“I actually feel like AI is going to level the playing field for smaller firms, more than ever before. That’s an incredible thing, I think it’s an amazing opportunity in front of us.” -Tommy Vincent   The window of change gets shorter every day, and this can leave us feeling pressured to keep up, or frustrated that no sooner have we caught up, than the next innovation is speeding away from us again.   While it’s true technology is racing ahead on an exponential curve, we don’t have to. We don’t have to know how to build apps, read code or create the next step in technological development. We just have to get good at finding things that work for us and leveraging them before our competitors do.   While you can use AI to replace people, the quality of the work won't be as good. AI, at its best, will help us accelerate our system of checks and business processes to give us back our time. More time away from the mundane leaves more time for the things you love to do.   Tommy Vincent, VP of Sales at Hub Analytics, is this spotlight episode’s special guest. He has spent his career helping businesses understand their complex needs, and then align them with the right solutions.    During this interview, you'll learn... The value of AI in levelling the playing field  How to leverage technology in your business The importance of embracing technology as it shifts If you are curious about the future, worried about the pace of change, or just want to free up more time in your business, then this is the episode to get you leaning into technology in the way that works best for you!   To find out more about Tommy, click here.   Connect with him on Linkedin.   Time Stamps   01:26 - Tommy discusses his career journey  03:40 - The future of bookkeeping 06:00 - Embracing technology shifts 07:50 - Levelling the playing field  18:11 - Leveraging technology   26:17 - How Hub Analytics can help you thrive  31:40 - Learning more   This episode is brought to you by our great 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!  

“Everybody has to find their own way to reduce their stress…what works for me may not work for you.” -Tiffany Cagwin We all experience stress, it is a fact of modern life. But our bodies cannot adapt to our changing world at the same place as the demands we place upon them. There comes a time when we all have to stop and ask ourselves if everything we are grinding for is truly worth the cost to our health and well-being.  There is nothing wrong with working hard to provide the kind of life for ourselves and our families that we have always dreamed of. But there needs to be balance, making it to the goal, but realizing we are in pieces is often the final nail in our sense of physical and mental well-being. Tiffany Cagwin, executive leader and transformation coach, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career applying her skills, knowledge and life experiences to help others find better long-term health.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of making small changes for a big difference How stress is impacting our health The importance of listening to your health, not everyone else’s Whether you are already doing your best to work through health challenges, or just starting to notice things are getting harder, this episode will help you! To find out more about Tiffany, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps     01:33 - Tiffany discusses her career journey  08:33 - Coming to terms with life’s challenges  10:42 - Managing our stresses  18:23 - Getting back on track 26:51 - No one size fits all 34:50 - Learning more about Tiffany This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Dext! Dext captures your clients’ data with incredible accuracy and deliver it seamlessly into your workflow, integrating with over 30 accounting softwares. Imagine having more time to focus on what truly matters, like helping your clients, growing your firm, or taking a well-deserved break. With Dext, you can trust that data is accurately extracted, categorized, and submitted every time. Are you ready to streamline your bookkeeping processes?  Join thousands of accountants and bookkeepers in the Dext community. Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo today and see how Dext can make your work life easier!  

“I think the most important thing a bookkeeper can do is make a client feel like you care about their business. You care about their success, and your only purpose is to make sure that they are making more money.” -Tanya Fox   An idea doesn’t have to be original for it to work. There is no harm or shame in looking at what those you consider to be successful are doing and applying what works in your own business. So much time is wasted trying to reinvent the wheel, trying to learn to do things we hate, when we could simply partner with someone who fills those gaps.   Collaboration at its heart is about connection, understanding the needs of others and working to solve their problems either by handling it ourselves if the issue is in our wheelhouse, or being confident enough to pass paying work onto more skilled people. Knowing that when we do this, it builds trust and long-term connections that show that faith is rewarded with the kinds of work we actually enjoy.    Tanya Fox, bookkeeper, business coach and author of How To Collaborate, is the featured guest in this second of a two-part series.    During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of getting connected How to build on existing relationships The value of thinking outside the box To find out more about Tanya, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps   01:22 - Getting connected  12:40 - Thinking outside the box  20:09 - If it works for others, why not for you? 22:51 - You can make it work 26:05 - Building on relationships 

“What I realized only years later, in doing collaborations is that I had to stop assuming I knew what someone thought I was worth, or what they were getting is worth.” -Tanya Fox There exists a damaging belief in business that if we aren’t the ones handling every aspect of our work, that we aren’t successful. As much as we might like to believe we can do everything alone, trying to live this way is a surefire way to burn out.  Working with others is scary, handling employees is hard enough, but working with service partners and collaborators is even more fear-inducing. How do we know who is right for our business, who gets where we are coming from and what if they don’t care or apply as much effort as you think they should to our businesses? Working with others can be a nightmare, but it can also be an incredibly beneficial and rewarding experience. One where all parties can see the kind of positive results that could never have been achieved if they hadn't worked together.  Tanya Fox, bookkeeper, business coach and author of How to Collaborate, is the featured guest in the first of a two-part series. In part one, Tanya discusses her early days in business, how powerful collaboration can be, and why we each need to find our own path to collaborative success.  If you want to work with others but are jaded by bad past experiences, or maybe you don’t feel like what you have to offer is worth the effort of others, then this is the episode that will help you let go of always deciding you aren’t good enough.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of knowing it’s okay to change your mind How collaboration can change your business The importance of failing forward  To find out more about Tanya, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Check out her website at this link. Time Stamps     01:44 - Tanya discusses her career journey  07:08 - Learning to collaborate 13:46 - Finding your ideal partners 17:19 - Charting your own course  24:07 - Going back to basics  This episode is brought to you by our great 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!  

“You’re meant to lead the way and if your plate is so full that you’re only doing things halfway, and not feeling really good about the job you’re doing, and how you can impact others, we need to really take a holistic look at what’s going on.” -Tonya Herb When our cars break down, we seek out a mechanic. We visit the doctor when we are sick. Yet in our businesses, we feel pressure to see to every single element of business activity. Running a business this way can only ever have one outcome: failure. It is not possible to do everything that needs to be done well enough that the edges don’t start to fray. From there, it's only a matter of time before everything we’ve worked so hard for, unravels completely. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can learn to delegate and share the load with others. People that fill and compliment your gaps, freeing you to focus on the things you love the most.   Tonya Herb, a life and leadership development coach, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, overcome their fears and embrace success. In this episode, Tonya and Michael explore how to spend time more effectively, beating back overthinking, and why all the best leaders delegate.  If you are struggling to quiet an overactive mind, want to expand your business, but are afraid of being in charge, or want to learn from others, but aren’t sure where to start, then this is the episode that will get you thinking about the true value of your time.  During this interview, you'll learn... Why overthinking is killing your success How to spend your time & energy more effectively The importance of delegation  To find out more about Tonya, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:31 - Tonya discusses her career journey  03:58 - Knowing where to start  06:01 - Unlocking delegation  09:50 - Overcoming overthinking  16:18 - The fear of responsibility  25:34 - Where are you spending your time  27:50 - Surrounding yourself with success

“You’re not your client's bank. Contrary to some beliefs, you’re doing work for them and getting paid. There are different ways to structure your payment terms that limit your exposure.” -Michelle Bomberger We know as bookkeepers just how much relationships matter in business; we want our clients to invest in us to fill their gaps. But we often don’t want to invest in others to fill our own. This is especially true when it comes to the legal side of doing business. Legal help and advice are expensive, and many of us run with the belief that we’ll only need that kind of help if something goes wrong.  But like insurance, investing in a good legal advisor can help cover and protect you from all the things you fear, and all the things that could affect our businesses that we don’t even know about yet. Michelle Bomberger, Founder and CEO at Equinox Business Law Group, is this episode’s guest. She has spent her career helping businesses with their strategic decision-making, working together to build strong and lasting relationships that keep her clients protected. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of taking a proactive approach to protection How to give your contracts more teeth The Three Tiers of Protection  If you are struggling with your business’ legal infrastructure, aren’t sure how to protect yourself and your business or just want to give your contracts more teeth, this is the episode to get you thinking about putting protection in place before you need it! To find out more about Michelle, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter Take the Business Health Assessment here. Time Stamps 01:43 - Michelle discusses her career journey 05:22 - The three tiers of protection  08:10 - Finding the right lawyer for you 11:20 - Building trusting relationships 16:30 - Iron cladding your contracts  20:40 - Getting paid upfront  25:03 - Challenging illegal activity   28:04 - Managing conflicts of interest  33:02 - Being proactive for long-term security  35:01 - Business Health Assessment This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage! With the new Sage for Accountants, you can automate daily tasks and unlock not only more efficiency, but more time for valuable client collaboration all in one place! Learn more or get started for free at thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/sage!

“The job of a good embezzler is to become the trusted bookkeeper.” -Ruth King The pace of change is exponential, and keeping up with all the new technologies is a real challenge. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to chase every new invention; we need only to find the tools that make doing business for ourselves and our clients a little bit easier. The desire to keep up can lead us into all kinds of online traps. Theft is already a fact of life in business. If we aren’t paying attention, people will try to get away with anything they can. The same is true for AI and other tools. If you aren’t 100% confident in the tools you are using, perhaps it’s time to slow down and get sure. Trust but verify, not only your people but your tools too. It can be easy to pass off tasks to others, but if we let the pressure of keeping up force us to shift more information out of our eyeline, we can’t be surprised when that trust is taken advantage of.  Ruth King, who is a business advisor and author, is this week's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses get and stay profitable, by showing them how to leverage the best tools and processes for the task at hand. In this episode, Ruth and Michael discuss the importance of managing small problems before they get out of hand, protecting yourself and your business from theft, and what it means to have a financially fit business.   If you are struggling to get a grip on the latest tech, need to delegate but are concerned about who and what to trust, or just want to learn more about creating a financially fit business, then this is the episode to get you putting trust in the one place it matters most: yourself. During this interview, you'll learn... What theft looks like in the modern age & how to stop it How to create a successful & financially fit business The importance of managing the little things so they don’t get out of hand To find out more about Ruth, click here. Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn and Twitter. Learn more about Financially Fit Business.  Time Stamps 01:26 - Ruth discusses her career journey  03:36 - Fixing problems before they become a crisis 05:30 - Discovering AI 07:42 - Pay attention or face the consequences 12:29 - Be careful what you sign  16:45 - Making a difference  21:39 - Key elements of growth 23:24 - 14 Critical Trend Analysis 26:24 - Financial Fit Business     34:25 - Learning more about Ruth

“We’re actually biologically positioned and programmed to receive stories. For most of existence, for the hundreds of thousands of years humans have existed on the planet, we have not been able to transfer information in written form from one person to another.” -Matthew Dicks As bookkeepers, we love the details. We find patterns in them others struggle to see. But sometimes our love of numbers makes it hard to step away from pure and factual resolution. Think about a subject that bores you to tears, then imagine having to listen to a report about it. How we feel about those things is the same way others feel about bookkeeping. That is why we need something more than the numbers to not only get our clients on board but to keep them long-term. We need stories. We need ways of communicating that connect us through authentic and entertaining lived experiences.  Matthew Dicks, storyteller and bestselling author, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping others tell their stories in compelling, and authentic ways. In this episode, he will discuss... The value of sharing your story with your clients How to tell a story, not read a report The importance of connecting business and story together  So, if you are struggling to compete in a market saturated with services. It might be time to think beyond your skills, to how you connect and relate with the people you hope to serve. This is the episode to help you do just that! To find out more about Matthew, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. Check out his TED talk, Homework For Life. Time Stamps     01:18 - Matthew discusses his career journey  05:52 - Reporting vs Storytelling  07:44 - Connecting story to business  15:20 - Building authentic connections  20:27 - Sharing our story  30:58 - Stories sell  This episode is brought to you by our great 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!    

“Walking is our common denominator in terms of movement, almost all of us walk. It’s a really great place to begin, to teach people about movement.” -Bruce Fertman Our role as bookkeepers gives us unique insight into the health of a business. We can make sense of the figures in a way our clients would struggle to alone. We find the problems and successes and help our clients to make changes to their business that improve profitability and longevity.  Yet despite this being a critical function of what we do for others, we don’t invest nearly the same amount of time and effort into our own health. We ignore the telltale signs and symptoms in our own bodies in the same way our clients frustrate us by ignoring the areas of challenge in their businesses.  Sitting at our desks may feel productive, but we often spend hours sitting, with bad posture trying to generate the same productivity, creativity and insight we could gain from a 12-minute walk.  Bruce Fertman, co-author of Walking Well and lifetime movement specialist, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his life helping others find their path to wellness through movement. In this episode, he speaks powerfully about the need to get the basics right, how small changes can make huge differences, and why you should invest in your health the way you do in your work. If you are feeling run down, exhausted, overwhelmed, or just want even more energy to get things done, then this is the episode for you! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of investing in your health How to walk for positive change and transformation The importance of getting back to the basics  To find out more about Bruce, click here. Connect with him on Facebook.  You can get a copy of Walking Well at this link. Time Stamps    01:28 - Bruce discusses his career journey  05:35 - The benefits of walking  08:39 - Are you walking enough? 20:52 - Small changes, huge differences   32:36 - Investing time in yourself  37:25 - Going back to basics  46:45 - Learning more about Bruce

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh retirement, that’s for old people. I don’t need to be thinking about that now.’ But it is just good cash flow management. It's good financial planning. To be thinking not only about what I am spending my money on today as a business owner but also what does this look like in 5, 10, 20 years.” -Courtenay Shipley As bookkeepers, it is our job to help others understand how the flow of money works in and around their business. A critical yet often overlooked part of that, is how we plan for the future. It’s easy to get excited by success, so much so that we don’t feel the need to save for a rainy day. This is true for our clients too. They’ve worked so hard. They want to enjoy the profits of their labour. When planning for the future, it’s hard to ignore the glaring warnings of our own mortality. This is perhaps why we take the first most accessible retirement plan we find, and let it tick over in the background.  But saving doesn’t have to be from a place of fear in what the future holds, you can create a plan that celebrates your success and keeps you solvent long after you’ve stopped working.  Courtenay Shipley, founder of Retirement Planology is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses navigate the retirement landscape in a way that aligns with their values, saves time and makes their money work harder. In this episode, Courtenay and Michael discuss all things retirement, from finding the right plan to essential resources for success. If you are finding yourself in a place of success but aren’t sure how to provide yourself and your employees with a plan for the future then this is the episode for you! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of building long-term financial freedom How to effectively plan for the future The importance of sticking to the plan To find out more about Courtenay, click here. Connect with with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps   01:46 - Courtenay discusses her career journey  05:28 - Planning for the future 08:54 - Finding the right fit 13:47 - Sticking to the plan 16:34 - The essentials of a great retirement plan 18:06 - Building your financial freedom 23:23 - Resources that can help you 25:50 - Getting integrated  28:35 - Learning more from Courtenay  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!

“Oftentimes, we’re our own worst enemy, and so we listen to the one negative comment or the one negative undertone that someone gives us, and we hold onto that.” -Trixy Castro Every challenge provides an opportunity for growth. A chance to build a mindset of resilience, that will let us face any problem with a mind to solutions. That bias and barriers to success exist, is not in question. What is in question is how we react to them.  We spend far too much time paying attention to the opinions of people who aren’t paying our bills. It is time to cut out the noise, get focused and start chasing our goals with everything we have in us. Criticism is important, but we must cultivate the ability to filter out whether it is really something about us that we need to work on, or about someone else wanting us to feel as bad as they do. Trixy Castro, business executive and entrepreneur, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career founding and selling businesses while breaking down every barrier put in her path. She speaks powerfully about the need to build a resilient mindset, embrace challenges as learning experiences and how to get focused on your goals. If you are struggling with negative self-talk, quitting before you’ve even begun, or after a few bumps in the road, then this is the episode that will set you free of your limiting beliefs and put you on the path to enduring success. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of embracing challenges as learning opportunities How to build a resilient mindset The importance of getting focused on your goals To find out more about Trixy, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:46 - Trixy discusses her career journey  13:35 - The path to success  19:07 - There’s always a way around 22:37 - Building a resilience mindset 27:10 - Getting it done

“All of a sudden, the customers no longer perceive us as valuable because we failed to reframe the value that we created. The accountant and the bookkeeper’s job should be giving the business owner confidence in their number.” -Hector Garcia For as long as we define our value by our skills alone, we will have to bear the threat of replacement. If all we are communicating to our clients is the completion of tasks that could just as easily be automated, we cannot be surprised that automation seems like a better option.  AI is here to stay. If we don’t want to be replaced by it, we have to start reframing what it is our clients are actually paying for. We need to move away from charging for the completion of tasks, towards charging for the relationships and insights we create and offer.  Computers aren’t going to steal our jobs, they are going to enhance them by freeing up more of our time to give clients more personal and meaningful services than just fixing their numbers. Hector Garcia, a popular YouTuber and CPA, is this episode’s featured guest. In this second half of a two-part series, Michael and Hector discuss the value of doing things differently, and how to build client confidence and stay ahead of the curve.  If you are struggling to innovate, not sure how to get creative with your business or build client confidence, then this is the episode to get you thinking about how to leverage AI rather than be afraid of it.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of doing things differently How to stay ahead of the curve The importance of building client confidence To find out more about Hector, click here.   Connect with him on LinkedIn, YouTube or X.   Learn more about Hector's Reframe 2024 and Right Tool App.   Click here to listen to Part 1 of this series.   Time Stamps     01:34 - Doing things differently  06:04 - Building client confidence  10:14 - Getting ahead of the curve  19:38 - Can’t find the right tool? Build it! 27:17 - Getting started with AI

“Innovation means always doing it differently, always doing it better. Innovation is not always technology; innovation is providing a different point of view to the status quo.”  -Hector Garcia   There will always be people more successful than we are. This is only a problem if we decide it's not worth taking any action to better our lives because we’ll never be better than those we idolize. Success doesn’t have to mean being the best. Having a healthy, steadily growing business, with loyal clients and dedicated employees is a feat that should be celebrated.    Very few people become well-known overnight, it takes time and the confidence to keep putting yourself out there, even if your numbers are low to start with. The more consistent we are, the faster those numbers begin to rise. Especially when you stop trying to sell people something and start showing them you want to authentically help them.   Hector Garcia, CPA and YouTuber, is this episode’s featured guest. In this first of a two-part series, Michael and Hector explore how to successfully market ourselves, the power of an innovation mindset, and why connecting authentically matters.    If you are tired of letting other people’s success paralyze you into inaction and want to learn to market yourself better, then this is the episode to get you thinking innovatively about the future of your business.    During this interview, you'll learn... The value of putting yourself out there How to embrace an innovation mindset  The importance of competing against yourself, not others To find out more about Hector, click here.    Connect with Hector on LinkedIn, YouTube or X.   Time Stamps   02:48 - Hector discusses his career journey  08:33 - Transitioning to hands-off business  14:55 - Putting yourself out there 21:49 - Success isn’t a zero-sum game This episode is brought to you by our great friends at BILL! BILL automates your clients’ AP, AR, spend, and expense, and lets them track and manage their cash flow, in real-time. You can also use the BILL Accountant Console to access insights to level up your advisory services plus so much more! To learn how BILL can help you and your clients, and to sign up for the referral program, visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/bill.

“If they don’t have the right mindset and the right willingness to adopt the technology, it's just not going to work.”  -Tim Sernett Everyone is different. There will be those who love trying new things and those who are more hesitant to leave their bubble of security. One isn’t better than the other, but when it comes to business, you must consider who is best for you and your business. If you are someone who loves new technology, systems and processes, it’s probably not the best idea to seek clients who like to be set in their ways and keep things the same. The same is true in the other direction, if you have a tried and tested method, clients that want the latest up-to-date tech as part of your service, aren’t going to be a good fit. It’s okay, encouraged even, to embrace every kind of new experience you can have, we don’t know what we don’t know, and time spent searching for that one thing or niche that truly sparks joy is not time wasted.  Tim Sernett of Financial Optics is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping clients not only improve their profits but build peace of mind and future security in their businesses. In this episode, Tim and Michael discuss all things technology and much more!  If you are struggling to serve too many people, to the detriment of your true passions, want to embrace new technologies, or just want to give a little more thought to the future, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what your success could look like.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of embracing opportunities to gain experience How to find your business niche The importance of seeking out the gaps in your business  To find out more about Tim, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:53 - Tim discusses his career journey  04:27 - Embracing opportunities to gain experience  09:11 - Future forward thinking  12:29 - Seeking out the gaps in your business  17:44 - Finding your niche 23:30 - Bringing your team with you 27:12 - The value of your knowledge and systems

“Nowadays I fire people. I fired one client last month. They didn’t even make it two months in. But the way they talked to my staff and scope creep and demanding a lot of things that we never agreed to, I let them go within a month and a half. Where before I would suffer those clients for a year.” -Tyler Otto It is natural when starting a business to want to take any clients, no matter how much they demand of us, or how badly they might treat us. We want to be grateful for something because it is better than nothing. But we don’t have to get stuck in this mindset once our work starts to speak for itself. We can increase our price, and remove negatively impacting clients and employees, without feeling guilty or disloyal. The goal for our business is growth and hanging on to things that just aren’t working, isn’t going to help us grow.  Tyler Otto, President and Owner of Specialty Bookkeeping and Tax, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career building systems for business success. In this episode, Tyler and Michael explore learning from past mistakes, getting your people and systems right, and why building strong workplace culture matters. If you aren’t sure how to say no to difficult clients, want to hire a strong team, or just develop your company’s culture, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what the future could look like when you embrace your growth. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of getting it wrong so you know how to get it right How to roll with the punches The importance of building a strong work culture  To find out more about Tyler, click here. Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn. You can listen to the UNAccountable Podcast at this link. Time Stamps 01:36 - Tyler discusses his career journey 03:05 - Positioning yourself for success 05:16 - Getting it wrong, to get it right 08:36 - Managing problem clients 11:32 - Pricing for your value  16:36 - Rolling with the punches 18:55 - Future thinking 21:43 - Building a strong work culture  27:12 - Setting the rules & sticking to them

“The number one marketing strategy for bookkeepers, people would say, is 'do a good job and referrals will come.'” -Debbie Roberts  Finding the right people to work in our businesses is tough. Managing expectations on both sides can be challenging, maybe our systems and processes aren’t as great as we hoped, or maybe they just aren’t the right fit for us.  No matter what happens, mistakes are only a waste of time if we refuse to learn from them. When we get things wrong, it gives us a great opportunity to review our practices and see what isn’t working. This will help us understand where the fault lies and how to fix it.  Not everyone wants to be the boss, some just want to turn up and do what they love, but in order to find these people we have to be sure of their skills. You cannot take someone’s word on success. Spend time with them, sit with them and have them show you they can do everything you want them to do, in the way you want them to do it.  Peter Cook, and Debbie Roberts, co-authors of the E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founders of Pure Bookkeeping, are this episode’s featured guests. This sixth episode regarding The E-Myth Bookkeeper is all about how to hire great people, develop your systems and be relentless in the pursuit of your dreams.  If you are struggling to grow in your business and want to scale but aren’t sure how to find and test the right people for you then this episode will teach you how to build the right systems and then test and hire with confidence.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of never giving up on your dreams How to hire great people & keep them The importance of systems & processes in your business To find out more about Peter, click here or connect with him on LinkedIn.  To learn more about Debbie, visit  this link or connect with her on LinkedIn. Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper. To learn about Pure Bookkeeping, visit this link. Catch-up on the full E-Myth Bookkeeper Peter Cook podcast series with past episodes below! Episode 1 Episode 2  Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Time Stamps 01:21 - The Successful Bookkeeper 05:27 - Debbie’s story 09:34 - Developing your systems 18:52 - Finding the right people for you 30:54 - Embracing what you’re good at This episode is brought to you by Pure Bookkeeping. It's the proven system to grow your bookkeeping business.

“You don’t have to know everything, but if you can ask the questions and then if you can figure out how those tie into the financials, you can say ‘here are the numbers, but here’s what they mean.’” -Jeff Bartsch All of us have a story, but few of us embrace the ability we all possess to change the narrative at any moment. There is comfort in familiarity, but it can also imprison us. If we keep saying to ourselves, ‘I am just a bookkeeper’, that is all we'll ever be.  But, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can change our personal and professional stories at any time, and when we do, we begin to think differently about ourselves. If we are what we think, then changing our thoughts will automatically change our actions. Easier said than done, but given the alternative, what do we have to lose in trying to think better of ourselves? Jeff Bartsch, founder of Story Greenlight, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people understand the story of their business and how to tell it successfully. In this second of a two-episode special, Michael and Jeff discuss tactical ways to add advisory services to your business, the power of measurement and how to attract and keep your ideal client. If you think of yourself as just a bookkeeper or aren’t sure how to put your experience to greater use, then this is the episode to get you believing you don’t have to have all the answers, just the willingness to think better of yourself and try harder for your clients each day. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of measuring the data How to add advisory service to your business What your ideal client looks like, and how to keep them To find out more about Jeff, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Get your complimentary 1-on-1 coaching with Jeff at this link.   Time Stamps   01:18 - Understanding who you are 09:24 - You are what you measure  18:05 - Attracting & keeping your ideal clients  25:11 - Learning more from Jeff 

“A story is where a character wants something, overcomes obstacles to get it and experiences transformation as a result. Identity, desire, obstacles and transformation. And then we as providers of services and products, we are the guide, we come alongside to help that hero get what they want.” -Jeff Bartsch   Being a bookkeeper is about more than our ability to do the math. There are plenty of technological solutions to bookkeeping, yet clients continue to hire human bookkeepers because we understand the story of that client’s business.    We can leverage our experience in a way a machine is unable to. We build personal connections with our clients and guide them to success. In this advisory role, lies the true value of a bookkeeper. Someone who can reassure, support and advise in a way that builds connection and empowers clients to make the best of their businesses.    Jeff Bartsch, founder of Story Greenlight is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people understand the story of their business and how to tell it successfully. In this first of a two-episode special, Michael and Jeff explore ways to build connection with your audience, the power of storytelling and how businesses are transformed when you give the numbers meaning.   If you want to connect with your clients more, but don’t feel confident using your knowledge and experience to build deeper relationships, then this is the episode for you!   During this interview, you'll learn... The power of giving meaning to the numbers How to tell your story successfully The importance of building genuine connections To find out more about Jeff, click this link.   Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Get your complimentary 1-on-1 coaching with Jeff here.   Time Stamps   02:12-  Jeff discusses his career journey  05:55 - Connecting with your audience  11:39 - Telling your story  24:24 - Giving meaning to the numbers 30:10 - Delivering for your clients

“I think there are three main things that are super important for running a business. One is knowing how to be a great leader and a great manager of people. There’s learning how to hire the right people for your business and how to build a team. And then there’s knowing how to follow the rules and stay out of trouble!” -Jackie Koch As with all things in life and business, the earlier we get plans and systems in place, the more time, energy and money we will save down the road. This is especially true when it comes to employees. How do we know if we are hiring and firing too quickly or too slowly? The answer is we probably don’t. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We all want to do as much for ourselves as possible, but even if we can spread our knowledge to cover all the bases in a simple way, we will never be as good as a dedicated expert. We can guess what we need to do, but when we don’t know what we don’t know, there are going to be gaps.  Jackie Koch, founder of People Principles and host of the World’s Greatest Boss podcast, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping people create and maintain HR strategies for lasting success. Jackie and Michael explore the way small mistakes often lead to big problems, the value experts add to your business and the true meaning of Hire Slow, Fire Fast.  If you want to hire new people or are finding exit conversations too challenging, this is the episode that will get you connecting with the right people to help you find your right people. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of expert experience in building your bookkeeping business How to hire & fire the right people at the right time The importance of catching mistakes early  To find out more about Jackie, click here . Connect with her on LinkedIn. Learn more about the World’s Greatest Boss Podcast. Time Stamps 01:54 - Jackie discusses her career journey  05:09 - Small mistakes lead to big problems  08:51 - Understanding the value of an expert  14:12 - Hire slow  22:47 - Fire fast! 30:44 - Finding the right fit  34:58 - Jackie’s recommendations 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!

“Spend 15 minutes a day every single day on something that matters to you. I don’t care if it matters to anybody else, but something that matters to you, and preferably do all this before you check your email.” -Sam Bennett Habit building is hard, especially when we aren’t always sure which way to direct our energy. The more we build a habit, the more momentum we gain, and the less we want to quit whatever it is we are doing. Unfortunately, the same is true of negative habits. If we struggle to even try, that is all that will happen. We’ll give up before we start to see results, and the more we give up, the more we’ll keep giving up. We can’t just copy others and hope to find the same success, we aren’t them. It’s scary to realize there is no right way to success, there is only our own way, all we have to do is lean into it, and build it up with good habits. Success is what follows those good habits.  Sam Bennett, author of The 15-Minute Method, has spent her career helping overthinkers get things done, 15 minutes at a time. She has created an environment to help people live their best, most fulfilling and productive lives.  In this episode, Sam and Michael illustrate the power of the 15-minute method, how to beat procrastination, and how to spend more time in your flow state. If you are an overthinker, constantly worried about making the right choices, then this is the episode that will get you believing you can be who you want to be. During this interview, you'll learn... The power of the 15-Minute Method How to spend more time in your flow The importance of overcoming procrastination To find out more about Sam, click here. To explore the Get it done! Daily Practicum, visit this link. Connect with Sam on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Time Stamps 01:35 - Sam discussses her career journey  04:30 - Adjusting to a new reality  10:10 - The power of 15 minutes  17:43 - Getting to grips with procrastination 20:58 - Building time in your flow state  32:03 - The daily practicum  This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Forwardly! With Forwardly, you can send free instant payments while keeping funds in your bank longer, receive instant payments for 80% less than credit card fees and enjoy same-day ACH—absolutely free! The best part? You can leap into the future of business payments with Forwardly and possibly earn yourself a FREE iPhone 15 Pro this summer! Visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/forwardly for more information! 

“The sales conversation isn’t about the details of how we do the bookkeeping, it's about, what are the benefits of that for a business owner.” -Peter Cook Most of us would say that referrals have been our best avenues to new business. Yet when quizzed about how we get them, many of us have no system or proactive approach in place with which to attract them.  It’s a fine line, make too many cold calls/posts and no one will take us seriously, but sitting back and waiting for things to happen to us, doesn’t yield positive results either. This coupled with the issue that most of us are good at bookkeeping, not marketing, can make gaining and retaining clients a real problem. Peter Cook, co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. He takes a deeper look at effective systems and strategies for marketing, and how prioritizing meaningful connections can make all the difference. If you are unsure how to market yourself, but not really gaining any meaningful leads, then this is the episode to help you move away from telling people what you’re good at, and start actively showing them. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of letting your skills speak for themselves  How to build meaningful relationships The importance of being proactive in your approach to referrals To find out more about Peter, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper. To learn about Pure Bookkeeping, visit this link. Catch-up on the full E-Myth Bookkeeper Peter Cook podcast series with past episodes below! Episode 1 Episode 2  Episode 3 Episode 4 Time Stamps 02:09 - Growing your bookkeeping business  08:10 - Systems for marketing  13:00 - Seven effective marketing strategies for bookkeepers 16:52 - Building meaningful relationships 24:22 - Creating referral systems  28:30 - Is paid advertising worth it? 

“We are in a supply/demand economy that favours the suppliers. And it's economics 101, if you have a supply shortage that can’t meet all the demand of the market, then you increase price.” -Joe Woodard Compliance is one of the biggest realms of challenge for bookkeepers, but it also provides consistent opportunity. The rules and regulations change so frequently that it can be hard to keep up, and if we feel that way, just imagine how non-bookkeeping businesses feel about it. Supply and demand rule the market, and there is always going to be a supply of potential clients who would rather just pay someone to take care of the books for them. Despite this, we have to be careful not to fall into the trap of undercharging and over-promising.  Having hundreds of clients might feel like a success, but it probably doesn’t to the clients who barely get any of our time and, of course, if you're overworked for long enough, burnout will likely be in your future. Joe Woodard, acclaimed speaker and trainer, is this spotlight episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping businesses solve their complex operational needs and scale to new heights. In this episode, Joe and Louie Prosperi explore the importance of pricing, how to value your skills and experience and the role practice, planning and AI have in your business.  If you are taking on more and more clients but are starting to fall behind your promises, then this is the episode to get you focused on building connections and pricing based on your unique abilities, not just how many people you can get on board. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of having a solid plan & sticking to it How to value your skills & experience The importance of knowing your worth when it comes to pricing To find out more about Joe, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. To buy your tickets for the upcoming Scaling New Heights conference, check out this link. Time Stamps 01:30 - Getting to grips with compliance  04:35 - Making the best of engagement letters  06:55 - Staying on track  09:54 - Knowing your price  18:25 - Thinking long-term  24:40 - Valuation & profitability  29:58 - Practice, planning and AI

“If you want to stay viable in your bookkeeping business, you’re going to have to make that shift, and make your customers understand that they need you, and value you and your thought process that AI can’t do for them.” -Lora Lonesberry   There can be no doubt that AI is changing our world. Yet we are not all as doomed to be replaced by technology as some would have us believe. AI, like all new inventions, offers us the chance to grow, by embracing a technology that can make our lives easier, while giving us more time to focus on the unique insights only we can provide.    Without challenges there can be no growth, they keep us on the cutting edge of industry, daring us to keep up, deepening our skill set, experience and knowledge. Experience that clients are in desperate need of. AI can do the numbers faster than us, but it can’t contextualize them for the specific needs of a client. It can’t understand the dreams and hopes tied up in our client’s businesses.    Lora Lonesberry, owner of Positive Statements, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her varied career helping people get proactive and creative when facing the challenges of business and personal growth. She speaks to the power of finding your niche and leveraging your unique skills to overcome any challenge and the need for strong community networks.    If you are struggling to keep up, and don’t know which tools to use or how to leverage your skills, then this is the episode to get you asking the question; ‘What might your business look like if you implemented strategies to use AI to enhance, not replace, your services?’   During this interview, you'll learn... How to leverage AI to improve the success of your business The value of thinking about the little things The importance of community & networking  To find out more about Lora, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Time Stamps   01:47 - Making the most of changes  04:18 - Embracing a change in thinking 07:06 - Getting to grips with AI 21:08 - Thinking about the little things  26:04 - Levelling up on your gaps  30:32 - Finding your niche

“People do that with their bookkeeping business, they start, they want to get some clients and they want to make some money, but they actually really have no idea what the journey looks like and where they are trying to get to. It’s a very different experience if you don’t know where you’re trying to get to.” -Peter Cook There is a common misconception among business owners, that we are never truly successful unless we can claim to have done everything ourselves. While there are advantages to stepping out of others’ shadows, it’s also far more likely we'll get burned.  There is nothing wrong with taking stock of what other business owners are doing and seeing how we might apply their approach to our own bookkeeping business. Walking the same path as someone else doesn’t mean trying to walk precisely in their footprints. It’s just a chance for us to enjoy a slightly easier path made possible by those who walked it before us.  Peter Cook, co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. This fourth episode on The E-Myth Bookkeeper series explores the bookkeeper’s journey, the challenges of transitioning your business, and why sticking to the plan can make all the difference.  If you are struggling to let go of old ideas about success, aren’t sure how to move your business to the next phase of prosperity, or just want to get a better idea of what to expect on your journey, then this is the episode to show you it's okay to follow the trail. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of sticking to the plan How to navigate transitioning your business   The importance of understanding the phases of your business  To find out more about Peter, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper. Catch-up on the full E-Myth Bookkeeper with Peter Cook series with past episodes below! Episode 1 Episode 2  Episode 3 Time Stamps 02:01 - The bookkeeping business journey  07:41 - Helping bookkeepers grow their businesses  10:30 - The four stages of a bookkeeping business 16:26 - The challenges of transitioning your business  24:21 - Creating your freedom 

“You have to be willing to think a little bit differently about your business. If you follow what everyone else is doing, you’re going to get the same results everybody got.” -Racheal Cook Building a business is hard. There are so many barriers to success that the last thing we need is to get in our own way, either by supremely undervaluing our skills, or dramatically overestimating the market for them. We all want to follow our passions, but we need to temper that desire with the real-world potential of earning from it.  We start our own businesses to gain the flexibility and freedom often not afforded to us elsewhere. But we must be careful not to let our pricing trap us into a situation where we may be our boss but have no time or energy for anything else.  Racheal Cook, owner of the CEO Collective and host of the Promote Yourself To CEO podcast, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping women create sustainable success on their own terms. She speaks to the power of breaking free of entrepreneurial poverty, how to price your value, and why investing in relationships matters.  If you are struggling, unsure why everyone else seems so successful, but you are working more and more hours and only being rewarded with less time and energy, then this is the episode to help level up your thinking into a more proactive and strategic mindset.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of investing in relationships How to break free of entrepreneurial poverty The importance of pricing for the value of your skills To find out more about Racheal, click here.  Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram. Listen to Racheal's Promote Yourself To CEO podcast. Time Stamps     01:37 - Racheal discusses her career journey  04:05 - Eliminating entrepreneurial poverty 08:12 - Finding the value in your offering 11:05 - Pricing for your business 13:01 - Underpriced & overworked  17:50 - Lifetime client value 27:35 - Committing to building relationships  32:10 - Promote yourself to CEO This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage! On May 30th at 5:30pm ET, join their team for an exciting night in Toronto to celebrate the launch of their new product, Sage for Accountants. :) Meet fellow colleagues, enjoy free drinks and food, experience amazing entertainment, and best of all, get a chance to win an evening at the all-inclusive Blue Jays Suite!  Spots are limited so make sure you secure your tickets TODAY by clicking this link. It's a party you don't want to miss!  

