WASHINGTON (AP) — In a surprising show of growth, Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the last decade, exceeding estimates in many states as they crossed a new census milestone: 50 million, or 1 in 6 Americans.

Meanwhile, more than 9 million Americans checked more than one race category on their 2010 census form, up 32 percent from 2000, a sign of burgeoning multiracial growth in an increasingly minority nation.

The Census Bureau on Thursday was releasing its first set of national-level findings from the 2010 count on race and migration, detailing a decade in which rapid minority growth, aging whites and the housing boom and bust were the predominant story lines.

The final count: 196.8 million whites, 37.7 million blacks, 50.5 million Hispanics and 14.5 million Asians.

Hispanics and Asians were the two fastest growing demographic groups, increasing about 42 percent from 2000.

In a surprising show of growth, Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the last decade, exceeding estimates in most states. Pulled by migration to the Sun Belt, America’s population center edged westward on a historic path to leave the Midwest.

The Census Bureau on Thursday will release its first set of national-level findings from the 2010 count on race and migration, detailing a decade in which rapid minority growth, aging whites and increased suburbanization were the predominant story lines. Geographers estimate that the nation’s population center will move southwest about 30 miles and be placed in or near the village of Plato in Texas County, Mo.

“There is excitement,” said Brad Gentry, 48, of Houston, Mo., who publishes the weekly paper in Texas County, noting that the U.S. population center typically carries symbolic meaning as the nation’s heartland. “It is putting a spotlight on a corner of the world that doesn’t get much attention. Most residents are proud of our region and like the idea that others will learn our story through this recognition.”

Racial and ethnic minorities are expected to make up an unprecedented 90 percent of the total U.S. growth since 2000, due to immigration and higher birth rates for Latinos.

Based on 2010 census data that has been released so far on a state-by-state basis, the number of Hispanics is now at roughly 47 million with figures for New York, Maine and the District of Columbia to come later Thursday. The 2009 census data estimated the Hispanic count in those places at over 3 million, putting Hispanics on track to exceed 50 million. Demographers widely believe the 50 million threshhold will be reached, with a total count close to 50.5 million.

Currently the fastest growing group, Hispanics now comprise 1 in 6 Americans; among U.S. children, Hispanics are roughly 1 in 4.

According to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis, the 2010 count of Hispanics was on track to be 900,000 higher than expected as their ranks surpassed census estimates in roughly 40 states. Many of their biggest jumps were in the South, including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Louisiana, where immigrants made large inroads over the last decade.

Asians for the first time had a larger numeric gain than African-Americans, who remained the second largest minority group at roughly 37 million. Based on the 2010 census results released by state so far, multiracial Americans were on track to increase by more than 25 percent, to about roughly 8.7 million.

The number of non-Hispanic whites, whose median age is now 41, edged up slightly to 197 million. Declining birth rates meant their share of the total U.S. population dropped over the last decade from 69 percent to roughly 64 percent.

“This really is a transformational decade for the nation,” said William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution who has analyzed most of the 2010 data. “The 2010 census shows vividly how these new minorities are both leading growth in the nation’s most dynamic regions and stemming decline in others.”

“They will form the bulk of our labor-force growth in the next decade as they continue to disperse into larger parts of the country,” he said.

The final figures come as states in the coming months engage in the contentious process of redrawing political districts based on population and racial makeup, with changes that analysts believe will result in more Hispanic-majority districts.

The population changes will result in a shift of 12 House seats and electoral votes affecting 18 states beginning in the 2012 elections. Most of the states picking up seats, which include Texas and Florida, are Republican-leaning, even as most of their growth is now being driven largely by Democrat-leaning Hispanics.

Among other findings:

-In at least 10 states, the share of children who are minorities has already passed 50 percent, up from five states in 2000. They include Mississippi, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, California, New Mexico and Hawaii.

-Over the last decade, Latino population growth was most rapid in the South, where many states have seen their Latino populations double since 2000. For the first time, Hispanic population growth outpaced that of blacks and whites in the region, changing the South’s traditional “black-white” image.

-More than half of the cities with the largest African-American concentrations showed black population declines in the last decade, including Chicago and Detroit. In contrast, the suburbs of growing southern metro areas like Atlanta, Dallas and Houston saw some of their highest gains.

The Census Bureau calculates the mean U.S. population center every 10 years based on its national head count. The center represents the middle point of the nation’s population distribution – the geographic point at which the country would balance if each of its 308.7 million residents weighed the same.

