LABJ FORUM – The Holiday Crunch
Time is running out on 2003. Between holiday shopping and last-minute decision-making at the office, December shapes up to be one of the busiest months of the year. This year, it’s taking on even more urgency amid signs that the economy is picking up. With that in mind, the Business Journal asks:
What’s the most important thing you hope to accomplish before the end of the year?
Danny Gampe
Chief Financial Officer
LivHome
The most important thing I want to accomplish this year is to solidify our acquisition strategy for 2004. That’s it.
Mica Miyamoto
Partner
Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP
Besides the normal Christmas shopping and getting together with family and friends, I want to finish my will and living trust and set up an education plan for my baby daughter. It’s something I’ve been putting off for quite a while, but it has to get done. Just because of my profession, if I can’t get it done by the end of the year, it will have to wait until after April, so that’s my main priority.
Thierry Grandsire
Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms Division
Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa
I need to finish the move into my new house. I don’t need to get too much, but I can see that when I enter it, I need a few more things, like a bigger TV. I also want to make sure I’m successful at my new job, but that’s something I need to do in the next 12 months, not just until the end of the year.
Jeff Johnson
Director, Comprehensive Tax Solutions
Deloitte & Touche
I vowed to get my Christmas shopping done early, but I’ve been trying to do that for 20 years. I’ve got younger kids, so I buy some of the stuff online. But sometimes I’ll run out at night and take advantage of the late store hours. It’s a lot more crowded than you think. I also have to put the lights up on the house and get the Christmas tree. From a professional standpoint, it’s a time that tends to be slower, so I want to clean the desk and wrap up for next year. I’m involved in state tax consulting, so I try to use the time to catch up on what I haven’t been able to read so I’m ready for next year with the law changes.
Dan Casey
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
WorldLink
To close as many sales deals over the next 10 days as possible, because the last 10 days are almost fruitless. Christmas sinks in, people take holidays, budgets disappear, and then it’s on to 2004. This will be the last blast for most of the people we deal with. We’re in media sales, selling advertising time, so almost everybody right now is on their last big push. I’d also like to get all the employee reviews sitting on my desk done. I have about five, which may not sound like a lot, but it’s a good eight or nine hours of work. It’s one of those things that tend to roll toward the end of the year. It’s tied up with merit salary increases, plus a lot of people like to know where they stand.
Laura Chick
Los Angeles City Controller
Before the end of the year I would like to release yet one more hard hitting audit that will shine a light on the city’s operations, opening up the backrooms to greater public scrutiny.