“The importance of your own personal achievement needs to be equal to the importance of everyone else’s achievement. We are all just harmoniously and fortunately moving towards the same thing: survival.”  -Mike Michalowicz Are we working with the business or for the business? A great way to find out is to pay attention to the way you speak about the business. Are the successes and failures ‘ours’ or are they ‘theirs’? From this simple recognition, we can build a really clear picture of who is sharing the vision and who doesn’t feel like they belong. From there, the hard work begins. In order to maintain our success, we have to make sure those who work with and for us are benefiting too. No one is an island unto themselves; we all need help and support to achieve our dreams. And when we reach our peak of success, we must look back and help those who have supported us on our journey to achieve their own idea of success. Mike Michalowicz, author and keynote speaker, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people eradicate entrepreneurial poverty, fixing and removing barriers to true success. Mike speaks powerfully about the need to understand your people, how to get inspired, and why remembering your past successes matters. If you are struggling to share your vision, aren’t sure how to recognize the contributions of others, or inspire them to action, then this is the episode to get you thinking less about your dream and more about ‘our’ dreams.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of inspiring others to achieve their dreams How to effectively communicate a shared vision The importance of taking stock of your success To find out more about Mike, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Buy his new book, All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams by visiting this link. Time Stamps 01:47 - Becoming a great leader  09:27 - Appreciating collective goals  16:04 - Communicating a shared vision  21:04 - How great leaders inspire their teams  24:38 - Creating psychological ownership This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Forwardly! With Forwardly, you can send free instant payments while keeping funds in your bank longer, receive instant payments for 80% less than credit card fees and enjoy same-day ACH—absolutely free! The best part? You can leap into the future of business payments with Forwardly and possibly earn yourself a FREE iPhone 15 Pro this summer! Visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/forwardly for more information! 

“You don’t have to be the best salesperson in the world. To be good at marketing a bookkeeping business, you just need to be good enough that you stand out in that crowd. You have to get good enough, you don’t have to become the world’s best marketer. “ - Peter Cook We might be excellent bookkeepers, but that doesn’t mean we are automatically great business managers. It’s important to take the time to figure out where our skills are strong and where they could use improvement. If your passion and skill lie in the numbers, there is nothing wrong with focusing your attention there.  Things start to slip or feel unmanageable in our businesses when we find ourselves spending a lot of time doing things we don’t love. Even if we are not in a position to outsource the work, by connecting with others, we open up a world of experience, where we can find people who have already solved our problems. And whose problems we may have already solved.  Peter Cook, co-author of the E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. This third episode on The Emyth Bookkeeper explores management, the challenges of growing a business, and why community matters.  If you are drowning in your business, or want to learn more about what it takes to be a better manager, then this is the episode to help you take stock of your skills and explore connections with people who can help. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of challenges as steps to growth How to manage your business with your passion in mind The importance of community in solving problems  Click here to find out more about Peter. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn. Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper. Click here to listen to the first episode. Click here to listen to the second episode.   Time Stamps 03:00 - The challenge of growing a business  06:23 - Getting good enough  08:45 - Taking score of your business  12:46 - Finding your people  17:24 - Building a business you love 

“Don’t just ask for the referral, deserve it. You deserve a referral, and you earn a referral by who you are and how you show up in people’s lives.” - Curtis Lewsey   Referrals are a huge part of our businesses but despite this, we often don’t spend as much time and genuine effort as we should investing in the relationships around us. How well we are referred by others is a direct testament to our character.    If we are being disingenuous, following the money only rather than the relationships, we are unlikely to build a sustainable network of connections. We have to stop expecting referrals when we haven’t made any authenticity deposits of kindness, gratitude, or appreciation into the relationship.    Curtis Lewsey, owner of AM Cards and co-author of Appreciation Marketing, is this episode’s featured guest. Curtis has spent his career helping people get appreciative about their businesses and relationships. In this episode, he speaks to the power of saying thank you, putting authenticity first, and how to set healthy expectations.    If your attempts to build client relationships are failing, or you just want to get more authentic about showing your appreciation to clients, then this is the episode to put you in the receiver’s shoes, to truly take stock of how you are showing up in the world.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of saying thank you How to set healthy expectations in business relationships The importance of connecting authentically Click here to find out more about Curtis.   Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps 01:34 - Curtis talks about his career journey  04:34 - The power of authenticity and gratitude   08:27 - The chain of appreciation  14:07 - Appreciation marketing  20:05 - Leading by example  27:20 - Looking for opportunities to be grateful 32:20 - Learning more about Curtis   

“I think we just get sucked into this pattern of being busy, and telling ourselves that there aren’t any other options and that we have to accept this. That ‘it is what it is’. Instead of taking that step back, taking a deep breath and thinking what would I want this to look like, what could this be?” - Erin Daiber We are creatures of habit, but all too often those habits become a prison, preventing us from growing and stepping into our greater potential. Just because things have always been done a certain way, doesn’t mean we cannot choose at any moment to try something different.  It is scary to step out of our comfort zones, but much worse to be trapped in a repeating cycle that will never lead us to the success we desire. As long as we remember we are the ones setting the rules for our lives and business, we can change them.  Erin Daiber, returning guest and owner of Well Balanced Accountants is this episode’s featured guest. Erin speaks to the power of connecting with your passion, how to navigate high-stress environments and what your life could look like with the right coach and a willingness to set rules that work for and not against you.  If you are feeling stuck, sure that success is within your reach, but are unsure how to grasp it, then this is the episode to help you take that step back, that deep breath that will bring clarity on the best way to move forward into a more successful business.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of setting rules that work for and not against you How to navigate high-stress environments The importance of connection to your passion Click here to find out more about Erin. Connect with Erin on LinkedIn. Time Stamps     01:54 - Erin talks about her career journey 04:42 - Navigating high-stress environments 07:47 - Things don’t have to be as they’ve always been 14:57 - Creating your future perfect scenario  17:56 - Taking control of your business  23:30 - Transforming your business with small changes  27:00 - Holding yourself to account 32:50 - Learning more about Erin

“I find, even just that connection, talking to other people… helping each other out, so important to the success of an entrepreneur because you can’t do it alone.” -Roger Pierce Starting our own businesses is a daunting prospect. There are many roads to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and each person’s journey is so different, it can often feel like we have to walk the path in isolation.  Acting in isolation, it can be hard to maintain course or connect to our purpose, chasing instead the hope of more money and clients. This is why support systems matter. When we surround ourselves with people who have or are on a journey of their own, it really helps us avoid common pitfalls and feel like we are a part of something bigger. Roger Pierce, who is an entrepreneurship expert, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career not only as a successful entrepreneur but also in bringing other like-minded people together to create their own business success. Roger speaks to the power of networking and community in building successful businesses, learning to pivot and how to approach your life with purpose.  If you are tired of working for other people or are already on your journey but feel lost and isolated, this is the episode to get you thinking about the people you surround yourself with and the power of your purpose.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of learning to pivot How to approach your life with purpose The importance of building lasting relationships To find out more about Roger, click here.  Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:43 - Roger discusses his career journey  05:42 - The challenges & opportunities of small business  09:05 - Approaching your life with purpose  13:05 - Evolving through education 16:30 - The Unsure Entrepreneur  22:09 - Learning to pivot  25:52 - What’s next for small businesses  29:56 - Building lasting relationships  34:50 - Learning more about Roger

“If I was just open to meeting somebody and having a conversation and understanding where they were coming from, it naturally turned into a client, and that’s what we have continued to do to this day.” -Melissa Broughton We all feel like imposters in our businesses at one time or another. This fear can paralyze us, stopping us from taking any action at all. But it will always be better to try and fail, than let fear stop us from ever trying at all.  When it comes to putting ourselves out there, it is hard to know which school of thought to listen to. Do you go for the soft or hard sell, hit the pavement, or focus on online marketing? The answer will always be to try everything and see what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.  Melissa Broughton, owner of Busy Bee Advisors, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping small businesses gain financial clarity. She speaks to the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones, leaning into our inner problem-solvers, and the way embracing technology will help you find financial freedom.  If you are struggling to find clients, or just aren’t sure about the next step to take in your bookkeeping business, then this is the episode to help you get intentional about your goals, objectives, and purpose.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of leaning into our inner problem-solvers How to use technology to your best advantage The importance of stepping out of our comfort zones To find out more about Melissa, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Check out Busy Bee Advisors at this link. Time Stamps      01:11 - Melissa discusses her career journey 04:53 - Stepping out of our comfort zones 07:41 - Building a successful network 12:38 - Embracing technology  13:55 - Leaning into your inner problem-solver 16:28 - Working with family  21:47 - Looking to the future  24:25 - Passing your knowledge on 27:17 - Learning more about Melissa

“When people say, ‘What do you do?’ instead of saying I’m a bookkeeper, say ‘I run a bookkeeping business.’ It’s a subtle difference, but it’s actually a really big shift in mindset.” -Peter Cook We must all leave our businesses one day. This confronting reality can make us quite uncomfortable. So much so that we bury ourselves working in our businesses, rather than working on them. More than the work we do, our businesses are valuable assets, if we treat them as such. Problems arise when we lean into negative thoughts and actions. If we only ever refer to ourselves as ‘just a bookkeeper’ that is all we'll ever be. Our habits define who we are, what might change if you began to introduce yourself as a business owner instead? Peter Cook, co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. He speaks to the power of shifting mindsets, how to prove the value of your business to yourself and others, and why even small changes to our habits can have huge impacts.  If you are worried about the future of your bookkeeping business, or just starting to consider it as a valuable asset for the future, this is the episode to get you thinking about long-term value and what leaving your business might look like. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of long-term thinking How to shift into a business owner mindset The importance of creating successful habits  To find out more about Peter, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper! Click this link to listen to Peter's previous Successful Bookkeeper episode in 2024. Time Stamps 02:01 - How you exit your bookkeeping business  08:58 - Creating habits for success 10:46 - Positive versus negative thought 14:10 - The value of a bookkeeping business     16:44 - Proving the value of your business  19:55 - The challenges of stepping away 24:48 - Thinking with the end in mind

“If someone is asking for immediate payment, that’s a huge red flag. Telling you to 'go to your bank, buy a gift card’ or any kind of payment outside of the ordinary, be very, very weary. When it comes to taxes, you can always walk into an IRS office or state office. Go to the source.” -Hubert Johnson   Fraud is one of the biggest problems facing business owners. It is hard enough to keep up with all the changes in compliance law, that when we are then faced with identity or money fraud, it can seem an insurmountable problem.    But as with most things, these issues will only hit us hard if we don’t prepare for them or ignore them and hope they will go away. Education is the key to prevention, whether we do it one-to-one, or build community groups, sharing knowledge is the surest way to prevent more people falling into the trap of fraud.   Hubert Johnson, tax attorney and owner of Guardian Tax Law, is this week's featured guest. He has spent his career helping thousands of clients and businesses find resolutions and peace of mind when dealing with tax issues. In this episode, Hubert and Michael explore the concerning rise of fraud, how to protect yourself, and the value of working together to face the challenges of the future.    The cost of cleaning up a problem is often far more than the cost of making sure the problem never occurs. If you want to defend yourself against fraud but aren’t sure where to begin, this is the episode to get you started.    During this interview, you'll learn... How to protect ourselves from ever-increasing fraud  The value of keeping up to date with compliance changes  The importance of community in facing the challenges of fraud  To find out more about Hubert, click here.   Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps   01:46 - Hubert discusses his career journey  02:42 - Protecting ourselves from identity fraud  08:59 - Spotting the scam  18:45 - The power of community in overcoming fraud  20:28 - Understanding changes to tax rules  26:52 - Getting payroll right  31:33 - Investing in business protection   38:17 - Learning more about Hubert

“I was outgrowing my money habits, and I was outgrowing the people teaching me about money, so what is that next level? Who is the next person I want to learn from?” -Stacy Tuschl Business owners often exist in the space between not believing we are worthy of our business, and believing we are the only ones that can get things done in our business. What would happen if you give yourself permission to start delegating some tasks to others? Of course, everyone is unique. If you are happy with the way things are working for you, then your growth may lay in other directions. But if you aren’t happy, if you are spending too much time IN your business and not enough time ON your business, it might be time for a change. Stacy Tuschl, founder of Well-Oiled Operations and operational systems expert, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career not only building incredibly successful businesses but helping others to achieve their dreams, by freeing them from the limiting mindsets holding them back. In this episode, Stacy speaks to the power of delegation, shifting limiting beliefs and growing beyond our spheres of influence.  If you are struggling to let go in your bookkeeping business, not sure how to start trusting others with the things you do so well, or simply want that push to try, then this is the episode to get you out of an operator mindset and start thinking like an owner! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of mindset in shifting our business perspectives How delegation can change your life The importance of learning from the right places  To find out more about Stacy, click here.  Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:46 - Stacy discusses her career journey  03:02 - The challenges of building a healthy business 04:32 - Who are we learning money from? 06:26 - How is this working for you? 08:22 - Learning to delegate 12:40 - Stacy’s tips for successful delegation  19:41 - Shifting out of the operator mindset 25:47 - Navigating the flow of change  31:15 - Getting our finances in order  36:35 - Learning more about Stacy

“I have to do a lot of things that are downtime, or non-billable things, so I have to roll that into my rate. I had to do a mind shift change. I had to do a complete 180 on my thoughts and how I thought of clients and how I billed them and what I am doing for them.” -Robin Hall Automation is the future, but shortcuts are only helpful if we have already been to the destination the long way round, otherwise, there is no way to know if we have arrived at the right place. Until we have a full understanding of just how many steps it takes to achieve a certain result, we can’t begin to implement any useful shortcuts.  The next problem is successfully communicating the worth of that experience, especially when we reach levels of skill that make us really good at something, but unable to explain how to do it to others. Knowing the value of our skills is only half the battle. Not everyone that can do, can teach. It takes a different skill set to be able to effectively communicate and replicate in others those things we do well.  Robin Hall, owner and principal consultant at VARC Solutions, is this spotlight episode’s special guest. She has spent her career helping people get to grips with automation.  She discusses all things automation, from how to shift our mindset, to understanding the value of your skills and time, and how to bring your team along on the journey. If you have been considering a more automated approach to your bookkeeping business, but aren’t sure which direction to take, this is the episode to get you thinking about people-first automation.  During this interview, you'll learn... The power of pricing for your value not just your time How to shift your mindset to be open to the future The importance of bringing your people on the journey with you To find out more about Robin, click here.  Connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook. Time Stamps 01:24 - Robin discusses her career journey 03:45 - The value of passing on our knowledge   06:03 - Shifting to value-based pricing  11:56 - Getting to grips with automation  15:44 - Factors to consider when automating accounts 22:31 - Bringing your team with you 27:10 - Finding your preferred solution partners  36:14 - Robin’s automation tips This episode is brought to you by our great friends at BILL! BILL automates your clients’ AP, AR, spend, and expense, and lets them track and manage their cash flow, in real time. You can also use the BILL Accountant Console to access insights to level up your advisory services plus so much more! To learn how BILL can help you and your clients, and to sign up for the referral program, visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/bill.

“There’s going to be some crazy stuff that happens in the next five to ten years. I think when we look back in ten years, we may see the same amount of change in that ten-year period that I have seen in my last thirty years, which is massive.” -David Hartley There are so many changes happening simultaneously in the world, often happening faster than our ability to process them. It is no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed. Should we use AI or not, should we work in the office, remotely, or hybrid?  What matters more than understanding everything that is happening in the world, is an understanding of ourselves in terms of how well we embrace or resist change. Some people love to jump into the deep end, and that’s okay, but some like to be more cautious in their approach. In the second of a two-part special, David Hartley, a business and technology executive with over 30 years of continuous innovation and leadership, talks about how to achieve the right mix for successful hybrid working, co-creating value and the power of getting intentional about how you create and involve your teams in your business.  If you are afraid of change or aren’t sure whether in-office, remote or hybrid working is best for you or your bookkeeping business, this episode spotlights that it doesn’t have to be one or the other, there is room for everyone to succeed. During this interview, you'll learn... How to overcome the challenges of hybrid working The importance of embracing change  The value of connecting with like-minded people To find out more about David, click here.  Connect with him on LinkedIn. Listen to David's But Who’s Counting? podcast. Time Stamps 01:28 - Who gets access to your experience? 04:41 - The evolving role of a CPA 09:03 - Overcoming the challenges of hybrid working 18:47 - David’s tips for business success This episode is brought to you by our great friends at BILL! BILL automates your clients’ AP, AR, spend, and expense, and lets them track and manage their cash flow, in real time. You can also use the BILL Accountant Console to access insights to level up your advisory services plus so much more! To learn how BILL can help you and your clients, and to sign up for the referral program, visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/bill.

“What would I do, if I could still get my work done, but I had it done five hours faster, or ten hours faster? -David Hartley   There was a time those using the abacus, feared the calculator. It is natural to be nervous and have some fear around evolving technologies, especially at their current pace. But those that lean into these advancements, are far more likely to survive them. And more than just surviving, there are huge opportunities to thrive when we embrace them.   What makes us comfortable, might also be the same thing keeping us from reaching greater heights in our business. If there are tools that can systemize the repetitive, mundane tasks all of us must do to keep things running, why wouldn’t we let a capable AI handle them for us?   In the first of a two-part special, David Hartley, a business and technology executive with over 30 years of continuous innovation and leadership talks about the impact of AI on the bookkeeping industry, will discuss the need to embrace, adapt, and overcome the challenges of new technologies, why your advice matters, and what the future will look like.   If you are living in fear of the looming shadow of AI, afraid for your bookkeeping business or job security, this is the episode to help you lean into a pivot towards embracing the future, as it happens.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of advisory skills in an automated world How to grow your business with AI The importance of embracing the changing technological landscape To find out more about David, click here.   To explore Anders CPAs + Advisors, click this link.   Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps   01:27 - David discusses his career journey  03:18 - The impact of technology on our profession  04:58 - Using AI to your best advantage  10:23 - To fear AI, or embrace it? 12:08 - Growing your business with AI 19:37 - The continued evolution of AI This episode is brought to you by our great friends at BILL! BILL automates your clients’ AP, AR, spend, and expense, and lets them track and manage their cash flow, in real time. You can also use the BILL Accountant Console to access insights to level up your advisory services plus so much more! To learn how BILL can help you and your clients, and to sign up for the referral program, visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/bill.

“My unique ability is to have people become aware of the value they provide, and then use that to transition their businesses to what they want.” -Lisa Campbell   There is a world of difference between making a living in a job, and creating a business that gives us true freedom. The problem is many of us get stuck on the way. Stuck charging low prices to clients who don’t value our skills.    Creating a bookkeeping business, just to have a business, is not the same as setting out with a clear idea of what you want your future to look like and directing all your effort behind that goal. Your business should be the gateway to the life you have always dreamed of, not another barrier.    Lisa Campbell, founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping people find their personal pathways to success. In this episode, she speaks about how to determine our unique abilities, what it takes to beat limiting beliefs and how you can set yourself up for a great 2024.   If you are struggling to measure your successes, aren’t sure what you offer that makes you special, or love her courses and want to listen to even more useful tips for success. This is the right episode for you.    During this interview, you'll learn... The value of facing limiting beliefs How to determine your unique abilities The importance of measuring past successes for future growth To find out more about Lisa, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.    Time Stamps   01:18 - Lisa discusses her career journey  05:44 - Determining your unique ability  10:43 - Lisa’s recommendations for a great 2024  15:22 - What do you want your business to do for you? 18:24 - Beating the limiting beliefs  23:37 - The Accelerator Method Masterclass This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series! If you're a bookkeeper tired of working in overwhelm on compliance detail, learn how to reposition to high-value advisor correctly with this virtual opportunity that's hosted by Lisa Campbell.   It begins on March 4th at 4pm ET. REGISTER TODAY!

“The good thing is that you don’t have to be the one to replicate the knowledge, you can hire those that do. Know your strengths but know when somebody else is stronger, and lean to each person’s strength.” -Rachel Fisch Finding your niche is a great way to work with focus on the things that matter most to you and to find your ideal client. In this episode, Rachel Fisch, owner of RealityTax.ca and FischBooks Inc and now General Manager of Dext, speaks to what your ideal client profile could look like, the power of organic networking, and how getting excited about the success of others, can drive our own. If you have found your niche, but are stuck with the wrong clients, aren’t sure which direction to invest your energy, or want to learn more about effective networking, this is the episode for you.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of getting excited about shared success How to build an ideal client profile The importance of organic networking  To find out more about Rachel, check out her LinkedIn profile. To learn about RealtyTax.ca, go here. To explore Dext, click this link. Time Stamps 01:28 - Rachel discusses her career journey  03:03  - The story of RealtyTax.ca  08:44  - Managing a new acquisition   13:31  - The key factors of a good merge  18:40  - Finding your ideal niche  25:39  - The value of a strong network  30:36  - Getting excited about shared success This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Dext! They have a FREE webinar called AI: The Accounting Trend That’s Here to Stay that’s on February 22nd at 12pm ET. During the session, you’ll learn how to leverage AI to positively impact your bookkeeping business plus so much more! REGISTER NOW You’ll be glad you did! 🙂

“Our clients, they’re consumers at some level, and they’re comparing the experience they have with you. They are going to compare it to the great experiences they have. Their favourite businesses are the ones that take care of them the most. The best service experience they have ever had, that is their benchmark.”  -Shep Hyken All of us are customers. And yet despite having a wealth of experience, we hardly ever apply it to our own bookkeeping business. Getting started on the journey of quality customer service and experience can begin with some simple questions: Why do people work with us, and why don’t they? And what do I love about my favourite businesses, and what don’t I like? That is not to say you have to do what everyone else is doing. But if you can identify the criteria in yourself and others that really gets you excited about your work. You will have better footing to make more informed decisions about the future of your business.  Customer service and customer experience expert, Shep Hyken, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping the world’s best brands build a customer-centred culture. In this episode, Shep digs into what it means to set the tone in your business, the importance of great customer service, and how to measure it successfully.  If you are tired of people deciding what you do, and how you do it, this is the episode to get you clear about who you are, what your business can offer, and how best to present that to the rest of the world.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of a great introduction How to find & retain clients that fit your business The importance of great client services To find out more about Shep, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps   01:41 - Shep discusses his career journey  05:44 - Labelling ourselves before others can 08:11 - Creating the best client services   15:27 - The fine balance of quality customer service  21:23 - The Right Fit Client  25:50 - Why are your clients picking you? 33:33 - How much better do you need to be? This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series! If you're a bookkeeper tired of working in overwhelm on compliance detail, learn how to reposition to high-value advisor correctly with this virtual opportunity that's hosted by Lisa Campbell.   It begins on March 4th at 4pm ET. REGISTER TODAY!  

“If we could get what’s in your head, about how you do bookkeeping, out of your head and onto paper, into a system or process that someone else could follow, do you think then you could trust somebody else with your clients?”  -Peter Cook   The world of bookkeeping is ever-evolving.   More and more frequently we are being relied on not only for our number crunching but in an advisory capacity. There is a wealth of knowledge we each possess from years of working within our niches. The problem is, all that great information is trapped inside our heads.   Building effective systems and processes is about more than just having a computer run the numbers. Our systems should reflect the very best of ourselves. They should contain our knowledge and experience, so others can easily use that information to help clients.   Peter Cook, co-author of the E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career mentoring business owners to find out what they really want from their businesses and their lives and how to get it.    If you are struggling to move from working IN your business to working ON your business, are looking to scale your business, but everything is stuck in your head, or just want to test your systems against the advice of a master in the field, then this is the episode to get you started!   During this interview, you'll learn... The power of the entrepreneurial mindset How to build your ultimate systems manual The importance of getting out of your own head To find out more about Peter, click here.   Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper.    Time Stamps   03:12 - Peter talks about his journey  06:34 - Evolving with the times 09:40 - The story of E-Myth  14:02 - What is a business system? 17:18 - Measuring successful outcomes   20:01 - Building your ultimate systems manual  24:01 - The impact of great systems    This episode is brought to you by The Accelerator Method Masterclass Series!   If you're a bookkeeper tired of working in overwhelm on compliance detail, learn how to reposition to high-value advisor correctly with this virtual opportunity that's hosted by Lisa Campbell.   It begins on March 4th at 4pm ET. REGISTER TODAY!

“It was going to be another thing, like the internet itself, that completely changes the landscape of everything.” -Seth David Embracing the future of technology in our bookkeeping businesses can be a daunting task. Taking the leap into AI and innovation requires trust and a willingness to adapt. There are so many innovative apps on the market, constantly changing and evolving their offerings, that it can be really hard to know which direction to turn.  If we make our systems the starting point, we better position ourselves, such that we may not understand how the technology works, but we do understand how to leverage it for the best outcomes for our business. We can’t know the right tool until we understand the problem we have to fix.  Seth David, Chief Nerd at Nerd Enterprises, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people to understand not only the tools and resources available to them, but how to apply them for maximum results in their businesses.  If your work management isn’t flowing, you don’t know which tool is the best fit for your business or are unsure about the future, this is the episode to get you future-focused.  During this interview, you'll learn... How to work in partnership with AI How to choose the right tool for your business The importance of workflow management  To find out more about Seth, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:42 - Seth discusses his career journey  09:38 - Getting to grips with AI 21:25 - Looking to the future  30:08 - Finding the right apps for you 37:45 - Understanding work management flow    49:34 - Seth’s app recommendations  56:41 - 2024 & beyond 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!

“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 

“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 

“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! With Practice Protect, you can access all your cloud apps from a single dashboard with just one click – no more passwords to remember. It also integrates seamlessly with over 6000 cloud apps and platforms, including Quickbooks Online. Take control of your data security. Head to PracticeProtect.com to book a demo TODAY.  

“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 Stamps01:55 - 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

“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 :)

“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, click here 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, click here 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’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 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!

“You’ve got to take time out to take care of yourself or there will be no business.” -Crystalynn Shelton Bookkeepers at our core, desire to help people. We love to take the parts of business others struggle with and make it simple for them. But this desire to help can sometimes lead us into uncomfortable and unfair relationships with our clients. Working for someone, doesn’t mean you have to do everything they say, the moment they say it. While it can be a struggle to stand up for ourselves, especially when just starting out, setting boundaries and being clear about expectations are two of the best things you can do for your personal health and well-being, and the success of your bookkeeping business. Crystalynn Shelton, teacher, author and owner of her own consulting business is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses achieve success they couldn’t have dreamed of before. She has made it her mission to help business owners overcome their fears to get to grips with all aspects of their business, even bookkeeping.  If you are feeling burnout, struggling to find the right clients or are looking for some top tips to ensure success from an industry pro then this episode is perfect for you! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of learning to get marketing right How to set expectations & boundaries with clients 7 ways to help clients become more successful To find out more about Crystalynn, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. You can order her new book at this link. Click here to access gifts for Successful Bookkeeper listeners. Time Stamps 01:45 - Crystalynn shares her career journey   04:15 - The highs & lows of building business  08:15 - Setting expectations & boundaries  11:02 - Managing client relationships   15:05 - The value of learning to get marketing right 20:18 - The 7 ways to help clients become more successful 28:54 - Financial fear factor  31:25 - Crystalynn talks about her book Mastering QuickBooks  34:41 - Focusing on the future  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!

“We aim to truly be seen and act like partners in their business and we’re right there along with them.” -Alex Frolek We will never be successful if we look at our client’s success as separate from our own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with just doing the books. But over years of bookkeeping, our accumulated knowledge and experience are invaluable when applied to the success of others. When getting started as a bookkeeper, or in any business, the temptation is to go at it alone and focus only on what will make your business stable. You might take on a huge number of clients priced by the hour, only to find a year later, you might lose more than half your business by switching to a value-based pricing structure. Getting connected with like-minded people can help you avoid the pitfalls of business while engaging you with a community of people who love helping others. This drive to help is often the reason we became bookkeepers in the first place. Alex Frolek, co-founder of Stelex Solutions, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses succeed, by focusing on how she can help clients achieve their goals and visions, not as a vendor who just does the books, but as a partner that can use her vast experience to ensure her clients’ success. If you are just starting out, unsure of where to begin, this is the episode to get you thinking about what your life might look like in a year, if you started laying the groundwork today.  During this interview, you'll learn...     •    The value of learning from every experience     •    How to become more than "just" a bookkeeper     •    The importance of building the right solutions for your clients  To find out more about Alex, click here. Connect with Alex on LinkedIn. Time Stamps      01:36 - Alex discusses her career journey  04:03 - Deciding to start your own business  05:55 - Working & living with your partner  10:36 - The power of learning from every experience  13:18 - Becoming more than ‘just’ a bookkeeper 19:32 - Finding the right clients for you 23:05 - The parts we love & the parts we don’t  29:20 - Alex shares her top tips for your business  31:19 - The best ways to get connected with Alex

“The numbers don’t lie, but they don’t tell the whole story.”  -Adrienne Barrett Planning is something we have all struggled with, most of us find it hard to plan for the worst, afraid of willing those scenarios into existence. Even fewer of us plan for success. Plan for what it might look like should all of our hard work pay off and our business grows beyond our ability to manage it alone. This plan paralysis puts us into a state of reaction, putting out fires after they have started, rather than looking at the data and relationships around us and removing the potentially flammable elements. Effective planning isn’t just about how we run our business, it plays a critical role in who we hire to help us run it. It can be hard to look at ourselves through an honest lens without inducing more plan panic, but needing help, the kind that fills in our gaps and frees our time and energy for the things we love, isn’t the mark of failure. It’s the mark of success. Adrienne Barrett is this spotlight session’s featured guest. A senior manager at Intuit, she has spent her career helping businesses get on top of their plans, systems, processes and relationships. If you are struggling to make contingency plans, unsure of your gaps or running outdated systems that are preventing you from growing your bookkeeping business then this is the episode to get you thinking about the power of your own plan.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of planning for bad & good times How to build the right team for your bookkeeping business The importance of taking care of yourself so you can take care of your clients Connect with Adrienne on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:41 - Adrienne talks about her career journey  05:20 - Understanding business & contingency plans  12:08 - The power of leaning on your plan 15:30 - Team building in bookkeeping services  19:02 - Systemizing your way to success  27:03 - Investing in financial well-being

“The mission of my business is building a business that serves my family, instead of my family serving a business.”  -Becky Daniels Being good at a certain thing doesn’t always mean you will be good at running it as a business too. There is an ever-expanding demand for bookkeeping advisory services, as more businesses become aware they are missing out on a wealth of benefits while they try to focus on delivering their product or service. There is so much demand that it can feel like you have to take every client that comes your way. But if you find your niche and excel in it, clients will be beating down your door, not to mention paying a premium for your knowledge and experience. Building a scalable bookkeeping business isn’t easy, especially when all the processes live in your head. When you have well-documented processes, it makes it easy to help others get the same results you are.  Becky Daniels, owner of Daniels Business Solutions, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses grow and become more profitable by doing what she does best so that her clients can focus on what they do best. If you are struggling to build connections, feel like you are serving your business rather than your business serving you or are worried about niching too early, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what the future of your business could look like. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of a consultative sales approach How to share your value in an advisory capacity The importance of building a business that serves you To find out more about Becky, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps      01:31 - Becky talks about her career journey  07:02 - Building businesses that serve you 08:44 - Getting to know what matters to your clients  11:30 - Building value into your relationships 14:58 - Knowing who you want to work with 20:34 - Taking the time to get your processes right  23:08 - The power of Pure Bookkeeping  28:44 - Moving into an advisory role 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!

