Monopoly and British History:

In England monopolies are illegal unless granted permission by parliament. Edward Darcy got exclusive rights to import playing cards from Queen Elizabeth. They wanted control over card games to minimize the distraction of servants. The queen's actions led to high prices for playing cards.

Thomas Allen of London Haberdasher  was another company that competed with Darcy and undercut his prices. Darcy sued Allen for damages and lost. This led to parliament being the only body in England being capable of issuing monopoly rights. This story shaped British laws and caused the implementation of the Statute of Monopolies (1624)

Monopoly and American History:

In America, the First Bank of the United States was created in 1791 as a private corporation with a 20-year charter. It did have monopolistic privileges, especially in holding federal funds and issuing banknotes, though it wasn't the only bank in the country.

Getting Started:

Having a unique and creative voicemail can help brand yourself with your clients. It is a free way to market  yourself and create a conversational buzz.

Even though working from home has become a common phenomena, getting a separate PO box or mailing address is usually a good idea. 

Unless you are doing legal or IT consulting, most people do not need to incorporate at the beginning of their business. Industries which involve larger amounts of risk are the exception. The beginning of any venture should be entirely focused on providing value. However it is important to eventually set up a business entity so that you can enjoy the tax benefits of doing so.

Find your niche. By choosing a specialization you become an attractive problem solver. Even if you do have a diverse set of talents, remember people are seeking experts to solve their unique problems.

Understanding Self Betrayal:

Self betrayal is treating individuals differently than how I think they should be treated.

After self betrayal our thought process changes so that our inner dialogue and perspective on the world justify our self betrayal. This happens by magnifying other people’s mistakes and shortcomings. These changes to our thought process distort our reality.

Being blind to the above described phenomena causes “in the box” thinking which hinders the ability to empathize.

The Dangers of a Self Justifying Value System:

Introduction to Forensic Accounting:

The purpose of a forensic accountant is to determine if a financial crime has occurred. They are meant to investigate corruption, and fraud by reconstructing and analyzing digital information and financial records.

Certified Fraud Examiners can help investigators accomplish this.

When investigating multinational corporations it is imperative to focus on the tax obligations within a corporation’s alternative nation(s) of operation.

There are often clues indicating financial crimes if you pay attention to international currency exchange rates.