Today's number: $76.2 billion

Projected sales of computer software this year, up 3.5 percent from $73.5 billion in 2002 and ending two years of declines, Gartner Inc.'s Dataquest research unit said.

Bloomberg News

Today's career tip

The book Minimize Stress, Maximize Success by Claire Harris focuses on effective strategies to realize business and personal goals. It is important, however, to realize that change needs focus and commitment. "You know the way it often is with something new - you're interested, you try out new ideas, but the next time you're under pressure, you switch back into default," Harris says. "Make a pledge not to do it the next time."

John Eckberg

Today's mover

Brian A. Lutes has been named senior vice president and director of human resources at Fifth Third Bank. Lutes joined Fifth Third in 2002 from GE Medical Systems, where he served as chief financial officer of global operations. He has more than 15 years experience in several General Electric Co. units. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor's degree and received a master's degree from the University of Connecticut.

Shirley Dees

Today's money tip

If you got a hefty tax refund last year, ask your employer to lower your withholding so less tax is taken out of every paycheck. Overpaying your taxes is like giving the government an interest-free loan.

But if you like the forced savings aspect, offset the lowered withholding with a higher 401(k) contribution. Or ask your bank to make equal automatic transfers to an interest-bearing savings account. Either way, the money's working for you - not the government.

Amy Higgins

TODAY'S COMPANY: RON SHULLER'S CREATIVE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

DEVELOPING FOR DECADES: Situated in the Reading "bridal district," this studio specializes in portraits and wedding photography. Shuller founded his business in 1973 and was its sole photographer. Today, he supervises a staff of more than a dozen wedding photographers, who produce about 200 wedding albums each year.

ENHANCED BY TECHNOLOGY: In 1992 Shuller eliminated paper proofs, going to a video proofing system. Soon after, his was one of the first studios in the region to offer on-screen wedding album creation, which allowed couples to plan their wedding visuals with the help of video technology and computer software. The company also was an early provider of online proofing and ordering of wedding and portrait photos.

SO LONG, DARKROOM: Creative Images has now gone to 100 percent digital images, which streamlines the photo and delivery processes.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: In August 2001, Ron Shuller's use of technology was featured in an article in "Photo Marketing," a trade publication.

Jenny Callison