“It is really important for people to feel like, ‘I’m in touch with people I trust.'" –Karen Wickre  Building meaningful connections isn’t easy, especially online. We have all felt an internal cringe at connecting with someone on LinkedIn only to be hard-sold their product or service. Some of us may even be a little guilty of doing that too! But networking is about more than having the confidence to make demands of strangers. Building a network is about connecting with people you share similar interests with, people you not only think may help you, but people you know you can help.  Jobs and clients have never been more fluid than they are right now, those who spend time on their networks are more equipped to go with the flow and trust that their good service will be repaid in kind. Karen Wickre, a veteran connector, editor, communicator and author, has spent her extensive career, with postings at Google and Twitter, developing the stories of these powerhouse businesses. She is often introduced as someone who ‘knows everybody’ and this well-deserved reputation has made her one of the best networkers around. There is no one right way to network, but if you are struggling to connect, reconnect or offer your services, advice, or opinion to others, this is the episode to help shift your mindset and get you ready to connect with anyone or maybe even reconnect with some old friends. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of cultivating healthy working relationships How to connect with people beyond your own needs The importance of your digital presence  To find out more about Karen, click here.  Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Visit this link to order her new book, Taking the Work Out of Networking: Your Guide to Making and Keeping Great Connections. Time Stamps     01:48 - Karen talks about her career journey  05:39 - Following your passion where it leads you 09:45 - Cultivating healthy working relationships  13:30 - The big mistakes in networking  21:45 - Tending to your own garden 27:01 - Your digital presence- Karen talks about her book 31:20 - Reaching out for things beyond your needs 40:00 - Karen talks about how to get in touch This episode is brought to you by our friends at Katana!   If you have clients using outdated and inefficient manufacturing software, Katana offers real-time data syncing for production, inventory, and accounting data, manufacturers get complete visibility over every inch of their business and their numbers stay up-to-date even as orders come in.   If you sign up for the Partner Program and refer clients before April 30th, you will get 30% off the first 3 months of your Katana subscription.   You’ll also earn a 20% revenue share for every client you invite.   Head to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/katana to learn more.

“But the problem was, I was the one who knew how to do everything, and I didn’t get it out to my staff very well.”  -Heidi Adams      Stepping out on your own can be scary, but if you have a real love for what you do, you’ll never really work a day in your life. Sometimes our own successes can overwhelm us. Afraid we will never get a referral again, we take on as many as we can. Many of us run this way for years, unable to shift our mindset toward a more sustainable way of doing business. The toll a business takes on our time and energy is massive, so much so we hardly even have time to notice or fix the cracks. But cracks are never miraculously fixed and always end up leaving huge gaps. Be that in time to finally fix them, or money to repair them. Heidi Adams, owner of HLA Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping businesses maximize their potential by streamlining systems and processes that free up time and energy while maintaining profitability. Her approach focuses on getting relationships right so that your good work can speak for itself. If you are struggling to systemize, feel like you are patching cracks slower than they are forming, or just looking for some advice on building healthy business relationships, this is the episode for you.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of workflow software in streamlining your bookkeeping business How to stop leaking time & energy The importance of being clear about what your services cost To find out more about Heidi, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps      01:30 - Heidi talks about her career journey  06:10 - Overcoming the obstacles of business  09:19 - Building connections to beat overwhelm  11:39 - Effectively implementing systems & processes  16:51 - Streamlining your engagement strategy 20:15 - The power of learning from our mistakes  23:15 - Automating client payments  27:11 - Getting your charges & mindset right  29:48 - Good work is its own marketing  32:50 - Heidi shares her top tips for building your bookkeeping business  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!

“I love the accounting ability to be able to fix problems for people and make things better. But, I also have to learn there is a certain point where I need to be doing them for me, so my systems are in place.”  -Shannon Lavender     Too often we design our businesses solely on the people we wish to emulate. The ones we call successful. We get stuck in habits and patterns of trying to live a life that is not authentic, of trying to create a business that doesn’t align with our true dreams. But it doesn’t have to be this way, there is space to learn from others while holding true to what it is that makes you happy.  Shannon Lavender, small business owner, QuickBooks Pro Advisor and Pure Bookkeeping licensee, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent 20+ years helping people build their dreams, by finding, building and using the right systems for them.  If you are struggling, unsure which direction to move to chase down your dream then this is the episode to get you thinking about what truly makes you happy, and how (with a little help), you might reach your goal.  During this interview, you'll learn...     •   The value of systemizing your bookkeeping business      •    How to decide what success looks like to you     •    The importance of setting healthy boundaries Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 01:33 - Shannon talks about her career journey  03:58 - Overcoming the obstacles of taking over existing businesses  05:21 - Adapting to unforeseen changes  06:12 - Setting healthy boundaries with your clients  07:30 - Finding the way that works for you to find clients  09:53 - The Pure Bookkeeping journey  12:05 - Implementing the right systems 19:10 - Getting your time back  23:04 - Dreaming big: the future of Shannon's business  29:00 - Designing the business you want  This episode is brought to you by our friends at Katana!   If you have clients using outdated and inefficient manufacturing software, Katana offers real-time data syncing for production, inventory, and accounting data, manufacturers get complete visibility over every inch of their business and their numbers stay up-to-date even as orders come in.   If you sign up for the Partner Program and refer clients before April 30th, you will get 30% off the first 3 months of your Katana subscription.   You’ll also earn a 20% revenue share for every client you invite.   Head to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/katana to learn more.

“I wrote this book for people who want to learn how to build and run a business, and hopefully not make the same mistakes I made.” -Sandeep Chennakeshu Starting a new business isn’t easy. It requires us to get very good at a lot of different things. Once we get used to wearing so many different hats, it can be hard to let go and trust in others to help scale our businesses to new heights.  It is comfortable to complain about the issues in our business, but much harder to focus on and be attentive to solutions instead. What would happen to your bookkeeping business if you empowered yourself and your employees to transform complaints into requests? To say I need help with this, rather than I hate doing this by myself.  Sandeep Chennakeshu, former CTO of Eriksson, business transformation expert and author, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people transform the way their businesses run, by building a framework that helps others create their dream businesses without suffering the same common setbacks. His meticulous approach to management and diagnostics has helped elevate hundreds of businesses to new heights. If you are trying to build your own castle, this is the episode to hear from a master business builder and learn what it takes to build walls that will not crumble under pressure.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of transforming complaints into requests How to manage & measure your business effectively The importance of getting structure & discipline into your business  Connect with Sandeep on LinkedIn. Time Stamps      01:58 - Sandeep talks about his career journey  05:15 - Overcoming the big obstacles 08:54 - The principles of building & running a business  12:10 - Staying effective in the face of challenges  17:20 - Using the right tools for maximum efficiency  19:50 - How to transform a complaint into a request  25:12 - The ups & downs of business 30:20 - Transitioning & training for success  33:55 - Sandeep explains how his book can help you This episode is brought to you by our friends at Katana!   If you have clients using outdated and inefficient manufacturing software, Katana offers real-time data syncing for production, inventory, and accounting data, manufacturers get complete visibility over every inch of their business and their numbers stay up-to-date even as orders come in.   If you sign up for the Partner Program and refer clients before April 30th, you will get 30% off the first 3 months of your Katana subscription.   You’ll also earn a 20% revenue share for every client you invite.   Head to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/katana to learn more.

“If you can say your 30-second commercial while you’re holding marbles and a glass of water, you can say it at a networking event much more easily.”  -Mindy Morrison It can sometimes feel like we have a never-ending checklist of things to do before we can even begin to start our business or follow our dreams. We build an idea in our head of what success is, not realizing we are often creating unnecessary barriers instead, ones that block us from just taking the leap and doing the work that really matters. Self-made obstacles and the belief that we have to do it on our own, are two of the biggest business killers. When you start to look at what other people in the industry are doing and reach out to build connections, you will find so many like-minded individuals jumping at the chance to help you avoid the mistakes they made. Mindy Morrison, owner of Back Office People, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping small businesses and entrepreneurs take back their weekends, by getting them focused on what they do well and helping them in their areas of struggle.  If you are having a tough time getting your bookkeeping business off the ground, not sure how much to price or who to connect with for help, this is the episode to get you networking for success. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you don’t have to do everything alone How to overcome the obstacles that prevent successful businesses The importance of networking & building connections  To find out more about Mindy, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps      01:30 - Mindy talks about her career journey  04:37 - Overcoming the challenges of starting your own business  09:00 - Finding clients that fit your business  13:29 - Learning from the mistakes of the past  17:30 - Secrets to networking success 21:50 - The value of Pure Bookkeeping 26:05 - Mindy shares her tips for business success  28:00 - Preparing for the future  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!

“It seems slightly daunting, but at the end of the day, it is pretty straightforward, and man can bookkeepers add a lot of value to a manufacturing business.” -Shawn Coultice   Have you ever considered a manufacturing bookkeeping niche for your business? Some bookkeepers focus on dentists or lawyers, but why not manufacturing companies? In this episode, our host, Louie Prosperi will explore further with the Head of Channel Partnerships at Katana, Shawn Coultice. Katana is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that helps manufacturers track their inventory, manage their sales plus much more.   It is a daunting task to constantly manage the ever-shifting nature of inventory, manufacturing, and labor, but many manufacturing businesses are in desperate need of bookkeepers who can not only keep pace with their finances but offer invaluable advice and support by identifying where money is being wasted.   Like many bookkeepers, you may have steered clear of the manufacturing sector for a long time, but with the advent of new and more integrated software solutions, it might be time to consider stepping into an industry desperate for support and advice from bookkeepers capable of helping them solve issues in real-time. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you shouldn’t be afraid of the manufacturing sector How to add value beyond financial services The importance of integrating the right software for the right client  To find out more about Shawn, click here. To book a call with Katana, visit here. To start your free Katana demo, click this link. To join the Katana partner program, check this out. Time Stamps 01:58 - Shawn talks about his career journey 03:42 - Getting to grips with human kinetics 05:14 - The processes of manufacturing 06:57 - Adding value as a bookkeeper 09:45 - Overcoming the obstacles of industry 12:10 - Integrating from the source 18:42 - Finding solutions beyond the financial 22:08 - Supporting clients remotely 23:42 - Stories of successful 25:49 - Bringing your clients into the future 28:25 - Getting in touch with Shawn or Katana

You don’t know what you didn’t know. And everything that’s living in your head, we’ve got to get it out of there! -Melissa Morris It is often easy to feel like no one can do what we can do and yet, we rely on hastily written to-do lists or checklists quickly passed off to our employees. If things in your bookkeeping business aren’t running smoothly, it is unlikely to be because of employees being underqualified and intentionally doing things wrong. It is far more likely that we haven’t explained to them or trained them in how things need to be done. Getting everything out of your head and down on paper in a way that is understandable takes a skill set a lot of us haven’t trained for. There is no shame in hiring someone to help you translate the workflow systems as they exist in your head into a document that anyone could follow and achieve the same results as you.  Melissa Morris, owner of Agency Authority (a project management and operations consultancy), is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career using a wealth of knowledge and experience to help businesses maximize their teams, increase productivity and grow their profits.  If you are feeling overwhelmed and burnout, haphazardly chasing apps in the hope they can fix your issues, or getting too hands-on, micromanaging employees, then this is the episode to help you get the right help to get the gold in your head onto paper so that your business can not only run effectively and efficiently but be easily scalable to new heights! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of effective & efficient workflows The key components of a successful project  The importance of finding your zone of genius  To find out more about Melissa, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Click this link to book a time to chat with her. Time Stamps 01:50 - Melissa talks about her career journey  03:48 - Finding our zone of genius 05:08 - Overcoming the obstacles of business  08:09 - Preventing overwhelm & burnout  11:27 - Effective & efficient workflow  16:20 - The key components of a successful project  18:40 - Melissa talks about the power of transformation  21:27 - Learning from our struggles  24:21 - Making the big mistakes work for you 29:58 - Getting connected with Melissa  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!

“If you’re going to work with someone and they’re going to give you access to their client base, they’re really going to have to trust you.” -Jeff Jacobs Trust is fundamental to any relationship and yet so many of us struggle to build long-lasting and trusting relationships. Expectation plays a key role in how trust is formed. When someone lets us down or fails to deliver on a promise, it shakes our faith in them. But more deeply, it shakes our faith in ourselves. After all, we put our faith and trust in that person or organization to deliver. When they don’t, we question our ability to make the right decisions going forward. This becomes a never-ending cycle of self-doubt and inconsistent trust-building activity. Jeff Jacobs, Director of Development at Wilkins Miller LLC, is this episode’s featured guest. His approach is a personal one that focuses on the team rather than the individual as the key to success. Building caring and trusting relationships with employees and clients, not just to leverage them later, but to learn how he might best help them reach their dreams. If you are struggling to build trust, consider how much of your intention is on what you want to get out of a client rather than on how you can improve their lives. When clients don’t feel valued, they are less likely to trust you to manage more of their needs. When was the last time you checked in on a client just to see how they are feeling or to ask them what you could be doing better? During this interview, you'll learn... The value of trust in long-lasting connections How to create strong business relationships The importance of keeping people in the loop  Click here to find out more about Jeff. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 02:09 - Jeff talks about his career journey  08:52 - Why building trust matters  10:50 - Creating centers of influence  13:54 - Overcoming the obstacles of industry  16:02 - Find the way that works for you 20:29 - Keeping people in the loop 22:06 - Delivering a quality offering  24:22 - Building strong business relationships 33:28 - How to get in touch with Jeff  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!

“You really need to identify your target audience. If you don’t know what market you’re in and who your ideal client is then how can you even begin marketing?” -Amy Anderson Marketing ourselves isn’t easy and in the bookkeeping industry especially, where we tend to be more introverted, it can be hard to build an exciting and outgoing profile. Fortunately, marketing ourselves doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There is room for us to find ways of doing it that play to our strengths. It's easy to get discouraged when you spent a lot of time on a marketing strategy that had few returns. This doesn’t mean you are a failure. It just means you need to try something else. Perhaps that is hiring someone to help you market your bookkeeping business or to find passive and slow marketing tools that can be working for you in the background. Amy Anderson, co-founder of Wild Coffee Marketing, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent 25 years helping businesses market themselves to the right kind of clients. Her expertise and holistic marketing approach have helped countless businesses find the right clients, build consistent and engaging profiles and feel more at home in their niches.  If you are struggling with marketing, unsure about what to do next or how to grow your bookkeeping business beyond the "I must take every client I can get" mindset, this is the episode for you! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of finding the best methods for the type of person you are How to manage referrals to find your ideal clients The importance of leveling up your client list To find out more about Amy, click here . Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Time Stamps 01:50 - Amy talks about her career journey  04:21 - Navigating the hurdles of business  06:21 - The common marketing mistakes 07:18 - Defining who you are & what you offer 10:53 - Mastering referrals & finding the ideal client  13:36 - Levelling up your client list to avoid bad clients  16:28 - Finding the best marketing method for you 24:08 - Accepting the need to adapt  27:04 - Balancing your professional & personal life 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!

“They depend on us to relate to them important information on how to minimize tax, how to reach their financial goals. If we do it in a more structured way, our clients are going to see the value in that expertise.” -Nadia Rodriguez    Expanding your bookkeeping business to include advisory capacity is scary for many. We are our own worst enemies when it comes to self-belief and self-confidence. But consider this... how many times have you been talking with a client, answering all of their questions in a fun and relaxed way only to realize later that it took you years of training and trial and error to get to the result?   Nadia Rodriguez, a Senior Tax Analyst Programmer at Intuit, is this spotlight episode's special guest. She speaks to the way bookkeepers are sitting on a huge wealth of knowledge they aren’t pricing for, how to communicate your value to your clients and the importance of building networks that keep you on the cutting edge of bookkeeping best practice.   If you are finding yourself giving everything away for free, charging by the hour or feeling trapped patching sinking ships in the minefield that is compliance work then this episode will help you start to leverage your knowledge and skills to assist your clients in avoiding those troubled waters and chart a better course to achieving their financial dreams.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of pricing for your worth, not just your time How to create the capacity to grow your business The importance of building strong bookkeeping networks Click here to find out more about Nadia.   Visit this link if you want to gain access to Intuit’s vast resource bank.   Time Stamps         01:37 - Nadia talks about her career journey 05:23 - Getting to grips with advisory services 09:22 - Separating the solution 11:27 - Creating the capacity to grow 13:52 - Growing your network 15:46 - Tax strategies for bookkeepers 23:25 - Finding a suitable billing model 26:35 - Bookkeeping in real-time

“I would say, if you are never really wrong, you are never really right either, you need to put things down (on paper) to get clarity, to move work forward and make things happen.” -Adrienne Bellehumeur   Getting good at effective documentation isn’t easy. Whether because we find it hard to take notes while actively listening or we are afraid of losing face in a room full of people who aren’t taking notes. So much valuable information is lost, miscommunicated or inaccessible as it exists only in one person's head.   So much of our value is tied to the things we think we do best. It is hard to let go of that mentality and create documents that allow for excellent reperformance. For as long as your bookkeeping business is only successful because you are doing everything, you will never be able to leverage your knowledge to scale your business to new heights.   This episode's featured guest is Adrienne Bellehumeur who is the director of Risk Oversight, a documentation and productivity expert and author of The 24-Hour Rule. She has spent her career developing a system of dynamic documentation that helps people overcome their optimism bias (the belief we will remember every detail of every meeting) to take effective documentation that allows for near-perfect reperformance of their work.   If you are worried that you won’t be as valuable if everyone has a playbook of your best skills or embarrassed to take notes for fear of looking ‘less than’ your colleagues then this is the episode to completely change your point of view on the importance of effective documentation and the powerful role it can play in the success of your bookkeeping business. So, grab a pen or get your laptop ready to type because it's time to take some notes!   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of organization & information management in successful businesses How to solve problems with effective documentation The importance of overcoming our optimism bias  Click here to find out more about Adrienne.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Click this link to learn more about Risk Oversight.   Visit here to buy her new book, The 24 Hour Rule.   Time Stamps      1:37 - Adrienne talks about her career journey 3:31 - Discovering the hidden power of documentation 6:13 - Overcoming optimism bias 7:56 - Simple practices for effective outcomes 12:55 - The most efficient ways to document 15:05 - Problem-solving with documentation 18:50 - The challenges in effective documentation 23:08 - Information management and organization 26:56 - Writing The 24 Hour Rule 30:43 - Acting on information before the value is lost 33:40 - Connecting with Adrienne  

“That’s the beauty of this industry, you can be as big or as little as you want to be, it’s so scalable.”  -Kim Wolfe   This is the question that has paralyzed more than a few good people when it comes to wanting to start their own bookkeeping business. It can be difficult to trust ourselves, and not judge ourselves too harshly for previous failures. Often, it is the expectation more than the outcome that hurts or makes us feel uncomfortable when things haven’t gone the way we hoped. What would happen if instead, you focused on being okay where you are and building a different reality out from more stable ground? Kim Wolfe, former aerospace engineer and current owner of KAW Solutions, is this episode's featured guest. After a dramatic career shift, she leaned into her desire to help people fix their problems, first in bookkeeping and then for those trying to grow their businesses. Kim’s approach is process-focused, delegating tasks to free up time, skilfully navigate obstacles and creating successful teams. If you are struggling to build the business you want because things aren’t going the way you thought they would, this episode is a great one to help you create a stable foundation from which to achieve your bookkeeping dreams.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of networking to avoid the pitfalls of building a successful business How to effectively manage your time The importance of working smarter, not harder  To find out more about Kim, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Go to incomeformom.com to get her Top 10 Time Hacks pdf. Time Stamps   01:28 - Kim talks about her career journey  08:45 - Growing the business  12:01 - Exploring opportunities 13:22 - Getting smarter in the face of challenges  15:02 - What the business looks like today 19:38 - Navigating the effects of the pandemic  21:03 - The big challenge of today 24:30 - Getting to grips with pricing  26:15 - Effectively managing your time  42:08 - Everything has its place  46:11 - Getting in touch with Kim

“No one can do it the way you are doing it, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your way is the best way or the only way.” -Jamie Van Cuyk Hiring the right candidate is challenging, often we are better suited to, or skilled at other areas of our business. Sometimes we may even think putting out a job advertisement is a piece of cake and yet are baffled when we don’t get suitable applicants or worse, hire someone that just doesn’t fit well with the business.  We can’t hire the right people into our business until we fully understand what the right person looks like. Skills can be taught, but values are more deeply ingrained. If you aren’t sure what you value, how can you build a team of like-minded people? Jamie Van Cuyk, owner of Growing Your Team and host of the Growing Your Team podcast, is this episode’s returning guest. She is a master of the hiring and firing cycle. She has helped countless small businesses find employees that are more than bodies in a seat, but dedicated, retainable and aligned members of the team who love what they do. If you are struggling to hire the right people or to even begin identifying who the right person may be before you begin the hiring process, this episode will give you all the tips you need to not only make hiring a breeze, but make sure you are finding people that really care about what they do.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of aligning employees with your business goals  How to hire the ideal candidate for your bookkeeping business  The importance of understanding what motivates your employees  Learn more about Jamie about this link. You can find the Growing Your Team podcast here.  Check out her socials: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Pinterest  Time Stamps 01:37 - Reflecting on the last year 05:28 - Looking to the future 07:00 - The difficulties of hiring the right people 11:14 - The secrets to effective hiring  17:04 - How to retain quality employees  22:04 - The hiring and firing cycle 28:45 - Getting to grips with delegation  32:38 - How to get in touch with Jamie

“The first thing to becoming successful is defining who you want to work with, who is your ideal client?” -Jennie Moore Welcome back to another Successful Bookkeeper Spotlight session with your host, Louie Prosperi. Our lives revolve around conversation, we hope that all of our interactions will be good, but often, this is not the case. Differences of opinion, expectation, and understanding can lead to some really uncomfortable conversations.  Not wanting conflict can often paralyze us, freezing us into doing work or continuing to do work we never agreed to do. Scope creep is going to happen, but what is important is how we deal with it. Allowing our clients to change the scope on a whim is going to cost you thousands of dollars a year, not to mention leave you feeling potentially resentful and burnt out. Jennie Moore, owner of Moore Details, and partnership manager at Ignition is this spotlight episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping people have awkward conversations, set boundaries, and learn to articulate their worth. She speaks powerfully about finding the fun in your bookkeeping business, embracing mistakes, and communicating value.  If you are struggling to set the scope at the beginning of your client relationships, feeling unable to express your worth despite helping your clients become more profitable, or would just like to learn how to speak about yourself with more confidence and courage, then this is the episode to shift unhelpful and negative mindsets into positive and courageous ones.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of owning the awkward conversation to articulate your worth How to embrace a digital mindset in your bookkeeping business The importance of being clear about the scope of your services  Click here to find out more about Jennie. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. SPECIAL OFFER for Successful Bookkeeper listeners - Get 50% off Ignition Pro or Scale for 3 months! Find out more HERE!
 Time Stamps   01:47 - Jennie talks about her career journey  03:05 - Balancing the personal and professional  05:48 - Influencing product by following our passions  08:28 - Being a part of something you love  10:06 - Learning from our mistakes to create success  15:01 - Out-of-scope work is a profit killer  22:12 - Setting your standards from the start  24:48 - Embracing the digital mindset  29:10 - Finding the right automatized services for your bookkeeping business  35:28 - Owning the awkward conversation 

“This also means diversity of thought, because even if you have a demographically diverse team, but everyone went to the same college and thinks the same way, that’s still not going to be able to leverage and maximize the benefits of diversity.” -Dr. Ella F. Washington Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is more than just taking a course or hiring from particular demographics. It’s about how we want to feel at work and in society, and how we make others feel. Intention is everything and yet many people find themselves afraid of saying the wrong thing, this paralysis then also prevents us from saying the right things. When you are open to the possibilities in other people’s lived experiences, you are far more likely to be able to have the conversations you perhaps didn’t even know you needed to have.  Dr. Ella F. Washington, founder and CEO of Ellavate Solutions, organizational psychologist, author, and DEI culture expert is this episode’s featured guest. Ella speaks about the need for workplaces and workplace cultures to let everyone be their authentic self at work. If everyone isn’t thriving at work, feeling valued, respected, and happy, there is something wrong.  Whether you are an individual, a small bookkeeping business, or a big one, it is inspiring to listen to Ella’s vision for what workplace culture could be. If you want to have these complex conversations but aren’t sure where to start, this is the episode to get you comfortable with what you don’t know. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of building a utopia of inclusion, diversity & equity at work How to understand & challenge biases The importance of intention in building a healthy workplace culture Click here to find out more about Ella. Connect with Ella on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Click here to get your copy of Ella’s new book, The Necessary Journey. Time Stamps   01:36 - Ella talks about her career journey  03:38 - The core of diversity, equity & inclusion  08:39 - Thinking about & challenging our biases  10:52 - Creating great working environments  14:33 - Building a workplace utopia 17:30 - The power of intention in workplace culture  19:14 - The Necessary Journey, stories of client success 23:08 - Considering your whole sphere of influence 26:42 - Ella talks about her book 

“If you’re forcing yourself to do those tasks you don’t enjoy doing and you’re not good at, please start delegating!” -Kristy Yoder  Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of 2023! Running a bookkeeping business can be overwhelming, especially at this time of year, so much needs to get done and it can often feel like we are the only ones capable of doing it right. Problems start to arise in our businesses when everything that needs our attention, only gets a portion of our effort. Delegation is key in business. What tasks can you source to other people, so you have more time to focus on your passion? Remember, clients don’t stay with your service just because you do their books, they stay because they recognize a passion in you for something they struggle to do. Maybe it’s time to start recognizing those passions in others, and how they might help you to build and scale your bookkeeping business to new heights. Our first guest of the year is the founder and CEO of Smart Virtual Assistants, and host of the Master Delegator podcast, Kristy Yoder. She found her passion in helping people learn to delegate the things they aren’t good at, so they can focus on the things they are. This episode is a masterclass full of useful tips to find and train the right people for you. If you are having trouble letting go of the need to do everything, aren’t sure of how to train a VA, or are afraid you’ll be stuck with employees that don’t make your life easier, this is the episode to help you overcome those fears! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of building strong & trusting relationships with your virtual assistant How to hire a great VA The importance of delegating tasks to focus on your passions  Click here to find out more about Kristy. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook. Click here to listen to the Master Delegator Podcast. Time Stamps   01:39 - Kristy talks about her career journey  04:35 - The importance of delegating work  07:22 - Barriers to proper delegation  11:15 - Common mistakes when hiring a VA 16:45 - Great operating procedures empower great businesses 18:22 - Learning to love the tasks clients hate 21:02 - Tips to help you hire a great VA for your bookkeeping business 25:50 - How Smart Virtual Assistants can help you 28:55 - The best way to end bad relationships  31:26 - The Master Delegator Podcast

It is almost the end of 2022 and wow, do we have an incredible episode for you to finish off the year!   In our special Year in Review show, Michael talks to a panel of terrific guests about the ups and downs of the industry this past year. Our returning Year in Review guests are Julie Watson, founder of Bookkeeping Relief, 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 2022, tell heartwarming stories of success, navigate the complexity of growing businesses in an ever-changing and challenging market, and discuss the future trends facing us in 2023. Whether 2022 has been a year of success or a year of challenge for you, there is something for everyone in this episode. From fears around inflation and staffing, to the success that can come from taking on a more advisory role with your clients to help them build strong and profitable businesses. Our guests speak powerfully about the struggles they have witnessed this year, and yet still leave us feeling uplifted and ready to face the challenges of 2023. There are so many incredible nuggets of wisdom in this episode, so grab your headphones, a cup of tea and settle in!  We are so grateful to all of our wonderful listeners who have joined us this year. YOU make this show possible. Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of learning from failure to build a successful bookkeeping business How to navigate the changes & challenges of the industry The importance of getting your long-term strategy right & knowing when to pivot Find out more about our guests: Katrina Aarsman Julie Watson Jessica Fox  Teresa Slack Time Stamps   01:23 - Michael introduces this episode’s special guests 02:22 - The panel talks about their biggest surprises of 2022   08:35 - Knowledge building; the impact of virtual & in-person events  12:45 - The challenges & setbacks of 2022 21:31 - How do we navigate these complex changes & challenges? 27:45 - This year’s heartwarming stories of client success  37:24 - The heartbreaks of 2022  50:23 - Strategies for growth: what didn’t work this year 01:03:06 - Strategies for growth: what really worked this year 01:13:29 - Industry trends heading into 2023 01:21:23 - Our guests talk about their big focus for 2023 This episode is sponsored by our good friends at BILL! BILL helps automate finances for hundreds of thousands of small to midsize businesses so they can easily and quickly pay bills, collect payments, and manage employee expenses. With BILL, your clients—and you—will get greater visibility and control and more time to spend on the important stuff.  To learn more and get 10% off for your clients visit Bill.com/successfulbookkeeper.

“We all are really good at one or two things, but we can all do maybe 20-100 things, and sometimes as entrepreneurs, I think we get caught up in the ‘I have to do it all.’” -Nikki Rausch Pressure is a great motivator, but too much can damage the quality of our work and cause us to burn out. When we hold onto the belief that we are the only person that can achieve the right results for our clients, we end up with much less time to actually focus on the key things they hired us for in the first place. Clients want to work with experts, but that expert doesn’t have to be you. It is okay to share clients with your team, not because they aren’t as worthy of your attention, but because you have trained and trusted your team to deliver the best possible outcome for your clients and your business.   Nikki Rausch, who is the CEO of Sales Maven, a podcaster and author, is this episode’s featured guest. Nikki is a firm believer that none of us achieve success alone, and that our genius and skills are diluted when we spread ourselves too thinly. That is why we must hire people to do the things we can’t, we must build teams of people that complement and make each other stronger.  If you are struggling to scale your bookkeeping business, feeling too thinly spread, or struggling to prioritize the best outcomes for your clients, then this is the episode to get you thinking more clearly about what building your dream team could really do for your business. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of building a skilled team in your bookkeeping business How to stop underselling yourself to clients The importance of understanding what kind of relationship your clients want Click this link to find out more about Nikki. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. Click here to listen to Nikki's past Successful Bookkeeper podcast appearance. Check out this Sales Maven podcast episode regarding how to sell clients on working with your team. Get Nikki’s free download for TSBK listeners. Time Stamps   01:24 - Nikki talks about her experiences since her last guest appearance 02:21 - The importance of having a team in your business   04:58 - Selling clients on working with your team 10:14 - How to stop underselling yourself  18:21 - Building the right relationship with your clients 24:44 - Dealing with & adapting to crisis & change  30:10 - Telling the story of your business  34:00 - Motivating your team  36:01 - Connecting with Nikki  This episode is sponsored by our good friends at BILL! BILL helps automate finances for hundreds of thousands of small to midsize businesses so they can easily and quickly pay bills, collect payments, and manage employee expenses. With BILL, your clients—and you—will get greater visibility and control and more time to spend on the important stuff.  To learn more and get 10% off for your clients visit Bill.com/successfulbookkeeper.

