Kula’s New People

August 21, 2009

Someone once told me that I was one of the most optimistic people they had ever met.  Since the person was a banker reviewing my business plan, I’m not sure he meant it as a compliment.  But, I’ll take it as a positive trait!  With that caveat, I would like to announce the following additions [...]

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No Such Thing as a Courtesy Interview

August 12, 2009

Does this experience sound familiar?  After two rounds of interviews, the first round with the hiring manager and an H.R. representative and the second round with a prospective colleague, the company brings you back for a “courtesy” interview with a few of the executive staff, or the CEO, or your prospective team.  It’s billed as [...]

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Tired of All Those Recruiting Calls?

July 27, 2009

Have you been receiving 15, 20, or even 25 calls a day from recruiters?  Including several from different members of the same recruiting firm?  If you have, I’ll bet you are tired of them and are just about ready to unload on the next recruiter that calls.  Some of you may have already unloaded!  Here’s [...]

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In Honor of Al Franken: Deep Thoughts

July 16, 2009

 I’m old enough to remember Al Franken on Saturday Night Live. Heck, I’m old enough to remember George Carlin when he was a teenaged comedian!  I used to love Al’s “Deep Thoughts” segment and his ending affirmation that he was “smart enough”, “nice enough” and, dog gone it, “people like me”-enough that I’m doing this [...]

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Reward Your Staff This Memorial Day Weekend

May 13, 2009

Does it sometimes feel that you are always in the close cycle?  Either month, quarter, or year end close?  We believe that must be the case as we hear the following everyday:  “I can’t talk now, I’m in close.”  This is usually said in a hurried, almost whispered voice.  Closing is stressful; we know – [...]

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Silicon Valley Unemployment

May 5, 2009

Eleven percent!  Did I read the EDD press release correctly?  The unemployment rate in the heart of the Silicon Valley is currently eleven percent.  In March, 2008, four months into the recession (that we officially learned about in late August, 2008), the rate was five-point-three percent (5.3%).  We have doubled the unemployment rate in one [...]

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Big 4: Going? Going? Gone?

October 3, 2008

Last week’s posting ended with this question: “What does a poorly run financial institution have to do to get a qualified opinion from its auditors?”  Evidently I’m not the only person asking this question.A small army of lawyers is asking or planning to ask Big 4 bigwigs the same question – in court.  In fact [...]

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Get Off My Lawn

September 26, 2008

Does anyone remember the old banking maxim: “If you owe the bank a little bit, the bank owns you — but, if you owe the bank a lot, you own the bank?” Looks like this is a truism, because “We the People” now own the banks, and the insurance companies, and the investment banks, too. [...]

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Should Accountants Be Afraid of the Big Bad Economy?

September 19, 2008

 Hello, is anybody there?  Is this mic on?  Is the end of the financial world as we know it just a few days away?   As I read the financial news, listen to talk radio and play phone tag with my broker it certainly feels like apocalypse now. It’s like this: I bank at WaMu, [...]

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A Tall Tail

July 3, 2008

This is yours truly on a trip to France we took in 2005. My friend, Monsieur Doggie, did not enjoy a sip of wine – but he devoured pate like Alpo.

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