"The more intentional you get with your money, the more intentional you get with your time as well."
-Jennifer Hume

In our 500th episode, Jennifer Hume, owner of Coronation Bookkeeping & Tax Services, shares how she built a successful virtual bookkeeping firm and expanded into coaching for real estate professionals. She reveals what worked, what didn't, and how she uses systems, marketing, and speaking to grow her business with purpose and profitability.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How niching and storytelling drive growth and confidence
• Why systems are essential for scaling
• How Jennifer built a $250K firm through referrals

To learn more about Jennifer, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

02:03 – Jennifer's journey from family business to starting her own bookkeeping firm
05:28 – Lessons learned from her father's failed business & what she'd do differently
06:08 – The importance of systems & Profit First for building a strong foundation
07:49 – Transitioning from data entry to leadership & advisory work
08:16 – How Jennifer built a $250K firm through referrals & strong processes
10:45 – Learning to market intentionally & step outside her comfort zone
13:03 – Building referral partnerships with accountants & real estate brokerages
15:07 – Overcoming fear & learning to pick up the phone to grow the business
17:07 – How niching into real estate transformed her business
19:42 – Why specializing makes marketing easier & attracts better clients
21:07 – What marketing tactics didn't work (and what to watch out for)
22:08 – Email marketing & newsletters that actually connect
24:55 – How creating a professional speaker's reel set her apart
26:44 – The power of storytelling on stage & building confidence through speaking
30:12 – Using AI tools like ChatGPT to craft speeches & prompts quickly
33:22 – Building a coaching business for real estate professionals
34:56 – Why 90% of realtors quit within five years & how coaching helps
35:40 – How financial & time habits create happier, more balanced lives
37:32 – Where to find & connect with Jennifer online

This episode is brought to you by our amazing friends at Hub Analytics!

Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips.

Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you'll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials!

Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level?

Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!

"The number one driver of small to medium sized businesses not making it is cash flow problems. It's not that they're not profitable. This is the big thing with net cash that most people don't realize, is that you can run a profitable business and run out of money."
-Tommy Vincent

In this spotlight episode, Tommy Vincent, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Hub Analytics, returns to share how bookkeepers can confidently step into advisory by focusing on just 3 key metrics. He explains how to measure, track, and present them to clients in a way that builds trust and drives business growth.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• The 3 metrics every bookkeeper should track
• Why consistency matters more than dozens of KPIs
• How net equity shows a business owner's true wealth

To learn more about Hub Analytics, click here.

Connect with Tommy on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

00:00 – Introducing 3 Key Metrics
02:16 – Why bookkeepers are well-positioned to deliver advisory services
03:59 – Why less is more with KPIs for small business clients
04:54 – The three core metrics
06:33 – Breaking down net operating income & what it reveals
07:50 – Industry nuances & why measuring consistently matters
09:30 – Using consistent monthly tracking to spot improvement
12:20 – Net equity explained
14:27 – Why 78% of a business owner's net worth is tied to their business
16:04 – Loans, distributions & reinvestment
20:54 – Why profitable businesses still fail without cash
23:10 – Healthcare & construction industries & cashflow gaps
25:59 – Watching DSO & DPO to avoid cash crunches
27:21 – How bookkeepers can differentiate by tracking just 3 KPIs
28:29 – How to package advisory
30:55 – Why most existing clients won't pay more
33:18 – Advisory is best suited for businesses over $1M revenue
34:56 – How Hub Analytics supports bookkeepers with AI-driven reporting

"A woman came up to me and said, 'You know, you really get me.' And I thought that's really the mantra I want to kind of go with. I want people to understand that I get what they're saying. I can't be them, but I can translate the pain and the successes that they're having."
-Jennifer Kahnweiler

Introverted leaders bring unique strengths to the workplace, but they're often overlooked. In this episode, Jennifer Kahnweiler, an expert on introverted leadership, shares how introverts can thrive, influence, and lead with confidence.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How the Four Ps help introverts succeed in leadership
• Practical ways introverts can influence without being loud
• How listening can become a powerful sales advantage

To learn more about Jennifer, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

00:00 - Introduction to Introverted Leadership
01:57 - The Journey to Understanding Introversion
05:31 - The Evolution of Introverted Leadership
11:21 - Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces
14:48 - The Impact of COVID on Introverts
19:42 - Navigating the Changing Workplace
21:01 - Empowering Introverts in the Workplace
22:54 - Embracing Introversion in Leadership
24:27 - The Evolution of the Introverted Leader
26:20 - The Four P's of Introverted Leadership
32:24 - Listening as a Key Skill for Introverts
38:08 - Recognizing & Valuing Personal Accomplishments

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage!

Drowning in paperwork?

AutoEntry lets you snap, scan, and sync receipts, invoices, and statements—so you can ditch manual entry, reduce errors, and get back to what really matters: growing your practice and delighting your clients.

Learn more about AutoEntry or get started for free at Sage.com.

"When a business owner is supported and when they have extra funds available, those funds usually funnel back into their local community."
-Julie Walters

Welcome to our 400th EPISODE!! 

Thank you for your support!

Now let's get to the episode... :)

Best practice isn't what everyone else is doing, it is learning from everyone else and building practices that work best for you. When we consistently deliver on our processes, we automatically create the space for growth as things begin to run themselves. 

There is never a right time to make a start or take the next step in your bookkeeping business. If we don't make the change today, 12 months from now we'll find ourselves stuck in the same position, wishing we had acted sooner. 

Julie Walters, owner of Pathfinder Bookkeeping and Tax, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses grow and prosper. She speaks powerfully about the safety and security our businesses provide us, while explaining just how far-reaching the impact of what we do can be felt by others. 

If you are struggling to build effective systems and processes into your business, aren't sure how to communicate your skills or worth to your clients, or just want to modernize your business without leaving your clients behind, this is the episode to set your business in motion.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of Pure Bookkeeping as a tool for your success
• How to find the courage to take a leap
• The importance of bringing our clients with us on our journey

To find out more about Julie, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

To learn more about Pure Bookkeeping, visit this link.

Time Stamps
 
01:27 - Julie discusses her career journey
03:39 - Navigating the highs & lows 
06:01 - Taking the leap 
10:41 - Bringing our clients with us
12:48 - How Pure Bookkeeping can help you
14:53 - Building your dream team
17:14 - Never a right time 
20:00 - Growing with your business 
27:06 - Measuring the impact ripple
33:44 - Looking to the future

"It's such a great time to actually look at how we all are in this ecosystem. And if we support each other and work with each other, it trickles up."
-Karolina Francis

Welcome to a special episode celebrating Canadian Bookkeeping Week!

During this conversation, Michael talks all things bookkeeping with a special panel of guests. Karolina Francis of KNF Consulting, Jonathan Carter of Kata Accounting and Melissa Lenos of King Business Solutions lend their unique perspectives to an insightful discussion about what it means to be a bookkeeper.

The hardest part of any business is working with people, but it is also the best part. Our people are our success. Without them we have nothing, so the more effort we put into our relationships, the greater the impact and return.

As bookkeepers, we want to see success for our clients. If they win, we win. And yet it can be hard to find the right people for us. What makes us a great bookkeeper might not make us a great leader, marketer, or coach. The panel talks about the value of finding people to work with whose personalities are congruent with our own.

If you are struggling to keep pace with changes to the industry and technology, not sure how to know who you want to work with, or just want some incredible tips from industry experts, let the stories in this episode guide the way.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• Tips for a more successful bookkeeping business
• How to forge lasting connections for lasting success
• What it means to thrive in change 

Connect with Karolina, Jonathan and Melissa on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps    

02:03 - Introducing the panel  
06:13 - Getting into business  
10:02 - The challenging parts of growth 
17:41 - Finding the joy in the work
27:28 - The impacts of technologies
33:40 - Navigating a changing industry
41:01 - Tips for business success 

Thank you to our great friends at CPB Canada for helping us put this episode together! 

If you're not a member yet, go here to learn more!

"You'll know it's time to hire…when you're not able to do the things you love and excel at."

-Lesley Pyle

Placing our trust in other people is scary. Struggling along by ourselves can oftentimes feel safer than taking a risk on a new hire. But it comes at a cost. The more time we spend working on the day-to-day details of our bookkeeping businesses, the less we love them. 

When searching for the right people for our business, it is important to remember that trust is built over time, through practice and adversity. You'll never find someone you immediately trust with your business, but you can, through well thought out ads, invite people with complementary skills and experiences to build that trust with you. 

Lesley Pyle, owner and founder of HireMyMom.com, is this episode's featured guest. Born from a strong desire to help moms find legitimate work from home, Lesley has spent her career helping women find the perfect home-based job for them.

She speaks powerfully to the nature of trust, finding the right people for your team and how to know when the time is right to expand your business. 

If you are worried about trusting new people or don't know who will be the best fit, this episode is your ultimate guide to hiring! 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of growing with our changing world
• How to get onboarding right
• The importance of hiring people that fit your needs

To find out more about Lesley, click here.

You can also find her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps    

01:24 - Lesley discusses her career journey 
04:25 - Facing the big challenges 
07:15 - Growing with a changing world 
09:12 - Getting people connected 
12:31 - Hiring the right people for you
16:24 - Putting our best foot forward 
20:10 - Making the right choice for you
21:22 - How to get onboarding right 
28:42 - Trends for the future  

"It is just part of the journey, you are not doing anything wrong, you just need to take a breath and say, 'what do I need to do next?'"