“If you can answer the questions that are being asked to people that don’t even know what their questions are to begin with, then you have created a name. People will say you’ve gotta come and see what he’s doing for us.” -Michael Alliman    In part 2 of the interview with Michael, he digs into the importance, power, and potential that can be unlocked when businesses find and focus on their niche.   All too often, we think that in order to be successful we have to do as much business as possible with anyone that will have us. But this spread-out and scatter gunned approach keeps us only being good at surface-level skills.   When you find your niche, you’ll move away from the surface and create a depth of experience that will see new clients seeking you out. Letting go of the short-term earning potential of taking every client is scary, but you’ll never have the kind of business that is scalable and successful, if you can't offer niched skills and services, rather than generic ones that are available everywhere.   Michael speaks from experience that the demand for quality skills will enable you to command quality prices. And when you have your niche, you’ll be able to help your clients build their dreams, not just balance last month's books.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of finding your niche How to effectively sell your expertise, so clients seek you out The importance of building the kind of company you would want to work for To find out more about Michael, click here.    Connect with him on LinkedIn.  Time Stamps        01:37 - Helping others to understand your value 10:30 - When you niche clients, they will find you 14:30 - Figuring out niche trends 16:50 - Selling your experience & enjoying it 18:44 - Custom building narrative reports 23:18 - Building the kind of company you’d like to work for 25:30 - How to get in touch with Michael

“I’m not the expert in real estate, that's why I hire you. It doesn’t make any sense for me to learn it just to buy one house, as it doesn’t make any sense for you to learn accounting just to get your own numbers in order.” -Michael Alliman   Creating, owning, and running our own business is really challenging. So many things need our attention that it can often feel overwhelming, like we can’t get our heads above the water. The desire becomes to keep throwing ourselves at problems, rather than take a deep breath, dive beneath the surface, and find a place of calm and wider perspective to help us resolve them.   In this first part of a two-part interview, Michael Alliman, owner of Alliman Business Group and Reconcile bookkeeping, talks about overcoming the things you think are holding you back to find your own rhythm of success.   Michael speaks inspirationally about the way he has taken his ADHD diagnosis and turned it into a hyper-focused superpower that enables him to dial into detail in a way that has become a great selling point to clients. He also speaks about the need to stop setting unrealistic goals and punishing ourselves when we can’t meet them.   If you are facing difficulties in your life or business and are struggling to change your mindset from one of fearing your complexity to one that embraces it, this is the episode for you!   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of embracing what your differences bring to the world How to shift your mindset away from fear & toward success The importance of getting focused on what it is you do well To find out more about Michael, click here.   Connect with him on LinkedIn. Time Stamps   01:42 - Michael talks about his career journey 06:25 - Creating a company you’d like to work for 09:19 - Overcoming the challenges of business 14:04 - Learning to recognize what difficulties have to teach us 18:40 - Embracing the value of difference

“You need to surround yourself from an inclusion standpoint, with people who fill in the gaps and complement the skills you don’t have so that you don’t have those blind spots.” -Carice Anderson   Building a business is never easy, and yet we often make it so much harder for ourselves by believing we can’t be truly successful unless we are the ones doing everything. This kind of thinking only leaves us with skill and knowledge gaps we didn’t even know we had.   Being intelligent alone isn't enough. There will always be things we are drawn to and things we don’t like doing. What matters is the ability to recognize when we have gaps and fill them with people who complement the skills we lack.   Carice Anderson, a workplace diversity and inclusion expert and author, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career working to understand why even after achieving so much academically, there were still so many gaps that could only be filled by the experiences of others.   She speaks powerfully about the need to build connections between people. To work on your relationships with others, not just in them. To think in the long term about people, not just in the short term to meet a deadline or push a product.   If you are trying to go it alone and finding that maybe you don’t even know what questions you should be asking, this is the episode to get you thinking about how a mindset shift might open up a world of possibility.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of taking ownership of your client’s problems How to work on your relationships, not just in them The importance of creating a support network for success To find out more about Carice, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook   You can buy Carice’s book here.   Time Stamps       01:42 - Carice talks about her career journey 03:52 - Learning to adapt when things don’t go your way 08:10 - Overcoming personal obstacles 11:13 - Carice talks about her book 15:28 - Working on your relationships, not in them 18:55 - Tips for building healthy relationships 25:40 - Introversion vs extraversion; creating connections in a different way 28:20 - Ownership, taking responsibility & initiative 33:35 - No one becomes a success alone, it takes a community 36:40 - Learning more about Carice

“With Anchor, you work and then you get paid by default and your client needs to actively do something in order for you not to get paid.” - Omry Man  It’s well-known that comfort and convenience rule everything we do. People and especially clients are always looking for simpler and more effective ways to handle their business. We have all had clients that aren’t good at paying us on time, not because they are bad people, but because their priorities and attention are directed elsewhere. Omry Man, co-founder of Anchor, is this episode’s featured guest. He recognized a gap in the market, a gap created by the friction between bookkeepers and their clients. Anchor is an autonomous billing solution that sets out payment relationships from the get-go, and automates the entire process. So, you never have to wait on a bill again. If you are struggling to get clients to pay on time, are feeling strained around repeatedly asking for payment, or are even too scared to push for the money you are owed for fear of losing a client, this is the episode for you.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of being consistent with your clients How automation reduces friction in relationships The importance of streamlining your services to focus on your bookkeeping business  Click here to find out more about Anchor. BLACK FRIDAY SALE OFFER: Anyone signing up or booking an Anchor demo during November, who bills over 50 monthly invoices, is eligible for $500 in Anchor credits to use in their first 3 months in Anchor. Visit this link for more details! Connect with Omry and Anchor on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Time Stamps 01:48 - Omry talks about his career journey  03:55 - Overcoming bad experiences with clients  09:10 - The real reason your clients aren’t paying on time 13:20 - Using automation to reduce friction   17:20 - How Anchor works for you & your client 20:14 - The right metrics to measure  26:20 - Getting connected with Anchor 

“There will always be chaos. There will always be change. You will always be dealing with fires in your life, and it’s really about how you respond to the chaos that will determine your success or failure.” -Elisa Schmitz   The way we think becomes the way we act. If our thoughts are riddled with self-doubt and fear, we are never going to get to the place of success we dream about. Life is full of change and chaos, and there will always be another fire to put out. What separates successful people and businesses from the unsuccessful, is how they learn to adapt and respond to the chaos.   Often our lack of self-belief comes from doing things differently from other people in our industry. Yet it is those very differences that allow us to offer unique strengths and perspectives no one but us could.   Elisa Schmitz, founder and CEO of 30seconds.com, and author of the new book, Become The Fire, is this episode’s featured guest. Elisa has spent her career helping people embrace failure as a tool for learning and teaching them to shift their mindsets from ones based on fear to abundance and growth.   If you feel like you are pushing against the tide, unsure where to start or how to let go of the fears that have long protected you then this is the episode to pull you into the fire and so you can start to truly realize your personal and professional dreams.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of practicing resilience in your personal & professional lives How to transfer your mindset from fear to abundance The importance of embracing chaos & change  To find out more about Elisa, click this link.   Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Click here to learn more about her new book.   Time Stamps         02:07 - Elisa talks about her career journey 04:44 - The birth of 30Seconds.com 07:52 - Riding the business owner rollercoaster 09:33 - Learning to embrace the chaos 12:27 - Seizing your moment when it comes 15:25 - Practicing a resilience mindset 22:42 - Elisa’s strategies for success 27:48 - Making friends with your fear of change 32:34 - Where to find Elisa’s new book

“If you have the belief, you can’t get off that rat wheel…you’re not going to reach out for something to build the skills to help you.” -Sharon Francisco The wheel keeps turning and if we are not careful, we can end up trapped chasing the same things that aren’t working for us. Belief is a key component in the mindset of successful people. Very rarely do people master a skill on the first attempt. They become masters by believing that with every practice attempt, their abilities will improve.   If your environment and the people in it aren't serving to help lift you up to new heights, it might be time to consider a change of metaphorical scenery. To seek out a better space and people who can teach you the valuable skills you feel you are missing.   Sharon Francisco, an Australian bookkeeping business mentor, is this episode’s featured guest. She speaks about the need for belief and confidence when building a business and explores the key assets that will set the firms of the future apart. Her approach to mentorship sees bookkeepers overcome their barriers and limited beliefs, by getting hands-on with the aspects of business that have previously scared them.   Whether you are struggling with pricing, or which niche to focus on, or how to hire the right people, you will only get better with practice. If you need that push, that injection of courage to get off the wheel and start moving in the direction of true success, this is the episode for you!   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of developing your niche skills to charge premium prices What the future of business is going to look like The importance of building a positive environment for your bookkeeping business   Click here to find out more about Sharon or connect with her on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps        01:38 - Michael & Sharon catch up 03:20 - Overcoming the barriers to success 07:38 - Building a positive environment   11:43 - Working on your business, not just in it 19:18 - Firms of the future: the ingredients of success 26:50 - Building positive relationships & good impressions 31:42 - The nine projects - a road map to the future

“Leadership is something you do with people, not to people.” -Dr. Elizabeth Moran      We have all found ourselves at one time or another having to react to an unexpected change. Often those of us that go into business for ourselves do so to have more freedom and control over the decisions that will affect the long-term viability of our businesses.   Problems start to occur when we become so avoidant of change that we fail to address the concerns our employees or clients have in the choices and changes we make. But we do not have to fear change or be reactive and defensive to its presence in our lives.   Dr. Elizabeth Moran, an experienced leader, consultant, and coach is this episode’s featured guest. Dr. Moran has spent her career helping teams and organizations navigate and evolve through complex changes. She speaks powerfully to the need for curiosity when addressing change, the value of allowing yourself and your teams to explore and play with what the changes may mean, and how to take the time to reconnect with why you wanted to do what you do in the first place.   If you are struggling to adapt to change or find it challenging to evolve at the same pace as your teams, leaders, or other organizations, this is the episode to help you take a pause, dig into where you are placing your energy and intention, and get curious about what changes could really mean.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value in taking time to reflect on the impacts of change How to overcome resistance to change The importance of reconnecting with your why  Click here to find out more about Elizabeth.   Connect with her on LinkedIn.    Click here to pre-order Elizabeth’s new book, "Forward: Leading Your Team Through Change."   Time Stamps         01:51 - Elizabeth talks about her career journey 04:52 - The peaks & valleys of starting your own business 11:08 - Common mistakes facing leaders 16:42 - Understanding why we resist change 22:17 - Embracing the chaos of change 26:01 - The networks of our brain & how to engage them 29:41 - Taking a pause to truly reflect on what leadership means 33:38 - What it means to be a change maker 40:40 - Adapting, evolving, and overcoming 45:14 - What does change mean for me & why? 50:14 - Elizabeth talks about her new book  SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Don’t miss your LAST chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit! Click here for more information!

“The minute you move into a leadership role, it's no longer about you.” –Shelli Warren   Being a great individual contributor doesn’t always make for the best leadership material. We all know someone who is great at what they do but struggles to scale those skills when put into a leadership position. When filling leadership roles too often we are looking for someone to fill a gap, when we should be looking for someone who will grow and fulfill the future needs of the business.   Stepping up can be a real challenge. It takes courage to seek out people that can help us on our journeys to becoming effective leaders and the will to take an honest account of our current skills and get focused on self-development.   Shelli Warren, a team and leadership coach with Biz Chix and host of the Stacking Your Team podcast, returns to The Successful Bookkeeper podcast this week. (Catch her previous episode here.) Shelli has spent her career developing people into leaders. Questioning, encouraging, and helping people from a range of industry backgrounds to understand what it really means to be a leader.   If you are struggling to break into a leadership role, or are currently in one, but don’t know why things just aren’t working the way you had hoped, this is the episode for you.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of hiring for the future, not for a crisis How to upgrade your leadership skills The importance of understanding team dynamics Click here to learn more about Shelli and Biz Chix. Listen to the Stacking your Team Podcast here. Connect with her on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps   02:04 - Shelli talks about her career journey 04:02 - Shouldering responsibilities with grace 06:38 - The key skills of a good leader 13:32 - Good business leadership: a personal inventory 23:22 - Hiring for the future 27:28 - Why leadership skills are so rare 30:13 - Figuring out how to upgrade your leadership skills 39:14 - How to promote a team member into a leader: TSBK Summit sneak peek 42:20 - The perfect time to grow 45:46 - Where to find Shelli SPECIAL ANNOUCEMENT: Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit coming up on November 9th! Click here for more information!  

“LiveFlow gives the ability to create these very tailored dashboards. What's really good about that, is that it allows the bookkeepers to increase the fees for their services.” -Lasse Kalkar    Bookkeeping is not what it used to be. Clients are less willing to spend large sums of money on people to keep accounts when they can be easily kept by automated technology. The role of bookkeepers is changing, and those that are willing to embrace new technologies will be the ones that thrive in the bookkeeping advisory economy.   Lasse Kalkar, founder and CEO of LiveFlow, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his life filling the gaps for what the market needs, and his latest invention, LiveFlow revolutionizes the real-time ability of clients and bookkeepers to see their data in Google sheets and Microsoft Excel.   If you are tired of wasting hours manually inputting data and sending reports to your clients, this is the episode to get you thinking about what the future of your bookkeeping business could look like. Not only in how you share information with clients, but how through templates and sharing you could get immediate access to the best practice of some of the most skilled bookkeepers.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of automating systems to save time How to offer better value & advice to your clients  The importance of believing in yourself & being persistent   Click here to find out more about Lasse.   Connect with Lasse on LinkedIn.   Click here to find out more about LiveFlow.   Time Stamps      02:18  - Lasse talks about his career journey 03:54 - Overcoming the obstacles of entrepreneurship 09:47 - Understanding LiveFlow 12:51 - The value in automated systems 20:34 - Getting to grips with formulas 27:25 - Live Flow and team building SPECIAL ANNOUCEMENT: Don’t miss a chance to get your FREE ticket to our upcoming Successful Bookkeeper Summit! Click here for more information!

“It’s marketing. Just saying bookkeeping is not as enticing as saying,  'I’m going to change your life!'" - Andrea MacKenzie   Sometimes success can take us by surprise. We can very quickly become overwhelmed by everything we have to get done. So much so, that when looking to scale our bookkeeping business, we are so desperate for help, we take the first person available. Having help though is never as useful or valuable as taking the time to find good help.   Andrea MacKenzie, founder of Lead with Harmony, is this episode’s featured guest. She is dedicated to assisting small business owners hire, develop, and lead great teams. Her approach is one of building a conscious leadership mindset, to help you create the right conditions to find, train and trust the right people in your business.   Energy attracts, and if you are hiring from a place of desperation, it’s likely you’ll only attract desperate people. Andrea speaks passionately about the need for getting your people processes right from the ground up, taking the time to really figure out who you are and what you need in others that supports business growth, not conflict and resentment.   If you are struggling to scale your bookkeeping business, butting heads with that quick hire you thought would be an answered prayer, or looking to develop your additional services but aren’t sure who to hire, this is the episode to help you get on the path to great, effective, and conscious leadership.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of effective assessment in hiring employees How to identify the root causes of conflict & burnout The importance of overcoming limiting & negative mindsets Click here to find out more about Andrea.   Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn and Twitter   SPECIAL OFFER for The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast listeners: FREE Delegation Visualization Guided Audio to help you unlock what’s possible when you stop managing and start delegating!  Use this guided audio and the companion worksheets to tap into your desire to let go, get back your time, and grow... through delegation!  FREE with Special Code! (Regular Price: $37) Special Offer Code: SUCCESSFULBOOKKEEPER   Click here for a FREE Job Advertisement Checklist. Time Stamps 01:35 - Andrea talks about her career journey 06:00 - The power in how you think 10:44 - The challenges of hiring the right people 15:20 - Overcoming fear & limiting mindsets 18:21 - Identifying the root causes of conflict & burnout 22:52 - Assessing people effectively 31:12 - Conscious leadership 34:08 - Working with Andrea SPECIAL ANNOUCEMENT: Don’t miss your chance to get a FREE ticket to our upcoming Successful Bookkeeper Summit! Click here for more information!

“I want to do this, but I don’t really know how to do it, so you talk to people who have been there before that can help you on the way.” -Karla Dembik     Pennies become dollars far faster than most of us realize. Businesses (on balance) don’t fail because of a dramatic catastrophe; they suffer death from a thousand cuts. We often agree to all kinds of service and business fees, because we don’t know any better. But there are people out there who can help reduce costs and increase revenue without increasing your prices.   Karla Dembik, ex-army intelligence officer, helicopter pilot, and now the owner of Phoenix Payment Processing is this episode’s featured guest. Karla’s curious and inquisitive approach has helped her flourish in any of her chosen careers, and now she gives back to people that need a little extra help building their own road maps to success.   If you are struggling to know what to do with your bookkeeping business, if you’re drowning in additional costs and add-ons that are bleeding you dry every month, then this is the episode to help you create your own path to success. One that will let you draw on the knowledge of all those that have faced the same challenges, so you can focus on the heart of your business. Serving the people you want to help.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of learning to ask the right questions How to increase revenue without increasing prices The importance of being open to change Click here to find out more about Karla.   Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. Time Stamps        02:42 - Karla discusses her career journey 06:55 - Working as an army intelligence officer 09:32 - Learning to ask the right questions 13:35 - Building the road map to success 17:10 - The rise of a phoenix 19:25 - The trigger points of change 22:02 - Navigating starting your own business 25:20 - Embracing Aha moments 29:28 - Increasing revenue without increasing prices In other news... Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit! Click here for more information!

"Being passive or being a people pleaser in business is not a great way to get results." -Erin Daiber   Running a bookkeeping business isn’t easy. There are enough external challenges to contend with, without piling on internal ones of our own making. Too many of us aspire to be all things to all people. But this strategy only ever leads one way… to overextension and burnout.   There is a huge difference between being polite and being passive. You do not have to agree to every demand a client makes, nor should you. You will never be able to please everyone. It is far better to set healthy and effective boundaries instead. Ones that let you make and maintain polite and consistent connections while being firm and accurate about what is and what isn’t within your capacity to deliver.   Erin Daiber, CEO of Well Balanced Accountants is this episode’s featured guest. She is no stranger to the fears that come with running your own business, with the desire to people please everyone. In this episode, she speaks powerfully to the need for self-development work, and the need to find people who can help us avoid the same pitfalls and traps common in our industry.   If you are struggling to determine your purpose, overpromising and underdelivering, and failing to set healthy boundaries, this is the episode to help you break the scarcity mindset so you can create a bookkeeping business that delivers expertly on its promises.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of coaching & learning in your personal development journey How to live with the fear of the unknown The importance of setting healthy boundaries Click here to find out more about Erin.   Connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter   Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit. Click here for more information!   Time Stamps       01:25 - Erin talks about her career journey 04:15 - Overcoming the challenges of business 11:01 - Setting healthy boundaries 15:42 - Learning to live with the unknown 19:49 - Making peace with your inner child 22:21 - Encouraging your clients to explore themselves 26:27 - The value of finding the right coach for you 28:41 - Erin gives a sneak peek of her talk at the upcoming Successful Bookkeeper Summit

"It’s no longer enough just to provide services, you’ve got to really help the customer transform from where they are to where they want to be." -Ron Baker Welcome back to another spotlight session with your host Louie Prosperi, the third in our three-part series on subscription models for bookkeeping and accounting businesses. In order to get the most out of our businesses, we need to be really clear about what it is we want our customers to pay for. A service, the value of our knowledge and expertise in handling their needs, or access and transformative collaboration. It can feel uncomfortable to challenge the scarcity mindset, to step out of the math of the moment and look at the client’s lifetime value, but when you do, you’ll unlock a world of potential to work with clients, not just for them.  This episode’s featured guests are Ron Baker and Ed Kless, co-hosts of The Soul of Enterprise podcast. Together, they will discuss the power of tying your wealth and revenue not to a service, but to access to that service, to innovation and transformation that takes customers from where they are to where they want to be. As well as the need to find the right model to best serve your needs and relationships. Finding the right model to suit your business can be a challenge. If you are struggling to figure out who you are, and how and who you want to service, this is the episode to get you focused in on the best outcomes for your bookkeeping business.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value in offering transformation to clients, not just services How to find the right model for your bookkeeping business The importance of centering your relationships with clients  Visit this link to find out more about Ron. Connect with Ron on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Click here to pre-order his new book. Go to this link to find out more about Ed. Email Ed directly at [email protected]. Connect with Ed on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with our new spotlight host Louie on LinkedIn. Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit. Click here for more information! Time Stamps   01:40 - Introducing Ron Baker & Ed Kless 03:44 - Subscription modeling for knowledge-based firms 06:40 - Putting the relationship first  08:55 - Consistently adding value to your offering  13:14 - Tying your revenue to access to services  17:23 - Understanding value in the subscription model  28:19 - Scaling up subscriptions  33:10 - Building a collaboration mindset  38:02 - Strategically plan the model you want  44:14 - Innovation in the subscription model  50:08 - Personalizing your relationships  55:33 - Connecting with Ron & Ed 

“There are plenty of fish in the sea, and by helping the people in my community, that’s going to raise the tide, which is going to rise all ships.” -Andrew Wall   Adapting to change is never easy. What we plan for versus what actually happens are often wildly different and can leave us feeling like we don’t really understand what we’re doing at all. Making plans and business building become much better when we shift our thinking from a mindset of having to be right about everything, to being open to learning anything.   Automated services may be slowly replacing traditional bookkeeping functions, but this isn’t anything to fear. When you figure out what value you are able to bring to the table, your business will no longer be about compliance and meeting deadlines, but a business that lets you forecast the future to keep your clients on the cutting edge.   Time spent worrying about whether you’ll have clients or not is wasted in the face of recognizing only you can do what you can do. When you’re passionate and love what you do, there is no other end result than learning, growing and becoming an expert in your field or niche. Our featured guest checks those boxes. Andrew Wall is the Managing Partner of CPA4IT, an accounting thought leader, and Friday Night Live with Accountants podcast host.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of proper communication in healthy relationships How to evolve with ever-changing systems, processes & technologies The importance of being open to continuous learning Click here to find out more about Andrew’s business.   Connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter   Listen to Friday Night Live with Accountants at this link.   Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit that begins on November 9th, 2022! Click here for more information!   Time Stamps         02:21 - Andrew discusses his career journey 08:05 - Adapting to change to create the right conditions for growth 13:28 - The great accounting shift 18:21 - The future is bright 23:47 - Leveling up your learning 32:15 - Andrews shares his vision for the future 40:07 - Managing client expectations

“I’ve heard people get to 5-6 staff, and they’re making basically the exact same money they were at 2 staff. And that doesn’t make any sense!” -Louie Prosperi   All of us know what it feels like to learn from our mistakes. But we don’t often pause to think about just how much faster we could have realized them if we spent more time engaged with those in our industry that have walked our path before.   Of course, everyone has a different business experience. But that doesn’t mean you have to struggle along by yourself. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience out there, just waiting to be discovered.   Louie Prosperi, founder of Strategic Clarity and our new Spotlight session host, is this episode’s featured guest. Michael and Louie get to grips with the benefits of the right business model for the right business, the advantages of learning from others, and upcoming Successful Bookkeeper events.   If you are struggling and spending too much time working IN your business and not enough time working ON your business, be sure to follow the link below to sign up for free to join us for The Successful Bookkeeper Summit in November.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of connecting with new communities How to get involved with The Successful Bookkeeper Summit in November The importance of crowdsourcing knowledge to build your bookkeeping business Click here to find out more about Louie.   Connect with Louie on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Click here to know more about upcoming Successful Bookkeeper events.   Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit on November 9, 2022! Click here for more information.   Time Stamps   01:38 - Louie talks about his career journey 03:43 - Michael & Louie talk about the new TSBK Spotlight sessions 06:55 - Preparing for The Successful Bookkeeper Summit 13:14 - The power of digital connection 21:14 - The future of The Successful Bookkeeper 26:23 - Discussion regarding the 2023 Tech Showcase

“Far too many professionals want to feel good about themselves and demonstrate their expertise, but what they do is, they jump in and talk about how they are going to solve the problem before they have an understanding as to the value to the customer.” -Ed Kless   Welcome back to another spotlight session with your host, Louie Prosperi, the second in our three-part series on subscription models for bookkeeping and accounting businesses.   When trying to sell ourselves to clients, we often believe we have to offer the best and most rapid solution to their problem, in order to beat the competition. But is this way of connecting with clients hurting your bookkeeping business?   This episode’s featured guest is Ed Kless, Senior Director of Sage Accounting Solutions and co-host of The Soul of Enterprise podcast. Ed speaks to the need to avoid being a solutionist, to avoid jumping the gun to secure a client before you can fully explore the true value of what they need. The best way to express your expertise isn’t to fix problems for free or to undercut yourself, it is to ask the right questions. To replace advice with curiosity. Only when you know what a client values can you put the right price to it.   Once you know what clients value, you’ll know where they fit in a subscription model and know how to structure different subscription levels, for clients with similar needs.   If you are someone that wants to unlock the potential of subscription modeling but is afraid of giving up too much too soon, this episode will change the way you think about your relationship with your clients.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of asking the right questions to prevent undercutting yourself How to integrate value pricing into a subscription model The importance of tailoring your pricing to customer needs  Click here to find out more about Ed.   Email him directly at [email protected].   Connect with Ed on LinkedIn or Twitter.   Click here to listen to The Soul of Enterprise.   Go to this link to pre-order Ron Baker's new book, Time's Up! Both Ron and Ed will be speaking at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit which begins November 9, 2022. Click here to get your FREE ticket!   Time Stamps       02:33 - The subscription model for accounting firms 04:40 - Integrate values priced pricing with a subscription model 06:30 - Don’t give away the farm by overselling too quickly 10:40 - Replacing advice with curiosity 17:00 - Pricing the portfolio & the relationships 20:01 - Tailoring your pricing to your customer's needs 23:25 - Adding value & innovation to your offering 29:35 - Asking the right questions to build the right relationships 32:25 - The difference between reoccurring & recurring revenue 35:33 - Valuation in the subscription model 38:24 - The Soul of Enterprise

“My tribe helped me realize I don’t need to compete with anyone, and I can use everyone as a resource and sounding board.” -Coreen Wright   There is a tendency among small business owners and start-ups, to feel like they are in constant competition with others from within their industries. The same fear is true among bookkeepers. But when you let go of the idea that asking for help equates to weakness, you’ll begin to find like-minded people, all with a desire to help one another out.   Your inner imposter may be screaming at you, that you don’t belong until you are a master of your craft, but imagine how much quicker you could achieve your goals if you connect to and learn from people that have already made all the same mistakes you have.   Coreen Wright, President and Owner of Faith Accounting and Consulting Services, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent years building an incredible business designed to help her clients with their accounting. Her approach is one of working to overcome limiting mindsets to leverage your skills and connections to create the perfect business for you.   If you are finding yourself, competing with other people, struggling to learn new things, or connecting with people in your industry, this episode will be the one to give your self-esteem a boost and help shift your mindset.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of setting boundaries & valuing your energy & time How to let go of the need to do everything in order to focus on what brings you the most joy The importance of finding supportive people & communities Click here to find out more about Coreen. Contact her directly at [email protected].   Follow Coreen on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.   Time Stamps        01:33 - Coreen talks about her career journey 04:55 - Pulling the trigger on a new life 06:04 - Overcoming the challenges of starting a business 09:44 - Learning to embrace our mistakes 13:48 - The value of Pure Bookkeeping 18:45 - Finding the right clients for you 21:56 - Solving pricing issues 23:20 - The benefits of Accelerate 2 Advisor program 27:30 - Visions of the future This episode is sponsored by our friends at Ignition! They have a special promotion happening for our Successful Bookkeeper Community. Right now you can take advantage of 50% off Ignition for 3 months and see how it can help you WIN CLIENTS and GET PAID, EVERY TIME. Book a demo TODAY by clicking THIS LINK and learn how to transform your bookkeeping business. You won't regret it!

“Probably 20% of your clients are causing 80% of the problems.” -Natalie Eckdahl   Finding your bookkeeping niche is hard. But not as hard as finding the number of clients needed to make a low-price business successful. Low pricing may seem like the way to gain many clients fast. But in reality, this kind of business model is working against you.   When you find your niche, it will be because it is something you are passionate about, something you can become an expert in, because you care about it. It is time to stop charging for a basic general service, and start charging for what your knowledge, expertise and experience are truly worth.   In part two, Natalie Eckdahl, founder of BizChix, host of the longest-running female entrepreneur podcast and voted one of the top women in business to listen to, speaks to the need to let go of mindsets and clients that are holding you back, finding your niche, and her upcoming virtual talk at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit.   If you are struggling, as an aimless generalist, taking every client you can for fear of losing business, this is the episode to get you headed in the right direction! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of finding your own niche How to let go of clients that are holding you back The importance of connecting with the right clients To find out more about Natalie, click here.   Connect with her on LinkedIn.   Click here to listen to the BizChix podcast.   Natalie will be one of our great virtual speakers at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit that begins on November 9th 2022. Don't miss her presentation by getting your FREE ticket TODAY! Click here for more information. Time Stamps 2:30 - The value of finding your niche 9:31 - Building an enduring business 11:19 - Finding the best ways to connect to clients 12:40 - Learning to let go to build a better future 18:45 - The Successful Bookkeeper Summit 22:12 - Ways to connect with Natalie

“One of the biggest challenges I see is that women do not have enough profit coming out of their business, and the base behind that is they are not charging high enough prices.” -Natalie Eckdahl   Overcoming the struggles of building a business is tough enough, and yet for a lot of women, there are considerable added pressures. Not just in terms of feeling like an imposter in the workplace, but being scared to price at equal value, or paying themselves less to not upset male colleagues or partners.   Women on average price themselves 28% lower than their male peers. In the first part of a two-part series, Natalie Eckdahl, founder of BizChix who is the host of the longest-running female entrepreneur podcast and voted one of the top women in business to listen to, talks about shattering glass ceilings, empowering women in business and how to create the life of your dreams.   If you are building a successful bookkeeping business but are struggling to overcome limiting beliefs, this two-part episode series is the one for you. Natalie Eckdahl has years of experience helping women get past their negative and limiting mindsets to achieve their personal and professional goals.   Her three-pillar approach to creating an enjoyable, profitable, and sustainable business, could be just what you are looking for to build your confidence and take your bookkeeping business to the next level.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of finding & doing work that fulfills you How to change your mindset to one of growth and value, not scarcity The importance of overcoming self-made barriers to success Click here to find out more about Natalie. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Go to this link to listen to the BizChix podcast.   Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit on November 9th 2022! Natalie will be speaking there, so click here for more information.   Time Stamps       2:44 - Natalie talks about her career journey 8:10 - Getting used to changing direction 12:20 - Valuing your family, the true V.I.P’s 15:30 - The barriers to enduring business 18:30 - Shattering glass ceilings 24:02 - Changing the numbers by changing our mindset 27:30 - The difficulties of finding your niche

“If we want premium pricing, we have to go to the market with an uncommon offering." -Ron Baker Welcome to a new episode of our Spotlight series, now hosted by a great friend of The Successful Bookkeeper and world-class business strategist, Louie Prosperi. This is part 1 of a 3-part Spotlight series about subscription models for accounting and bookkeeping firms. You see, many bookkeepers struggle with the idea of changing from time-based pricing to value-based pricing. Let alone changing it up even more by adopting a subscription pricing model. Ron Baker, author, and radio talk show host is this episode’s featured guest. He makes a powerful argument for the future of bookkeeping businesses that can offer pricing based on relationships, access, convenience, and peace of mind, rather than just stacking services on services, and calling that value. Ron speaks to the need to offer specific and uncommon offerings in order to command uncommon prices. To change up the way your clients relate to you, so that you can offer them the transformation they are seeking, not just services that keep them ticking over. It can feel scary to make changes to your business model, there is great comfort in our habits. But when you put the value of your relationship at the heart of your business model, you’ll stop limiting your value to only monetizing transactions and time. You only have to think about your favorite services or those with the greatest valuations to realize they are all subscription based. What is stopping you from achieving the same success? It is time to stop asking how much we want our customers to pay us, and start asking, what do we want our customers to pay us for? During this interview, you'll learn... The value of the subscription economy How to price relationships not services The importance of your niche & providing uncommon offerings Click here to find out more about Ron.   Connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. Go to this link to pre-order his new book, Time's Up!   Connect with our new Spotlight host, Louie on LinkedIn. Don’t miss a chance to get your free ticket to The Successful Bookkeeper Summit on November 9, 2022. Click here for more details! Time Stamps        01:32 - Introducing our new Spotlight host 02:08 - Louie introduces this episode’s guest 04:00 - The subscription economy 10:19 - What makes this model better? 14:02 - Reinventing customer experience 18:25 - Consistently adding value to your offering 20:32 - Structuring the subscription model 24:34 - Pricing personalized transformation 31:24 - Overcoming limiting mindsets 36:34 - Measuring your success against new KPIs 41:00 - The value of predictability 45:30 - Ron’s new book, Time's Up!

“You will never have the time, and you have to make the time, so make it in small chunks. Schedule fifteen minutes a day to work on that, because as long as you are moving forward, you aren’t standing still or moving backward.” -Tanya Hilts Finding your own path is not easy. Textbooks say one thing, but real life says another. Your story isn’t written by anyone but you. So, you won’t know how successful you could be until you try. No matter your educational background. If you have a willingness to learn, to start from the ground up and build your dream career, because you cannot see yourself doing anything else, then you will always be successful. It is your knowledge and desire to serve, not your certificates that set the standard of who you are.   Tanya Hilts, founder of Cloud Business Services, board member of CPB Canada and operator of Tanya’s Bookkeeping Bootcamp is this episode's featured guest. Her approach speaks to a need to practice continuous learning, to build your confidence to face the many challenges of the bookkeeping industry. She believes when you have the right work ethic, nothing can get in your way. If self-doubt, confidence issues or concerns you aren’t on the right path are bothering you, this is the episode for you.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of continuously learning & building mentor relationships How to build & follow your own path to success The importance of facing challenges with confidence Connect with Tanya on LinkeIn, Twitter or Facebook. Click here to find out more about Cloud Business Services.  Time Stamps 01:50 - Tanya talks about her career journey 05:05 - Following your own path to success 07:28 - Finding programs & mentors to further your learning 10:34 - Facing challenges with confidence 15:12 - Saying goodbye to clients who aren’t serving you 22:45 - Finding your ideal client 31:40 - Perfecting personal service 36:20 - Tanya’s Bootcamps & training services This episode is brought to you by our friends at Accountex Canada. It’s Canada’s newest in-person conference and trade show for accountants, bookkeepers and finance professionals that takes place in Toronto on November 30th and December 1st. Take advantage of the $40 super-early bird registration that ends September 30th. REGISTER HERE!

“They don’t come to you because you can do numbers, they come because they enjoy talking to you.” -Michael Eckstein     Starting a business is never easy, and while we can all theorize about potential outcomes, there is no substitution for trying and seeing what works. No one ever learned to run a business in any other way than just running one.   The advice of others is key in this process, but it isn’t the be all and end all. You have to find your own way, plot your own course through the business world to create the best possible outcome for you. What you are doing should be fun! People should want to work with you for your passion and because you are fun to work with, not because you have something to sell them.   When you find your own personal brand, your own niche, and way of connecting with clients, you are far more likely to succeed.   Michael Eckstein ‘LinkedIn’s Cutest Accountant’ is this episode's featured guest. He speaks to the need to embrace yourself and be authentic about who you are. How to find your niche and understand the patterns that exist within it to serve clients you are truly interested in helping. And how to seek out the right audience by building real connections and friendships.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of understanding the patterns of your niche How to find your audience where they are The importance of building lasting honest relationships Find out more about Eckstein Tax Services here. Learn more about Resting Business Face at this link.  Connect with Michael on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:28 - Michael talks about his career journey 2:44 - Finding the flow in your business 6:28 - The story behind LinkedIn’s Cutest Accountant 8:11 - Finding your niche 14:00 - Understanding your niche’s fact pattern 16:25 - Finding your audience where they are 21:15 - Three base rules for content creation 26:00 - Building lasting relationships

“Once you realize what you love to do, you get really good at it, and you can charge a lot more money for it.” -Dawn Brolin Finding the path to success is never easy. Even ‘overnight’ successes don’t happen overnight. It can be easy to feel like the only way to double your profit is by doubling your clients. But more work isn’t the answer. One of the biggest challenges is finding out what we really want to do and dialing into that then accepting we don’t have to do everything. We have to find the things that spark joy in us. That makes us the kind of people clients are desperate to work with. When you connect with the elements of your bookkeeping business that you truly love, you’ll begin to understand that dollars don’t drive success, confidence does. If you feel stuck in your pricing, stuck working more hours than you’d like, handling elements of the business that aren’t exciting to you. It’s time to dial into the things that truly bring you joy. And to do them with such confidence clients will have no trouble meeting your prices. Dawn Brolin, CEO of Powerful Accounting and arguably one of the most influential and powerful women in the industry today, is this episode's featured guest. Her approach to business is one of confidence, understanding and continuous learning. If you are feeling unsure about your place in the bookkeeping industry, let her words in this episode offer you the motivation you need to become the best possible version of yourself. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of getting out there & getting connected How to break the belief barrier to charge what you are truly worth The importance of establishing value from the beginning of relationships Click here to connect with Dawn. Learn more about her on LinkedIn and Twitter. To check out her book, The Designated Motivator for Accounting Professionals, go here. To listen to the DM Disruption Podcast with Dawn Brolin, explore this link. Visit here to learn more about Powerful Accounting. Time Stamps 2:02 - Dawn talks about her career journey 4:11 - The drivers of change 7:41 - Showing business owners the value of bookkeeping 12:01 - Dawn’s Aha! moments 15:14 - Overcoming our mistakes 20:11 - Becoming the designated motivator 29:01 - The challenges of limiting beliefs 37:50 - Offering the best value to your clients 43:10 - Where to get Dawn’s book for free

“You can never become the master of one thing. There is always someone out there that knows a little bit of something you don’t have an area of knowledge in.” -Lyla Smith   Technology is great, but it can sometimes limit and trap us into ways of processing information that fail when the software does. Getting back to basics, can help you grow by giving you a greater understanding of what the technology is doing, and what could be done to improve it. Our knowledge base becomes bigger and deeper when we understand what is going on in the background.   When you start to prize discipline and accountability as core tenets of your bookkeeping business, it enables you to come to communities with a hunger to learn new things, and the humility to share what you know and accept what you’re being taught.   Lyla Smith, owner of Mutch More Accounting and Bookkeeping Inc, is this episode's featured guest. Her approach sees knowledge as something to be learned and shared freely among the community. Rather than guarding what we know, sharing it to lift others when they need help, so that they might lift us in our time of need.   She believes when we show clients our humanity, they are far more likely to trust us with their money. If you are struggling to disengage from difficult or disrespectful clients, this is also the episode for you.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of knowing your worth to engage with the right clients How to work with communities to help lift others up The importance of committing to lifelong learning The best way to contact Lyla is directly by email at [email protected]. You can also learn more about her on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps     1:29 - Lyla talks about her career journey 3:08 - Changing with the times 5:20 - Committing to lifelong learning 10:06 - The benefits of the basics 13:45 - Collective mastery 18:45 - Opportunities are what you make of them 22:30 - Lyla talks about her experience with Pure Bookkeeping 30:04 - Disengaging from negative clients 35:38 - The value of honesty and accountability 38:37 - How to boundary your personal and professional life

“Once you get going, you get more and more productive.” -Amanda Hamilton  Our bookkeeping businesses are our babies. We put the work in with the hope they’ll grow healthy and strong. But sometimes this desire can overwhelm our ability to step back, and to delegate tasks that leave us more time to focus on the areas we really love to work in. Don’t wait until you are burnt out to start planning what to delegate, start small and simple and build on it from there.   If your business life is task-heavy, it is not going to feel fulfilling. Letting go of the need to handle everything yourself is challenging, but when you start with the smaller tasks, it gets easier to layer on more complicated ones as your faith in those you have delegated to begins to grow.   Amanda Hamilton, Founder of Hamilton Raye, is this episode’s featured guest. She specializes in connecting the right people based on experience and personality, to free up valuable time and energy. By creating a list of your intended priorities and focusing on your pain points, you too can figure out the best tasks to delegate and where your true passion in your business lies.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of being intentional about how & what you delegate How to gain access to experienced talent without the added cost The importance of delegating & outsourcing tasks Click here to learn more about Hamilton Raye. Connect with Hamilton Raye on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.   Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn.  Time Stamps     1:42 - Amanda talks about her career journey 5:05 - Gaining access to people with experience 9:02 - Delegating with intention 12:22 - The signs that show you need help 14:52 - Picking the easiest tasks to delegate 17:35 - Dealing with a lack of standardization 20:10 - Hamilton Raye’s onboarding process 25:30 - The five keys of outsourcing SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This episode is sponsored by LiveFlow. It's a software that connects to all of your clients' QuickBooks accounts and imports their financial reports from QuickBooks into Google Sheets in no time! To learn more about it and how you can save 20% off your first three months, click this link - liveflow.io/partnerships/successfulbookkeeper - then claim your discount with the promo code SUCCESS.