Plato, with a population of 109, is roughly 30 miles southwest of the present mean center in Phelps County, Mo. Based on current U.S. growth, which is occurring mostly in the South and West, the center of population is expected to cross into Arkansas or Oklahoma by midcentury.

The last time the U.S. center fell outside the Midwest was 1850, in the eastern territory now known as West Virginia. Its later move to the Midwest bolstered the region as the nation’s cultural heartland in the 20th century, central to U.S. farming and Rust Belt manufacturing sites.

—

Online:

http://www.census.gov/

Boomer Entrepreneur Roundtable

Each month Baby Boomers interested in starting a business or improving their current business come together to discuss entrepreneur topics. Boomers work together, sharing their challenges and receiving guidance & ideas from each other. A panel of Boomer facilitators runs each meeting, but the focus is on you!
Date: January 27th

Time: 6:00PM-7:30PM

Location: Hollywood

Cost: $15.00 (refreshments provided)

Register: Click Here

This month’s panel discussion topics:

• Marketing Your Way To Success: How Effective Marketing Increases Sales
• Setting Goals & Managing Your Time, thus maintaining your sanity….

Sign In, Network & Refreshments ~ 20 min

Boomer Panel Presentation ~ 30 min

Topic Roundtable Exchange ~ 30 min

Wrap Up & Evaluation ~ 10 min

Boomer Workshops

When was the last time you asked your doctor or your lawyer to give you a discount on his/her fees? Unless your doctor or lawyer is a relative or good friend, it’s very likely you wouldn’t dare ask such a professional service provider to give you a discount, would you? So, if you consider yourself a professional, how come you continue to allow others to ask you to reduce your fees? But this fact is not the worst part of the situation. Many professionals are lowering their fees in a desperate attempt to get business.

Clients are asking for discounts, and many professionals are honoring their requests more and more every day. When you provide a discount on your services, you are giving permission to others to think your services are not worth much.

Price your services right. The price you set for your services must be determined by the value perception your clients are getting in return for their money. Are you meeting your clients’ expectations? What are they walking away with? Why should they buy from you and not your competitors?

Learn to say “no.” When you reduce your fees, you are sending a distress signal, not just about you but also about your entire industry. When you reduce your fees even just one time, it’s going to be very difficult to say no the next time this same client comes back. One of my dearest copywriters told me once when I asked him to come down on his price that he would feel very uncomfortable with himself if he were to reduce his rates. I loved his professional approach to standing behind his work.

Focus on your promise of value. When you know and have proof that what you are offering is of great “value” to your clients, make sure this is consistently displayed in your service delivery. Rather than discounting your fees to match competitors, focus on value-added features. Think about ways you can bundle in certain supplementary services, or create various offerings at various price levels so you can accommodate your client’s budget.

Improve your service offering. In today’s economy there are so many products and services that the market is simply oversaturated. Many service offerings are seen as a commodity for the simple reason that everybody is focusing on the same “attributes.” Your service offering should never follow product-marketing models. In the service business it’s all about that “special touch” you add to your offering. Your clients are simply looking for someone they can trust. They want to make sure you are reliable, that you are consistently delivering good value to them, and that you are always there for them. Benefits and service features are always good selling points. But a great relationship with your client is your best selling point.

Focus on your target market. If you are continually being asked to lower your fees, it is very likely you are targeting the wrong clients. Ask yourself if you are wasting your time trying to attract clients that are not willing and able to pay what you are worth. When you decide to focus on a niche market, it is important you understand what your clients’ practices and preferences are. Furthermore, make sure you have the capabilities and competencies to do an excellent job of delivering a high-value service offering.

Create a strong brand. Just as big corporations develop their brands, professionals can also develop a strong, differentiated brand. When you concentrate on developing a strong brand, you will not only become easily recognized but also create an emotional connection with your clients. Your competitors can try to replicate your processes, business model, technology, etc., but it will be very difficult for them to reproduce those beliefs and attitudes that you have established in the minds of your clients.

Remember, when we are selling a product or service, it’s not about us. It’s about our clients. Focus on your clients’ needs and wants, and always look for ways to enhance the relationship. In the absence of value, price becomes the only decision factor. Do not reduce your fees; instead, increase your competitiveness and the value-added features to your services.

“Pay off debt” and “save more money” are consistently among the top five resolutions made every January. But you don’t have to wait until the first of the year to bolster your financial picture. Here are a few ways to plan for a better financial future – every month.