-Sharon Darmody

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2024 is here and our first episode of the year is one you won't want to miss! 

Despite our best efforts there are always going to be challenges in the workplace. What matters is our intention, our planning and when problems do arise, how well we embrace them as part of our journey. 

Our workplaces are hubs of connectivity, in a world where we are losing spaces for connection. The happier and healthy our people are in those spaces, the more engaged and productive they will be. It really pays to invest in employee well-being. 

Organizational consultant and author, Sharon Darmody, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping organizations build workplaces in which their people can truly thrive. 

As we start this new year, if you are struggling to build a connected workplace, aren't sure when or how to implement intervention strategies, or want to improve well-being in your bookkeeping business, this is the episode to help you shake those January blues!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• How to apply the MAGIC philosophy 

• The power of workplace rehabilitation 

• The importance of bringing people together with purpose 

To find out more about Sharon, click here.

You can also find her on LinkedIn. 

To buy her book, Work Your Magic: Create a Better Business Community That Works for Everyone, visit this link. 

Time Stamps

01:31 - Sharon discusses her career journey

02:29 - Workplace rehabilitation 

05:10 - The challenges of growing your own business 

07:26 - Creating a better business community for everyone

09:25 - Keeping up with an ever changing world 

11:32 - The MAGIC philosophy 

15:27 - Finding the new magic 

20:42 - The new work order 

27:20 - Bringing people together with purpose

It's almost the end of 2023 and wow, do we have a fun episode for you!

In our Year-In-Review show, Michael talks to a panel of amazing guests about the ups and downs of the bookkeeping industry this past year. Our returning Year in Review panelists are Debbie Roberts, co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, Jessica Fox, owner of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper, Teresa Slack, co-founder of Financly, and Katrina Aarsman, CEO of Pure Bookkeeping Australia.

Our guests reflect on their biggest surprises of 2023, share their biggest wins and what they look forward to in 2024 plus more!

There are some great chunks of wisdom in this episode, so sit back, relax and enjoy!

We are grateful to all of our wonderful listeners who have joined us this year. YOU make this show possible. Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To find out more about our guests, click below.

Debbie Roberts

Katrina Aarsman

Jessica Fox 

Teresa Slack

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Gusto!

Gusto's payroll and HR services can make your life a little easier. 

Automatically calculating paychecks, filing payroll taxes and much more!

Gusto does it all. 

The best part? Because you're a listener, you get THREE MONTHS TOTALLY FREE!

Just go to gusto.com/thesuccessfulbookkeeper to sign up TODAY!

"Things like that, I get to show up and be excited about things again because I know everything else is taken care of."
-Ashley Chamberlain

In the pursuit of success, there comes a transformative moment when we ask ourselves, "What am I spending my time doing that someone else could excel at?" This realization is often weighed down by our belief that we can only be successful if we are doing it all by ourselves.

But, when we embrace the power of delegation, it becomes a powerful catalyst for change, a journey towards freeing up precious time and rediscovering joy in both professional and personal lives. 

In the second of a two-part series, Ashley Chamberlain, owner of Chamberlain and Good Company, examines the ways outsourcing has changed her life. Ashley and Michael dive into how to delegate to experts, hire the right people for you and reignite passion for the things that truly matter. 

If you feel like you are spending too much time working in your business, and not enough time working on your business, then this is the episode to help you reclaim your time and find your true passions in life!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of planting seeds now for future success
• How to let go of the need to be all things to all people
• The importance of hiring the right people

To find out more about Ashley, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps    

01:27 - Learning to delegate 
10:01 - Attracting the right people 
15:30 - Living our life's passion 
18:12 - Getting our time back 
20:32 - Showing up for ourselves 
25:05 - Learning more about Ashley  
26:54 - 3000 hours of service

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Gusto!

Gusto's payroll and HR services can make your life a little easier. 

Automatically calculating paychecks, filing payroll taxes and much more!

Gusto does it all. 

The best part? Because you're a listener, you get THREE MONTHS TOTALLY FREE!

Just go to gusto.com/thesuccessfulbookkeeper to sign up TODAY!

"We want to identify those moments that matter, that help us center around connection… going back to the employees and saying, 'what does this look like to you?'"
-Jennifer Johnston

There are so many different points of view when it comes to remote, office and hybrid working, that it can be hard to know what is best for us, our employees, and businesses. Remote workers increase the pool of skilled talent you might hire, but in-house employees create culture and connection with no extra effort. 

What would happen if you identified those crucial workplace moments that truly matter for your team, and structured your approach around the answers of the people working for you?

Jennifer Johnston, Vice President of Human Resources at Payworks, is here to help you answer that very question. In this episode, Jennifer and Louie Prosperi navigate the complexities of the different working environments and what you can achieve when you identify the moments that matter and offer valuable insights into the strategies you can employ to thrive anywhere. 

If you are struggling with all the talk around where and how you should be working, then this is the episode to cut the noise and get you thinking about what will work for you, your employees, and your clients!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of managing stress & well-being
• How to identify what matters to you
• The importance of connecting with purpose  

To find out more about Jennifer, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:27 - Jennifer discusses her career journey 
03:41 - Adapting to challenging environments 
07:41 - Employee engagement & experience 
09:58 - How to use a net promoter score 
13:48 - Managing stress & wellbeing 
18:33 - Creating a proactive space 
21:42 - The hybrid environment 
26:33 - Getting intentional about connection
33:44 - The benefits of remote work
37:06 - Learning more about Payworks

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Payworks!

If you're looking for a reliable and affordable payroll platform for your business, look no further!

To learn more, visit Payworks.ca TODAY!

"I had to think, what am I going to do if I stay in this position forever? Is this going to be fulfilling?"
-Ashley Chamberlain

Leaps of faith are never easy, we can often be left feeling like it is better to remain in a situation that makes us miserable, than take a risk on something new and different. It comes down to what we want from life. Do we want to be working our lives away to build someone else's dreams, or do we want to put that effort into growing something of our own?

In the first of a two-part series, Ashley Chamberlain, Owner of Chamberlain and Good Company, reflects on the challenges of stepping into an entrepreneurial journey, outgrowing past experiences, and how the personal approach can make all the difference.

Her journey is a testament to the power of taking that leap of faith and pursuing what truly fulfils us. She has spent her career seeking out challenges and overcoming them one by one, and now she shares her success secrets with others. 

If you are struggling with self-doubt, aren't sure how to put yourself out there, or want to take a leap of faith into something new, this is the episode to get you started cultivating your own seeds of success!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of a more personal approach
• How to network for success
• The importance of consistent efforts toward growth

To find out more about Ashley, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:41 - Ashely discusses her career journey 
05:15 - Making a leap of faith
10:16 - Networking for success 
13:47 - Taking a more personal approach 
17:32 - Meeting clients where they are 
24:20 - Shifting your mindset
28:53 - Finding the joy in what you do 

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Dext!

Do you chase after your clients' receipts, enter data manually and lose information?

Dext Prepare is a bookkeeping automation software that removes unnecessary tasks from your workflow. Giving you and your clients more time to focus on what matters.

To learn more, visit Dext.com today!

"If you charge a bit more, and you're in that sweet spot, you will just naturally get more clients, who can appreciate, or want to pay those extra dollars per hour."
-Andrew Seguin

There will always be more clients. It is hard to shake a scarcity mindset, but the truth is, if you are good at what you do, there will always be people willing to pay a premium to have you do it for them.

We have to apply our passion and love for what we do, not only in how we price our clients but how we pay our employees. In your bookkeeping business, you get to decide what you say yes to, and critically, what you say no to. 

Getting something done cheaply, doesn't often guarantee a successful and long-lasting outcome. But neither does overcharging for skills and services we don't possess. We have to find the sweet spot, the place where our skill and the price for it align. When you find that spot for your business and own your value, you'll find people are magnetically drawn to want to work with you.

In the second part of this two-part series, Andrew Seguin shares insights into how to build a thriving bookkeeping business, what a strong workplace culture looks like and why it is important you charge what you are worth.

If you are struggling to find the right path for you, not sure how to hire the right people, or price for the value of your skills, then this is the episode for you!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• How to charge what you are truly worth
• How to hire the right people for your business
• The importance of bonding with your team 

To find out more about Andrew, click here. 

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Andrew is also speaking at The Successful Bookkeeper Virtual Summit. Learn more and REGISTER at this link!

Time Stamps    

01:30 - Hiring the right people for your business 
06:02 - Bonding with your team  
10:24 - How to price by value
16:52 - Why are you charging so little? 
20:57 - Owning your value 
27:28 - Getting passionate about what you do
30:44 - Building your dream business

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Payworks!

If you're looking for a reliable and affordable payroll platform for you business, look no further!

To learn more, visit Payworks.ca TODAY!

"Our industry is in such a huge demand, and no matter what, we can have a whole conversation about AI, but bookkeepers in general that can really understand a client's businesses financial health, will never go away."
-Andrew Seguin

Many of us have the desire to build our own businesses. To become masters of our own destiny. Yet we also often feel crippling self-doubt, like we are imposters, pretenders in a sea of people far more talented than we are.

The truth is, no one knows what will happen when we start a business. Planning matters, effective systems, and processes matter, but what matters the most is a willingness to try even though we may fail.

In this first of a two-part series, Andrew Seguin, Founder of Seguin Financial, dives into what it means to overcome our fears, build community, leave the safe harbour, and forge our own path. Andrew has spent his career helping businesses reach their potential, by streamlining their finances to free up more time to work on their business.

