While not admitting or realizing it, we all have xenophobic tendencies.  I see it too often, many times manifested in the questions we get as accountants and software consultants.

The dictionary defines xenophobia as "an unreasonable fear of that which is foreign, strange or unknown".  In our daily providing of training and support to clients, we find some common attributes among many people - individuals have an innate fear of unknown software and technology, few dare to step outside a comfort zone and try new things, investigate new features and functionalities.  Overall, unfamiliarity with technology can create a difficult learning environment.

Being QuickBooks training and support providers has taught us that, on another level, what contributes largely to mistakes when using accounting software is unfamiliarity with common accounting policies and practices.  How can you master a program's features and functionalities without at least a working knowledge of the underlying processes?  I am not necessarily speaking about debits and credits -- leave that for the accounting geeks like me (!!) -- but more of the underlying concepts such as inventory tracking, item profitability, job costing, accounts receivable and payable, and such.  A clear understanding of these concepts goes very far in anyone's gaining familiarity with accounting systems.

In addition, for those who come from other countries, sometimes you first have to get over the differences between our common accounting practices and those of other lands.  I've come to learn from first-hand training experience, that the variety of accounting, tax, or financial regulations imposed by foreign governing authorities pose an extra obstacle in the learning of U.S. accounting systems, and therefore closing even more the openness to proper use of an accounting program.

An additional type of fear exists when people need to learn new technologies to continue to stay competitive at work. We provide a supportive and constructive learning environment that no only addresses this fear, but helps people overcome it.  Many clients commend us on "breaking" that wall that normally inhibits most from learning.

I invite you to replace fear of the unknown with curiosity... Give us a call.