January
Be a part of the crowd: Make that financial New Year’s Resolution. Take a full inventory of your finances, from the cost of life insurance to the yield you earn on your savings account. Commit to change.

February
Tax time is the perfect time to take a big-picture look at your finances. A trained tax professional can help you turn tax time into a bigger discussion about investments and savings. Be sure to visit your tax professional with questions in hand.

March
Do you owe taxes this year? Reduce your tax liability by opening an IRA. IRAs can lower your tax liability and help you save for the future. Plus, depending on your income requirements, you might be eligible for the Saver’s Credit, which rewards people for retirement saving. Ask your tax professional.

April
Owe on your taxes? Consider taking a look at your deductions to see if you can reduce that tax bill next year.

May
Each spring, “Home For Sale” signs pop up quicker than daisies. Spring and summer are prime times to buy or sell a house. If you’re considering buying or selling a home, use a reputable source, do your homework and shop for rates with the same passion you’d shop for a home. If you’re eligible to claim either the first-time home buyer credit of up to $8,000 or the tax credit of up to $6,500 as an existing homeowner, and you entered into a contract by April 30, 2010, you have until June 30, 2010 to close in order to take advantage of the credit.

June
New Year’s Eve isn’t the only time to resolve to put your finances in order. June is the perfect month for a mid-year financial tune up. What interest are you earning on your savings? Do you need to sock more away for retirement? How’s that debt reduction plan coming along?

July
The summer months are a hot time for interest rates. It’s also a great time to complete those home improvement projects around the house. Or, consider refinancing your existing mortgage at a lower rate. Reduce your mortgage payment or reinvest in your mortgage to reduce your payoff amount.

August
August is prime shopping time for those back to school needs. Prepare for back to school, and beyond. If you’ve got older kids at home, consider giving them a school budget – loaded on a prepaid debit card. Make them pick between that trendy T-shirt and those must-have – but very pricey – pants.

September
Do you have a child going to college this year? Help them start their financial status on a high note. Don’t let them fall victim to the endless parade of credit card solicitations. Ease them into plastic with a prepaid debit card; they’re easy to use, but unlike a credit card, they can only spend what they have. Give them the financial independence of a credit card, but without the credit risk.

October
Got credit card debt? Outline a plan to get it paid off. Whether it takes three months or a year, you’ll feel great when you rid yourself of that debt.

November
Save yourself a trip to the mall and consider gifts for the holidays that send a fiscally positive message. Give the kids in your family a newly opened savings account or certificate of deposit. Open it now and by year-end, they’ll already be able to see interest accrue. Start the right kind of savings habits, early.

December
Dreaming of summer vacation? Start your vacation fund this month. Put aside a lump sum every month and take that cruise to the Greek Isles in July – and without credit card debts.

We Do Individual & Corporate Tax Returns
Call Today (954) 788-2870

No taxpayer wants to be audited. There are steps you can take to decrease the chances you’ll be audited, or at least make any audit far less painful. Here’s a quick checklist to see if you’re in the clear. 1.       Cross your t’s and dot your i’s. The easiest way to avoid an audit is to ensure your return is accurate. The best way to do that – have it prepared by an experienced tax professional who knows your situation. Now this may seem like common sense, but even one inadvertent mathematical error or transposition of a Social Security Number may prompt a closer look at your return.

2.       How you generate income does matter. There are certain professions that attract more scrutiny. For example, those who are self-employed or receive large amounts of cash (such as waitstaff and taxi drivers, for instance) are generally more likely to be audited as opposed to employees who receive a W-2. Although certain expenses such as an in-home office  or employee business expenses can be red flags, you should always claim the deductions to which you’re entitled and keep good records.

3.       Alimony is not free and clear. Not reporting alimony payments received can cause big trouble. The IRS matches alimony deducted by your ex-spouse to the alimony income you report.

4.       Be accountable for automobile expenses. One of the most commonly audited items is automobile logs for self-employed persons or employed individuals using their cars for business purposes. The key to protecting yourself here is to keep detailed records of your mileage on a daily basis. Try to keep a log of the beginning and ending odometer readings, location, and reason for each business-related trip.

5.       Be able to substantiate deductions. Even though you should claim every deduction you’re entitled to by law, if the IRS questions the amount claimed on your return, it is up to you to prove that you incurred those expenses. For example, to deduct any charitable donation of money, an individual must have a bank record or a written communication from the charity showing the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution. For payroll deductions, the taxpayer should retain a pay stub, Form W-2 wage statement or other document furnished by the employer showing the total amount withheld for charity, along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity. Other substantiation, including an appraisal for donated property, may be required.