Whether you are just starting out or want to shift your mindset to one of confidence in your offering, this is the episode that will get you thinking differently about the paths and directions your life could take.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of establishing your processes early 
• How success begins at the edge of our comfort zone
• The importance of overcoming our limiting beliefs & fears

To find out more about Andrew, click here. 

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Andrew is also speaking at The Successful Bookkeeper Virtual Summit. Learn more and REGISTER at this link!

Time Stamps

02:27 - Andrew discusses his career journey 
06:47 - Believing in ourselves 
08:09 - Setting our own path
10:06 - Making the right moves 
17:08 - Building community connections
21:14 - Switching to a confidence mindset
25:25 - Asking for support 

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Payworks!

If you're looking for a reliable and affordable payroll platform for you business, look no further!

To learn more, visit Payworks.ca TODAY!

" I think it's important that you go for it. You imagine what that looks like. I didn't go into this with the intention of having a big company. It happened one employee at a time. How do you get the 30 employees? Well, start with one."
-Jenny Groberg

In this episode, we wrap up a two-part conversation with Jenny Groberg, founder of BookSmarts Accounting and Bookkeeping, where she shares how she turned a small team into a high-performing force, overcame personal challenges, and scaled her business to seven figures.

In this episode, you'll learn…

• Raising expectations & setting clear boundaries
• How to delegate effectively to focus on growth & leadership
• Adopting subscription pricing to streamline billing & boost cash flow

To learn more about Jenny, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

00:01 – Transition from hobby employees to a committed team
03:55 – Personal recovery journey & building a supportive culture
05:30 – Giving back through scholarships, donations & teaching
12:36 – Shift to subscription pricing & improved cash flow
21:00 – Letting go of toxic clients to safeguard staff
26:36 – Encouragement to set big goals, delegate & believe in yourself

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage!

Drowning in paperwork?

AutoEntry lets you snap, scan, and sync receipts, invoices, and statements—so you can ditch manual entry, reduce errors, and get back to what really matters: growing your practice and delighting your clients.

Learn more about AutoEntry or get started for free at Sage.com.

"Culture always defaults to the worst behavior that we allow. And I think that is true of our leadership as well."
-Zach Montroy

All of us have had experiences of toxic or unhealthy workplace cultures. While a healthy culture is everyone's responsibility to co-create and maintain, office power dynamics are normally structured from the top down. It is the leaders who have to set the tone and make sure everyone has what they need to show up motivated, knowing they will be supported in their work.

It is easy to identify what makes us feel good, but just because we have positive success in one area doesn't mean there aren't areas for improvement. If we want our businesses to truly thrive, we have to practice the hard conversations and be in a positive state of leadership, leaning away from command and control and being open to hearing some tough truths.

Zach Montroy, founder and CEO at the Intention Collective, is this episode's featured guest. He speaks to the power of values, especially courage in building a brave workplace. He has spent his career helping businesses put direction, courage and vision into their strategies, identifying the destination and helping set the course to make it possible.

If you are feeling listless in your bookkeeping business, not really sure which direction to go, or how to have the hard conversations, this episode will give you the courage to take an authentic look at what needs to change.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• Why embedding values into our culture matters
• How to identify & understand workplace culture
• The importance of self-awareness & principles in leadership 

To find out more about Zach, click here. 

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:31 - Zach discusses his career journey 
03:12 - Understanding the problem 
08:14 - Leadership starts with the self 
12:00 - Confronting a toxic culture 
14:38 - Daring to lead 
17:18 - Creating the best place to work 
22:56 - The work of the Intention Collective 
26:33 - Resources to support your business

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Dext!

Do you chase after your clients' receipts, enter data manually and lose information?

Dext Prepare is a bookkeeping automation software that removes unnecessary tasks from your workflow. Giving you and your clients more time to focus on what matters.

To learn more, visit Dext.com today!

"Going those first few years on that solopreneur route can be very lonely at times and finding people that you can talk to and collaborate with and learn and grow from is huge." -Danielle Hendon   Building a business is all about bridging gaps and creating connections. Between yourself and your clients, your team, and your network. But before we can build anything successful, we have to be confident and sure in our own abilities.    If we can't articulate what it is we can bring to clients that no one else can, how can we expect them to choose us, or have faith in our abilities?    When you know what it is you love to do, it makes it much easier to create links with others that can fill the gaps in your ability. If you love spending time doing the numbers, but find all of your time taken by marketing or client contact, are you really any better off doing it alone than you would be hiring someone to do those things for you?   Danielle Hendon, owner of 4 Corners CFO, is this episode's featured guest. She will provide advice on how small businesses can pay themselves what they are worth, by arming them with the understanding they need to make continued profits.   If you are thinking of starting a bookkeeping business, aren't sure how to spend more time doing the things you love or are afraid of investing time in potential relationships, then this is the episode to get you thinking differently about yourself.   During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of letting go of the little things
• How to know when the time is right for growth & change
• The importance of figuring out what you have to offer 

To find out more about Danielle, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps   01:38 - Danielle discusses her career journey 05:14 - The cornerstones of business 06:01 - Taking the leap 08:20 - Figuring out what you have to offer 09:54 - Letting go of the little things  16:20 - How to know the time is right 22:50 - The challenges of new hires  24:31 - Empowering our clients  28:15 - Sticking to the right path 31:00 - Learning more about Danielle

"I'm all about making money, but at the same time, we are taught our whole life that money is the answer to everything, and it's really not. Because at the end of your life, you don't think about your wallet."
-Bridget Hilton

Life is short. We know this all too well, and yet rarely make changes to ensure we are living a life without regret. Research shows that we feel the loss and regret of the thing not done, far more than the things we did, but got wrong.

Not only that, but our biggest mistakes often prove to be the greatest factors in our growth. Teaching us and pushing us beyond what we thought it was possible to endure, allowing us to expand in emotional and intellectual intelligence and problem-solving. 

Our choices ripple out into the world around us, when we think about what it means to live a life without regret, consider your legacy, your ripples, and whether they left the world better or worse. At the end of our lives, we don't regret making enough money. But we do regret all the time we lost to the grind.

Bridget Hilton, author and keynote speaker at Experiential Billionaire, is this episode's featured guest. She speaks powerfully about what it means to live a life with no regrets, how new experiences empower us to be bolder, and how your life can transform when you give back.

If you find yourself putting your dreams off, or worse, not even daring to dream them, then this is the episode to get you thinking about today, not someday!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of new experiences
• How to live a life with no regrets
• The importance of giving back 

To find out more about Bridget, click here. 

Connect with Bridget on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps

01:43 - Bridget discusses her career journey
05:32 - Building LSTN
07:42 - The gift of hearing 
10:15 - Experiential Billionaires 
15:10 - The power of new experiences 
16:46 - Writing the Experiential Billionaire 
19:29 - The most valuable parts of your life 
28:08 - Embracing the future 
30:29 - Using our lives in the best possible way

"If you want to turn your customers into superfans, being good is not going to cut it, you have got to be super!"
-Brittany Hodak

We'd all like for our potential clients to pick us over the competition, yet we often struggle to communicate our experience and value in a way that speaks to the heart of the customers we want to work with.

Awareness of your business isn't the issue; it is apathy that kills revenue. If you can't clearly communicate why potential clients should care about what you do, how can you expect them to care?

Once you communicate your value and it reasonates with people then do great work for them, you can create superfans who recommend you to everyone they know. If we can delight clients with every aspect of their experience with us, they will always come back. But more importantly, they become brand ambassadors, which will add more value than any paid marketing.

Brittany Hodak, a Customer Experience expert and author of Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates, is this episode's featured guest. She shares the five points of her Super Model plan, giving you the tools to create the best possible customer experience and long-lasting customer loyalty.

If you are living in a service mindset and are unsure how to create an environment in which clients want to choose you, this is the episode to start your mindset shift into the experience economy. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of creating business superfans
• How to exceed your client's expectations
• The importance of an experience-focused mindset 

To find out more about Brittany, click here.

Buy her book at this link!

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps

03:30 - Brittany discusses her career journey
07:54 - Creating superfans for your business 
10:54 - Overpowering apathy 
16:42 - The Super Model
20:38 - Understanding your customer's story
24:28 - Getting personal 
32:00 - Exceeding expectations 
35:19 - Repeat for your reputation

"I have been a small business owner, and I know when you are short of cash, that three or four days of time, if you could get that money early, that could be a game-changing event for your life."
-Nick Chandi

The world is constantly changing, and the pace of that change has never been quicker. Despite this, North America is lagging behind Asia in its adoption of instantaneous payment technologies. We may have digital transactions and payments that seem instant, but even these rely on an old system of checks and balances within our banks to resolve.

Nick Chandi, CEO and co-founder of Forwardly is this spotlight session's special guest. He helped create the first real-time payment solution for small businesses in the United States. Creating a platform that can automatically reconcile transactions for a more seamless and modern payment workflow. 

The old ways are comfortable, but we live in an on-demand economy, we want faster and more convenient services. Services that will become the norm in no time at all. While adapting to change can be stressful, there are people like Nick who make it their mission to make these changes as easy and comfortable as possible.