“I suppose I didn’t get quite as many things done, but the things I got done, I did a lot better.” -Minda Zetlin    Too many of us feel like if we aren’t working all the time, we aren’t doing a good job. We don’t expect an immediate response to emails, but when we get one, we feel a need to reply immediately. Setting expectations and boundaries is challenging. But without them, we’ll never feel comfortable enough to take the time we need to rest and recover.   We spend so much time chasing our work, that it can begin to feel like we live inside it. When we start to carve out time for ourselves, the quality of our work improves as we are able to decompress and gain some much-needed objectivity and perspective.   When your communication is objective, you don’t have to fear how your clients might behave, only trust that you have already done everything in your power to get the best possible outcome. Stressing or trying to take the burden on yourself will only burn you out faster.   Minda Zetlin, author of Career Self-Care and writer at Inc.com is this week's featured guest. Minda is all about self-care. Teaching you how to combine your work and personal lives, to build a career you love, without being miserable. Her approach puts the human first, to help you set expectations, that’ll keep you sane and happy.   If you are struggling to care for yourself, or to figure out what deserves your time and attention, then this episode is not to be missed!   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of clear communication in setting goals & boundaries How to create a healthy work-life balance The importance of taking time out to rest & get some perspective Check out Minda’s website at this link. Get her new book here.   Connect with Minda on LinkedIn and Twitter. Time Stamps 1:58 - Minda talks about her career journey 4:48 - Cultivating a healthy work-life balance 9:18 - Focusing our attention in the right directions 13:11 - The world won’t stop if you do 17:50 - Setting goals & deliverables 21:07 - Getting communication right 22:22 - How to self-care in the workplace 26:40 - Thinking differently about our interactions 30:20 - The importance of unplugging

“If you’re not uncomfortable in what you’re doing, you’re not growing.” -Lora Lonesberry Habits are hard to break. Though we may feel safe, set in our ways, being too unwilling to learn new things, can only hurt the long-term viability of your bookkeeping business. When you learn to embrace and adapt to new insights and technologies, you’ll keep yourself a step ahead of those that can only stand still. Recognizing what it is you love about your career, will give you the perfect starting line. There will always be aspects of the job that aren’t as glamorous, but when you are open to learning new things, a world of automation and systemization opens up to you. There is a wealth of training and technology that can be utilized and tailored to get things running in the background. Leaving you all the more time to focus your attention on the areas of your business that bring you the most purpose and joy. Lora Lonesberry, owner of Positive Statements, understands all of this. In part two of her conversation with Michael, she provides insight on these topics... How to modify your bookkeeping business to run more effectively & efficiently The value of recognizing where your passion truly lies The importance of adapting to continuous industry changes Connect with Lora on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Learn more about Positive Statements here and on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps      1:30 - The freedom of committing to choices 5:30 - The keys to your future 10:10 - Scaling your bookkeeping business 13:04 - Fulfilling your passion 18:30 - Adapting to continuous changes 23:30 - Investing in yourself 28:14 - Overcoming burnout to live more freely

“It’s like walking down the street naked. You can tell me whatever you like, but the numbers are going to tell the truth of what the story of your business is.” -Lora Lonesberry Running your own business is challenging. It can be easy to get caught up in the idea that you are competing against everyone else for a slice of the profit. But really the only person you have to compete with is yourself. Our struggles and mistakes offer us perspective and learning opportunities. Chances to figure out what we are doing wrong, so we can start getting it right. Rather than struggling and suffering over and over again, why not connect with like-minded people and learn from their mistakes as well as your own. Not to be better than them, but to better yourself. To find your niche and add value to your clients in the way only you can. Lora Lonesberry, owner of Positive Statements, is our featured guest for this two-part special. Today in Part 1, she talks about the value of immersing yourself in your industry, finding the right mentors to unlock your potential and diversifying your business to minimize risks. Her approach focuses on paying attention to the details and using the right tools to build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with clients. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of getting connected to your clients How to embrace technology & learning opportunities The importance of immersing yourself fully in your industry Learn more about Positive Statements here and on LinkedIn.     Connect with Lora on LinkedIn and Twitter.   Time Stamps      1:32 - Lora talks about her career journey 4:24 - Immersing yourself in your industry 8:09 - Seizing the moment 15:45 - Showing your clients your value 18:04 - The numbers don’t lie 26:14 - Taking interest in your clients 30:51 - Pricing on your Value 32:02 - Why you should consider becoming a Pure Bookkeeping licensee

“I think we oftentimes can look at what we are going through and assume, we are the only one who potentially has these problems.” — Christina Springstead It can be really challenging to invest in ourselves. To put time, money, energy, and effort into creating the kind of people we aspire to be. Fear of the unknown often holds us back and keeps us pent up in patterns and cycles of behavior that aren’t truly serving our purpose. Taking the leap can be hard, but it is much easier when you surround yourself with people that have already done it. We can often feel like connecting with like-minded people is a betrayal of our self-sufficiency. But it is the reverse, when we see it done, we believe more strongly than ever that we can do it too. When we see and feel people struggling up the same hills as us, we feel a sense of power in our collective connection. Christina Springstead, owner of Springstead Solutions and Accelerate 2 Advisor Program super ambassador, talks about the power of transformation, in having faith in yourself to overcome your inner critic and taking the leap into your dream future. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of connecting with your intuition and burning life desires How to transform your life by connecting with like-minded people The importance of firm boundaries to manage time and energy Learn more about Christina at this link. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Time Stamp 1:33 - Christina talks about her career journey 3:33 - Taking a leap of faith 4:35 - Dealing with your inner critic 5:45 - Overcoming challenges and obstacles 7:40 - Embracing Bookkeeping 10:55 - After the leap 13:33 - Christina talks about her biggest A-ha moment 17:35 - Transforming yourself, so you can transform others 22:00 - Finding your tribe 23:28 - The future of Christina’s business

“If the data exists digitally, the user should be able to control that information, and use it in any way they want.” -Martin Chee How automated are your bookkeeping processes? It can be a real challenge to keep pace with all the apps, programs, and interfaces, marketed as making a bookkeeper's life easier. This can create reluctance to engage with automated processes. But, how much time are you wasting, manually inputting data, that could be organized with the click of a button? If you’re afraid of jumping into the automated pool, this is the episode to ease you in. Martin Chee, CFO, and Co-founder of Amaka, talks today about the role of automation and integration in creating more efficient businesses. There is more data out there than anyone could manage by themselves. The more effectively this data is processed, the greater the insights available. Martin’s approach is one of valuing the work as much as your time, to reduce friction points, letting you do far more work, without the equal time drain of doing it manually, creating time savings you can also pass onto your clients. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of caring for your time, resources & productivity How to collect & manage data to the best use of your clients The importance of automation in creating better services Learn more about Amaka here. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:23 - Martin talks about his career journey 6:14 - Evolving with your product 9:20 - Knowing when to pivot 11:22 - The value of automation 21:25 - Finding the right tools for your business 25:17 - Getting your time back 33:20 - Learning more about Amaka

“You’re offering a career, not a J-O-B and we want people to come and join your team because they see the value in having a career, alongside you.” -Shelli Warren Finding the right people to build your dream team can be exhausting. It is often so overwhelming a process that we let desperation take hold. Seeking to grab anyone we can to help us, rather than taking the time to really find people who are the best fit. It is the goal of every business owner to eventually get out of the day-to-day, to better focus on business development, but we can’t do that without a trusted team, and without belief in ourselves as the leaders of our own businesses. But if you are constantly dragging people behind you, they aren’t adding positive value to your business. You need from the moment you post the interview, all the way through to the way your business practices, to paint a picture of the future, that the right people can connect to and feel at home in. Walking in step with you towards your goals, not holding you back from them. Shelli Warren, a team and leadership coach with Biz Chix and host of the Stacking Your Team podcast, is this week's featured guest. She discusses the importance of effective leadership, learning from your clients and building a business pointed firmly at the future, not dragging the past behind you. During this interview, you'll learn... How to paint a story of your business that makes others want to be a part of it The importance of building your team around the future, not the past The value of learning every lesson life has to teach you Learn more about Shelli and Biz Chix at this link. Listen to the Stacking your Team Podcast here. Connect with her on LinkedIn.    Time Stamps  1:35 - Shelli talks about her career journey 5:15 - Getting to know Biz Chix 7:14 - Building your dream team 10:00 - What we can learn from our clients 12:15 - The key to stacking your team 17:05 - How do you know if new employees will be a good fit? 20:32 - Overcoming limiting beliefs 24:50 - Dealing with a bad hire 29:56 - Being honest about your offering 33:00 - Creating impactful meetings

“What can I do in the last part of the day that makes tomorrow morning better?” -Donna McGeorge  Finding balance in our lives is never easy. There can be a strong compulsion to equate working harder with being more successful. Pouring all our time, energy, and attention into work, and leaving very little for our personal lives or for more spontaneous client connections.   If you are throwing all of your effort into your business and getting the results you want, keep doing what you are doing. But if you are struggling to manage your time, and feel constantly overwhelmed, there is no harm or shame in looking at ways to better manage your time and energy to positively boost your productivity.   What can I do now that my future self will thank me for?   That is the question posed by today’s featured guest, Australian productivity expert and author, Donna McGeorge, whose approach to productivity will see you retraining your brain, protecting your time, preventing you from getting overwhelmed and leave you more energized for the day ahead.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value routine & discipline play in protecting your time How to stop over-committing your time and resources The importance of working consistently Learn more about Donna here.   Get Donna’s latest book, The 1 Day Refund at this link. Connect with Donna: LinkedIn Twitter   Time Stamps  1:53 - Donna talks about her career journey 3:12 - Lessons from her upbringing 7:11 - Is what you’re doing working? 9:27 - Using our time wisely 11:58 - Where do we start? 15:30 - The hour of power 20:35 - Clean space, clean mind 25:01 - Reclaiming our time 33:35 - How to stop overcommitting 37:31 - Days down, Dollars up!

“You're not going to attract talent that way, they aren't interested in mindless data entry work, they want to have a meaningful impact on the world around them and if we don't create those opportunities someone else will.”  -Jasen Stine It is easy to get set in our ways. To let fear of the future, change and innovation, keep us locked into the same patterns. That at one time may have served us, but now only serves to limit our growth. Understanding the value of your own expertise will make it easier to move away from compliance bookkeeping. Utilize your skills as an advisor to offer far better value to your clients. When you connect with other bookkeepers and thought leaders, you will be better positioned and informed on the cutting edge of industry innovations. Learning from others, to offer more impactful services. Jasen Stine, a Tax and Account Education Leader at Intuit and AccounTrends podcast host, and Jim Buffington, an Advisory Services Leader at Intuit Accountants, are the featured guests of a special Spotlight episode! During this interview, you'll learn... The value of recognizing the potential of your own expertise How to switch from a compliance to an advisory mindset The importance of building relationships with like-minded people & thought leaders Learn more about Intuit here. Check out the Intuit Accountants’ Tax Pro Center at this link.  Listen to the AccounTrends Podcast here.  Connect with Jasen on LinkedIn. Connect with Jim on Twitter & LinkedIn. Time Stamps   1:40 - Jasen & Jim discuss their career journeys  4:40 - Overcoming the big challenges  9:40 - The needs of accountants  17:10 - Getting your focus right  22:00 - Building connections to cultivate expertise  29:49 - Helpful resources for listeners 34:10 - Connecting thought leaders

“Self-teaching costs 73% more than taking formal training because it takes you so much longer to figure it out by yourself.” -Alicia Katz Pollock Sometimes, we might think working harder will eventually make the work feel less hard. But it never does. The only way to make work not feel like work is to pursue your true passions. To know where it is you really want to be.   It is not an easy question to answer, but when you do figure out your purpose and start living it, work won’t feel like work anymore. It’s scary to take the leap away from work or clients that feel too much like hard work but are necessary for financial stability. That’s why surrounding yourself with like-minded and supportive people is key, when you can see it done, it makes it easier to do it yourself.   Alicia Katz Pollock, co-founder of Royalwise, talks about the value of continuous learning, how to adapt to an ever-changing environment, and the importance of connecting with supportive communities. Her approach not only advocates learning from everyone you can but speaks to the value of teaching your clients how to manage some of the tools of your trade themselves, to reduce overall costs for them and you.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value of tailoring content to different needs How to embrace change & make it work for you The importance of connecting with supportive communities  Learn more about Royalwise here.   To jump straight to on-demand Learning Solutions, click this link. Connect with Alicia on LinkedIn.   Time Stamps     1:30 - Alicia talks about her career journey 7:36 - Finding the right path for you 9:30 - Facing the challenge 14:00 - Adapting to an ever-changing landscape 17:01 - Same content, different needs 22:02 - Training clients to use the right tools for them 28:50 - Keeping up with the latest news

“Yeah, there’s a risk, but if I don’t try, then I will never achieve any of the things that I want to achieve.” -Dr. Sue Haywood    The fear of failure can be debilitating. It can sap our confidence and force us to remain in situations of discomfort for far longer than is healthy. But more often than not, this is a self-imposed form of torture. The worst thing that can happen to us, is so much worse in our imaginations, than in our real and true abilities to meet difficulties head-on and resolve them.   When we are only judging ourselves or others on one aspect of life, from one perspective, it can be easy to feel that we are failing again and again. But burnout is not borne from an individual lack of effort, but a lack of support and understanding around every part of ourselves, not just who we are when we are at work.   Dr. Sue Haywood, a retention and workforce productivity expert and head people officer at Business Sherpa Group, talks about reframing failure, redefining workplace culture and creating successful dialogue in the virtual world.   During this interview, you'll learn... The value of prioritizing feelings to save on finances How to create engagement in a virtual world The importance of recognizing failure as an opportunity for growth Learn more about Business Sherpa here.   Connect with Sue on: LinkedIn Twitter   Time Stamps        1:40 - Sue talks about her career journey 4:10 - Learning the lessons life has to teach 5:45 - Overcoming failure 10:30 - Recognizing what matters to us 16:10 - Redefining workplace culture 19:30 - How to support mental health & prevent burnout 24:48 - The whole package 28:40 - Focusing on feeling then finance 32:00 - Engagement in a virtual world

“Figure out exactly what your needs are and then figure out the right software choices based on those specific needs.”  -Amber Mac For Episode 300, a special guest has arrived! But, before we get into that, we could not be more grateful to all of our incredible guests, and all the wonderful people that make this show a reality. But most of all to our listeners, THANK YOU for your continued support! We appreciate you! This episode features Amber Mac, a popular and well respected tech expert, speaker, best-selling author and award-winning entrepreneur who has appeared on various media outlets including CNN, Bloomberg and CBS to name a few. She has keynoted more than 400 events around the world and has moderated sessions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, business coach Tony Robbins and famed astronaut Chris Hadfield to name a few. She is also the host/moderator of this year’s QuickBooks Connect Canada virtual event. During our 300th episode, you'll learn… How to select the right apps and/or software for your bookkeeping business Why having range can make you more successful The importance of having a team so you can focus on scaling your firm To register for the FREE QuickBooks Connect Canada virtual event, click here. Learn more about Amber at this link.   Connect with her on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Time Stamps  2:02 - Discusses her career start in San Francisco 4:30 - The importance of having range in your business 6:09 - Why it’s crucial to hire people to help you on your entrepreneurial journey 7:44 - Mentions her father’s impact as her business advisor 8:33 - Describes how she finds unofficial mentors  11:27 - How to create the right technology choices for your business 13:10 - When choosing software, think about “How can my business grow alongside this software?” 14:05 - Describes her involvement with the Quickbooks Connect Canada virtual event 16:10 - Explains the importance of constant learning & what to expect at the QB Connect event 19:55 - Details how many small business owners don’t have proper accounting systems 24:14 - Entrepreneurs should consider “How is your time well spent?”

Access the bonus interview with Russell in the Successful Bookkeeper Community Portal. “I was led by great leaders and not-so-great leaders. I learned just as much from the good leaders as the bad ones. See what you want to emulate and what you don’t.” –Russell Munz Is your bookkeeping business struggling to feel like a little more than a job? Are you trying to offer multiple services but failing to deliver on many of them? It can be hard to know what to do. Overcoming negative issues and focusing on a niche offering can be scary. That is why systemization is so important. If you can clearly picture where you want your bookkeeping business to go, it then becomes a matter of creating and building the right systems to make it happen. Life is short, and there will never be a right moment to take your shot. It all comes down to your perception of the future. Is trying, failing, but learning from the experience, worse than waking up after 25 years of working a job that you never enjoyed? Russell Munz, retired Army Captain and owner of Community Financials, talks today about what it means to put a WOW factor into your services. From where we choose to learn, how we limit ourselves and variable ways to measure your success. If you are struggling to connect with clients, to learn from difficult times and invest in service, this is the episode for you. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of learning from every experience, good & bad How to create a personal & engaging service The importance of systemizing your operations Learn more about Russell at this link. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Explore Community Financials here. You can check out Community Financials on Facebook.  Time Stamps 1:30 - Getting connected 4:10 - Russell talks about his career journey 7:30 - Learning the right lessons 14:40 - Russell’s military service 19:44 - People + Systems = Results 21:30 - Tips to improve your business 24:10 - Delivering a WOW experience 29:21 - Connecting with Russell  

“The more you try to force yourself to do something you hate, the less successful you will be at it.” -Dr. Arin Reeves Burnout is more than just feeling tired. It is a taking of energy from you, that is not replenished in equal measure. We have all had experiences of spending an hour with a person or client that drains us, and with people or clients that leave us feeling fired up and motivated. The hour is the same, but the way we feel about it and carry that through our day is very different. It is scary to consider losing clients. But if your clients are leaving you burnt-out, you will always be left feeling like you have to force yourself into situations that aren’t good for your health. In the second of a two-part series our guest, Dr Arin Reeves, author, advisor, president and manager at Nextions, talks about managing difficult clients, understanding burnout and knowing your true value. She prompts a way of being that stops you from giving away so many of your life hours to people that don’t value them or leave you feeling fulfilled. Some things are just not meant to be, you can’t force them, and it doesn’t make you a failure if you stop throwing away your time and energy on clients that don’t value it. When you are honest with yourself and commit to what you are good at, success can be the only possible outcome. During this interview, you'll learn… Why being honest & knowing your value matters How to recognize burnout and take steps to prevent it The importance of innovating rather than imitating To get Dr. Reeves' book go here. Find out what Nextions can do for you at this link. Learn more about Dr. Reeves here.   Connect with her socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps  1:15 - Your life hours 3:17 - Different senses of feeling 8:10 - If it feels like hard work, it won’t lead to success 11:00 - Knowing your own value 13:40 - Women & energy management 16:10 - Dealing with burnout 25:00 - Having the courage to move away from bad clients

“I can’t care about all of these other people, and I can’t care about what I care about in this world if I’m not okay to contribute.” -Dr. Arin Reeves We have all dealt with bad clients, most of us probably still are. Losing clients can make us feel unsuccessful, like it is our fault for not being ‘good’ enough to fulfill their needs. But this way of thinking is incredibly damaging.  Sometimes a client just isn’t the right fit. Learning to be okay with that is the first step in building a business filled with clients you really care for. If you are struggling to measure your success, find a sense of belonging in what you do, and set boundaries on your time and energy, then this is the episode for you. In the first of a two-part series, our guest Dr. Arin Reeves, author, advisor, president, and manager at Nextions, talks about the different ways to grow your network and business, what the value of caring about your clients and yourself can bring and how to make those tough choices that will free you to work with those that truly matter. During this interview, you'll learn...  • The value of caring for yourself, so you can care for others  • How to make tough choices to free up your time & energy   • The importance of surrounding yourself with people that help you feel like you belong Find out what Nextions can do for you here. Learn more about Dr. Reeves at this link. Connect with her socials: LinkedIn  Twitter   Time Stamps  1:45 - Getting to know Dr. Reeves  5:20 - What it means to belong  7:10 - How women grow their business  12:25 - The value of caring  21:20 - Tough choices create new spaces 26:30 - Different kinds of success 

“When you surround yourself with people that are either on their way to where you want to go, or are at where you want to go, you’re going to get there because they’ve done it.” –Lisa Campbell We all make excuses. When life gets overwhelming, it’s convenient to shift the pressure and blame away from ourselves. But in doing this, we make it easy to avoid taking difficult but necessary action to improve our lives.   Believing in yourself and being ready to level up can be scary. It involves a lot of time, money, and effort, for an outcome that isn’t guaranteed. But what is guaranteed, is the growth and development of character if you have the courage to stop making excuses and start taking positive action. When you refuse to make excuses and apply all your effort into learning and surrounding yourself with the right people, you’ll go beyond what you thought was possible.    Lisa Campbell, founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, entrepreneur coach and author of Beyond Bookkeeping, talks today about the importance of taking responsibility for the future of your business, and having the bravery to act when your moment comes. During this interview, you'll learn…  • The value of surrounding yourself with like-minded people  • How to free yourself from an excuse mindset  • The importance of knowing your value & worth Learn more about Lisa here. Explore Accelerate 2 Advisor at this link. Connect to the Accelerate 2 Advisor Community Group by clicking here.   Connect with her on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   Time Stamps 2:05 - Lisa talks about her recent experiences 4:00 - Investing in transformation 7:10 - Taking the right action to transform your life 11:00 - Taking action vs making excuses 17:25 - Breaking the excuse mindset 23:15 - The rewards of committing to yourself 28:10 - More than ‘just’ a bookkeeper 30:00 - Her masterclass 32:30 - Building a better future

“My work enables my clients to do the things, only they can do.” -Bonnie Low-Kramen Great bookkeepers have a service heart. Their desire to serve others drives them. They are not interested in being in front of the camera, but they are comfortable being behind the scenes and making things happen. The best bookkeepers are proactive and they see around corners and they anticipate and understand the context of their client’s work. When you connect to the idea that you are a subject matter expert that can add unique value to your clients, you will be empowered to price by this value, rather than just by hours ‘worked’. We all have natural talents, but there is nothing stopping us from chasing our dreams by learning new skills that help us better connect with people. If we look at clients only in terms of the money they will pay us, we will never be successful. People remember kindness and will pay for the value real connections bring. Bonnie Low-Kramen, workplace expert, speaker, and author with 25 years of experience as a personal assistant talks about the importance of having the heart for service and how to use your innate and learned skills to create value for your clients that enables them the time, space, and freedom to do the things only they can do.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value of conquering our irrational fears How to price on the value of your service What to do in order to have a harmonious work environment Learn more about Bonnie: Here   Connect with her on social media: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube   Watch Bonnie’s TED X Talk here. Time Stamps  1:40 - Bonnie discusses her career journey 4:50 - Understanding the role of a PA 8:00 - Adding value to your clients lives 11:50 - Mastering innate & learned skills 16:50 - Creating a harmonious work environment 25:00 - Bonnie talks about women in industry 32:30 - Conquering your fears 38:20 - Bonnie’s talks & workshops 

“You shouldn’t be afraid to ask your question, just go out and ask, because people really want to help each other.”  -Anita Koimur Adapting early to innovation can be a challenge. It can be easy to get comfortable with the way we do things. To take our time and wait and see if the benefits are truly as good as people are saying, before taking the leap ourselves.   There is nothing wrong with taking time for careful consideration. But when you are open to sharing, to talking with others in our industry, to put yourself on the cutting edge of all the latest advances, you reap the benefits collectively.   In this first episode of our Spotlight series that focuses on people who are positively impacting the bookkeeping industry, Anita Koimur, founder of LiveFlow, discusses the value of talking to people, understanding their needs, and relieving their pain points as efficiently as possible. Efficiency that comes from being right at the heart of new developments as they happen. To create the best possible value for yourself and the client. During this interview, you'll learn… The value of sharing with a group to resolve pain points How to get comfortable on the cutting edge of industry innovations The importance of asking what is needed & truly listening to the answers Learn more about LiveFlow here.    Connect with Anita: LinkedIn Twitter   Want to attend the FREE How to Automate Reporting & Become a Trusted Advisor webinar on April 26th mentioned in this episode? SIGN UP HERE! LiveFlow is also offering an incredible deal of 20% off for 3 months for new users. Find out more at this link! Time Stamps         1:40 - Anita talks about her career journey 5:40 - Learning & innovating from customer needs 8:40 - Finding the right service tools for you 9:25 - Overcoming the challenges of a new business 11:50 - Changes in the automation of bookkeeping 15:00 - Getting on the positive side of new trends 18:20 - The value of sharing within the community 20:45 - Best practices in automation 26:50 - Anita talks about LiveFlow 31:20 - Information about the upcoming webinar

“It’s been a great partnership and it’s allowed us to grow in a lot of different ways.” -Lynda Artesani  Partnerships can be really challenging. That’s why it is so important to find people that can match your passion. Skills can always be taught, but finding someone that wants to work as hard as you do, can lead to incredibly fulfilling working partnerships and that can only be a bonus for your bookkeeping business.  When you find your niche, you’re better able to serve those clients with passionate interest, using your unique knowledge and abilities to bring those clients peace of mind. When you find partners that share those interests too, you can really start to scale your business. Lynda Artesani and Sarah Prevost of Artesani Accounting Services talk to Michael about the value of teamwork, the power of respect and communication in building health partnerships and client relationships.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of respectful & communicative collaboration How to market yourself correctly to the right people The importance of staying healthy on the job Learn more about Artesani Accounting Services at this link. Connect with Lynda: LinkedIn Twitter  Connect with Sarah: LinkedIn  Want to join the Accountant’s Law Lab? Click here. Time Stamps  1:30 - Lynda & Sarah talk about their career journeys 3:50 - Embracing teamwork 5:00 - The challenges of partnership 7:50 - Finding your niche  14:00 - Securing new clients  18:50 - Learning how to price 21:30 - Adapting to innovation 27:00 - Looking to the future  32:30 - Keeping healthy on the job

“Don’t look at what’s the bare minimum you should be doing, look at what’s the furthest you can push yourself.” -Daniel Breez Starting a new bookkeeping business or growing an existing one can be a real challenge. Too many businesses try to be all things to all people. Working more hours but having less to show for it rather than connecting passionately to who it is you really want to help.   It can be tempting to blame other people, to question a lack of success as the fault of someone other than ourselves. When we take responsibility for our own success, we are more likely to push ourselves to greater heights of achievement, rather than doing the bare minimum and blaming others for our lack of conviction.   Once you know who it is you want to serve, and are passionate about them, the clients will come. If you only focus on building systems and processes that serve what you want, the workload will never get any lighter or any easier. When you find your niche, you make it possible to create a business that won’t feel like work.   Daniel Breez, owner of Measured Growth CPA and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee, talks today about the value of personal responsibility, finding your niche and learning how to leverage your strengths.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value of finding a niche you are passionate about How to hire the best & most capable people for the job The importance of personal responsibility Learn more about Measured Growth CPA here.  Check out Daniel’s socials: LinkedIn Instagram Time Stamps        1:50 - Daniel talks about his business journey 4:15 - Finding the right mindset 10:00 - Knowing the right niche for you 14:40 - Getting yourself in the right rooms 17:00 - How Pure Bookkeeping elevated Daniel’s business 20:50 - The right approach to hiring 27:30 - Looking to the future

“My goal is to never be so proud that I think that I can stop learning.” -Paige Hulse Having the knowledge and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a while. Navigating the legal complexities of business can be tricky! To become successful requires more than just a vision. Whether self-employed or starting a new bookkeeping business, we often have to wear many hats until the business gets off the ground. If you can surround yourself with a network of like-minded people and mentors, you are far more likely to learn time and profit saving techniques to help your business thrive!  Paige Hulse, owner of Paige Hulse Law, talks today about the value of continuous learning, knowing your worth, and offers some great tips on protecting yourself and your bookkeeping business from potential disasters. A little effort to protect your business now, will go a long way towards securing it into the future.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of separating your personal & business finances Some key legal advice that can help protect your bookkeeping business The importance in finding clients you are passionate to work with  Learn more about Paige here. Looking for contract support? Visit this link. Check out her socials here: Facebook Instagram  Pinterest  Time Stamps  1:40 - Paige talks about her career journey  7:30 - The lightning bolt moment  12:46 - Overcoming obstacles  16:30 - The value of consistent learning  18:10 - Knowing the value of your worth  23:08 - Paige talks about finding the right bookkeeper  28:00 - Piercing the corporate veil  31:00 - Paige offers her legal perspective  39:35 - The importance of confidentiality 

“If I can’t find it myself, I guess I’ll just create it!”  -Jessica Hearsey  Logging in online or heading to an office everyday where you don’t feel valued can be very demoralizing. It is tough to get energized to do a job that lacks vision, clarity, or a sense of purpose.   If you don’t know how valuable you are, how can you communicate it to your clients?   Building a business is never easy, but if you feel passionately about committing to your goals and creating something you truly believe in, the clients will come. When you take the time to understand and truly know your value, people will listen.   Jessica Hearsey, owner of Altitude Accounting, talks this week about the differences between working a job and building a business. By finding the courage to stick to your convictions, you can create the life you dream of. One where people come to you because they believe in what you are doing, not just because they need something done.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value of creating your own vision rather than waiting for someone else’s How to tear down mental barriers & act with conviction The difference between working a job and building a business  Learn more about Altitude Accounting here.   Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:42 - Jessica talks about her career journey 8:16 - Being your own mentor 9:40 - The hurdles of a new business 11:30 - Building a business not a job 16:33 - Committing to your goals 19:25 - Adapting to an ever-changing market 23:18 - Knowing your value 27:50 - Finding your conviction 32:10 - Tearing down mental barriers 34:10 - The challenges of the future 

“If you put five bookkeepers in a room, and give them the same set of books, you’re going to come out with five different ways of doing things.”  -Jenn Green Life isn’t always smooth sailing. We will all face unforeseen challenges that can rock the foundations of our careers and lives.   How well we bounce back is entirely dependent on our willingness to keep trying. To take time to learn new skills, attend seminars, workshops and training that make you a better bookkeeper. If you find yourself in a lull, unsure about how to proceed then this is the episode for you. When you connect with your purpose, you’ll better understand what value you bring to your clients, and so, be able to price accordingly. Rather than reacting, you’ll be able to take a proactive approach driven by value and quality, not an hourly rate.   How can you expect your clients to value you if you don’t value yourself?   Jenn Green, owner of Bookminders Full-Service Bookkeeping, talks today about bouncing back after difficult and challenging times, the value of a strong, learning focused mindset, and how to set your prices based on the value you add, not the hours you work. During this interview, you'll also learn… How to build a successful business with the right pricing How to identify the ideal learning tools for you The importance of effective communication  Learn more about Jenn at this link.   Contact her directly at [email protected]. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:15 - Jenn talks about her career journey 2:40 - Navigating peaks & valleys 8:55 - Bringing the right people in 11:00 - Jenn talks about the impact of effective processes 15:15 - Recovering from Covid losses 17:25 - Marketing yourself confidently 22:20 - Setting your price 25:15 - Finding the right programs for you 29:10 - Changing our mindset 34:10 - Creating exponential growth

“Uncommon services command uncommon prices.”  –Ron Baker   Building relationships with our clients can be complicated. It can be really tempting to measure success by the number of clients or billable hours we manage to cram into a month. And yet, so many of us are left feeling overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid, and not living up to our true potential and purpose.   Shifting from an hourly rate to a value-based pricing structure is a big move. Even bigger is recognizing your worth in relation to the subscription economy and pricing based on your relationship with your client.   When you connect with the idea that you can charge a premium for giving a few select clients consistent peace of mind. It will wash away the belief that success is a client roster so full, no single client ever gets the best of you.   Ron Baker is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, with a passion for values-based pricing. On today’s episode Ron talks about creating lifetime customer value and the importance of pricing based on achieving customers needs, not billable hours.  During this interview, you'll learn… How to price on your relationship with your clients The value of tailoring your services to a niche market The importance of purpose & position driven pricing  Learn more about Ron here.   Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn. On March 22nd, you can watch him speak at the Convert with Value workshop series. You can register for this free event at this link. Time Stamps  2:00 - Ron talks about the subscription economy 6:20 - Adapting to innovation 9:12 - Pricing the customer, not the work 11:24 - Transforming your clients on a deeper level 18:35 - Overcoming the mental hurdles of subscription pricing 22:15 - Setting your price by relationship 28:55 - Putting a price on peace of mind 31:05 - The value of an uncommon offering 36:04 - Tailoring your services to a niche 37:55 - Convert with Value workshop 39:00 - Crafting your options for pricing 42:25 - Getting in touch with Ron      