6.       What’s the DIF? When you file your return with the IRS, they use a proprietary formula to calculate your Discriminate Information Function (DIF) score. Returns with the highest DIF scores are the most likely to be selected by the IRS because they pose the best chance for the IRS to collect additional taxes, interest and penalties. The best way to avoid a high DIF: make sure to report all taxable income – from interest earned on your bank accounts to interest earned on investments and claim only the deductions and credits to which you’re entitled.

7.       Report foreign-source income. If you have income from sources located outside the United States, be sure to report it. Also be sure to file Form TD F 90-22.1 if you have signature authority over foreign accounts that had a balance of more than $10,000 at any time during the year. You may also be required to File Form 3520, Annual Return To Report Transactions With Foreign Trusts And Receipt Of Certain Foreign Gifts.

Note: An estimated one million Americans have offshore accounts. And the IRS is taking notice. Although having a foreign bank account is perfectly legal, some individuals attempt to funnel their income to an offshore account to avoid paying taxes on it. Because foreign accounts can and are being used to evade taxes, individuals with foreign accounts may be more likely to be audited. Simply report your income from these accounts, and you won’t have anything to worry about.

8.       Take care when selling stocks or bonds. The IRS compares the amount of proceeds shown on your Form 1099-B to the sales price of the stock reported on your Schedule D. You generally report the 1099 amount in full. You then report your cost basis in the security to determine your gain or loss. For example, if you buy stock for $2,000 and sell it for $5,000, report the $5,000 as the sales price and the $2,000 as your cost. Your Schedule D will show your gain of $3,000.

Liz Soria de Express Tax & Bookkeeping Services.

Here are 5 things that if you do on a consistent basis, will help you stay motivated, productive, and in tune with the bigger picture.

1.) Know yourself: “Money” is usually the first thing that comes to mind as a motivator for accomplishing goals.  Yet, a study conducted by Kenneth Kovach of George Mason University revealed that interesting work and appreciation of work rank higher than money on a scale of external motivators.

Knowing what motivates you, then, can make what you use to inspire you really “speak” to you.  For example, if you crave recognition, thinking about people asking for your autograph might be more motivating for you than thinking only about the money you’ll make.

Action step: whenever you set a new goal, make a list of other factors besides money that will make the goal uniquely “you” and give you the drive to pull through and accomplish it.

2.) Appreciate yourself: When you work from home, you have no boss to say “thank you” and recognize you for a job well done – so you must do this for yourself.  The challenge with this is that we’re often our own worst critic and are quick to point out what we didn’t get done or didn’t accomplish.

Action step: right now, and every day from now on, write down at least one thing you did right today – perhaps you made a difficult decision, got started on a project you have been putting off, or stuck to your self-imposed limits for hanging out on Facebook during the workday.

If you tend to be hard on yourself, set aside a notebook just for keeping track of these every day accomplishments that are so easy to ignore.

3.) Keep turning yourself on – motivation doesn’t just “happen” and it doesn’t just stick around by itself – you need something to aim for, and you need to remember why your goals matter to you – otherwise projects, deadlines, and busyness will cause you to lose direction.

Action step: revisit your priorities daily, weekly, and monthly, so that you keep on track about where to exert your efforts (and why you want to in the first place).  If a priority is particularly challenging, or you’ve been avoiding it, write it in a place where you’ll be reminded of it every day – having it loom over your desk might be enough of a motivator to just get it done.

4.) Schedule a punch out time – if you often think to yourself “I’ve got all day to finish that project” or “I can get that done tonight” you’ve probably gotten too used to having no end to your workday.  This is especially true if you work from home – the fluidity is good, but it can also make it too easy to slack during the day and then difficult to pull away at night – which makes it harder to find time to recharge.

Action step: come up with an ideal of what you would like your work hours to be – if you work from home, perhaps you can split your day in two shifts to accommodate your personal preferences and or/home responsibilities.  Strive to stick to that ideal every day and schedule some fun, relaxing, or non-work related activities during the off hours.

5.) Attitude is everything - how you deal with problems when they come up has an effect on your motivation, and your productivity.  Negativity, fear, and insecurity can slow you down, sap your energy, and increase your stress level, because they force you to stay focused on problems.  Thinking positive and feeling confident, on the other hand, can lead to an attitude of “I can,” which keeps you focused on finding solutions to challenges.