If you aren't sure which direction the future of payments will take, or how it will apply to you, this is the episode for you to hear how your bookkeeping business could change for the better.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value & benefits of instant payments
• How better access to cash flow is better for business
• The importance of keeping up with the times

To learn more about Nick, find him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps

01:27 - Nick discusses his experiences founding Forwardly
02:35 - Revolutionizing transactions
05:33 - This bank is always open! 
08:16 - The value of access to better cashflow
12:28 - The benefits of instant payments 
21:38 - No risk, full rewards 
23:46 - The results so far 
26:07 - Features for the future

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Forwardly!

Join the first real-time payments solution for small businesses in the United States. Start receiving funds three days earlier than ACH and for up to 80% fewer fees than cards! Visit Forwardly.com for more information!

"A good manager is not anymore managing people, but also managing tools…if you give the right instructions, you can manage an army of robots…combining that with your team, and combining that with your robot team, then you can be a great manager."
-Nicolas Boucher

Artificial intelligence is here to stay, like all great technological revolutions, it can feel scary to have our foundations shaken. That is why it has never been more important to be able to adapt and go with the flow. To ride the wave of AI to new heights in your bookkeeping business, rather than hope it passes you by.

It is important to remember that what we think of as AI, isn't a truly sentient lifeform. It is an incredibly complex program for sifting through the collected knowledge of mankind, faster than any one human could do alone. But it is still us, when it generates answers, it takes that knowledge from everyone who has faced that issue and posited an answer online.

Nicolas Boucher is a German keynote speaker and expert in leveraging ChatGPT for finance teams. In this episode, he masterfully unpacks our fears around AI, while giving tangible examples of how your business can be dramatically enhanced with the application of AI tools. 

If you are struggling to get along with AI tech, Nicolas also offers his top tips for getting started with ChatGPT. Helping us to understand the possibilities rather than fear the results. AI will only replace us if we aren't applying our creativity and experience to our work. As long as you love what you do, a computer will never do it better. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of combining people & AI tools 
• How AI can revolutionize our teams
• The importance of understanding the source of our collected knowledge

To find out more about Nicolas, click here.

Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps    

01:58 - Nicolas discusses his career journey
06:35 - Transform work with AI
10:16 - Understanding the source of AI
14:14 - Incorporating AI into your life 
19:00 - Knowing the limits 
24:45 - 5 tips for getting started with ChatGPT
28:52 - Getting creative with AI
33:00 - Learning more about Nicolas

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Practice Protect!

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"Having a community to support me, it just was instrumental. It's something you can't talk to your friends and family about. They just don't get it."
-Paige Papaioannou

Not everything is as easy as the internet makes it seem. But thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of information and possibilities for connection with people on a similar journey to you. By being in a community of like-minded people, you can learn from the mistakes of others and support one another.

Paige Papaioannou, owner of Books By Paige, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses thrive through her expert accounting and advisory services. In her conversation with Michael, they explore what it's like to build a business that works for you, not one you are left trapped working in.

By creating systems and processes that make the work that you and your team easy to replicate, you'll create a bookkeeping business that can run without you, that won't shut down if you lose any staff, and can be easily scaled to accommodate increases in growth.

If you are struggling and want to move from people-driven to system-driven processes, this is the episode to get you thinking differently about the future of your bookkeeping business.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of connecting with a supportive community
• How to build a bookkeeping business that works for you, not one you work for
• The importance of building client relationships in your own way

To find out more about Paige, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:47 - Paige talks about her career journey
07:22 - Juggling work/home life balance 
09:52 - Building a business that works for you
13:35 - Trusting the process 
17:04 - Do-it-yourself marketing
20:35 - Getting clients in your own way
27:08 - Looking to the future

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Forwardly!

Join the first real-time payments solution for small businesses in the United States. Start receiving funds three days earlier than ACH and for up to 80% fewer fees than cards! Visit Forwardly.com for more information!

"By having the opportunity to work with, and work beside, and learn next to, and learn with people who have a different vantage point on whatever the problem is… when we get to be with that other person, our ability to understand the complexity actually increases, and that's where we are able to innovate more impressive solutions."
-Deb Mashek

The better we are at collaborating, the more likely it is that people will want to work with us. Yet so many of us struggle to work effectively with others. What happens when we sit and ask ourselves what collaboration really means? Are we only happy when we are getting our own way? What does it really feel like and mean to co-create something with other people?

These are big questions, but they matter if we are to get to the heart of why it is we need to work with other people. Balance is critical, as is a mutual respect for our skills and the skills of others. If we are able to set effective expectations through a lens of respect, we are far more likely to find success in our collaborations.

Deb Mashek, founder of Myco Consulting and author of the new book Collabor(h)ate, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people recognize different viewpoints and creating the space for understanding to flourish between seemingly disagreeable people.

If you struggle to vocalize your opinion, aren't sure how to speak with someone about viewpoints you disagree with or are finding it difficult to communicate your worth and effort, then this is the episode to take you from CollaborHate to CollaborGreat. :)

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of setting healthy expectations
• How viewpoint diversity can shape your business for the better
• The importance of building a communal mindset 

To find out more about Deb, click here.

Connect with Deb on LinkedIn.

Buy her new book, Collabor(h)ate at this link.

For the 10 kickoff questions mentioned in this episode, visit here.

Time Stamps

01:50 - Deb discusses her career journey  
04:45 - Understanding viewpoint diversity     
06:38 - Getting to the heart of collaboration
09:35 - Collaboration through the lens of small business 
16:40 - Keeping ourselves community-minded
22:29 - Communicating more effectively 
27:04 - Deb talks about her new book

"One of the biggest barriers I experience is my own distractibility, my own attention and how I am focusing it." 
-Natalie Ruskin

What we show others on the outside, is often not aligned with how we feel on the inside. There is real pressure to present a certain way to be considered successful in business. But the reality is, we all have different ways of working and being and we all need help from time-to-time to understand what it is that really matters to us.

This is a challenge when negative beliefs can be so addictive. We sabotage ourselves so others don't, or just to make the pressure of doing things we don't love, stop.

We will never feel at peace until our outer projection aligns with our inner one. We have to stop seeking to show people we are successful, and live being successful. When we bring awareness to each moment in a non-judgmental way, we can see more clearly the things that truly matter to us. 

Natalie Ruskin, coach and host of the A Success Of Our Own podcast, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping purpose-driven people thrive in their work and well-being. She speaks to the power of finding and connecting with our sense of why. How to measure what matters to us, and how simple and consistent changes to your mindset will change your outer world for the better. 

If you are struggling with your purpose, or are unsure how to measure it, this is the episode to open your mind to the power of your why.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of connecting with your 'why'
• How to build a success mindset
• The importance of understanding our internal success metrics 

To find out more about Natalie, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Listen to her podcast here.

Time Stamps

01:54 - Natalie discusses her career journey 
09:36 - Creating internal metrics for success
15:50 - Building the habits that will change your life
25:44 - Figuring out your why
31:27 - Holding ourselves accountable 
33:25 - She talks about her new podcast

"When you like somebody and they do good work, you're going to refer them. I want my friends to win, I want everybody that I like to win, for their businesses to succeed and for them to enjoy it."
-Cara Steinmann

Networking is tough. We have all received an email or LinkedIn DM, selling us hard on a person's skills. On their unique ability to fix problems we (because we aren't them) are unable to solve. The people using these methods must have some success, or they wouldn't be so prolific, but for most of us, this way of doing things gives us the immediate YUCK. 

What would your network look like if instead of thinking about how you could sell your skills to others, you focused on what you could learn instead? If you connect with people who inspire and motivate you, not to sell them your skills but to develop them further.

Cara Steinmann, founder of The Ravel Collective & host of the Ravel Radio podcast, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career building a space for women to be themselves, share their wins and connect more deeply with other women in business. 

In this episode, Cara speaks to the power of supportive communities, leaning into the joy of referring, and the need to understand our core values, so we can connect more authentically with others, and create businesses that focus on bringing the right people together. 

If you are struggling with networking, or just want to understand how much more successful you could be when aligned with your values, then this is the episode to get you thinking about the impact true networking could have on your life. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of supportive community networks
• How to find people that share your values
• The importance of understanding core values 

To find out more about Cara, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps
01:55 - Cara discusses her career journey 
06:20 - Finding the right people for you
11:55 - The power of supportive communities 
15:18 - Facing our networking fears 
23:24 - Figuring out temperament mismatches 
31:04 - Leaning into the joy of referring 
38:16 - Uncovering our core values 
46:15 - Finding the people who share your values 
53:54 - Connecting authentically 
58:59 - Where you can network successfully

" When I'd go on appointments I would say, 'You know, I do work with so and so', and then that would kind of just help them feel reassured that I knew what I was doing, but I never pretended to know everything. I would be very upfront. If there's something I don't know, let me do some research and I'll get back to you."
-Jenny Groberg

Jenny Groberg, founder of BookSmarts Accounting and Bookkeeping, shares her powerful story of building a seven-figure firm from scratch. Listen to this episode to learn how small actions can lead to big wins in your bookkeeping business.

In this episode, you'll learn…

• How a $500 QuickBooks certification launched her business
• Why asking for client reviews changed everything
• Ways to scale while balancing family life

To learn more about Jenny, click here. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

00:01 – Jenny's start in bookkeeping with no money & two kids
02:43 – The $500 QuickBooks investment that paid off
03:32 – Asking for reviews & building credibility
08:33 – Turning small clients into long-term relationships
17:03 – Hiring the first employee & scaling the team
19:52 – Overcoming setbacks & a traumatic brain injury
31:30 – Keys to growing a seven-figure firm

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage!