“It’s like a garden. You’re planting a lot of different seeds, and they’re all going to grow at different rates. Don’t forget to water!” -Kerri Thompson All too often we let the fear of losing our paycheck keep us stuck in the same jobs and the same patterns. Making changes to our situation can be difficult, but it becomes immeasurably easier when we realize we don’t have to do it alone. Everyone that has ever achieved any kind of success, did so with the help and support of friends and mentors. Why should you suffer alone?   When you surround yourself with the right people, people that support and motivate you, it becomes far easier to identify and follow the threads that will weave the tapestry of a successful career!   Kerri Thompson, owner of Simpler Transitions, talks about the importance of Mental Fitness. How adjusting our negative thought patterns and behaviors leads to greater success. Highlighting the need to help people rather than just try to sell to them. When you can pause your negative thinking, it gives you the chance to lay a new path, a better and more successful one. One that will let you build a successful bookkeeping business with ease.  During this interview, you'll learn… How mental fitness can shape your road map to success How to identify & overcome self-sabotaging thoughts The importance of finding the right support network Learn more about Kerri here. Contact her directly at [email protected].   Follow Kerri on LinkedIn. You can sign up for her 8-week mindset course at this link.  Also, if you sign up for our Successful Bookkeeper Community portal (click here) then unlock our Successful Bookkeeper Summit recordings, you can access a chat with Kerri Thompson and Connie Kadansky about building your ideal business with positivity. Click this link to find the conversation. Time Stamps        1:50 - Kerri talks about her career journey 6:30 - Discovering our own unique ways of selling 10:00 - Planting the seed of connection 13:40 - Overcoming limitations 19:08 - Unlocking our potential 24:30 - Experimenting with mental fitness 37:25 - Developing Positive Intelligence  One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“Are we putting something into motion that we wouldn’t want to sit through?” –Scott Allen   Tired of feeling like you aren’t winning the best bookkeeping clients? It’s time to take an honest inventory on the kind of impression you are presenting to them.   Attention spans have never been shorter, and expectations have never been higher. You have to know what you want the audience to feel and do, and then communicate that message in a way that keeps it stuck in their minds.   Scott Allen, an associate professor at John Carroll University who is also a communications coach, author, and entrepreneur. And Maria Soriano Young, a communications manager for the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, are this week’s featured guests!   Together they talk about the importance of planning for the right outcomes. How to design your first impressions, to win clients and leave your audience wanting more. If you are struggling to design attention grabbing presentations that keep people interested, this is the episode for you! During this interview, you'll learn… How to plan for the right outcomes by curating your client’s experience How to ensure your message lives on in your client’s mind The importance of a good first impression & how to make it last You can buy their book here.  You can also read their blog and listen to their podcast. Check out Scott's socials: Twitter LinkedIn   Maria’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Captovation’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps        1:45 - Maria & Scott talk about their career journey 4:44 - What makes a good presentation 10:11 - Discussing the pitfalls of poor presentations 14:30 - Curating & presenting the right self-image 16:00 - Creating a background that speaks to your clients 23:00 - Audience centered design 28:40 - The keys to getting your message across 31:50 - Nurturing your relationships from start to finish 36:40 - Resources that can help you! One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“You can succeed in any economy if you have the right business model and the drive to make it work.”  -Bruce Gerstenfeld   Making changes to your life is scary. But facing your fears and taking a chance has to be better than spending your life making money for other people, never really having time for yourself or your loved ones. It is never too late to make a positive change!   Our failures are only failures if we don’t act on and grow from the lessons they have to teach us. Take charge of your dreams by finding your passion. That self-motivating driving force that will propel you towards success.   Bruce Gerstenfeld is a CPA and partner in Gerstenfeld and Company. On this week's episode, he talks about the importance of finding the story behind the numbers, and helping clients get command of their time, energy and intention to chase their dreams.  During this interview, you'll also learn… How to turn your bookkeeping dreams into a reality How to manage career transitions, innovations & challenges The importance of taking command of your calendar   Learn more about Bruce here.  Email Gerstenfeld & Company at [email protected]. Check out Bruce’s socials: LinkedIn Facebook  Time Stamps 1:40 - Bruce talks about his career move into bookkeeping 3:40 - Making the most of your time 9:00 - Finding your driving force 12:18 - Learning from our mistakes 15:40 - Managing career transitions 17:58 - Finding your passion 19:00 - Learning to command your calendar 24:30 - Facing the challenges of innovation 29:00 - Bruce talks about the value of Accelerate 2 Advisor 35:00 - Bruce talks about his love for Xero 42:50 - Investing in the right programs for you One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“You cannot cut your way to greatness.” -Mark Wickersham Knowing your worth and setting prices that reflect that can be extremely challenging. Every new client you take on at the wrong price will make your life harder. If you are tired of working crazy long hours and still feeling like your financial security needs aren’t being met, this is the episode for you. When we shift our mindset away from hourly rates and into value building, it can dramatically alter your business’ profitably and future. Focusing only on what we can cut to make savings, is a limited approach in comparison to the potential for unlimited growth when we know what value we bring to our clients and price accordingly.   Mark Wickersham, a chartered accountant, author and public speaker, discusses the importance of investing in ourselves to create value and opportunities by shifting our mindset to one of growth and possibility. Once you get focused on the best end result for your clients, you’ll wonder why you were ever charging hourly in the first place. During this interview, you'll learn… How to increase sales rather than rely on cutting costs How to change your mindset from focusing on cost to a focusing on value The importance of getting your pricing right Learn more about Mark here. Use coupon code LAST25 to get 25% off your ticket for Mark’s Profitable Bookkeeping Conference that begins on February 22nd. Visit this website for more details.  Check out Mark’s Socials: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram   Time Stamps 1:47 - What drives profit 6:00 - The entrepreneurial mindset 11:00 - Investing in the right tools and training 15:40 - Pricing on value 21:25 - How do I grow my top line? 25:40 - The power of the price lever 28:50 - Overcoming the ‘cost’ mentality 32:10 - Building value for ourselves builds it for others 33:06 - The Profitable Bookkeeping Conference 

“I don’t have to take this client. I get to choose who I want to work with. And who is going to be a good fit for my business.” -Beth Blaney We all want to build a better life for ourselves, one that gives us the freedom and flexibility to live the way we want to.   When you live authentically, you generate authenticity in others. So much time is wasted chasing clients that aren’t the right fit or trying to change ourselves to fit molds we weren’t made for. If you are tired of feeling guilty about balancing your obligations, this is the episode for you.   Beth Blaney, owner of BBA Bookkeeping, talks about her experiences breaking the mold, escaping traditional ideas of what a bookkeeper looks and sounds like, to create an incredibly successful business. Her message is one of empowerment, of being authentically you, and chasing your dreams. During this interview, you'll learn… How the right support systems can make or break your business How to empower yourself to find the right niche & clients for you The importance of liking what you do & putting the work in Learn more about Beth here. To book your FREE spot for the Accelerator Method Masterclass Series beginning on February 11th at 4pm Eastern, visit this website.   Check out Beth’s Socials: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Twitter   Time Stamps 2:25 - Beth reflects on her bookkeeping journey 9:10 - Recognizing when it’s time to grow 11:10 - Finding the right niche 15:20 - The struggles & breakthroughs 20:15 - Making the most of your natural talents 25:45 - Overcoming areas of challenge 27:15 - The journey to Accelerate 2 Advisor 33:30 - The benefits of Pure Bookkeeping 36:30 - Balancing work & personal responsibilities 43:00 - Manifesting destiny! 

“These systems allow us to be better for our clients. Let’s do it different, let’s do it better!” -Emily Tarney Innovation can be challenging in the short term, but so worth it when you start to see results. When you are able to apply the right systems and processes, they free you up to focus on doing what you do best! Finding like minded people will help you learn and grow in a more supportive environment. Every bookkeeper has unique talents that are better applied to some clients over others. Making and retaining client relationships is about far more than a need for their business. It’s about building connections that truly help serve your clients' purpose. Emily Tarney, creator, and head of Competitive Edge Business Solutions, talks about her vast experience in the bookkeeping industry and the importance of embracing change and challenging ourselves to do things differently. Her approach focuses on working passionately and purposefully to be more than just a bookkeeper. To be a champion of your clients' vision. During this interview, you'll learn… How to get comfortable doing things a different way by embracing innovation How to create a mindset focused on abundance, not scarcity and competition The importance of finding the right fit between bookkeeper & client  Learn more about Emily here. To book your FREE spot for the Accelerator Method Masterclass Series beginning on February 11th at 4pm Eastern, visit this website.   Check out Emily’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps 1:33 - Emily talks about her career journey 3:50 - The obstacles of being an entrepreneur 4:30 - Emily reflects on her career milestones 7:30 - Accelerate 2 Advisor & Pure Bookkeeping 14:50 - Emily’s advice for people questioning their business 19:24 - Planning our lives before others plan them for us 21:25 - Emily discusses her vision for the future  26:10 - How to engage with prospective clients positively! 31:10 - Finding the courage to keep going 

“Does it need to be done right or does it need to be done by you?” -Jamie Van Cuyk Imagine what you might be able to accomplish if you surrounded yourself with the right people. Learning to let go of our desire to do everything ourselves, can unlock an organization’s true potential. So many businesses struggle to find the right employees because their focus has become too narrow. Shaking the bonds of our set ways can be tough, but if we don’t, we’ll always be doing more than we need to. Jamie Van Cuyk, a small business consultant who owns Growing Your Team, talks about overcoming the challenges of hiring the right help, at the right time. Her approach enables businesses to let go of the idea that only they can maintain their processes effectively. Helping them instead to find the right people, which saves time, services more customers and increases profitability. During this interview, you'll learn... How to build processes you can trust while being open to innovation The importance of good training & trusting your employees to get it done How to let go, so your business can grow! Learn more about Jamie here. You can listen to her Growing Your Team Podcast at this link. Check out her socials: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Pinterest Time Stamps 1:14 - Jamie’s Journey 3:40 - The struggles of hiring 4:55 - The difficulties of growing your team 7:10 - Learning to let go & trust your processes 12:33 - Getting out of our own way 13:40 - The Stair-Step approach 18:50 - Humility in the face of innovation 23:30 - Knowing the right time to hire 27:30 - Jamie answers the important questions 30:35 - Knowing the right person for you 33:00 - The pros & cons of personality tests 35:40 - The focus of Grow Your Team

“We are their shields and protectors.” - Janet Mercredi By putting the right systems in place, financial security, fun and freedom are natural results. When you connect with others and learn to be open to guidance and support, successful business planning becomes much easier. Putting in the work is critical, but so is having a plan that sets systems working for you. Janet Mercredi, certified Profit First professional and business coach, talks about the action steps she put in place to overcome her insecurities, create a thriving bookkeeping business, and go on to coach others to achieve their dreams. During this interview, you'll learn... How to navigate the ups & downs of creating a successful bookkeeping enterprise How to design your own winning ticket for success The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and resources Learn more about Janet here. To book a call with her, click this link. To send an email, contact her at [email protected]. Check out her socials: Facebook LinkedIn Time Stamps 2:00 - Janet’s career journey 4:00 - A change in direction 7:11 - The search for a better way 9:18 - Janet talks about the positive shifts in her business 12:14 - Creating our own success 14:00 - Accelerate to advisor 17:51 - The up’s and the down’s 20:30 - Janet talks about the importance of connection 23:00 - From bookkeeping to coaching 29:20 - The entrepreneurial myth 33:00 - Janet talks about the rewards of her journey

Networking and sales. For any introverted bookkeeper, those two things can sound daunting and terrifying. This week’s guest understands that because he’s an introvert too, but he didn’t let that stop him from achieving his greatness. Matthew Pollard, who is the founder and CEO of Rapid Growth LLC and the author of The Introvert’s Edge To Networking, discovered that being an introvert didn’t make him a second class citizen. He realized he had advantages over extroverts which ultimately made him a success. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of having a sales system How having a niche & storytelling can help make selling easier Why bookkeepers should stop believing they need to be an extrovert to be good at networking & sales Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn. To learn more about him, visit his website.  To get the first chapter of The Introvert’s Edge To Networking for free, click here.  Time Stamps 1:17 - About Matthew’s career & his discovery that he could be an introvert & successful salesperson 14:01 - How introverts can survive in sales despite the belief that it’s an extrovert arena 17:03 - The importance of having a networking and sales system 21:00 - Why you should differentiate yourself 21:48 - The power of storytelling when selling 34:46 - Don’t make excuses, find a mentor & start learning

Welcome to 2022! We hope you had a great holiday season. This week we are revisiting our awesome panel of bookkeepers for part two of our Year-In-Review! We are joined by a terrific bookkeeping panel who will share what they have learned in 2021. They talk about what strategies worked, what strategies failed and what they will carry into the new year as they plan for the future. Our panel includes: Debbie Roberts - Co-Founder of Pure Bookkeeping & Co-Author of E-Myth Bookkeeper  Julie Watson - Director of Bookkeeping Relief Business Services & Australian Pure Bookkeeping licensee Jessica Fox -  Founder of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper & American Pure Bookkeeping licensee Teresa Slack - Co-Founder of Financly & Canadian Pure Bookkeeping licensee Katrina Aarsman - CEO of Pure Bookkeeping Australia During this interview, you'll learn... The best strategies & industry trends of 2021 What they have learned from failure & what they will bring into the new year Their envisioned plans for their businesses in 2022  Listen to The Successful Bookkeeper Year-In-Review Show! Part 1 here.   Time Stamps 1:45 - Strategies that led to great results in 2021 5:54 - Failed approaches & what to do better in the year ahead 19:45 - Biggest industry trends 31:01 - Plans for their businesses in 2022

With 2022 right around the corner, it is time to reflect on what we have learned this year and plan for the year ahead. We are joined by an amazing bookkeeping panel who recount their biggest surprises, greatest setbacks and most heartwarming stories of the year.  Our panel includes: Debbie Roberts - Co-Founder of Pure Bookkeeping & Co-Author of E-Myth Bookkeeper  Julie Watson - Director of Bookkeeping Relief Business Services & Australian Pure Bookkeeping licensee Jessica Fox -  Founder of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper & American Pure Bookkeeping licensee Teresa Slack - Co-Founder of Financly & Canadian Pure Bookkeeping licensee Katrina Aarsman - CEO of Pure Bookkeeping Australia During this interview, you'll learn... The biggest surprises of 2021 How our panel dealt with the stress of working during the pandemic The important role the bookkeeping community played in enabling resilience & preventing isolation Don’t miss next week’s Year-In-Review episode, Part 2,  where our panel will discuss what strategies led to great results in 2021!   Time Stamps 3:20 - The biggest surprise of 2021 16:34 - Setbacks of this year 19:14 - Heartwarming stories of the year 26:18 - Heartbreaks of 2021

What makes a great leader? Yes, there are many traits including when someone desires and is committed to making a positive impact in her organization. Our guest knows something about this. Jean Latting is the president of Leading Consciously, an organization that provides clients practical, sustainable solutions to flourish in diverse, multicultural settings and help leaders identify their strengths and weaknesses to maximize their potential.  She joins us this week to talk about how bookkeepers can establish better community-building practices and gives advice on how to empower leaders with patience and resilience to improve communication and enable inclusion. During this interview, you'll learn... What it means to be a change leader How to empower people to inspire real impact Why patience is important in communication Connect with Jean on LinkedIn. Learn more about Leading Consciously & the Pathfinders Program on their website and Facebook page. Time Stamps 1:30 - Jean’s career journey 8:17 - Empowering people to become leaders of change 25:30 - Why having support networks can help you be more patient & less reactive 28:52 - Working with multicultural communities

The power of realizing that you are enough. That mindset shift is profoundly powerful & can enable incredible growth in your business. Leveraging the support of coaches or mentors can help you begin to break down mindset barriers & develop a clearer business trajectory.  Kristy Fairbairn, founder of The Business Oasis & Pure Bookkeeping licensee, joins us this week to talk about her journey becoming a bookkeeping business owner. She shares her experience working with mentors & coaches and how it has helped grow her business.  During this interview, you'll learn... The difference between a mentor & a coach  Why it’s important to invest in yourself as a business owner How changing your mindset can help develop your business Connect with Kristy on LinkedIn. Learn more about The Business Oasis on their website and Facebook page.   Time Stamps 1:41 - Kristy’s career journey 10:15 - Getting the support of mentors & coaches and how that has contributed to her personal & professional development 23:39 - The mindset shift that changed her bookkeeping business

Most bookkeeping business owners have very busy schedules. But what if that busyness is costing you business?  Our guest this week breaks down the dangers of busyness and how it can impact our creativity & ability to do deep work.  We are joined by Juliet Funt, CEO of the Juliet Funt Group, a training and consulting firm that helps organizations, their leaders and employees flip the norms of business in order to reclaim their creativity, productivity, and engagement. She is also the author of “A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness and Do Your Best Work”. She explains the benefits of a Results-Only work environment & shares with us valuable tips on how business owners can start to regain control of their time. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of time sketching & ensuring you have time between meetings How to move toward a zero notification lifestyle  Why you should consider an interval schedule for checking your e-mail Connect with Juliet on LinkedIn. Learn more about Juliet Funt Group here. Buy her book, A Minute to Think here.   Time Stamps  1:51 - Juliet’s career journey 6:05 - How busy-ness can cost you business 11:17 - Why we are not living in a 9 to 5 world anymore 13:09 - How Juliet created a results-only work environment 18:46 - Coaching demonstration - becoming the architect of your own time

Inspiration & resilience. These are two essential ingredients that enable entrepreneurs to adapt & thrive in the face of adversity. Our guest this week knows that going through difficult times can be profoundly transformational. Stephanie Kelcey, owner of Capture Bookkeeping Inc, joins us this week to share her journey as a bookkeeping business owner and to talk about how a critical illness changed her life & her business.  During this interview, you'll learn... Stephanie’s journey as a business owner The mindset shift every new entrepreneur needs to make  How she found inspiration in her darkest moments Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn. Learn more about Capture Bookkeeping Inc on their website. Check out Lisa Campbell’s Accelerate 2 Advisor program here. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds!  To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.   Time Stamps 2:57 - Stephanie’s career journey  7:46 - Shifting from a mindset of an employee to the mindset of an owner 13:54 - Making the decision to keep running her business while battling cancer 18:39 - How critical illness inspired her to improve her business 31:30 - Taking Lisa Campbell’s Accelerate 2 Advisor program & how it changed her business

The hesitation to initiate with potential clients. Many business owners and entrepreneurs struggle with this self-imposed barrier. It is a fear preventing otherwise talented salespeople from recognizing and promoting their value to prospective buyers. Our guest this week is a recognized sales expert who is focused on tackling sales call reluctance. For the last 25 years, she has trained and coached thousands of sales professionals in hundreds of companies, large & small. A noted authority on sales productivity, Connie Kadansky joins us this week to talk about how to break free from mental habits that conspire to keep us from being successful.  During this interview, you'll learn... How to identify sales call reluctance  The 4-step system to overcome it Ways to shift your mindset & leverage your strengths to grow your business Connect with Connie on LinkedIn. Learn more about Exceptional Sales Performance on their website. Take the sales call reluctance assessment here. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds!  To save your free spot, CLICK HERE. Time Stamps 1:52 - Connie’s career journey 3:56 - Shifting your mindset to overcome sales call reluctance 12:28 - Four steps to grow your business: Step 1 - Bringing awareness to your strengths & measuring your costs 15:22 - Step 2 - Assessing your call reluctance 20:26 - Step 3 - Admitting your vulnerability 26:27 - Step 4 - Apply proven techniques

Being present is the key to balancing work and home life. When you’re working, be present and fully engaged in your work. When it’s time to be with family and clock out from the work day, give your full attention and focus to them. This week we are joined by Andrew Royer, owner of Royer Accounting, longtime Pure Bookkeeping licensee & return guest on our show. He shares updates on his business and explains how he made the decision to move to a fully virtual working environment. Small bookkeeping business owners are familiar with the challenges of working from home. After 5 years of running his own company, he shares what he’s learned from the journey. During this interview, you'll learn... Why balancing your work and home life is key for any business owner How to transition from working in an office to working remotely Tips for new business owners & entrepreneurs Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn. Learn more about his business Royer Accounting on their website. Listen to past podcasts episodes with Andrew: EP84: Improve Your Productivity & Work-Life Balance and EP208: What You Need To Know About Running A Successful Business A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.   Time Stamps 1:15 - An update on Andrew  5:12 - How to balance being a business owner and a parent 8:55 - Transitioning his business from in-office to working fully remotely 17:21 - Looking back on the five years of running his own business - challenges, changes & lessons learned 20:46 - Advice for a new business owner 26:00 - Andrew’s strategy for working at home 29:52 - Making the leap to start your own business

Real connections matter. Courtney DeRonde is managing partner and director of business development at TDT CPAs & Advisors. She has 19 years experience in public accounting and serves on the firm's executive committee and leadership team.  She joins us this week to share her career journey and talk about networking as an introvert, how a mindset shift can open up new connections & how to manage burnout as a business leader.   During this interview, you'll learn... How to sustain connections & relationships when working virtually Ways to deal with burnout as a business leader Why managing your energy is more important than managing your time Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn. Learn more about TDT CPAs & Advisors on their website. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.   Time Stamps 1:50 - Courtney’s career journey  4:53 - Working in business development & sales as an introvert 9:01 - Why building relationships is key to unlocking networking opportunities 15:32 - Maintaining close client relationships in a virtual environment 19:04 - The biggest obstacle she faced as a business leader 29:36 - Working with bookkeeping firms

Side hustles. They may begin small, but they have the potential to become thriving, lucrative businesses & can become your main source of income. Bookkeeping business owners understand this - many bookkeepers start their own business first as a side hustle to their main job before transforming it into their main focus. How can a side hustle be turned into a successful business? This week’s guest is Nick Loper, founder of SideHustleNation.com, author of $1000 100 Ways: How Real People Make Real Money on the Side & host of The Side Hustle Show podcast. He joins us to talk about how to transform your side hustle into your full-time job. During this interview, you'll learn... Strategies to manage a side hustle & full-time job Hurdles for side hustles & how to overcome them How bringing creativity to what you do everyday can help you turn your side hustle into a primary source of income Connect with Nick on LinkedIn. Learn more about Side Hustle Nation on their website. Check out the Side Hustle Show podcast here. Buy his book $1000 100 Ways: How Real People Make Real Money on the Side (and how you can too) here. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE. Time Stamps 2:59 - Nick’s career journey  5:57 - Obstacles he faced as an entrepreneur 11:53 - Biggest hurdles for side hustles 21:15 - Finding the courage to transform your side hustle to your full-time hustle 32:28 - How his book, $1,000 100 Ways, can help bookkeeping business owners get creative

Getting paid. This is a crucial aspect of every small business, but it is not always easy to get clients to pay their invoices. Too often do bookkeeping business owners suffer because of late & non-payments. All businesses need that extra cash flow to help them be more innovative, to hire the right staff & to expand their client base. Lee-Anne Scott, founder of Intelligent Revenue, joins us this week to talk about the impact that the late-payment culture has on small businesses & shares how to break out of the cycle of unpaid invoices to keep your business growing. During this interview, you'll learn... Why the late-payment culture is so dangerous for small businesses How to get over the fear of collection & ensure that invoices are paid Ways that Intelligent Revenue is helping business owners use data & intelligence to have better credit control Connect with Lee-Anne on LinkedIn. Learn more about Intelligent Revenue on their website. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.    Time Stamps 1:39 - Lee-Anne’s career journey 3:01 - Obstacles she faced as an entrepreneur 4:53 - How unpaid invoices inspired the creation of Intelligent Revenue 11:54 - The late-payment culture & how the pandemic made it worse 18:49 - How Intelligent Revenue helps to solve this problem

Mindset is the foundation for everything we do. Successful entrepreneurs have strong, empowering mindsets. Julia Pimsleur shares her insights around how mentality can be a deciding factor in the success of a business.  Her latest book, Go Big Now, highlights eight essential mindset practices that anyone can use to achieve ambitious professional and life goals. She is a scaling coach & entrepreneur with a passion for helping women grow their businesses. She shares practices from her book & discusses the crucial importance of building mindset strength. During this interview, you'll learn... Why your mentality matters How to shift your mindset to overcome limiting beliefs Tips on how to own your value Learn more about Julia on her website Connect with her on LinkedIn Buy her book Go Big Now: 8 Essential Mindset Practices to Overcome Any Obstacle and Reach Your Goals here Learn more about Million Dollar Women here A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.    Time Stamps 1:43 - Julia’s career journey 8:45 - Changing your mindset by knowing what’s at stake 14:31 - The Go Big mindset & breaking free from limiting beliefs 24:07 - What all successful people have in common from a mindset perspective 31:39 - How to own your value

“The education mindset just has to be a part of your DNA these days.” That is what our guest this week says about how bookkeeping businesses can stay on top of emerging technology trends.  Robbie Randall, Partner Development Manager with the Intuit accountants channel and a regular contributor to Firm of the Future and Tax Pro Center blogs, joins us this week to talk about how cloud computing is transforming businesses of all sizes. He discusses how technology continues to shape and change the way we do business.  During this interview, you'll learn... How businesses have managed their transition to cloud Benefits of artificial intelligence & machine learning in accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online The importance of continuous learning & staying current on the latest technological innovations Connect with Robbie on LinkedIn Learn more about QuickBooks Connect here.   A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.    Time Stamps 2:42 - Robbie’s career journey 9:49 - Common challenges faced by large and small businesses during the pandemic 12:35 - Transitioning businesses to cloud & remote capabilities 17:37 - Artificial Intelligence and machine learning in QuickBooks Online & QuickBooks Online Accountant

How can I make things more valuable and useful for my clients? A central question for all bookkeeping business owners alike. Teresa Slack is the co-founder of Financly, a Pure Bookkeeping licensee and valued member of the Pure Bookkeeping community.  She joins us this week to talk about client onboarding, an often overlooked process that when structured correctly can be a powerful tool to build strong relationships with your clients and grow trust early.  During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of onboarding processes Critical areas to consider when onboarding new clients How to use pre-onboarding to maximize client trust  Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn. Learn more about Financly by visiting their website. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! Teresa is part of this incredible lineup and will be speaking about e-commerce. To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.  Time Stamps 03:23 - Updates on Teresa’s business, Financly 11:42 - The importance of client onboarding and what you can do to improve your clients’ experience 21:02 - Documenting your processes to help you improve them 23:25 - How long should it should take to onboard clients 24:25 - Pre-onboarding clients & three things you should consider

The biggest driver of success is your mindset. Owner of She Thinks Big Coaching, Geraldine is a business strategist and coach for CPAs. Her passion is empowering business owners to unleash their full potential. She joins us this week to talk about what a successful mindset looks like, and shares tips on how to grow your business. During this interview, you'll learn... Why it’s important to get into your clients’ shoes to really understand their needs How your mindset could be stunting your business’ growth Why focusing on outcomes versus deliverables is a better marketing strategy Learn more about Geraldine on her website. Connect with her on LinkedIn. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT for Successful Bookkeeper podcast listeners!! Join us December 2nd, 2021 at The Successful Bookkeeper Summit - a two-day free virtual event featuring inspiring speakers from the bookkeeping, accounting and business worlds! To save your free spot, CLICK HERE.  Time Stamps 1:50 - Geraldine’s career journey & challenges she faces as a small business owner 5:20 - Taking an empathetic approach to understanding your customers’ needs 13:34 - The thinking rut that bookkeepers can get trapped in 30:02 - How the positive power of being fed up can help steer you in the right direction

What makes a customer return to your business? As bookkeeping business owners, this is a question that is always on our minds.  Returning guest Shep Hyken is a customer service expert, keynote speaker & author of his new book I'll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again & Again.  He joins us this week to discuss how customer service has changed over time, and shares practical tips on how to develop an in-depth understanding of your customers. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of balancing digital and human customer service Why you should be paying attention to your customers’ behaviour How to use Shep’s 6-step process to create an experience that your clients will remember Visit Shep’s website to learn more. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook. To buy his book, I'll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again & Again, click here. E-mail your receipt to [email protected] to get a free copy of The Successful Bookkeeper shipped to your door!   Time Stamps 3:27 - How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted customer service 9:42 - Why balancing the digital and human aspects of customer service is crucial for small businesses 14:20 - The importance of understanding the behaviour of your customers 20:06 - The 6-step process of creating a customer experience that will keep them coming back

Exhausted. Entrepreneurs and business owners alike struggle with burnout. The physical and mental toll of working nonstop can have serious effects on your health.  Our guest this week is Amber Hawley, a group psychotherapy practice owner, host of My Biz Bestie podcast and mother of three. She works with entrepreneurs on the emotional side of business - how to prevent burnout, manage ADHD, and find work-life balance.  During this interview, you'll learn... The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on well-being How to spot burnout & build habits to prevent it The vital importance of sleep for stress management  Find out more about Amber on her website. Learn about her My Biz Bestie podcast here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 2:00 - About Amber Hawley 3:29 - Obstacles she overcame growing her own business 5:45 - Supporting people with ADHD & how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her clients  8:09 - Burnout signs, symptoms & strategies 17:22 - The importance of sleep & its relationship with stress 22:30 - How to get more sleep

First impressions. Bookkeeping business owners know that establishing a meaningful relationship with their customers is paramount for long-lasting success. Nikki Rausch, sales expert extraordinaire with over 25 years of selling experience and author of The Selling Staircase, joins us this week to share her 5-step process for taking control of sales conversations.  During this interview, you'll also learn... How to feel comfortable selling How to identify what step you’re at & successfully move forward in any sales discussion Key conversation techniques to close the deal Learn more about Nikki on her website.  Listen to her podcast, Sales Maven Podcast, here.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.  Download her free eBook here.  To buy her book, The Selling Staircase, click here.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at Synder accounting software. To start a FREE TRIAL and get a 20% discount visit https://synder.me/SuccessfulBookkeeper. You can also check out Synder on social media! Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps 1:48 - Nikki’s career journey - from working in tech sales to studying neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) & empowering women to be comfortable having sales conversations 5:04 - Client success story 8:56 - The Selling Staircase - Step 1: the introduction 11:24 - Step 2: creating curiosity 17:53 - Step 3: the discovery call 25:56 - Step 4: the proposal 28:24 - Step 5: the close

What if the thing holding you back from success is YOU? Feeling you’re not good enough. Feeling like you don’t offer value. These are self-limiting beliefs that many of us have, but maybe don’t know how to deal with. Michele Molitor, an executive coach and co-author of Breakthrough Healing, joins us to share strategies on how to tune into your inner-dialogue to identify self-limiting beliefs and how you can begin to rewrite them to empower yourself. During this interview, you'll learn... The strength of the mind-body connection How you can start noticing the self-limiting beliefs you may have Ways to challenge those beliefs & how to begin to heal Learn more about Michele on her website. Connect with her on LinkedIn and find her on Facebook.  To buy her book Breakthrough Healing, click here.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at Synder accounting software. To start a FREE TRIAL and get a 20% discount visit https://synder.me/SuccessfulBookkeeper. You can also check out Synder on social media! Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps 1:45 - Michele’s career journey - from creative director in web development to professional coach & hypnotherapist 5:26 - The physical and mental effects of self-limiting beliefs & how Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) can help you heal 10:39 - How to tune into your internal dialogue to help you notice old beliefs that may no longer serve you 21:29 - What you can do to recognize & see your own value 24:19 - Finding the root cause of limiting beliefs & challenging them

The world of marketing is changing. With the increasing role of the internet in our lives, customers are turning to online platforms, like Google, to review and find business recommendations.  As small business owners, we know that marketing is a foundational part of generating leads but we may not know where to start. This week’s guest, Craig Staley, is the owner of HG Site Design and host of the Small Business School podcast. He is passionate about helping service based small business owners improve their online reputation to increase revenues.  During this interview, you'll learn... Top marketing strategies for small businesses How to set up and use Google My Business to drive traffic Why it’s important to develop a strong content strategy To connect with Craig on LinkedIn, go here.  You can find out more about HG Site Design on his website.  To listen to his podcast, Small Business School click here.   This episode is sponsored by our friends at Synder accounting software. To start a FREE TRIAL and get a 20% discount visit https://synder.me/SuccessfulBookkeeper. You can also check out Synder on social media! https://www.facebook.com/SynderHQ/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-business/ https://twitter.com/SynderApp/ Time Stamps 1:58 - Craig’s career journey - from working at a furniture store in Nebraska to starting his own web design business 05:59 - What inspired him to launch his Small Business School podcast 8:11 - Key learnings around marketing for small businesses: leveraging social media, the importance of knowing your audience & why building relationships is crucial for a successful business 15:11 - How setting up a Google My Business page for your business can help attract clients 19:23 - Three key considerations when setting up your Google My Business page 25:43 - Success story of a company who took advantage of Google reviews to drive traffic to their business 29:19 - Why you should develop a content strategy

Protecting your business. When so many businesses rely on the internet and apps, like QuickBooks, security is an indispensable asset. Ted Harrington, author of Hackable: How to Do Application Security Right, is an ethical hacker who finds and fixes security vulnerabilities in companies.  This week’s episode focuses on what small businesses can do right now to protect themselves against security threats and breaches. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should be paying more attention to business security  Security strategies for small businesses How your attitude about security can help or hurt your business Connect with Ted on LinkedIn here.  To learn more about his book HACKABLE: How to Do Application Software Right, click here.    Time Stamps 2:06 - Ted’s career journey as an ethical hacker 8:16 - A metaphor for understanding the growing need for security in businesses 13:29 - Baseline security practices for small businesses 19:21 - Why your team should not be sharing the same credentials 23:48 - How mindset plays a key role in business security  32:53 - Ted’s book, Hackable: How to do Application Security Right

Feeling sluggish by the end of the day? It could be what you’re eating! Even the busiest workaholics can have a healthier diet. Like many bookkeeper business owners, Nagina Abdullah is no stranger to a busy schedule. Working as a consultant for Fortune 500 and 100 medical companies while also being a mother of two children, she found herself struggling to keep energized and healthy. She discovered that eating metabolism-boosting foods and spices helped her maintain a higher level of energy throughout the workday. During this interview, you'll learn... Why changing your eating habits is foundational to a healthy lifestyle Food tips for staying energized: more health-boosting spices, tasty veggies, good carbs & good fats How your mindset can make or break your health journey To connect with Nagina on LinkedIn, go here.  Visit her website to download a free copy of her recipe eBook, 7 Spicy Recipes to Melt Off 7 Lbs.  To download Sweet Spice Cheat Sheet, go here. Time Stamps 1:28 - Nagina’s career journey: how a change in diet helped her balance a demanding career with being a mom of two 8:27 - The health-boosting power of spices: how adding them to your diet can help you lose weight 11:04 - Tips for eating more tasty veggies 14:44 - Nagina outlines her healthy eating framework: The Tested and Perfected Fat Burning Food Framework 19:52 - Time-saving cooking tips 22:45 - Her website masalabody.com and free recipe ebook, 7 Spicy Recipes to Melt Off 7 Lbs 25:21 - How an all-or-nothing mindset can be harmful for your health journey  

Efficiency and time management. For any bookkeeping business owner, these are MUST HAVES, so it’s important to find a workflow software that delivers. This week’s guest is a small business systems and procedures expert in Australia with more than 15 years experience working in the bookkeeping industry, so she knows all about workflow software and how it can help your business. Jacqui Cubis has also been a Pure Bookkeeping (PB) licensee for over nine years and is a hugely active member in the PB community. During this interview, you'll learn... How workflow software can help your business grow What lessons Jacqui learned when starting her own enterprise What apps she leverages in her businesses Get in touch with Jacqui at [email protected]. Connect with her on LinkedIn here.  Learn more about her business, Evolutionary Workflow visit this link.  To explore Pure Bookkeeping, visit PureBookkeeping.com. Time Stamps 2:19 - Jacqui’s career journey and how Pure Bookkeeping helped her bookkeeping business grow 7:17 - Outsourcing work off shore and its challenges 10:30 - How integrating workflow software Karbon into her business has helped her businesses thrive 19:40 - Lessons learned from starting her own business 22:31 - How Jacqui discovered Pure Bookkeeping 28:00 - Apps that Jacqui uses most in her businesses (Karbon, Practice Protect, TSheets, Practice Ignition, etc)

What’s below the tip of the cultural iceberg? According to this week’s guest, understanding and appreciating cultural differences means seeing beyond what is obvious. Laura Kriska is an expert on cross-cultural relations with more than thirty years experience on helping to create more inclusive and productive workplaces. She is also the author of The Business of We which provides tools to close the Us versus Them culture gap in workplaces. As bookkeepers, we know that building relationships with our clients and staff is incredibly important. Practicing inclusion means tuning into the subtleties and invisible data and finding ways to bridge any gaps. During this interview, you'll learn... Why inclusion is a powerful tool for leaders How to see invisible cultural data How to practice inclusion Learn more about Laura on her website. To connect with her on LinkedIn, click here.  To buy her book, The Business of We, visit this link. To take the Us Versus Them Self-Assessment go here. Time Stamps: 1:35 - Laura’s career journey in Japan & navigating cultural differences 5:56 - How to see invisible data using the WE-building superpower 11:43 - How to foster a more inclusive environment 23:32 - Understanding Us vs. Them dynamics 30:36 - The fear of branching out & how to squash it 35:24 - Laura’s book, The Business of We & the Us vs Them self-assessment

“It was the community that came with Pure Bookkeeping. And from that community, it was the resources that became available to me that, I believe, pushed this business to where it is already in such a short time.” This week’s guest is a Pure Bookkeeping licensee from Melbourne, Australia where she is the owner of her own bookkeeping business (Zilch Bookwork), a romance novelist and even a qualified hairdresser. Helen Konstan shares her bookkeeping journey with us and explains how Pure Bookkeeping has supported and fast-tracked Zilch Bookwork’s growth. During this interview, you'll learn... How the Pure Bookkeeping community helped grow her business Why caring & compassionate bookkeepers are more successful Why you should value your time as a bookkeeper & how to price accordingly You can find out more about Helen and Zilch Bookwork here.  To connect with her on LinkedIn, click this link. To explore Pure Bookkeeping, check out purebookkeeping.com. Time Stamps 1:57 - Helen’s journey: from working at her family business to owning her own 4:30 - Starting her business Zilch Bookkeeping 9:10 - How Pure Bookkeeping has impacted her business 14:31 - The Pure Bookkeeping community & how it has helped her business grow 17:13 - Business before & after implementing the Pure Bookkeeping system 22:03 - Bookkeeper or Data Integrity Specialist? 26:15 - Key to success: being caring 31:34 - Valuing your time as a bookkeeper & making sure the price is right  

Do you feel a sense of control over where your time is going? Are you aligning your time with the things that you care about and the things you want to be doing? These are questions Cherylanne Skolnicki, a leading work-life balance expert and coach, suggests we think about when it comes to work-life integration. For busy bookkeeping business owners, juggling work commitments and personal/family responsibilities are common worries. Cherylanne’s passion is to support working women to live their happiest, most fulfilling lives by helping them find ways of experiencing well-being. She is the founder of The Brilliant Balance Company and a sought-after speaker and podcast host who has endless wisdom to share when it comes to finding your work-life balance. During this interview you’ll learn… Why it’s important to tune into what you really want in your personal & professional life How to set yourself up for success by being realistic when setting deadlines How to use productivity & time management to build the life you want To learn more about Cherylanne, visit Brilliant-Balance.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Tune into her podcast.  Time Stamps: 02:07 – Cherylanne’s career journey – from corporate ladder climber to successful entrepreneur 09:43 – How to define balance 13:14 – The dangers of over-promising & how to manage timelines better 22:00 – Time management & family – the importance of making time for what matters most 30:39 – The heart of work-life balance: productivity

No system or software is perfect, so expect to have hiccups. But, that shouldn’t discourage you from exploring the right solutions for you. Kerri Bouffard has embraced apps and technology which have made a big difference in her bookkeeping business. She’s the owner of Add Vantage Bookkeeping, a Xero specialist and Pure Bookkeeping licensee. She’s also the owner of Thunderhead Innovations which offers premium concierge services to make her clients’ transition to cloud accounting a smooth experience. During part 2 of this interview series, you'll learn... The advantage of focusing on one app & being an expert on it How to swiftly switch to XERO & the importance of learning its SOPs Why business owners need an app stack You can find out more about Kerri here. To learn about Add-Vantage Bookkeeping, check this out.  To explore Thunderhead Innovations, click here.  To connect with Kerri on LinkedIn, here’s her profile page. 

