Nothing ventured, nothing gained

As the new year draws near, the familiar adage, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” may be truer than ever — especially on the job. A recent survey reveals that, while a small percentage of workers (12 percent) made career-related resolutions at the beginning of 2006, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of those who did were successful in achieving their goals. When it comes to career objectives for 2007, 24 percent of respondents named skills enhancement as their number-one priority for the new year. Earning a raise was a close second.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 559 full or part-time workers 18 years or older and employed in office environments.

“The start of the new year is an ideal time to reflect on achievements during the past 12 months and set goals for the future,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accounttemps and author of “Managing Your Career for Dummies.”

For those considering career-related New Year’s resolutions, Accountemps offers the following tips:

- Set realistic objectives — Allow yourself stretch goals, but make sure they are attainable. Establish a timeline for accomplishing them.

- Develop a specific plan — Break big goals into smaller action items to ensure you stay on track.

- Reward yourself — Acknowledge your successes — doing so will increase your drive to keep achieving.

- Maintain balance — You may be dedicated to your career, but don’t lost sight of personal interests.

Daily press



Getting top dollar for your ride

A new business model reduces the time to sell your car to under an hour, and at a decent price.

Ask anyone, and they’ll probably groan at the idea of having to sell a car. Listing it in the classifieds, fielding the phone calls, bickering over price, waiting for people who may or may not show up and then worrying about the buyer being legit and not some criminal only there to steal your car, your money, or both. The alternative of a dealer trade-in usually means settling for the least amount you can get for your car, and just getting it over with so you can get home happily in your new car and forget about it.

Fortunately, those days may be over with a business model from a company called Gulliver U.S.A. who focuses on making it as easy as possible for the seller. A company representative arrives at your home and appraises the automobile, and within an hour you’ve obtained a decent price for your car, the paperwork has all been done so all you need to do is apply your signature, and the vehicle is gone, leaving you with no worries, an empty slot in your garage and a nice check.

Of paramount concern in the seller’s mind is the price the car will sell for, and many times a seller, after trying to get a car sold for weeks, will take a lower price to finally get rid of it. Gulliver’s representatives work more for the client and when a seller isn’t satisfied with the price, the representative will help sell the value of the vehicle back to the home office.

For more information about selling your car visit www.gulliverusa.net or call (800) 898-1173. Gulliver USA is located at 20803 Higgins Court, Torrance, CA.

DP