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"I think that the future of bookkeeping really lies in the advisory portion of bookkeeping. I think that we are at the point in technology where we no longer necessarily need a person to do the data entry."
-Jennifer Hume

It is hard to know our own value. We often undervalue ourselves while overvaluing the skills and abilities of others. Shifting our mindset to one that balances these opposing points of view is the first step in building the kind of future in our businesses that we often covet in others.

Technology is progressing ever faster, and it can make us feel like we can't keep up and that our skills aren't as valuable in the face of AI. But AI is sourced from us, and while it may be the future of our systems and processes, we are a very long way away from it being able to convert all that information into truly nuanced and helpful advice.

Jennifer Hume, owner of Coronation Bookkeeping & Tax Services, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses manage their finances and taxes effectively. In this episode, she speaks powerfully about the power of mindset in business success, what the world looks like when we get out of our way, and how our human experience and advice will always trump AI. 

If you are struggling in your bookkeeping business, not sure how to move up, feeling lost and alone, then this episode will get you thinking about the future differently. One that sets technology to work for you, so you can do more of the work you love. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of planning for the future you want
• How to get out of our own way
• The importance of our experience in advisory work

To find out more about Jennifer, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:42 - Jennifer discusses her career journey 
03:34 - Getting out of our own heads
06:44 - The power of the Accelerate 2 Advisor program
08:44 - Blood, Sweat & Tears
19:55 - Planning for the future you want 
23:28 - How AI will change bookkeeping 
26:41 - Thinking differently about challenges

"It was like I'm on a boat and I'm either working on my navigation charts, or I'm bailing, bailing, bailing…and what I didn't do was look up at the horizon to see, hey wait a minute, we have drifted off course and I really needed to be holding the rudder."
-Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan

Running a business is hard at the best of times, let alone when we are struck by the unexpected. Despite this, we feel a need to conceal the damage and its effect on us. We throw ourselves into even more work, in the hope that if we just keep doing everything all the time, we will find our way out.

But if we don't stop to take stock of where we actually are and where we want to be, we will keep blindly spinning in circles until there is nothing left. Taking a pause might seem like the end of the world, it can feel embarrassing to explain to clients that you aren't the right fit right now, that you need time to get things in order so you can go further in the future.

Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, President of Graham Consulting & Training, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping lawyers build profitable firms but isn't afraid to explain the real-world impact of giving too much of yourself to others. She talks candidly about what it is to lose ourselves in work, and how to find our way back to a place of strength and peace.

If you are struggling within your bookkeeping business, taking on more and more work but not really feeling like any forward or upward motion is happening, then this is the episode to get you back to basics, looking more honestly at where you are in your business, and how to chart a course back to success.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of getting back to basics
• How to create an effective checklist
• The importance of building an adaptable mindset

To find out more about Nancy, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

02:02 - Nancy discusses her career journey 
03:30 - Facing the challenges of the unexpected 
12:42 - Building an adaptable mindset 
16:30 - Creating an effective checklist 
18:25 - Getting back to basics
27:30 - Embracing the unknown

"I am just obsessed with helping people get results, because otherwise why are we reaching out to the community?"
-Andrea Driessen

The first port of call when looking for a business to support our needs is often a quick Google search. The words, pictures and videos on that business website influence our decisions long before we ever meet the person behind the site.

Despite this, many of us don't put much stock in how we are talking about ourselves and what we do online, or in person.

Andrea Driessen, a TEDx speaker and award-winning author, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career challenging people to think differently about the ways they engage with others. Taking businesses from being all about the individual to all about the services they can provide to their clients.

If you are struggling to write about yourself, create videos about what you do, or find it hard to talk to people in a concise and engaging way, then this is the episode to get you thinking differently about how to communicate the why of your business.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• Top tips for speaking success
• How to elevate the spoken word in your business
• The importance of helping others reduce pain points

To find out more about Andrea, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps
01:35 - Andrea discusses her career journey
05:55 - Helping others get results 
07:30 - Weathering the storm 
09:19 - Standing up on the TEDx stage
13:27 - Elevating the spoken word
19:51 - Changing the world with your words
23:44 - Tips for speaking success 
31:27 - Learning more from Andrea 
33:42 - AI & the future of business

"It really is a service that you're selling. And I think separating that from yourself is massive, because if you tie it to yourself and people keep saying no, it's going to take a hit to your confidence. There's a lot of mindset that goes into it." -Brittany Dixon   Productivity is more than filling a calendar with as many events and clients as possible. To be truly productive, we have to be moving towards our ideal of business success. Whether that is scaling the business, freeing up time or earning more money.    Often, we overestimate how quickly we can get things done; we also underestimate how much work we actually have to do. When was the last time you blocked off time in your calendar for your admin, rather than tackling it at any and all hours of the day and night?   Brittany Dixon, CEO of Brittany & Co Consulting, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people shift their mindsets away from being busy for the sake of it, to a mindset that is focused on consistency and the true value of your work.    If you are struggling to get organized, unsure about what productivity looks like in your bookkeeping business, or want to start your journey to consistent success, this is the episode for you to get thinking about your future in a different way.   During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of planning in successful businesses
• How to set consistent goals
• The importance of learning to pivot 

To find out more about Brittany, click here.    Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.   Time Stamps   01:57 - Brittany discusses her career journey 03:44 - Learning to pivot  05:12 - Shifting to a value-based mindset  08:20 - Embracing the spirit of adventure  12:42 - Planning & building a business to fuel your freedom  14:05 - Setting attainable goals  17:35 - Building consistency in your business  20:24 - Getting good at planning  26:15 - Blocking your time  29:53 - How Brittany can help you

 

"We've got to invest in ourselves, and if we're too busy working on the wrong things, as a leader, we've got to invest in the future and be looking forward."
-Carla Caldwell

How busy we are has a direct link to how successful and useful we feel. The problem with this comes from busying ourselves with monotonous and repetitive, easy-to-do tasks that take our attention and time away from the things only we can do. 

Delegating tasks isn't easy, maybe we haven't given effective training or set the necessary expectations, or maybe we are micromanaging and giving ourselves twice the work. Delegation is a balance, one in which you must trust your leadership skills to have the things that can be done by anyone organized for you, freeing up your time, energy and intention towards the things only you can do.

Carla Caldwell, founder of Caldwell Consulting & Training, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping accounting teams to modernize and grow beyond what they thought was possible. She dives into what it takes to create confidence as a leader, how to master delegation and what can happen in your business when you're open to learning from others.

If you are struggling with reclaiming your time or aren't sure how to lead your team to success, then this episode will get you thinking about what the right kind of busyness looks like. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• How to find confidence as a leader
• What it means to have a modern accounting practice
• The importance of mastering delegation 

To find out more about Carla, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:34 - Carla discusses her career journey 
04:06 - Finding the confidence to be a leader 
07:11 - The must-reads for small business owners 
09:55 - What it means to have a modern accounting practice 
16:33 - The right kind of busy 
19:11 - Freeing up your calendar 
22:41 - Mastering delegation 
28:58 - Taking your firm to the next level
30:24 - Leveraging AI

"We're not going to go back to the way it used to be. We have to accept where we are and explore how to move forward from here."
-Erin Daiber

What makes a great leader?

This isn't a question with only one answer. That is why good leadership is so rare. Being successful in the moment is no good if it makes us unwilling to adapt to change, in the same way being scared of the flow of the future limits us from making confident and decisive choices for our businesses.

Leadership though, has never been about what we tell people to do. It is how we work and grow with our teams and clients. How we adapt to changes and stressors, the way we treat people under pressure and how we value and care for ourselves and others.

Erin Daiber, CEO of Well Balanced Accountants, is this episode's featured guest. She speaks to the need for a growth mindset in good leadership, one that champions adaptability, self-care, and communication, to create those skills that will lead your business to a brighter future.

If you are struggling to engage with your team or clients, finding it hard to accept or adapt to the rapid pace of change, or just want to manage everything without feeling so on edge or burnt out, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what the future could look like and how to get there in one piece.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of communication in healthy leadership
• How to shift your mindset to the growth edge
• The importance of finding the right people for your team

To find out more about Erin, click here. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps    

01:42 - Erin discusses her recent experiences 
03:18 - Tackling the challenges of the moment
06:22 - Finding our growth edge
08:15 - Shifting our mindset 
11:51 - The ingredients of a great leader 
15:24 - Building virtual teams 
21:44 - The right person for the right role 
28:01 - Making AI work for us
31:45 - Getting connected with Erin

"If you don't have the right bookkeeper, your business is not going to be around very long!"
-Joey Coleman

Building a business is often a process of trial and error. We adapt to crises as they happen, rather than planning and preparing to avoid them in the first place. This is true not only in how we take on clients, (clients that prove to be more work than we thought) but also in how we hire new employees.

Hiring anyone to just fill a seat then wondering why they aren't performing is a common issue among new businesses. We forget it is us who must teach our employees, on top of all the other demands of business. 

When you systematize your processes and prioritize employee engagement and client satisfaction, you'll create a business that not only retains clients and employees for longer but creates a blueprint for anyone to slip into and create success for you.

Joey Coleman, a speaker and author, is this episode's featured guest. He has spent his career designing creative ways to help businesses engage their customers and employees. By focusing on building connections, creating effective processes and systems, and trusting your employees, your business can't be anything other than successful.

If you are wondering why your client relationships are sour, or why that new hire isn't just magically fixing all of your problems, this is the episode to teach you everything you need to know about keeping your clients and employees for the long term.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of building healthy & open connections
• How to retain your employees & clients for the long run
• The importance of systems & processes in business success

To find out more about Joey, click here.