It’s not easy to run a startup bookkeeping business. Just ask this week’s guest. During that time, Kerri Bouffard was raising small children and trying to get clients, so it was hard. But, she kept at it and eventually her company, Add-Vantage Bookkeeping became viable. Today, she is a Xero expert and Pure Bookkeeping licensee who is appreciative of the lessons she learned back in her startup days. During part one of this two-part interview series, you'll learn... The various obstacles you’ll face as a startup & how to overcome them How using a casual approach can help secure clients How having systems can benefit your bookkeeping business To learn more about Kerri, go here.  To find out about her company, click this link. 

Feeling valued. It’s important. Not only for you, but as a bookkeeping business owner, you need to make your clients feel valued by the way you take care of them and their problems. That’s according to this week’s guest who is a world-class expert on women’s leadership and best-selling co-author of How Women Rise. Sally Helgesen's mission has always been to help women recognize, articulate and act on their greatest strengths. She helps thousands of them reach greater heights and enjoy more satisfying careers. During this interview, you'll learn... Why it’s important to know your strengths & clearly articulate them as a business owner The significance of knowing your internal barriers & the 12 habits that hold successful people back To focus on what you're contributing versus managing perception You can find out more about Sally at her website, SallyHelgesen.com. To connect with her on LinkedIn, go here. To buy her book, How Women Rise, click this link. This episode is sponsored by our friends at SweetProcess. To begin your free 28-day trial visit SweetProcess.com/successfulbookkeeper today.

This is a special episode. It was originally broadcasted at the Accounting & Finance Show Americas virtual conference where Michael Palmer interviewed, Mike Michalowicz, who is the author of Profit First and his latest book, Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! Mike passionately believes that the only thing a prospect knows about your business, until they do business with you, is your marketing. So, make it good. During this interview, you'll learn... Tips on how to market your bookkeeping business differently How to stand out from the crowd How to overcome fear of failure To pre-order, Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! and get free resources, go here.    To learn more about Mike, visit his website.  To become a Profit First Professional, explore this link.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at SweetProcess. To begin your free 28-day trial visit SweetProcess.com/successfulbookkeeper today.

We live in interesting times. With the world battling a pandemic, it has caused many bookkeepers, who are parents, to adjust to a new normal that includes homeschooling their children while managing their business. It’s tough, but it can be done. Just ask this week’s guest, Paola Gleghorn, who is the owner of Splendid Bookkeeping and a mother of 5 young kids. She found a way to succeed and will provide you some insight to help you as well. During this interview, you'll learn... How to balance homeschooling your kids & managing your business How commitment & a proper mindset can help you attract more clients Tips on overcoming procrastination, fear of failure & doubts To learn more about Paola, visit this link. To connect with her on LinkedIn, go here.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at SweetProcess. To begin your free 28-day trial visit SweetProcess.com/successfulbookkeeper today.

Sales. It’s a struggle for many bookkeepers, but it’s a skill that can definitely be learned and effectively implemented. Debra Angilletta is the creator of Sales Mastery which is an online course for accountants and bookkeepers. She has some insight into how you can be better at sales without it being a painful process for you. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of knowing your ideal clients & niching your business Tips on making a sale & the order to do it The significance of asking questions & tonality To learn more about Debra, visit MasterMySales.com.  To connect with her on LinkedIn, go here.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at SweetProcess. To begin your free 28-day trial visit SweetProcess.com/successfulbookkeeper today.

Facebook. When you’re on it, you’re probably overwhelmed with newsfeed ads for things you don’t need. What if YOU could leverage Facebook affordably to promote your bookkeeping business to people who’d actually WANT your service? That’s what this week’s guest did and she received terrific results. Sarah DeHaan isn’t a social media marketer by trade, but when she started her bookkeeping business (Anchored Bookkeeping Services), she had a vision and goals in mind, so she knew to make them a reality, she had to take action. She took a chance on creating a Facebook ad (targeted for Prince Edward Island entrepreneurs in Canada) that cost $46 dollars and it led to a meeting with an accountant that got things rolling for her business. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should have a specific audience in mind for your Facebook ad An example of what copy to include in your ad The importance of starting small & affordably when it comes to creating your ad To learn more about Sarah, click here. To investigate Facebook Ads, explore this link.  To create your own free Canva images, check this out.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at Synder. To learn more about this smart solution to automate bookkeeping, visit SynderApp.com today.

Marketing. Some bookkeepers want nothing to do with it, but in order to find clients, it’s likely a must. It doesn’t have to be painful. This week’s guest found a way to promote her bookkeeping business with minimal cost and anxiety. Leal Fix is the owner of Steadfast Bookkeeping & Consulting and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. She placed an ad in an online classified advertising website called Kijiji and has never looked back. During this interview, you'll learn... Tips on making an effective online advertisement How a Kijiji ad can affordably market your bookkeeping business How to handle tire kickers To learn more about Leal and her business, visit her website.  To connect with her on LinkedIn, click here.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at Synder. To learn more about this smart solution to automate bookkeeping, visit SynderApp.com today.

eCommerce. It is powerful and important especially in the current situation the world is in. With his passion in technology, IT architecture and customer development, this week’s guest has become an expert in the eCommerce space and understands how it can benefit bookkeepers. Michael Astreiko is the founder and CEO of a successful automation software called Synder which makes eCommerce bookkeeping an effortless experience. During this interview, you'll learn... How eCommerce can help your bookkeeping business Tips on solving issues with refunds and chargebacks The benefits of having multi-currency and multiple sales channels To find out more about Synder, visit https://synderapp.com/. To connect with Michael on LinkedIn, click here. 

The art of influence and persuasion. It’s amazing how if you use the right language (verbal or written), you can dramatically improve how many clients you can attract to your bookkeeping business. This week’s guest, Dr. Robert Cialdini will give you a Masterclass in how to ethically use his 7 principles of persuasion that are mentioned in the updated version of his legendary best-selling book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. He’s been teaching this topic for nearly four decades and his insights have been tested and proven. One of his principles that can help you immediately is Authority. People want to follow the lead of experts. So, make sure your credentials are on your website, LinkedIn and resume. Never brag about yourself in person with prospects. Let your credentials do the talking. If you’re a busy bookkeeping business owner and you’re talking to a prospect, never tell them that once they’re onboard, “I’ll pass you over to our Junior bookkeeper.” By saying the word “Junior” destroys the authority of that person in your prospect’s eyes instantly. Who would want to trust her finances to a “junior” bookkeeper? It sounds like she’s inexperienced. Instead, if you tweak the sentence by saying, “You’ll be working with Sally who is a fantastic bookkeeper with 5 years of experience working with clients such as yourself.” That reframe immediately makes that person sound more credible and trustworthy. This is just ONE bit of gold you’ll get from this episode. During this interview, you’ll also discover... The power of having a simple welcome letter on your website to increase your sales leads Why providing value to prospects FIRST can lead to big wins for your bookkeeping business How to defend yourself from people who are unethically using persuasion techniques To learn more about Dr. Cialdini and Influence At Work, visit this website. To buy his updated edition of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, click here.

What accounting technology do you need? There are many options out there that bookkeepers can use to deliver advisory and solutions to their clients. This week’s guest knows all about the latest and greatest tools that can help you run a more profitable and efficient bookkeeping business. Heather Smith is an Australian who hosts an Accounting Technology podcast called Cloud Stories, curates an Accounting Apps newsletter and is the author of Xero for Dummies. During this interview, you'll learn... Tips & different accounting apps you can use The importance of knowing where to best spend your time profitably The distinction between profit balance versus account balance To learn more about Heather, click here.  To buy her book, Xero For Dummies, visit this link.  To listen to her podcast, check this out. 

CPAs are very busy people. They process an incredible amount of tax paperwork per year and provide data to their clients that may be hard to digest. Because of those reasons, according to this week’s guest, most people are unhappy with their CPAs. Joe DiSanto is a former owner of a Los Angeles-based multimillion-dollar production company and is now the founder of finance, business, and real estate firm called Play Louder. He’s basically an independent part-time Chief Financial Officer for small businesses. Where a CPA may fall short, DiSanto tries to fill the gap by making sure his clients know that he’s regularly available to provide his services and he helps them understand their books according to their level, save them money and just give them more than what they asked for. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of a business health check The value of uncovering your client's excessive expenses How to successfully sell yourself as a bookkeeper to your future clients To find out more about Joe, click here. To learn more about Play Louder, visit this link.

Stories are everywhere. They’re in movies, television, books, podcasts and, yes, even in your clients’ financial numbers. This week’s guest knows a lot about storytelling. Joe DiSanto is a former owner of a Los Angeles-based multimillion-dollar production company and is now the founder of a finance, business and real estate firm called Play Louder. He’s basically an independent part-time Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for small businesses. He feels by digging into your clients’ numbers, you can unearth the story of how healthy or unhealthy their businesses are. Once you have that information, you become incredibly valuable because you can update them about their situation, so they can take action to avoid potential disaster. During this interview, you'll also learn... Why you should educate yourself in tax planning & tax efficiency Why telling your clients to do their personal finances just like their business finances is a good idea Why you need to encourage your customers to prepare & save for their future To find out more about Joe, click here. To learn more about Play Louder, visit this link.

Hard conversations. Nobody likes to start or be a part of them especially at work. But, if you’re hoping to solve issues with staff, you need to have those tough discussions. There are ways to do that effectively without people throwing chairs at you. :) This is where this week’s guest can help. Beth Wonson is the founder of Navigating Challenging Dialogue (a proven framework for transforming workplace culture) and the author of Mastering Feedback: Everything You’ve Never Been Told About How to Give Feedback. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should use fact-based feedback that doesn’t cause drama & chaos The importance of creating an environment where employees can speak their truth The meaning of “Grace Is In The Space” To learn more about Beth, check out this link. To buy her book, Mastering Feedback: Everything You’ve Never Been Told About How To Give Feedback, visit here.  To find her on LinkedIn, check this out. 

"Prioritize your well-being and take care of yourself, so you can optimize, be productive and efficient." That's the advice of this week's guest who learned that from her former boss, Steve Jobs when she was his executive assistant at Apple. Naz Beheshti is now a CEO, executive wellness coach and author of the book, Pause. Breath. Choose: Become the CEO of Your Well-Being. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you need to know & experience the value of taking care of yourself Productivity traps & business hacks The difference between an inner coach versus an inner critic To learn more about Naz, visit her website.  To buy her book Pause. Breath. Choose: Become the CEO of Your Well-Being, go here. 

"Try more stuff and see what works." That's the advice of this week's returning guest, so you can survive the new normal. Yoseph West is the co-founder and CEO of Relay Financial which he describes as a smart operating account for your business. With his experience with Wave and Hubdoc, he expanded Relay Financial and now he’s introducing The 5,000-word Playbook which is a great guide for cloud accounting to make the most of 2021 and beyond. During this interview, you'll learn... Tips on how you can prepare yourself & your business for the new normal Knowing The 5,000-word Playbook & how it can help you & your business Great apps & tools to use for 2021 To learn more about Relay Financial, visit here. To connect with Yoseph on Linkedin, check this out.  To download The 5,000-word Playbook, go here.

Read the book, Profit First with your client's perspective then implement it. That's the advice of this week's guest who is a certified Profit First Professional that used the system the book mentioned which helped her business grow from a two-person operation to now ten employees and still flourishing. Ean Price Murphy is the founder of Moxie Bookkeeping & Coaching which helps its clients to understand their books, so they can feel more empowered and take home more of what they earn. During this interview, you'll learn... How money works & why you always need to focus on refining your system The importance of learning the relationship between income & expense The value of having great communication with clients To find out more about Ean, click here.  To connect with her on LinkedIn, visit this link.  To buy the book, Profit First, go here. 

Know your numbers. According to this week’s guest, Noah Martin, who is a business and decision-making analyst and advisor, entrepreneurs should not run their business at a gut level. They must understand how much they’re earning and spending. As a bookkeeper, you should take the initiative to show and teach your clients the story of their numbers to best serve and protect them from making poor business decisions. By doing this, you’re not only creating trust and rapport, but you will also save them from a potential financial disaster. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of revealing to your clients the story of their P&L Gut Level Decision versus Personal Connection Decision Why it’s vital to know the decisions that are coming up To find out more about Noah, click here.   To email him, send your message to [email protected].

Things have changed. Thanks to the pandemic, employers everywhere have had to adapt to a new normal especially in regards to working remotely for themselves and their employees. Bookkeeping business owners with staff understand this reality. Just because the workplace is different doesn’t mean it can be any less productive or profitable. This week’s guest believes in having freedom and flexibility for his staff when it comes to where they work. Those values have allowed his business to create a terrific work from home culture that has been able to be successful during this new era. Jeremy Allen is the owner System Six Strategic Bookkeeping & Analysis. He used the above values to help build his business from his kitchen table in Seattle to a company that now generates over a million dollars per year. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of having great workflow management in a remote office Tips on how to keep you aligned with your team The obstacles of operating a cloud-based bookkeeping business from home & how to overcome them To find out more about Jeremy, click here.  To listen to his previous appearance, check this out. 

When you build a successful business that becomes part of your net worth. That's according to today's guest, John Warrillow, who is the founder of The Value Builder System and a best-selling author of a trilogy of books including Built To Sell, The Automatic Customer and his newest addition, The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies & Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top. During this interview, you'll learn... The difference between selling to a third party versus selling to a family member How to prepare your business to be sold Renovation versus staging your business To learn more about John, visit here. To explore The Value Builder System, click this link. To read more about The Art of Selling Your Business and his other books, go here.  To discover the freebies you’ll receive when buying his books, visit this link.  To listen to his podcast, check this out. 

McDonald’s. It’s successful for a reason. If you take a look at how its restaurants are run, they’re process and systems-based which have made them super efficient and able to scale at an incredible rate in regards to hiring more staff, fulfilling more customer orders and so on. If building systems and processes worked for McDonald’s, it can work for your bookkeeping business too. This week’s guest, Sharon Francisco, has over 25 years experience with small business specializing in both Business Development and supporting business owners to achieve their goals. Most recently the Australian spent four years building a bookkeeping business from two bookkeepers to twelve using the Pure Bookkeeping System. So, she has a deep understanding of how impactful systems and processes can be. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should ask yourself “What do I have to figure out to be able to scale my business?” 4 critical steps to building a bookkeeping business How reading The E-Myth Bookkeeper can help you systemize your bookkeeping business To learn more about Sharon, visit this link.  To check out Pure Bookkeeping, go here.  To buy The E-Myth Bookkeeper, click this link. 

“I gave myself permission to dream and allow my mind and imagination to go there then I made the decision that this is what I want, that I need this and when the inspiration and opportunity presented itself, I was clear that it is in alignment, so I took the action.“ That's exactly what this week's guest did when she transitioned from serving in the military for over 27 years to being an entrepreneur, trainer and coach today. Laura Noel is the owner of Stretch Into Success Consulting which helps people and companies reach their personal and professional targets. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you need to become an intelligent follower to be a good leader Tips on how you can be a better leader to others and yourself The importance of building a team and having a sense of team in your business To learn more about Laura, check out her website.   To connect with her on LinkedIn, click here.   For her free business resources for bookkeepers, visit this link.

Don’t wait until it’s perfect. If you wait, you’ll never get anything done. That’s according to this week’s guest who used that mantra to make the bold decision to leave her management position to launch her own consulting practice. Veronica Sagastume is a consultant and strategist who helps accounting, bookkeeping and tax business owners use social media and digital marketing strategies to expand and grow their business from offline to online. During this interview, you'll learn... How social media & content marketing can help your bookkeeping business The significance of having a niche to get a fast referral Why it’s important to nurture your network To learn more about Veronica, check out her website.  To connect with her on LinkedIn, click here. For her various free business resources, visit this link. 

The game of selling. It's definitely not about convincing a prospect to buy your service. According to our guest today, clients come looking for expertise and help, so that should be the focus. Shannyn Lee is the Director of Coaching for the Win Without Pitching business development training program that provides sales training for creative entrepreneurs. During this interview, you'll learn... How facing failure can help in your game of selling Why specialization is key to a successful business Why it’s important to position yourself as an expert instead of a vendor To find out more about Shannyn, visit her website.   To connect with her on LinkedIn, click here.

Your inner critic. It can be damaging to your confidence, self-esteem and many other things if you let it. If your inner critic is using up space in your mind, today’s guest can assist you. In fact, Joanna Kleinman mastered listening to her inner critic to become what she is today. She is a licensed psychotherapist that helps people redefine what's possible by separating them from their inner critic, so they can live more authentic lives. She is the author of a new book called Dethroning Your Inner Critic: The Four Step Journey From Self-Doubt To Self-Empowerment. During this interview, you'll learn... How to overcome your inner critic The difference between YOU & IT Self-empowerment tips To find out more about Joanna, visit her website. To buy her book, click here.

The well-being of your staff has always been an important consideration. It’s even more so during this unique time in human history. With COVID-19 affecting the world, our guest, Laura Tolhoek had to develop new and innovate Human Resources strategies to help her clients. She is the President of Essential HR and has worked with some of the biggest players in the restaurant, food service and retail industries as an integral member of their HR teams. During this interview, you'll learn about... The different rules of staff morale and the infectious disease 4-step process The importance of understanding the holistic side of health The value of communication, understanding its different levels and safeguarding communication practices To find out more about Laura, visit her website.   To connect with her on LinkedIn, go here.   To download the infectious disease documents mentioned in this episode, click here.

Happy New Year! Wow, 2020 was certainly unique, but 2021 is going to be YOUR YEAR. It all begins with how powerfully you set yourself up for success. With that in mind, this first episode of 2021 is going to be a TREAT! It marks the return of our special guest, Lisa Campbell who is a Certified Professional Bookkeeper, Profit Strategist, Creator of the Accelerate 2 Advisor Masterclass program and Founder of Profit First Professionals Canada. During this interview, you'll learn... How to plan your year-end goals so you can actually achieve them How to block out time to work ON your bookkeeping business How to prepare for unexpected obstacles and setbacks in order to bounce back quickly To register for the complimentary 2021 Planning Webinar with Lisa on January 13th, click here. To register for her upcoming Masterclass that begins on January 18th, visit this link. To listen to her past TSBK appearances, click any of the below links. https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/214 https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/188 https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/141 https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/94 https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/35

Wow, what a crazy year 2020 has been. In today’s very special Year-In-Review episode, we have a special panel that will discuss many interesting topics. Our guests include... Pure Bookkeeping Co-Founder & E-Myth Bookkeeper Co-Author, Debbie Roberts Director of Bookkeeping Relief Business Services & Australian Pure Bookkeeping licensee, Julie Watson Florida Virtual Bookkeeper Founder & American Pure Bookkeeping licensee, Jessica Fox Financly Co-Founder & Canadian Pure Bookkeeping licensee, Teresa Slack During this interview, you'll learn about... The biggest surprises and setbacks of 2020 and tips to overcome them Uplifting and grief stories of 2020 and how to learn from them Helpful strategies in 2020 and what to expect in 2021 To learn more about our wonderful guests, visit these links below: Debbie Roberts - https://purebookkeeping.com/us/about/ Julie Watson - https://www.bookkeepingrelief.com.au/about-us/ Jessica Fox - https://floridavirtualbookkeeper.com/about/ Teresa Slack - https://www.financly.ca/

2020 has been an intense experience for many of us. But, what if you can find some peace during this interesting time? Our guest has some ideas that might help you. Christine Arylo is the author of Overwhelmed and Over It, a transformational leadership advisor and host of the Feminine Power Time podcast. During this interview, you'll learn about... Tips on getting a more free, clear and centered life Self-empowerment and the different possibilities in the world of finance The importance of intuitive thinking To find out more about Christine, visit her website.   To listen to her podcast, click here.   To buy her book, Overwhelmed and Over It: Embrace Your Power to Stay Centered & Sustained in a Chaotic World, visit this link.

Our guest didn't even think that he would be in the industry that he is in today. He transitioned from military service to over 30 years of experience in the business and management sectors for both public and private entities. Ben Kelly is a proven businessman with success in developing and implementing business, bookkeeping and financial systems. He is the Director of Nailing Your Finances which is an Australian-based firm that provides remote and on-site bookkeeping services to a wide range of sectors. He is also a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. During this interview, you'll discover... Tips in overcoming the challenges in your bookkeeping business The importance of task management and your calendar The significance of knowing your own definition of success To find out more about Ben, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Hustling is always a recipe for burnout. That's according to this week's guest who personally experienced it then ended up going on a journey of discovering who she was, learned skills, tools and techniques to be able to handle her emotions. Now, Mary Hyatt is a holistic life and business mindset coach who specializes in helping high achieving female entrepreneurs move from living a life of burnout to a life where they are connected to their emotions, body and spirit. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of recognizing and admitting where you are now Why incorporating femininity into your business is significant Why you need to intentionally curate your life and set up appropriate boundaries To find out more about Mary, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Does this opportunity take me in the right direction? According to our returning guests, answering that question and having a solid mission as a guide will make it easier for you to make choices for your bookkeeping business success. Teresa Slack and Connie Smith (who are sisters) are the co-founders of Financly Bookkeeping Solutions and are Pure Bookkeeping licensees. They realized there are many opportunities out there and because of that small business owners can get scattered and spread themselves too thin which can lead to their business struggling. Teresa and Connie were able to avoid that fate by focusing and working hard which eventually led them to becoming the 2020 Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada FIRM OF THE YEAR! During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of having someone to share ideas with and having a mentor Tips on rebuilding your business to have it ready for success The significance of having a solid mission as a guiding light and staying true to it To find out more about Teresa and Connie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Working from home. The unexpected events of 2020 have forced many of us to live that new reality. For some bookkeepers, it has been an interesting adjustment. But, according to our returning guest, Laura Vanderkam, working from home has many positives. She’s a time management and productivity expert whose new book, The New Corner Office: How The Most Successful People Work From Home will show you how to navigate the world of working remotely. During this interview, you'll discover... The things successful people do while working from home Why it's important to come up with ways to end your day and knowing when it ends Tips on disconnecting yourself from old ways of working and embrace new patterns to match your new environment To find out more about Laura, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Client attraction. Today’s guest has mastered that skill through her work in theater. Brandi Bernoskie believes that theater is not just learning to pretend, but it is actually understanding other human beings and what motivates or drives them. With that information in hand, she uses it to help her clients build their perfect website. Brandi is the owner of Alchemy+Aim which is a website development and business strategy agency that assists thought leaders and entrepreneurs with creating custom websites to enhance client experience. During this interview, you'll discover... Tips on how to reorient your website language to attract your ideal clients Different mental roadblocks in creating your business and how to overcome them Your world view versus the view of your customers and how intentionality can help in client attraction To find out more about Brandi, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

This is a unique episode. It was originally broadcasted live at the Accounting & Finance Show USA virtual conference where Michael Palmer interviewed Co-Founder and Managing Director of Profit First Professionals, Ron Saharyan and Ean Murphy who is the owner of Moxie Bookkeeping and a Profit First Professional herself. According to our guests, it's crucial to focus on making your clients more money first. When you help them get paid more than they ever had before, you will change the way they value you forever. During this interview, you'll discover... How profit consulting can impact your clients and your business The importance of understanding the behavioural aspect of bank accounts Different resistance on Profit First onboarding and how to overcome them To find out more about Ron & Ean, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Customer retention. If you get the first 100 days right, you'll have a client for life. That's the successful and proven mantra of our guest today. Joey Coleman is a speaker, consultant, mentor and the author of the bestselling book, Never Lose a Customer Again. While most business owners focus on marketing or closing the sale, Joey believes that relationships, customer experiences and interactions in the first 100 days after the sale is the most important ingredient to earning a loyal lifetime customer. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of having a clear understanding of your current client's journey “How do I get more” versus “How do I get deeper” Tips on how to create remarkable experiences during the customer lifecycle To find out more about Joey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your clients. Obviously, they’re the lifeblood of any bookkeeping business. But, if you don’t take the time to understand what they need, they won’t be your customers for very long. Our guest, Twyla Verhelst knows this well. She is the head of the FreshBooks Accountant Channel and Leader of the Accounting Professionals Program. She interacts with customers to find out how FreshBooks can better serve them. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of having your client do some of the data entry work Why you have to start embracing technology How FreshBooks can help your business To find out more about Twyla, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

New businesses don't need to start with lower prices. That's according to our returning guest, Mark Wickersham. He believes that just because your business is fresh on the scene, doesn't mean you can't deliver value and change people's lives. Mark is a Value Pricing expert, Chartered Accountant, public speaker, author of various books and he has a terrific new training called The Business Advisory Masterclass. During this interview, you'll discover... The difference between fixed fee pricing and value pricing The advantages of involving clients in the pricing process 3 tips to help accounting professionals shift to Value Pricing 7 Foundation topics of The Business Advisory Masterclass To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

This is a special episode. It was originally broadcasted live at the Toronto edition of the Accounting & Finance Show virtual conference where Michael Palmer interviewed Profit Strategist and the creator of the Accelerate 2 Advisor Mastermind Program, Lisa Campbell. Over the course of their chat, she provided many great pieces of advice including that you need to design your business to work around you instead of you constantly working to support your business. Her valuable content and can-do attitude have inspired many bookkeepers to take control of their businesses and prosper beyond their own expectations. During this interview, you'll discover... Tips on scaling by systemizing your business and finding the suitable systems that will handle your day-to-day work The importance of changing your mindset, knowing your burning desire and having a belief The difference between profit advisory versus a compliance-related bookkeeper To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Leverage the people around you to get through tough times. That's how our guest today conquered the obstacles and difficulties in her bookkeeping business. Sarah Facio-Davis is the owner of Accurate Office Help and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. She is also a member of a Mastermind program led by Profit strategist, Lisa Campbell. According to Sarah, it has answered her questions about growing her bookkeeping business and has helped to make the puzzle pieces fall into place. During this interview, you'll learn... How relationships can help change and grow your bookkeeping business How to overcome the challenges when you hit a wall in your business The benefits of knowing your value To find out more about Sarah, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

With your bookkeeping business, there will always be ups and downs. What you need to focus on is how you can make it through the tough times. Today’s guest learned the hard way. Nikki McGraw is the owner of GreenLeaf Bookkeeping Solutions and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. During this interview, you'll learn... Tips on what you need to do when business is starting to dry up How to overcome the Impostor's Syndrome and learning the power of mindset The value of being persistent To find out more about Nikki, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It all started with his idealistic view of life and eagerness to change the world. Today’s guest moved to Washington, D.C. to teach politicians to "think more creatively and communicate more effectively." Let’s just say it didn’t go well. :) Instead, he's embraced by business owners, executives, senior employees and management where he instantly became the famous public speaking consultant and trainer that he is today. Michael J. Gelb is the author of 17 books (including Mastering The Art of Public Speaking), a consultant, trainer and speaker who helps businesses become more creative and successful. During this interview, you'll learn... How public speaking can help bookkeepers 3 practical points that you need to think about and prepare prior to meeting your clients How to discover your natural style and true voice To find out more about Michael, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Don’t wait for your business growth to happen. Have a strategy to achieve it. That’s according to our guest, Carl Reader, who has over 23 years of accounting industry experience and is the Head of Accounting at Practice Ignition for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As well, he’s the author of BOSS IT: Control Your Time, Your Income And Your Life. During this interview, you'll also learn... 3 questions to ask when hiring a new employee The advantage of knowing your target market Practice management versus workflow management To find out more about Carl, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