Action step: think of a problem that has been bothering you, and come up with at least one positive thing that can come from it – be open to the answers that come to you, even if you resist them.  If you can’t come up with any on your own, ask someone for help – they may be able to see something you can’t.  Then, from that more positive outlook, brainstorm some possible solutions to it, or things you can do to better deal with the situation.

Give yourself permission to accept that motivation takes effort and persistence. It’s easier to drown in the busyness, to look down, rather than up.  So if you’re constantly working on keeping yourself motivated, you already have plenty to be proud of.

(this article originally appeared in the Around Wellington online magazine)

© 2009 Claudine Motto

Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto helps home office geniuses, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals get organized and in control of their workload so they can reach their goals with less struggle and less stress. She offers one-on-one coaching and group training programs – please visit http://www.vistalnorte.com/ or call 561-641-9500 for more information, to sign up for her monthly newsletter, or to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.

That doesn’t mean you should sit back and blindly accept all interruptions.  These tips will show you how to minimize those that are unnecessary as well as give you ideas to make the most out whatever focus time you have in between.

• Get to the real issue, eliminate the interruption.
  Keep a simple “interruption log” for a week – every time you’re interrupted (or you interrupt yourself) note it down, how long it took, who it involved, and why. At the end of the week, look for patterns – if interruptions are coming from the same sources/people, perhaps they need more training, you need to sharpen your delegation skills, or you need to learn to say “not now.”  If clients are having to follow up on things you promised by a certain date, perhaps you need to implement better systems so that things don’t fall through the cracks.

• Break the “react immediately” habit.
  If you’ve fallen into the habit of dealing with each and every interruption as they come up, you’re at least partially responsible for the never-ending cycle. Start assessing interruptions before you give in to them – unless truly urgent, or helpful (like a passing comment by a colleague that sparks an idea you hadn’t thought of before, or an email with the information you need to complete a task on your to-do list), if it’ll take you away from something more important, write it down and deal with it later.

• Curve the email “high.”
  Dr. Tom Stafford, co-author of the book Mind Hacks, believes that email is addictive for the same reason gambling is: you lose most of the time, but sometimes you win.  So we’re always checking email in the hopes of finding a little “win” – a bit of juicy news, an interesting link, or maybe a friend inviting us over for dinner.

  Which is why turning email alerts off and processing email in batches is so hard for most people to adhere to, even though it makes a lot of sense.  I encourage you to incorporate those strategies, because they do work – but if you have given them an honest and consistent shot, and can’t seem to stick with it, at least aim for focus when working on key projects or tasks.  Identify the reward you’ll get from making a real dent on that important project and make that reward the focus.

  And don’t be shy – whenever you sit down to work on that project, put a note as big as necessary to remind you why that project is worth your 100%.  I often have clients simply write “100%” in big bold letters or on bright colored paper – and they’re always amazed at how it helps them pull through focus time.

• Know what you can do in your average bursts of uninterrupted time.
  For example, 10 minutes is enough to brainstorm a simple project into steps, make a phone call, file a couple or papers or put some stuff on your desk away.
  Be ready with a few of these tasks so that you can use those 10 minutes productively.

• Consider instant messaging.
  Surprisingly, recent (2008) studies at Ohio State University and University of California, Irvine show instant messaging to be less disruptive than an email, telephone call, or face-to-face visit.  Because no one is expecting you to solve a complicated issue via instant messaging, it’s almost guaranteed that the communication will be brief, and a good medium for getting quick answers or scheduling a time to meet.

And because it’s more “acceptable” to ignore an instant message, you won’t feel guilty for setting an away message letting others know you’re busy or away from your desk.  So consider using it to communicate with co-workers, freelancers, or people that you manage.

When you learn to manage interruptions and distractions in a proactive way, you get the most out of your workday, while still accommodating unexpected situations.  This is all part of our ability to be flexible and is even more important now in our age of technology.

© 2009 Claudine Motto
Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer Claudine Motto helps home office geniuses, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals get organized and in control of their workload so they can reach their goals with less struggle and less stress.  She offers one-on-one coaching and group training programs – please visit http://www.vistalnorte.com or call 561-641-9500 for more information, to sign up for her monthly newsletter, or to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation.

It is a fact that people do business with people they know and with whom they share language, culture, etc.   To satisfy the need in the Hispanic community to engage in an open and flexible manner in the area, Networking Hispanos was established in 2007. Its members currently meet the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Boca Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. Boca Raton, at 6:30 p.m.