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

02:12 - Joey discusses his career journey
05:57 - Two sides of the same coin
07:28 - Finding our focus 
09:52 - Never losing an employee again
23:34 - Pay for it now, or pay for it later
27:40 - Giving our employees their time back
35:10 - Creating mentoring success 
38:40 - What works for us?

"Storage isn't what's attacked, it's access. People steal access, they steal credentials, usernames and passwords from users, and access data illegally from anywhere, it's not about the location."

-Jamie Beresford

As the tools that help make running our business evolve, so too are the tools scammers and fraudsters apply against us. Keeping our businesses and clients safe from data theft is not easy. Most of us are bookkeepers, not cyber security specialists.

In this latest spotlight episode, Jamie Beresford, the CEO of Practice Protect, discusses what it takes to control access to client data, manage and mitigate risks and keep ourselves safe online. 

Jamie's company works exclusively with bookkeepers to keep us protected from the bad actors online who use AI and other technology to gain access to our data. While ransomware and denial of service attacks can cause us grief, newer technology is allowing fraudsters to slip in unnoticed and redirect information at will. Meaning it can be months before you realize the numbers just aren't adding up properly.

If you are concerned about the implications of new tech on your business, this is the episode to get you looking in the right direction to protect your firm from any attacks.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• How to navigate evolving technologies
• How to protect access to your data
• The importance of securely backing up your data

To find out more about Jamie, click here.

To learn more about Practice Protect to see if it's a fit for your business, visit this link.

Time Stamps    

01:21 - Jamie talks about his career journey
02:34 - Navigating the complexities of evolving technology 
04:38 - How to protect access to your data 
07:37 - Getting to grips with secure data transfer 
12:39 - Securing your accounts
14:29 - Safeguarding guidelines for finance companies
18:48 - Protecting client data 
20:48 - Securely backing up your data
23:01 - Getting help from Practice Protect

"When we know the why, we'll figure out the how!"

-Amanda McKinney

We all aspire to be confident. To have faith in our skills and conviction of trust in our knowledge that any challenge can be overcome. The problem is confidence is built through trial and error. Is it any wonder so many of us are paralyzed into inaction when we want the confidence to act, but lack it because we haven't done the very thing that creates it.

It is okay to be scared and to lack confidence. What matters most is connecting to your true reason for creating your business. If you know for sure what your why is, you will keep moving toward it no matter the obstacles and unforeseen challenges put in your way. 

Amanda McKinney, host of The Unapologetic Entrepreneur Podcast and author, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career following her passion to help business owners define their own success and create businesses that build into your life, not overtake it.

If you are struggling to get a true bearing for your life, feeling twisted and tumbled by ever uncertainty, then this is the episode to get you focused on what really matters and give you the courage to chase your dream, no matter the challenges.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of finding your true why
• How to get comfortable talking about the bumps in the road
• The importance of courage in building confidence 

To find out more about Amanda, click here.

Listen to her podcast at this link.

Buy her book, Why Not You? here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Time Stamps  

01:43 - Amanda talks about her career journey 
04:32 - Getting comfortable talking about the bumps in our journey
09:45 - Figuring it out, one step at a time
13:55 - What are other people going to think and why do we care
14:52 - Searching for your true why
16:45 - Amanda talks about her book, Why Not You?
26:48 - Uncovering your confidence 
34:30 - Finding your people
36:15 - Amanda shares her top tips for Successful Bookkeeper listeners
38:35 - The Unapologetic Entrepreneur Podcast 

"I wanted to show people the path that I took, avoiding all the mistakes that I made. And just do the direct line from A to B."
-Lisa Campbell

Our businesses often begin from the intersection of our desire for financial security with something we are good at. But in creating a business we often fail to ask ourselves a basic but important question…

Why?

Why are we doing this? Is it just for the money, a desire to help people, wanting to feel or be seen as successful? How will you ever get to an 'end' result for your business if you don't know why you are doing it beyond earning money and if the goal is just to earn money, what would happen if you looked deeper at your plans for your money? 

Lisa Campbell, founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people find the proven path to success. By starting with finding your why and following tried and tested methods for reaching it, she gives her clients the tools to level up beyond what they thought was possible.

If you are struggling to figure out why you are doing what you're doing and are looking for a like-minded community to learn from then this is the episode for you!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of finding your why
• How to follow the proven paths to success
• The importance of community in building a better future 

To find out more about Lisa, click here.

To learn about Accelerate 2 Advisor, visit this link.

Connect with Lisa on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:52 - Lisa discusses her experiences since she last appeared on this podcast
03:18 - Taking a chance on a better future 
05:13 - The power of Pure Bookkeeping
08:20 - The next big shift 
10:45 - Everybody has a why
12:01 - Creating the mastermind class 
17:20 - What the future holds 
23:51 - Bringing you the content you want
27:44 - Building a brighter future 

This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series. Learn how to provide high-value advisory work to ALL of your clients plus much more! REGISTER NOW :)

" One of the most famous quotes ever from Tony Robbins, this one I take with me every single day. 'Fall out of love with yourself and fall in love with your customer and watch the magic happen'. And you gotta fall in love with your customer. When you fall out of love with what you offer or your package, and you fall in love with your customer, you have a beautiful relationship that happens."
-Lynn Gagne-Webb

In this episode, we wrap up our two-part conversation with Lynn Gagne-Webb, founder of Custom Bookkeeping. Lynn dives into the challenges of pricing, managing client expectations, and building a bookkeeping business that truly fits your goals.

In this episode, you'll also learn...

• Why understanding communication styles can transform client relationships
• The pros & cons of hourly billing versus value-based pricing
• How to handle scope creep without burning out your team

To learn more about Lynn, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

01:00 – Intro to part two with Lynn Gagne-Webb
01:44 – Trust & communication with clients
03:26 – Color coding for better communication
05:14 – Airplane analogy for pricing & expectations
08:33 – Handling clients wanting more for less
17:13 – Switching from packages to hourly rates
19:54 – Managing rising costs with the airplane model
24:14 – Flat rate questions & subscription fatigue
28:56 – Adapting to industry changes
31:43 – Focus on loving your customer
32:21 – Courses & Learn Bookkeeping Canada

"People don't realize that they always think 'I eat as a reflex to being stressed', but you can reverse engineer it and choose foods that shut down your stress response." -Julie Daniluk   For many of us, the goal of building a successful business is centred around the hopes that we have to provide security and freedom for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately, the drive to create this success is often the thing that causes us to fall back on unhealthy ways of living.   Stress causes a vast number of chronic health conditions that ultimately end up restricting our ability to live happily, coupled with a poor diet from spending all our time working and spending large chunks of the day immobile at our desks. A pattern of poor health begins to emerge that can have serious consequences on our long-term health.   Julie Daniluk is a nutritionist, best-selling author and coach at Daniluk Consulting Inc. In this episode, she breaks down the impact of stress on our long-term health and explores the right foods and snacks to help us live longer and happier.   If you have found yourself feeling sluggish, irritable or struggling to get moving after so long behind a screen, then this episode will give you the keys to unlocking a long and healthy life.    During this interview, you'll learn...

• The long-term benefits of good longevity
• How to make better choices when you feel stressed
• The importance of finding the right foods & snacks for you

To find out more about Julie, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Time Stamps   01:35 - Julie discusses her career journey 05:48 - Confronting the challenges of a changing world  08:55 - Making better food choices for stress 16:04 - Finding the right snack for you 21:40 - Getting portion sizes right  30:34 - The long-term benefits of good longevity  34:33 - Getting connected with Julie

"When you're faced with decisions, don't necessarily jump on what will be the next logical step of growth, always come back to, 'Why did you start your business and what do you want to get out of it?'" 
-Jessica Fox

What is right for you? 

There is enormous value in community connection, in group thinking to solve complex issues and create spaces for the sharing of best practices. But when trying to overcome limiting beliefs, too much time spent in the crowd can add pressure we don't need to be successful.

Your definition of success matters, if you only ever set out to build a business that would support your needs, of course, you are going to feel stressed and pressured by the people around you with different or 'bigger' dreams. 

In this second part of a two-part interview with Jessica Fox, owner of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper, she explores what it means to value yourself and so much more!

During this interview, you'll also learn...

• The value of standing out from the crowd
• How to overcome our paralyzing fears
• The importance of working to build community 

To find out more about Jessica, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Here's her company website.

