Professional Self-Esteem

You would think that the top law firm in the US, and in the entire world for that matter, which is the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, will be run by graduates of the top law school in the US, which is Harvard Law School. But no, not one of the seven (7) members of the said law firm's Executive Committee came from Harvard.

Please see:

-- Top law firms in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_100_largest_law_firms_by_revenue

-- Baker & McKenzie Executive Commitee:

http://www.bakermckenzie.com/leadershipteam/

It just goes to show that as long as you attended a good school (even if it is not world-famous), and as long as you yourself are very capable and focused, then you can rise to the top. Perhaps at the beginning of your career (i.e., right after you graduate from college), you will be discriminated against if you did not graduate from one of the "ivy league" schools -- But that is only at the beginning. In the long run, if you persist in doing your best, you will eventually overcome the discrimination and emerge victorious.

And by the way, if you happen to be religiously inclined, then it also most certainly helps to pray. :-)

Hopeful Author

Happy New Year everyone!

I recently set up a webpage were I posted some of my works: Research papers, syllabi, mini-lectures, and sample consultancy proposals. The said webpage is at http://independent.academia.edu/FranciscoCDeLaCruzJr/Teaching-Documents.

In two or three years I hope to produce a book that contains a comprehensive coverage of all my lectures in entrepreneurial financial management. I've already envisioned the cover of that book and posted it herewith.

More importantly, as of this writing I envision that the book will include the following topics, at the very least:

     Part 1 - Introduction

1. Objectives
2. The Role of the Entrepreneur
3. The Role of the Accounting and Finance Manager
4. The Scope of Accounting and Financial Management
5. Strategic Financial Management

     Part 2 – The Financial Statements

6. Basic Financial Statement – The Income Statement
7. Basic Financial Statement – The Balance Sheet
8. Financial Statement Analyses
1. Vertical Analysis (Breakdown Analysis)
2. Horizontal Analysis (Trend Analysis)
3. Ratio Analysis
4. Comparative/Competitive Financial Analysis
9. Financial Control
1. Budgeting
2. Sensitivity Analysis (Scenario Forecasting)
3. Performance Analysis
4. Cashflow Planning
5. Contribution Margin Analysis
6. Break-Even Analysis

     Part 3 - Capital Budgeting 
     10.  Time Value of Money
     11.  Net Present Value 
     12.  Payback Period

     Part 4 – Primer on Economics

     Part 5 – Primer on Quantitative Techniques in Management

  

I can of course add more topics in due course.

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Afterwards, I plan to author a few more books.

Hopefully.