride in your work, of satisfaction of a good job done?

It is not always easy.

It is not always easy to sustain a positive attitude in face of setbacks. It is not always easy to maintain enthusiasm amidst surrounding lethargy. It is not always easy to keep working hard when your abilities are not stretched.

But you must.

You must believe, really believe, that there is something better. Because there is.

You must believe, really believe, that you yourself can do better. Because you can.

The world is full of people doing jobs more interesting than yours, more challenging than yours, more exiting than yours, better paid than yours. You have only got to look around to see that this is true. Ask yourself: 'If they can, why can't I?'.

Some are employed. Others have their own businesses. It doesn't matter which. Chose your own path. Somewhere out there there is something for you.

Don't let other people tell you what you can't do. There are plenty of people who will do that. Listen to few, sometimes very few, who tell you that you can.