Time Stamps

02:01 - Working to build community  
07:17 - Standing out from the crowd 
13:20 - Overcoming the fear that paralyzes us
19:10 - Finding the right price for you    
23:04 - Building a business that brings you joy

This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series. Learn how to provide high-value advisory work to ALL of your clients plus much more! REGISTER NOW :)

"I need the community to be able to bounce ideas for, to be inspired by, and I find it's also very rewarding to pay it forward, helping someone else charges my battery. I ride this high the rest of the day because I helped make someone else's journey better." -Jessica Fox   We have all experienced limiting beliefs, whether in our personal or professional lives. We whisper to ourselves. "I'm not good enough", "I can't do this" or "Everyone else is so much better at this than me."    The way we talk to and about ourselves becomes who we are. Negative self-talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, trapping us into existing in constant doubt and insecurity. Despite all of us knowing how uncomfortable these feelings are, we often never stop to realize, it is us who have willed them into being with our own beliefs.   But, if it is possible for us to feel that badly, then it is also possible for us to feel good about ourselves too.   In this first of a two-part interview, Jessica Fox, owner of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper, talks about the power of belief in overcoming limiting mindsets. She has spent her career not only supporting businesses to build their dreams but also in supporting other bookkeepers to find their self-belief and change their limiting mindset.   If you are having doubts about your business, lacking direction, focus or motivation to create your dream business, then this is the episode to help you begin a shift in your mindset that will help unlock your full potential.   During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of belief in achieving your goals
• How overcoming limiting mindsets can unlock your potential
• The importance of finding your community 

To find out more about Jessica, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Here's her company website.   Time Stamps   02:27 - Jessica discusses her career journey  06:34 - Overcoming a limited mindset  10:14 - Finding your community  12:18 - The journey to Pure Bookkeeping  17:23 - Getting out of our own heads 21:25 - Pure commitment  26:50 - Why not me? 30:10 - The seven secrets to growing your business

This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series. On July 10th at 4pm Eastern, learn how to provide high-value advisory work to ALL of your clients plus much more! REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

"Nobody is immune from the curse of knowledge. The curse of knowledge is when we become so familiar with something that we, all of a sudden, do not know what it's like to not know."
-Jeffrey Klubeck

If knowledge is power, then wisdom might be considered the right application of knowledge. Too often the curse of knowledge boxes us into ways of thinking and being that become inescapable. That prevents innovation, connection, and creativity from blooming with anyone who doesn't think or act the same as we do.

We expect accountability and responsibility from others but don't often stop to consider how responsible we are, and how open we are to being held to account by others. When so many of the ways we view responsibility are based on judgement, holding ourselves and others to account, can feel like an attack on our very nature.

Jeffrey Klubeck (who is an author, speaker, mentor and coach) is this episode's featured guest. He has spent his career helping people break down the barriers of their encoded thoughts, to be open to new and different ways of doing things. 

If you are struggling to communicate with people of different experiences or to break free of the idea that your individual view of accountability is the only valid one, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what your life and business could look like if you broke the curse of knowledge.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of the right strategies, tactics & resources
• How to overcome the curse of knowledge
• The importance of accountability & motivation in leadership

Click here to connect with Jeffrey on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps

01:36 - Jeffrey discusses his career journey 
05:31 - Understanding the impacts of change 
10:20 - The curse of knowledge 
15:50 - The three pillars of leadership
20:08 - Strategies, tactics and resources 
24:07 - Becoming responsible for our own behavior 
30:37 - Getting positive about accountability 
36:10 - The Integrity Game 

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Katana! To learn how it can help you serve, attract and retain clients, click here.

"If we don't have that follow through, then maybe we just dampen something, but don't actually make a substantive change." -Carol Bowser   Everyone has different expectations on how things should be done, and how we should be recognized for doing them. Conflict arises when our differing expectations on workplace culture, autonomy and deliverables aren't met.   While fights in the office might seem like the height of drama, it is the same every day, trainable and avoidable issues that lead to toxic workplaces. If not fixed, this death by a thousand cuts will see everything you loved about your business drain away.   Which asks the big often unasked question, who is responsible for conflict?    Not just in the sense of who is causing it, but who should be the one to fix it?   This is where Carol Bowser, President of Conflict Management Strategies, shines. She has spent more than twenty years helping business owners not only settle the conflicting issues in their workplaces, but also has great success at removing, training, and changing conflict triggers before they have a chance to take hold.   If you are experiencing conflict in the workplace, or afraid that conflict may arise in the future, Carol's tried and tested approach can help you resolve issues before they arise.    During this interview, you'll learn...

• The conflict challenges facing small businesses
• How to manage conflict before it begins
• The importance of setting healthy & balanced boundaries 

To find out more about Carol, click here.    Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Time Stamps   01:34 - Carol talks about her career journey  03:30 - Twenty years of conflict management  07:49 - Managing the conflict before it begins  11:21 - The challenges for small businesses   20:43 - Setting healthy & balanced ranges of autonomy  24:52 - Working in or working on your business  26:50 - Guidance for tackling complex conflict  32:30 - Getting connected with Carol 

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, https://community.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/events/showcase/?_fs=16365326522-15084169340 and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

"I did a lot of things wrong, but I still got here. You're going to make mistakes, and you're going to do, quote 'the wrong thing' and being able to learn from that and correct moving forward is how you're going to build a business." 
-Beth Blaney

Goal setting isn't easy when starting a business. Far too often when starting out, we set random (often unattainable) goals. Goals that make us feel like failures if we don't reach them, even if we have had amazing successes in other ways.

Rather than setting an ambiguous goal, what would it look like to decide what you wanted your future to look like and work back from there?

It is rare for anyone to get everything right from the get-go. That is why community and mentorship matter. The sooner we surround ourselves with the people who have walked this path before, the fewer mistakes we will make following their example. 

Beth Blaney, the CEO of BBA Bookkeeping, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people achieve their goals by working authentically with the right people, rather than taking anyone and hoping they fit, or setting random goals and hoping they are achievable.

If you are struggling to create healthy client and employee relationships or are confused about goal setting in your bookkeeping business, then this is the episode to let you in on a few secrets that will get you thinking about your firm in a whole new way. 

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of embracing 'the wrong thing'
• How to set the right goals for your bookkeeping business
• The importance of seeing more than just the numbers 

To find out more about Beth, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Time Stamps
    
01:59 - Beth talks about her career journey 
04:40 - The million-dollar goal
07:50 - Embracing the 'wrong thing'
11:09 - Secrets to successful client acquisition 
18:31 - Setting the right goals
22:30 - The highs & lows of the hiring process 
27:22 - Seeing more than the numbers 
31:38 - Building unique relationships 
36:15 - Getting in contact with Beth 

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

"Everybody ultimately wants to be the surgeon. Ultimately, you want to do the part of bookkeeping, that had you become a bookkeeper and had you open a bookkeeping business."
-Gina Cotner

Taking on an assistant can sometimes feel like a burden. When we are already overwhelmed, the last thing we need is a new person in the mix, one we have to train, oversee and constantly course correct to get things done the way we want them to be. Not to mention the additional cost of a new hire.

But hiring an assistant doesn't have to be like this. A small shift in mindset can have a dramatic impact on your bookkeeping business. Rather than thinking about the cost and time spent hiring and training an assistant. Imagine how much more profitable your business would be if you spent the time you are currently using on repetitive and monotonous tasks, doing the high-level work in your business. 

Gina Cotner, CEO and founder of Athena Executive Services, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career training and connecting the right people with the right businesses. Her approach focuses on finding people to fill your gaps so you can do more of the things you love in your business.

Delegating is a skill that takes practice. If you are spending too much time in the minutia of your business and want to get back to the tasks that you love, the tasks you created your business to do, then this is the episode to start a shift in your mindset toward what your business could look like with the right help.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of delegating tasks to free up your time
• How to let go of the tasks that aren't the best use of your time
• The importance of finding the right VA for you

To find out more about Gina, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamps

01:41 - Gina talks about her career journey
10:25 - The challenges of hiring a virtual assistant
13:41 - Letting go of the tasks that eat up too much of your time
19:10 - How to delegate effectively 
21:07 - Finding the right VA for you
27:33 - What to look out for & what to avoid
32:28 - Building a healthy relationship with your VA 
37:14 - Getting connected with Athena Executive Services

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

"We're testing these same services in my business, seeing what's working, what's not. And then going out to the marketplace and saying, 'We know you have this problem, would you be interested in letting us help you?'"  -Mark Kappleman   When getting started in business there is often a pressure to be a generalist, to try and learn and do everything for any possible client. But, there is nothing wrong with combining your skills and experience with all those clients and your own passions to specialize in the niche that perfectly suits you.   Letting go of clients is hard. It is tough to shake the scarcity mindset. Imagine, however, all of the people who could be served by your unique knowledge, not to mention the relief found when you're not dealing with twenty different problems in one day. Instead, applying your expertise in ONE area to twenty different clients.   Mark Kappleman, co-founder of RealEstateAccounting.co, is this episode's featured guest. He has spent his career, seeking out the niche within the niche, creating and building market opportunities to help clients achieve their dreams.   There has never been a better time to leverage your skills and experience to solve the problems your clients don't even know they have. If you have been struggling to identify your niche, this is the episode to get you to follow your passion!   During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of specializing in your niche
• How to manage the unspoken & unknown problems
• The importance of following your passions 

To find out more about Mark, click here.   Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Time Stamps   01:31 - Mark talks about his career journey  06:04 - Following your passion  09:18 - Getting to the root of the problem 13:44 - Focusing your niche  17:14 - Becoming a generalist or a specialist  19:23 - Sometimes the niche finds you 22:04 - Managing the unspoken & unknown problems  27:05 - The future of business  30:55 - Learning more about Mark 

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, https://community.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/events/showcase/?_fs=16365326522-15084169340 and REGISTER NOW before it's too late! 

 

"You're juggling balls in the air, and some are rubber, and some are glass. If you're going to let a ball drop, don't let it be a glass one." 
-Jessica Lackey

It is unfortunate, but we often have to suffer to learn what it is we truly value. It is okay to make mistakes, but if we get to a point where mistakes are our dominant choices, it is time to reach out for help.

There are many different measures of success. To some it is financial security at any cost, taking on as many clients as possible, even if the quality of the work begins to slip. To others, helping clients improve their businesses is the mark of success.

