Every now and then we all use cash for a business expense, and although we know the IRS likes to see business expenses paid from our business account – well, each of us at one time or another may have used a personal account for a business expense.  You can track cash expenses or business expenses paid from your personal account (an account not managed in your Ascend Live business portfolio) and still have one comprehensive expense report come tax time!

Click Deposit, then other.  You will not enter an amount in the amount field - you will instead enter the amount as an Income Category amount (we suggest adding an income category named something like “Posting Expenses Direct to Reports) and then add a line, using the green + sign below that, to post the expense as a negative number to an expense category. It is critical that the income category amount balances the expense category amount and that your left to split area is at $0.00 then just click save and the expense will be posted directly to your report.  Remember, you are entering this as a deposit (other) NOT a spend transaction for it to post to your reports.  Once you do it a few times you’ll get the hang of it!

To see this in action I would recommend watching the video tutorial “Getting Started Any Other Day Than Jan 1st” as it will help you walk through this process.  You can access this video tutorial as well as many others on the support page of our website:

http://www.ascendlive.com/vidtutorials.aspx

There is something in us, something small but undeniably powerful that reacts violently to the idea of committing to intention.

When you make a decision, it reflects on you. When you make a commitment however, you didn’t just tie your hands for the moment, but you have staked your character on following through. From there on out, your decisions will have to follow the precedent that your commitment set. You now have narrowed your own freedom and have the potential to be blamed for making the “wrong” decision. You have made a pledge to do or not to do something in particular, and people will notice and probably confront you if it doesn’t line up.

This need to “justify” is irritating.  You are the leader, you call the shots.  They don’t need to understand everything.  So instead, you are tempted to just avoid the whole thing in its entirety. You entertain yourself with the thought that having no intentional commitments equals unparalleled freedom, and with freedom you will achieve the success and satisfaction that you long for.

Think about the ball and chain jokes that people make about marriage.  While we are absolutely delighted to marry our spouse - to love, cherish, respect, and honor them for the rest of our lives, we understand the challenges that will come from that decision.  We are committing to intention!  The divorce rates in America are good proof that intention and commitment are easier said than done.

I will agree that it is easier when we try to put off making these kinds of decisions.  But if you had wanted the “easy” way you wouldn’t be in business for yourself! That said, the first step toward developing confidence in making commitments is confronting the fear associated with it.  Being afraid of making the “wrong” decision will not hold power over you if you are intentional about what you commit to.  You won’t be frightened of the “justification” if you thoroughly understand what motivated the decision and still believe in its validity.  And finally, you will not be deterred by the longevity if it is something that you placed value and worth in waiting for.  Once you have confronted your reservations, replaced them with thoughtful deliberation, the only thing missing is action.

It is necessary, then, that you be daring enough to make commitments, brilliant enough to know what commitments to make, and tenacious enough to see them into fruition.

Commitment is stewardship.

IT matters.