In any case, what we choose to do, and what we choose to get help with has a dramatic impact on our business' viability. Especially the way in which we outsource tasks to others. Throwing tasks at people because we are too overwhelmed only doubles the workload in chasing and checking the work to see if it has been done right.

Jessica Lackey is a strategy and operations consultant who has made it her life's work to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs build sustainable and well-rooted businesses. Her approach is a human-centric one focused on creating the right feeling in our businesses, by being intentional in our decision-making.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, are struggling to know what to focus on, or what to outsource, this is the episode to get you thinking about the choices you are making in a whole new way.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of supportive outsourcing
• How to set effective and healthy goals
• The importance of making thoughtful decisions

To find out more about Jessica, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

You can take her free Radical and Rooted Business Lifecycle Assessment and learn about her services, including the next steps by visiting this link.

Time Stamps
        
01:33 - Jessica talks about her career journey
03:40 - Answering the journey's call
09:35 - Making your vision come to life
13:00 - Outsourcing: helpful or hindering
16:57 - Avoiding mistakes with thoughtful decision-making
20:50 - How our decisions affect our well-being
23:56 - Finding the right co-pilot
25:44 - Letting go of the numbers
27:54 - Learning more about Jessica

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late! 

"What story are we telling ourselves about why they don't get it? Then, finding a way around that and asking the question…what unites us?"
-Sally Helgesen

Communication is the cornerstone of business. Yet despite this many of us struggle to communicate with people different from ourselves. Not only that, but we also find it uncomfortable to effectively communicate our value and worth to others too.

So many of our issues arise out of a need to 'prove' our point of view. We are so busy trying to tell other people they are wrong; we stop living right. We withdraw from people different from ourselves or become just like them in our disregard for their opinion or their right to it. 

What would happen if instead of trying to tell people what to think, we focused inward, on removing our own internal barriers, and went out into the world open to different people and points of view? Focus not only on what we hope to get from others but what we could do to help them too.

Instead of saying older people can't do this, or younger people don't understand that, what would happen if we were open to lessons everyone of a different background has to teach? 

Sally Helgesen, who is an international bestselling author, speaker and leadership coach, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people create more inclusive businesses and networks, by focusing on what unites us, what is real, and what moves us forward, rather than the distracting influence of other media.

If you are struggling to communicate open-heartedly, this is the episode to get you ready to embrace who you are, and how you can be of service to others.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of overcoming our own self-narratives
• How to express your value without arrogance
• The importance of being open with people different from you

To find out more about Sally, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

To buy her book, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace, visit this link.

Time Stamps
    
01:40 - Getting inspired to write a new book
04:10 - Identifying the things that get in the way
08:28 - Understanding generational miscommunication 
12:52 - Bridging the communication divide 
20:32 - The 8 common triggers undermining us
27:36 - Connecting your value with your paycheck 
30:10 - Building an inclusive network  
35:40 - Learning more about Sally 

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!  

" You're on your own as a business owner. You're trying to figure out, there's no course that anybody gives you to tell you how to be a business owner."
-Lynn Gagne-Webb

In the first of a two-part series, Lynn Gagne-Webb, founder of Custom Bookkeeping, shares her journey from the corporate world to running and selling a successful bookkeeping firm. As well, Lynn dives into her unique approach to building a team, and reveals how creating a culture of trust and flexibility helped her attract and keep loyal staff for years.

In this episode, you'll also learn...

• The struggles of being a business owner
• The importance of taking CEO time to review your own business health
•  How to focus on leading your business

To learn more about Lynn, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

01:23 – Lynn shares her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship
03:37 – Lynn's vision for supporting small business owners
04:18 – The challenges of being on your own as a business owner
05:22 – Why small businesses struggle & how lack of knowledge hurts them most
06:41 – Getting caught up in growth & forgetting to review your own numbers
07:51 – The value of CEO days & looking at your business health
08:49 – Why even bookkeepers shouldn't do their own books
10:17 – The difference between detail-oriented & problem-solving bookkeepers
12:22 – Knowing your strengths & weaknesses as an owner
15:38 – Lynn's hiring experiences & lessons learned in building a team
18:14 – How flexibility & trust created a loyal workforce
22:12 – The impact of culture on retention & business success

"You've got to do the work in yourself first, otherwise we can't do the work in our practices." 
-Christina Foxwell

All too often we are consumed by the idea of competition, that to be successful means constantly proving ourselves in every room we enter. While a certain amount of competition can be a driving force for growth, too much makes us a nervous wreck, so concerned with how we are showing up, we have no space or energy to learn anything new.

By changing our mindsets from one that constantly feels the need to prove ourselves, to one that seeks peace and calm understanding, we are better able to show up for ourselves, our clients, and our businesses.

Being mindful of the reasons behind our behaviors and choices is a great way to reframe and refocus on what is truly important, and whether our current mindset is serving us well, or just a habit we have come to rely on. A habit that is more damaging than good.

Christina Foxwell, CEO and founder of Ignite Purpose, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping organizations to engage their people, rebuild their cultures and create places where people are better working together. 

If you are feeling burnt out, struggling with feeling like an imposter in your own bookkeeping business, or want to build relationships and connections of substance, this is the episode to help you shift your mindset, from trying to prove who you are, to living as you are.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of going with the flow to find your purpose
• How to show up in peace rather than trying to prove yourself
• The importance of being present & engaged in the moment

To find out more about Christina, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Time Stamps

01:42 - Christina talks about her career journey 
03:37 - Overcoming the obstacles of business 
09:30 - Finding a new flow 
16:13 - Learning to be present in the moment 
20:40 - Building community; finding your tribe 
27:30 - Transforming workplace cultures 
31:10 - Bringing your peace to others
36:50 - Learning more from Christina 

This episode is brought to you by our good friends at Pure Bookkeeping!

If you want to grow your bookkeeping business, get back your time, be more efficient and have confidence that your work is best practice, you need proven systems, processes and standard operating procedures.

That's what Pure Bookkeeping offers. To find out more, visit PureBookkeeping.com TODAY!

"I like the idea of considering the workplace to become a source of well-being, rather than a source of distress."
-Dr. Karen Doll

As bookkeepers, we understand the finite nature of available resources. We find the balance in our clients' books. And yet when it comes to ourselves, we often don't consider the nature of our own available resources. This could be our emotional capacity, our time or our energy. We work flat out, not stopping to consider the long-term impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Taking time to evaluate of our needs and allocate the necessary resources to keep us happy and healthy isn't selfish. The selfish act is burning ourselves out and putting our clients' resources or our employees' jobs at risk by overpromising and under-delivering due to burnout.

Dr. Karen Doll, a consulting psychologist with over 25 years of experience, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people build psychological fitness. Her approach champions the need for whole-person development in the workplace, by creating conditions at work that support people in their well-being.

Being honest and open isn't easy. We know our clients and employees depend on us for certainty. But struggling people can't help with the struggles of others. If you are struggling to manage your mental health and aren't sure of what to do about it, this is the episode to get you thinking about your psychological fitness and self-compassion.

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of managing our mental & physical health
• How to attune to your well-being needs
• The importance of cultivating psychological fitness 

To find out more about Karen, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Visit this link to get her book.

Time Stamps    

01:30 - Karen talks about her career journey 
03:53 - Facing the post-pandemic world 
06:12 - Avoiding common mistakes in workplace mental health
10:25 - Managing our own mental health 
12:40 - Karen talks about the value of her book
16:18 - The impact of good physical & mental health 
20:47 - Practices to keep you in tune with your health 
29:40 - Getting in touch with Karen 

This episode is brought to you by our good friends at Pure Workflow!

It's a simple, easy-to-use workflow practice management solution which will help you manage your clients, deadlines, workflow and team with ease.

The BEST PART? It's specifically made FOR BOOKKEEPERS!

For more information, visit PureWorkflow.com!

"It's like following a leader off of a cliff… just because they said jump, you jump. You want to be able to have that freedom to be able to push back and disagree and think about it." 
-Stephan Wiedner

It isn't easy to speak up in the workplace. A lack of psychological safety often prevents us from being as honest and open as we might be with others. This kind of disingenuous polite agreement stifles innovation, costs you money, and affects your employees' and clients' sense of engagement with your business.

As with all things worth getting right, balance is required. To navigate safely between creating dictatorial workplaces where only the leader's thought matters, or free-for-alls where so many points, thoughts and ideas are put forward, finding direction becomes impossible. 

Stephan Wiedner, psychological safety expert and CEO of Noomii.com and Zarango.com, is this episode's featured guest. He has spent his career educating people on the value of understanding and creating psychologically safe environments in the workplace. 

If you are struggling to speak freely to your employees, clients, or managers and want to create the kind of workplace that celebrates open dialogue while maintaining respect and regard for the feelings of everyone involved, this is the episode for you!

During this interview, you'll learn...

• The value of measuring psychological safety
• How to fail like a pro
• The importance of encouraging open dialogue

To find out more about Stephan, check out his LinkedIn profile.

Click here to get your free psychological safety assessment.

Time Stamps
    
01:32 - Stephan talks about his career journey 
04:42 - What is psychological safety? 
09:45 - Encouraging dialogue in a safe and non-offensive way 
12:15 - Building a better place to work 
15:18 - The mistakes leading to a psychologically unsafe workplace 
19:35 - Demonstrating that you understand and appreciate others 
25:55 - Failing like a pro!
29:01 - Noticing the things and people that keep you quiet
34:50 - Providing critical feedback 
37:08 - Learning more about psychological safety

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