No two people grieve the same. That's why if a person is grieving, don't assume that you know what the other person needs. Instead, ask questions about how you can help or support her. That's the advice of our guest today. Cheryl Parker is a grief recovery specialist, who endured then recovered from the loss of her own daughter, that focuses on helping individuals heal, rebuild, and prosper again. During this interview, you'll discover... The effects of miscommunication around grief and lack of information The importance of having the education on how to support somebody 7 Stepping stones to reclaiming your life after loss To find out more about Cheryl, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Don’t focus on the wrong number. It's not how much you earn, it's how much you get to keep that matters! Our returning guest learned that lesson the hard way, but it helped him build and develop his company. Andrew Royer, who is the owner of Royer Accounting, helps entrepreneurs build viable profitability to reduce debts and earn full control of their finances. During this interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to know your benchmark and how long it takes you to do something Tips on how to grow your business and keep your costs under control Common mistakes that new entrepreneurs make and how to overcome them To find out more about Andrew, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It’s okay to be crazy. :) According to our guest today, you'll definitely look that way if you go to a bank and open 5 accounts. But, the fact you're doing it to ensure that you can pay yourself, taxes, payroll and everything else that you need in your business is a huge benefit. Jennifer Hume is the owner of Coronation Bookkeeping & Tax Services that focuses on helping individuals and small to large-sized company owners with all of their financial and taxation needs. During this interview, you'll learn... How to establish your business with the right systems and processes The benefits of knowing your greatest Aha! How the Pure Bookkeeping System and Profit First help in growing your business exponentially To find out more about Jennifer, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Will you let failure define you or will you use it as a springboard to your success? Today’s guest answered that question many years ago and it helped him become who he is today. Colin Nanka is a proven sales leader with over 20 years of sales experience. He’s worked at Salesforce.com and also spent time at Xerox Corporation. When he’s not at his job, he competes in multi-day, self sustained, adventure races in the world’s most difficult terrains. He is also leading the charge to defeat average in every aspect of life. During this interview, you'll learn... How to defeat the average within Tips on reframing your failure into an opportunity The four ingredients to having the energy that you need to be successful To find out more about Colin, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Look at a crisis as an opportunity. According to our returning guest, if you do that along with taking care of your physical and mental health, you and your bookkeeping business can thrive even during challenging times. Sal Rezai is the owner of the accounting training firm, Accounting By Sal. She's enthusiastic about educating entrepreneurs on how to efficiently manage their finances. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of seeking guidance from bookkeepers and accountants during difficult times Tips on how your business can thrive in a crisis The significance of having a reliable brand To find out more about Sal, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Disruptions. They can come in the form of a career change, issues with your colleagues, challenging clients, unreachable quotas or deadlines. According to our guest, all you need to overcome those disruptions is emotional agility. Maggie Craddock is an executive coach with over 20 years of experience working with clients at all levels of the professional spectrum. She is the author of LIFEBOAT: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption. During this interview, you'll learn about... The big ship mindset vs lifeboat mindset Emotional agility and how it can help you become a problem solver A list of recommended books to read To find out more about Maggie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Some bookkeepers tend to disregard the legal aspect of their business. According to our guest, that’s a mistake. It’s crucial to pay attention to the legal side to ensure that you're protected both in times of success and most especially in times of chaos and uncertainty. Jeffrey Love is a corporate lawyer and partner at the firm, Gibbs Giden in California. His practice areas include business, commercial and real estate law. He provides outside general counsel to a wide array of businesses, advising on joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnership arrangements, entity formation, and general contract preparation. During this interview, you'll discover... How to correctly structure your business to reduce risk and liability The advantages of having contract provisions with your clients and what to include to avoid being sued Legal tips on how to draft and review your business contracts and agreements to ensure you and your business are protected To find out more about Jeffrey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Energy creates energy. According to our guest, you will look at things differently and positively when you are active. Crystal Ready is very dedicated to her physical fitness which contributes to her financial fitness. She started her bookkeeping career in 2005 and is now the proud owner of Ready Books & Consulting Ltd. During this interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to take care of your physical body How positive and love attraction can help the customer service side of your bookkeeping business Different exercises that you can do to enhance your mental health To find out more about Crystal, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology and outsourcing. According to today’s guest, those are the things that entrepreneurs need to use for their business and life to be much easier and more efficient. Kerry Smithies is the founder of My Cloud Bookkeeping which helps improve the financial management and cashflow of businesses by using a smooth QuickBooks Online setup and processes. She is also a finance and accounting consultant with over 25 years of experience in working with different organizations and high-tech companies. As well, Kerry is extremely knowledgeable about technology platforms that can help automate businesses. During this interview, you'll discover... How to work with clients that are having problems with embracing technology A list of tech tools to automate the administrative side of your business Tips on how to manage change To find out more about Kerry, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Get ready for a historic 200th episode! Pure Bookkeeping co-founder & E-Myth Bookkeeper co-author, Debbie Roberts returns to discuss the 10th anniversary of PB and why you need a 5 or 10 year vision for yourself. Pure Bookkeeping offers documented standard operating procedures that help you effectively and efficiently run your bookkeeping business. It has assisted over 800 bookkeeping business owners (and counting!) to simplify and systemize their businesses. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to overcome fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of small business owners around their finances The advantages of working with a community How Pure Bookkeeping deals with technology and change To find out more about Debbie Roberts, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Sales is not just about business and building businesses. It is about who you are and that's what makes it so exciting in learning how to sell. It can affect every part of your life in such a positive way. Our returning guest, Sharon Francisco passionately believes that. She’s a sales expert with nearly 30 years of experience in either supporting and teaching business owners, including bookkeepers, and franchisees on how to sell. According to her, it is important to understand how you make people feel because sales is 80% emotional and 20% logical. During this interview, you'll discover... The common obstacles in selling and how to overcome them The formula on selling 3 keys to sales and how it can scale your business To find out more about Sharon, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Determination. It is essential for the success of every business. Today’s guest knows this well. Jim Flauaus is the founder of Anchor Accounting & Tax, which works with small businesses across North America, and he's a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. Like any entrepreneur, he’s had to deal with the highs and lows of owning a business, but he was determined to make it work. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of determination How to promote your business Why you should have a clear message to your prospects To find out more about Jim, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Profit. Every bookkeeping business owner desires it. Today’s guest can help you achieve it. Dan Baker is the owner of DMB Tax Services and the CEO of Profit By Intention which is a small business specialty firm that helps to drive profitability in your business, increases your net worth through wealth management and ensures your company is protected through strategic use of insurance. Dan is also a Pure Bookkeeping licensee and Profit First strategist driven by increasing profitability and stabilizing cash management in gyms and health businesses. During this interview, you'll discover... How to build your business with maximum profitability Tips on making educated decisions The importance of embracing change To find out more about Dan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The Great Pause! According to our returning guest, this is what's happening to us right now. Dr. Ivan Misner is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) which is the world's largest business networking and business referral organization. With his leadership, BNI's community has evolved and embraced the current changes in our world with hope and a proper mindset. During this interview, you'll discover... How hope and action can neutralize fear Two types of people during a crisis Ideas that could come when you activate your network right now To find out more about Dr. Misner, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Having a virtual bookkeeping business is scary to some. In 2020, many bookkeepers were forced to take the leap out of necessity. People are creatures of habit, so all of a sudden, if they have to break out of their comfort zone, there’s a lot of uncertainty and fear that can arise. There’s no need to be afraid because you can follow the path of many successful virtual bookkeepers including today’s guest. Julie Watson is the Director of Bookkeeping Relief based in Australia and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee. Her business is booming, so she’s happy to share her success secrets. During this interview, you'll discover... How to overcome the snag of staffing and the advantage of outsourcing The importance of having Practice Protect app for your cybersecurity needs Why Pure Bookkeeping has been so instrumental to her virtual bookkeeping business To find out more about Julie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The right fit. Every bookkeeping business owner is looking for that when trying to hire an ideal employee. But, some don’t know it’s crucial to look beyond just skills on a resume. Today’s guest knows all about this. Erin Longmoon is a disruptor in the recruiting industry. She started Zephyr Recruiting LLC to support rising businesses in creating and maintaining great places to work. She is driven by her mission of eradicating toxic workplaces in the small business community. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of Culture Fit Recruiting Why we need to focus on brand marketing Tips on finding the right fit employee To find out more about Erin, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Asking the right question is more valuable than giving the right answer. That’s according to today’s guest, where she believes that providing the answers too quickly is just solving the obvious and short-term problem. What the client needs is a long-term solution. Femke Hogema is the founder of Healthy Finance and the author of the bestselling book, The Profit Advisor: The new role of accountants and bookkeepers. She passionately believes that you can only have a successful company if you have a grip on figures yourself. Her passion for finance and communication allows her to speak and write about finance in a clear and fascinating way. During this interview, you'll discover... The practical steps that you can take to do a high value and high-priced advisory role The advantage of focusing on delivering results and practicing the L.S.A. process Why bookkeepers should help their clients do their administrative bookkeeping related work at least 30 minutes per week To find out more about Femke, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Sales. It’s a tough task for many introverted bookkeeping business owners, but when mastered, it can unlock an income stream that you wouldn’t have had before. Today’s guest is an expert in having sales conversations that convert. Chris Spurvey is also an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcast host and the author of the book, It's Time to Sell: Cultivating the Sales Mind-Set. During this interview, you'll discover... The different conversation tactics you can use with your prospects The importance of asking the first question and how to reply with a question that could generate a high energy response How you can master the Diagnostic Conversation To find out more about Chris, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Have a painkiller solution not a vitamin solution. It means focus on a product or service that people have to have and not nice to have. With that in mind and backed by his team, today’s guest built a company that he always wanted to work on. Shrad Rao is the co-founder and CEO of Wagepoint, which simplifies the function of payroll to help small business owners while staying compliant with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. During this interview, you'll discover...   • The criteria for choosing a business • The importance of adaptation in scaling your business • The advantage of staying focused on small business customers To find out more about Shrad, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Keeping healthy and safe is the number one priority right now. But according to our guest, Teresa Slack, who is the co-founder of Financly, it’s also essential to keep businesses running if you can. Her virtual bookkeeping company is doing that by assisting many small business owners during this unique moment in human history. Teresa is an expert in e-commerce bookkeeping and has been grateful for using the Pure Bookkeeping System that has helped over 800 bookkeeping business owners streamline and automate their businesses. During this interview, you'll discover... How the Pure Bookkeeping System can help you expand your bookkeeping business The advantage of Zoom meetings and the Friday Success call with Michael The importance of maintaining normalcy for your clients To find out more about Teresa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Financial transactions. They are necessary in our everyday lives especially if you have a business. And during this difficult time, it's a struggle when we are hesitant to visit our bank in person for important transactions or can't even speak with customer service because of long call queues. With that in mind, today’s guest developed a system that can simplify banking needs. Yoseph West is the co-founder and CEO of Relay Financial which is a digital business banking solution. He worked several years with Wave and Hubdoc and used his experience to expand Relay Financial. During this interview, you'll discover... The difference between consultative sales versus hard charging sales The advantages of caring about helping your customers Tips on identifying your ideal customers To find out more about Yoseph, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Direction. Support. Accountability. According to our returning guest today, that's all it takes to succeed in any business. Lisa Campbell is a living example of how to transition from being a bookkeeper into a successful advisor. She turned her bookkeeping practice into a business that allows her the ability to serve her high-end client's needs as a profit strategist rather than a bookkeeper. Lisa is the owner of The Marcam Group (a profit strategy bookkeeping firm), Head of Mentoring North America for The Successful Bookkeeper and creator of the Accelerate 2 Advisor Mastermind program. During this interview, you'll discover... How to use your knowledge and experience to pivot and open up new opportunities for your clients Different positioning techniques and the importance of having everything systemized Generalist bookkeeping vs specialist bookkeeping To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

These are interesting times. Many things are closed or in lockdown and some bookkeepers don't know where to go for credible tax information during this tax season. According to our guest today, technology plays an important role as a great source of information in helping us do things efficiently while working remotely. Kelly Phillips, who is a U.S. Tax attorney and the woman behind TaxGirl.com, uses technology to provide accurate tax information to her clients, subscribers and followers. During the interview, you'll discover... A list of trusted resources for tax information Tips on how to avoid incorrect information A list of apps to use to stay connected with clients & colleagues To find out more about Kelly, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. It can benefit your bookkeeping business in so many ways including improving your cash flow. Our guest, Robbie Randall, who is an Intuit Business Development Manager, has used technology to do this and to eventually help firms scale and grow their businesses. During the interview, you'll discover... How technology can play a major role in scaling your business How to implement technology that is meaningful to your business How running lean can help your business To find out more about Robbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Business-related problems. When your clients have them, they will likely be your problems, so educating your customers on how to handle these issues will strengthen your relationship with them. Today’s guest has been doing this and it has led her to where she is today. Analia Martinez is the owner of eBookkeeping Inc which is a virtual accounting and bookkeeping business that serves busy business owners. During the interview, you'll discover... How to overcome the challenges in starting with the right workflow Tips on how to improve your workflow & processes The advantages of following people and connecting in social media To find out more about Analia, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Companies are bought not sold. Our returning guest, Jamie Shulman, had that in mind when building the company, Hubdoc, he co-founded. In 2018, Huddoc was acquired by Xero for 70 million dollars, so Shulman’s vision was fulfilled. During the interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to be comfortable with the inevitability of automation Tips on how to seal the deal in a business sale The difference between selling a business versus growing a business To find out more about Jamie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Give yourself the grace to make mistakes and get the automation going. According to our guest, those are the keys to whole pricing and advisory services which help her be what she is today. Lisa Channell is the owner of Bonfire Bookkeeping and has been a long-time member of the Successful Bookkeeper community. She was also recently announced as a Helm Cashflows Brand Ambassador. During Part 2 of her interview, you'll discover... Package pricing vs value pricing The importance of course correct and price transparency A list of podcasts that can help grow your business To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Sometimes accidents in life can be a great thing. Our guest, Lisa Channell, knows this well. Once upon a time she was called in accidentally (instead of the actual candidate) for a job opportunity that she would end up getting. During that job, she discovered her love for bookkeeping and met her mentor who taught her everything about it. Then Lisa surprisingly had a baby which was a beautiful accident that ended her stay at the job but then pushed her to pursue bookkeeping on her own. Today, she is the owner of Bonfire Bookkeeping and has been a longtime member of the Successful Bookkeeper community. During Part 1 of her interview, you'll discover... The significance of having a steady driving force How to find a good mentor Ways that bookkeepers can have better cash flow To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Looking to start a bookkeeping business? New York Times best-selling author, Trevor Blake, who has written books such as 3 Simple Steps and Secrets To A Successful Startup, has some insights. He’s not in the bookkeeping industry, but he has built four successful companies from the ground up, so he has plenty of experience when it comes to creating a business that works. Through those experiences, Trevor found the secrets on how to start, survive, and thrive as an entrepreneur which he shares with people around the world. During the interview, you'll discover... The importance of embracing technology How to take advantage of change Why you should start listening to your intuition To find out more about Trevor, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com. 

Only 51% of businesses plan and set their annual goals and only 6% revisit those goals on a quarterly basis. Those who revisit their goals have an increase of 300% on their productivity and performance. That’s according to our guest, Blake Oliver who is a CPA that specializes in cloud accounting technology. He’s also the producer and co-host of a weekly news show called the Cloud Accounting Podcast. During the interview, you'll discover... The importance of having annual goals & revisiting them The perks of having a cloud partnership Jirav and other amazing accounting tools To find out more about Blake, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Overnight success is a rarity. Most of the time, when we hear an “overnight success” story, we find out later that the “overnight success” had been years in the making. It takes hard work and time. Our guest has definitely used both to build her success. For over 17 years, Justine Lackey has been the owner of Good Cents Bookkeeping which provides professional bookkeeping services to artists, creative professionals, and small businesses. It’s a bookkeeping company that focuses on an "atmosphere of excellence" that provides consistent, reliable, excellent end results for clients, and has a "Mom Army" of talented and loyal female staff. During the interview, you'll discover... The importance of employee retention How to have a dream client The pros and cons of hourly-based versus value-based pricing To find out more about Justine, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Loss and grief can become a catalyst to your success.   Our returning guest has used it to her benefit and it made her who she is today.   Rachel Fisch has 17 years of accounting experience in a broad range of industries and coupled with her "colourful” personality, she has trained thousands of bookkeepers in hundreds of training sessions across Canada and beyond in both Desktop and Online accounting software since 2012.   She is currently the Product Evangelist for Accountant Solutions at Sage.   During the interview, you'll discover... The importance of defining your legacy The benefits of community and collaboration in the bookkeeping industry The value of self-reflection and consistency regarding the reactions of people around you To find out more about Rachel, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Changing something dramatically in your business is scary. Even more so if that shift involves mass firing your clients. But according to our returning guest today, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, who is a bookkeeper that helps lawyers grow their practices profitably, it needs to be done once in a while as you go along in your business. By doing so, you'll see a much better growth and structure in your business and personal life. During this interview, you'll discover... The signs and tips on when to fire your clients The significance of working for your clients’ best interest The importance of honesty, respect, and protection between bookkeepers and clients To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Partnership. Profitability. Business development mindset. Those three values can help you take control of where you want to be in the next few years. That’s according to today’s guest, Heather Townsend who is a speaker, author, and founder of The Accountants Millionaires' Club that helps accountants, lawyers and consultants make partner. With her no fluff, to the point style and approach, she helps professionals and firms become the Go-To-Expert. During the interview, you'll discover... The Accountant Millionaire’s Club and how it helps people Tips to secure quality prospects and business partners How to grow a profitable practice To find out more about Heather, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The entrepreneur’s journey is a difficult one. Whether it’s the ups and downs of finding customers or hiring or laying off employees, your client’s path as a business owner is not an easy one. As a bookkeeping business owner, you probably know this yourself. A way you can stand out is by being more human and understanding of what your clients are going through and doing what you can to help them with your service. Our guest, Kirk Simpson, who is the co-founder and CEO of Wave, believes empathy is important. He is passionate about focusing on and empathizing with the human experience on both sides of the tech equation - the customers who rely on Wave to run their businesses successfully and the people who make up the Wave team and drive the company’s innovation and success. During the interview, you'll also discover... What to look for in solutions to increase financial success Why passion should be the driving force that motivates entrepreneurs The challenges of businesses in money-management and how to overcome them To find out more about Kirk, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The accounting world is advancing, but are you keeping up? Our guest solved the problem that accounting partners, owners, and directors face today. Nick Sinclair is the founder and chairman of TOA Global which is a professional accounting outsourcing partner that helps grow your business capacity and profitability using offshore teams. During the interview, you'll discover... The benefits of having an offshore team How to overcome the challenges of having an offshore team How to grow your capacity and profitability with global outsourcing To find out more about Nick, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Accounting and technology news. That's the expertise of our guest today and it has helped bridge the gap between developers, small business owners, and accountants. David Leary is the co-host of the popular, Cloud Accounting podcast. With his innovative, influential force in the small business accounting world and over 22 years of QuickBooks experience, he has provided many small businesses, accountants, and developers with technical tools, deep industry knowledge, strategy, and solutions. During the interview, you'll discover... Competition in the niche side vs high volume side Apps for social media and marketing How automation can save you time To find out more about David, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

“I'm not going to milk the cow. I want to own a farm.” With that motto, today's guest has developed a relationship with clients and accountants that helps grow her business with no social media or marketing. Danielle Gadoury is the owner of D & D Professional Services which provides high quality bookkeeping with the utmost care and attention to detail that makes her clients focus on what they do best - growing and making their businesses profitable. During the interview, you'll discover... The significance of meeting your client's accountants and treating them like a client How to approach accountants about forming a referral partnership The importance of having a good foundation through education To find out more about Danielle, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you want friends or clients? Today’s guest receives both by doing two simple things. He listens to people and asks questions. Michael Braun is a virtual financial manager, profit advisor and founder of Upfront Consulting. He figured out that you can easily win friends by asking questions then they can be your clients by listening to them. During the interview, you'll discover... The importance of having a client success manual and advance mindset The significance of value pricing and charging upfront Books and other resources that could help in getting premium clients To find out more about Michael, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Opportunities increase when you have a partner. Today’s guests are a perfect example of a successful partnership. Kreg MacPhee and Bradley Rougeau are co-founders of a streamlined time tracking and payroll system called PayTickr. It helps eliminate manual mistakes and reduces time in the payroll cycle. During the interview, you'll discover... How to fast track and get the margin your business deserves Why you should improve your efficiency every day The significance of technology in time tracking and payroll To find out more about Kreg and Bradley, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Today’s guest is not your typical accountant or bookkeeper. Helina Patience is the CEO of Entreflow Consulting Group which is a licensed CPA accounting firm, recruitment agency, and growth marketing strategy practice. But, she also recently launched Jude & Laurel, a GOTS (global organic textile standard) apparel brand where they use certified organic fabrics and trims. She’s had an interesting path where she’s successfully used the power of systemization for her business operations. During the interview, you'll discover... The significance of having a structured system in a workplace How to hire and train the right people The importance of engagement to look at your overall business To find out more about Helina, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

If you’re unhappy with aspects of your life right now, it’s your own fault! That’s according to today’s returning guest, Lauren Handel Zander who is a life coach, university lecturer, public speaker, and the Co-Founder and Chairwoman of the Handel Group. If you’re the common denominator of everything that isn’t working in your life, you can do something about it. Lauren will teach you how to dream big, examine your inner dialogue, and make promises and consequences that get you into action around your goals. She has spent over 20 years coaching thousands of private clients including entrepreneurs, couples, families, professors, politicians, Emmy, Peabody and Academy Award-winning artists, Grammy-winning musicians and Fortune 500 CEOs. During this interview, you'll discover... How to rewire yourself in the areas you need rewiring The importance of inner dialogue and personal integrity The significance of aligning your heart, mind, and actions with your dreams To find out more about Lauren, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you living your life by default or by design? According to our returning guest, you need to stop living according to everyone else's rules. Business Networking International (BNI) founder, Dr. Ivan Misner’s new book, Who's in Your Room? The Secret to Creating Your Best Life, introduces the concept of your life being like a room.   It's a room where anyone who enters affects your life — forever. This book gives you the tools and exercises you need to take control of your room and live the life you desire. During this interview, you'll discover... The concept of who is in your room Living in your flame and why deal breakers are easy while values are harder Engines vs anchors To find out more about Dr. Misner, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

A business that makes life easier for the customer is a way to make you stand out. Our returning guest, Shep Hyken, who is a customer service expert and New York Times bestselling author, agrees. His focus is to help businesses build relationships with their customers and deliver amazing customer service which eventually leads to their loyalty. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of client experience How to be more convenient How to create a journey map To find out more about Shep, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Efficiency. It’s one of the important pieces to your business success. Our guest, Guy Pearson, knows this. He is the co-founder and CEO of an accounting automation solution called Practice Ignition. It helps accounting firms simplify their workflows and manage all other aspects of their accounting practice. It provides them the time to build and grow their client base while avoiding wasted energy, efforts, and time in producing the same desired results. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of delivering more value How to improve efficiency at work Why you should invest in your business To find out more about Guy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

A bookkeeper for creatives! Wait. What? Yes, it exists and our guest for today is the expert. With over six years experience, Alisha Thomas loves empowering creatives to get to know their numbers. She's the owner of Wait. What? Consulting based in Wilmington, North Carolina. During this interview, you'll discover... How and where bookkeepers can get creative business clients The pros and cons of having creative business clients What is a Line Grid in a creative business To find out more about Alisha, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Don’t be all things to all people. Today’s guest agrees. Eric Burgmaier is a CPA, CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) and the owner of Burgmaier & Associates, Inc. that provides a broad variety of accounting services to small and medium businesses with a focus on medical and dental practices. He also has over 20 years of healthcare industry experience in public accounting, private industry, and academic institutions. During this interview, you'll discover... The pros and cons of having a niche practice Tips on how bookkeepers can help their clients plan to sell their businesses someday The advantages of working with your spouse To find out more about Eric, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Getting ready for a successful career transition isn’t easy. Just ask our guest, Sal Rezai who is the owner of Accounting By Sal. She stepped out of her comfort zone and grabbed the opportunity. She has a passion for accounting, small business and helping business owners achieve success, so when she started her own business in 2008, it was the beginning a fulfilling path that has expanded to many exciting opportunities including coaching and Quickbooks training. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of living outside of your comfort zone to achieve success Tips for getting ready for a career transition How to build a strong connection with clients To find out more about Sal, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Millennial employees. You might have one on your staff right now. How is your relationship with her? Are you worried she might leave because she’s not happy? If you’re having some challenges, there are ways to bridge the generation gap, so it can be a win-win for everyone involved. Today’s guest, Lee Caraher will help you with that. She is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business acumen and insights. She is also the author of Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide to Making it Work at Work and The Boomerang Principle: Inspire Lifetime Loyalty from Your Employees. During this interview, you'll discover... Tips on how to have loyal millennial staff members The benefits of appreciation and being proactive with your employees How to run a business by understanding people To find out more about Lee, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How good are your leadership skills? If they’re not great, our guest today will offer some help. Abbey Louie is a leadership trainer, coach and a QuickBooks Connect San Jose conference speaker who assists clients in aligning, connecting and developing their employees and improving their leadership platform. She’s done this work, for Mintify and as a co-founder of Next Level Women Leaders, through training programs and workshops that have had a positive impact on many leaders from different industries. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of creating a healthy workplace The key qualities to becoming a great leader How to hire terrific staff members To find out more about Abbey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Best Buy’s Geek Squad. You might have heard of it. It’s known for offering technical services for those who aren’t technical. Our guest, Hector Garcia mentioned how working for Geek Squad was a great education for how he’d eventually price his services. It was one of the many lessons he has learned along his unlikely journey into the accounting and bookkeeping industries. Today, he is a CPA, Quickbooks Consultant, CPA and Strategic Advisor who was on Hubdoc’s Top 50 Cloud Accountants’ list and is a YouTuber with over 3 million views on his channel. During this interview, you'll discover... What is menu-based pricing Why pricing is one of the most important marketing strategies you’ll have Why positioning yourself as a specialist is vital in attracting your ideal clients To find out more about Hector, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

You could have sleep apnea and not know it! There are millions of people who are suffering from it yet most people who have it never get diagnosed. Dr. Mark Burhenne is a practicing sleep medicine dentist and author of the book, The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox. He is a TEDx speaker and his advice regularly appears on media outlets like CNN, CBS, The Washington Post, and Men’s Health. He helps people realize the connection between oral and overall health. He also spends a lot of time teaching patients and readers about the importance of healthy sleep. During this interview, you'll discover... What is sleep apnea The connection between oral health and systemic health Insight about mouth breathing versus nose breathing To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Millennials. This is a generation of people that were born approximately between 1980-1995 and they are a big part of today’s workforce. Our guest prepares organizations and their employees, who are mostly millennials, to be competitive and marketable in the future business world. Alexandra Levit is an American writer, consultant, speaker, and a workplace expert who has appeared on major TV networks like CNN and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and The New York Times. She has written six career advice books including her bestseller, Humanity Works: Merging Technologies and People for the Workforce of the Future. During this interview, you'll discover... Insight about old millennials versus young millennials The importance of high-tech & high-touch technology The impact of incentives to employees To find out more about Alexandra, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How do you make the right connections? Our returning guest, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, who is the President and founder of Graham Consulting & Training Inc., was hesitant, scared, and intimidated to join Business Network International (BNI) at first. After a long journey, she conquered her worries and fears, jumped right in, and as a result, she got a referral on her very first day of joining. Nancy’s BNI group works hard to help and support her in her business and life. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of conquering your fears How a positive outlook can help you Why it is important to have a support group To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Clarity. According to our guest, it is the ability to describe who you are, what you do and who you serve in ten words or less. This is the key to successful marketing in your bookkeeping business. Jeremy Miller is a brand strategist, author of the new book, Brand New Name and best-selling writer of Sticky Branding. His blend of humour, stories, and actionable ideas will inspire you to innovate, grow your business and brand. During this interview, you'll discover... The 3-stage naming process How to overcome a naming drought Why naming is important and the common mistakes people make in naming their business To find out more about Jeremy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bookkeeping conferences. Why do you need to attend them? Will they help you? Are they worth it? Those are a few questions some bookkeepers might ask themselves and today they will be answered by our returning guests, Teresa Slack, and Kellie Parks. They are two talented and inspiring bookkeeping business owners who’ve attended their share of conferences including the upcoming Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC) Ignite event. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of attending conferences The advantages of learning new information in person at a conference rather than online A list of conferences for bookkeepers To find out more about Teresa and Kellie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Be a guide. That’s exactly what our guest Jessica Fox has been for entrepreneurs. She’s a bookkeeping business owner who realized there are many entrepreneurs that wanted to learn about managing their business finances but didn’t know where to start. And that's where she found her niche. She is an advanced certified Quickbooks Online ProAdvisor and Xero certified advisor who is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed and is the author of the book, Bookkeeping Basics for Entrepreneurs. During this interview, you'll discover... Why focusing on having outstanding service is vital to your business The importance of getting reviews from your clients Why you should have an effective time management app To find out more about Jessica, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you efficient with your time? If you’re not, your bookkeeping business could be suffering. This is where automation can help. Today’s guest knows all about that. Jesse Wood is the CEO of eFileCabinet. It is software used by businesses that want to automate their processes, save time, save money, be compliant, and make all of their documents instantly and securely accessible from anywhere. Wood has over 20 years of leadership experience innovating custom technical solutions for a wide range of business applications. During this interview, you'll discover... The advantages of automation The significance of listening to your customers The importance of flexibility, accessibility, and role-based security To find out more about Jesse, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Quality and efficiency. According to our guest today, those are the keys to having a successful accounting business. Dianna Thorne, who is the President of Targeted Accounting, has 15 years of accounting, financial and business management experience in the public sector and in the service, retail, investment, insurance, and various other industries. During this interview, you'll discover... The advantages of using the cloud Double work and challenges when working remotely Different apps for accounting services To find out more about Dianna, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

6-pack abs. To some, you’re considered healthy if you have them. According to our guest, that's the common misconception of being fit and healthy. Amanda Quinn is the co-founder of FIT CHICKS, the largest women's only fitness company in Canada. From the award-winning bootcamp, online transformation challenges, weekend health retreats, FIT CHICKS has helped over 7,500 Canadian women get fit and fierce. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of moving your body and using it as a tool The significance of proper form and technique The risk of sitting in your desk in front of the computer and working long hours To find out more about Amanda, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Online presence. Effective digital marketing. According to our guest today, those are the key ingredients for business success. Benoit Mercier is a web consultant for the web design and development company, Bloomtools. He helps small and medium-sized businesses grow their revenues by providing powerful websites, internet marketing tools and strategies that deliver results. During this interview, you'll discover... The 5 Ps of website design The value of a website and what can it do for your business Different tools to use for a successful website design To find out more about Benoit, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Mental health. Many entrepreneurs don’t pay much attention to it because they’re too busy trying to succeed, but if not taken care of, it can be a big problem. As humans, we sometimes struggle with personal issues that get in the way of our happiness. When that time arrives, do you know what to do? Today’s guest will provide some great tips to help you. Frances Ferguson is a registered clinical counsellor from Campbell River, British Columbia who has 20 years of experience working with men and women of all ages, couples, children, and teens. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of saying no and setting limits on how much time to work The benefits of working smart How to bring balance to ourselves To find out more about Frances, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Starting a business isn’t easy. But, there are things you can do to make it less challenging and more profitable. Our guest, Cora Lee Dunbar, knows about this. She is a consultant and coach who has 24 years of professional business experience which includes starting a business and selling one herself. Building your business the right way with solid foundations, systems, and processes can help you speed up your success. It's going to take a lot of time, energy and you will encounter some hiccups, but the hard work will likely payoff in the end. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of shared leadership The benefits of having strategic planners Tips on how to attract clients To find out more about Cora Lee, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It’s never easy. Juggling the responsibilities associated with running your bookkeeping business and having a happy family life can be a grind. Our guest, Meredith Bodgas, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Working Mother, understands what moms go through. Working Mother is a mentor, role model, and advocate for the country’s more than 17 million moms who are devoted to their families and committed to their careers. Through its website, magazine, research, social networks, and powerful events, Working Mother provides its educated and affluent readers with the community, solutions, and strategies they need to thrive. Luckily, she works with a great team who understands time constraints and figured out ways to be as efficient as possible. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of having a support system The benefits of having a shared space Why having a day-to-day checklist is key To find out more about Meredith, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Health is wealth. Our guest, Julie Daniluk, who is a registered holistic nutritionist, best-selling author, and media personality, is a big believer in that saying. You see, it's easy to neglect yourself with all the duties and responsibilities that need to be done when building a business, but having a healthy routine and being willing to cut back a few foods can really change your life. Julie helps thousands of people enjoy allergy-free foods that taste great and assist the body in the healing process. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of taking care of yourself The 7 foods that cause inflammation The benefits of having a healthy routine To find out more about Julie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Have you ever reached a breaking point? Today's guest sure did. It happened when he accidentally saved over an important client invoice then he “just kinda snapped.” That's when he realized when there's an invoice you need FreshBooks. Mike McDerment is the co-founder and CEO of FreshBooks which is the #1 invoicing and accounting software in the cloud designed exclusively for self-employed professionals and their teams. Built in 2003, he spent 3 and a half years growing the company from his parents’ basement. Since then, over 10 million people have used FreshBooks to save time billing and collect billions of dollars. During this interview, you'll discover... How to de-risk major concerns How to price your services How to embrace Impostor Syndrome To find out more about Mike, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

You're worth more than you think. Teresa Slack and Connie Smith learned this the hard way. But, with the mentorship of Value Pricing expert, Mark Wickersham, he helped to get them to where they needed to be. They worked hard to overcome their fear of losing clients by raising their prices and effectively communicating the value they provide. Today, they leverage their decades of experience by providing bookkeeping and business development solutions to small businesses and entrepreneurs. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of value pricing The benefits of having a mentor Why it's important to believe in your own worth To find out more about Teresa and Connie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Find ways to free up your precious time. Our guest, Stephen Brown, who is the COO of LedgerGurus, figured this out. He embraced technology to do the mundane which allows him to do more of the strategic stuff that's hard to automate like budgeting, analysis, and things that bring value to customers. As a result, he's contributed to the growth of LedgerGurus, a virtual outsourced accounting firm focused on eCommerce accounting, as a company that is determined to help customers make good decisions and achieve their goals. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of adding value to your clients The benefits of using technology Where to find the technical tools and best practices To find out more about Stephen, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Negative thinking. All of us do it. But, we can choose not to let it block us from success. Yes, you can break free from it. Our returning guest, Lisa Campbell, who is the owner of The Marcam Group, has done it. She focused on the main problem, took action and transitioned into a very successful advisor to bookkeepers. In fact, she shares her insight in the 7 Steps To Scale Your Bookkeeping Business Masterclass. Her positive mindset and willingness to take action has changed her business forever. Nowadays, she has a reduced workload, mentors bookkeepers, takes courses and training to improve herself which is adding more value to her bookkeeping business. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people The 7 steps to scale your bookkeeping business How to keep yourself organized To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Being an entrepreneur is a balancing act. For example, having a harmonious relationship with your bookkeeping customers while keeping up with the latest technology trends can be difficult when you’re running your day-to-day business. Our guest today experienced this and has learned how to be successful. Steve Chase is an Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor and founder of Sequentia Solutions which helps small business owners grow their businesses with practical and effective solutions. He believes that it’s crucial to keep up with technology and understand the possibilities in order to thrive in this new era of online business. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to deliver valuable content to customers Creative ways to get your services noticed in the marketplace The importance of monthly check-in meetings To find out more about Steve visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Government contracts can improve and scale up any business. But, many of us think that doing business with the government is not a reality. Our guest today believes that's a myth. Jean Kristensen is the owner of Jean Kristensen Associates, which is a full-service consulting firm that provides tools and resources to small, minority, and women-owned firms seeking to increase revenues through government contracting, certification, and innovative business strategies. According to her, any government wants to diversify their suppliers and there is a certain percentage of allocation of contracts intended only to small businesses. During this interview, you'll discover... Why it's important for small businesses to be working with a bookkeeper to be ready for potential government contracts Why it's necessary for your business to be procurement ready and have a strong foundation Different services available for government contracts To find out more about Jean visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The easiest way to make more money is simple -- get the price right. Prices are the single most important element in your profit equation. Get them right and you make a profit. Get them wrong and you'll get a loss. Our returning guest is a profit improvement and effective pricing expert from the United Kingdom. Mark Wickersham is a chartered accountant, public speaker and author of many books including Effective Pricing for Accountants and Price: The Fastest Way To Change Profits. He is famous for helping bookkeeping and accounting firms double their profits in less than 18 months without having to work harder or do any uncomfortable marketing. During this interview, you'll discover... The different phases of value conversations and the fact finding process The cons in providing an hourly rate The cost plus pricing versus value pricing To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What are your bookkeeping business fears? For many, they're afraid artificial intelligence will replace them. However, our guest, Jeff Cates, the former President and CEO of Intuit Canada, believes in the power of bookkeepers becoming consultants for their clients to keep themselves valuable in this changing world. This conversation was recorded before Jeff accepted a President and CEO position with an industry-leading employee engagement solution provider called Achievers. During this interview, you'll discover... How to have a transformational impact on your customers The importance of learning financial management skills early Different ways to bridge the gap between small businesses and professionals To find out more about Jeff visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Every business needs a great bookkeeper. It doesn't matter if you're in the US, Canada or Australia, all small businesses would benefit tremendously if they had the right person looking after their books. Our guest is one of those high caliber talents who runs the bookkeeping firm, Women Who Count based in the United Kingdom. She sits on the board of the International Association of Bookkeepers and her commitment and passion have been recognized when she was a finalist for the UK Women in Business Awards. She knows what it takes to build a strong business and is happy to share her success tips with you. During this interview, you'll discover... The process of hiring an employee How to automate your business Marketing strategies that work To find out more about Sarah, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Pink Collar Crimes. If you don't know what they are and how destructive they can be to your bookkeeping business and life, you're listening to the right episode. The term pink-collar crime was popularized by Dr. Kathleen Daly during the 1980s to describe embezzlement type crimes that typically were committed by females based on limited opportunity. In this context, women were more likely to have committed low level crimes, such as bookkeeping fraud, from positions of less power compared to men who had engaged in acts of white-collar crime. Our guest, Kelly Paxton is a Pink Collar Crime expert who specializes in educating the public about this growing problem that has risen by over 40% since 1990. During this interview, you'll discover... Different ways that bookkeepers and their clients can avoid Pink Collar Crimes from happening The Pink flag signals The importance of knowing the various Pink Collar Crimes in a bookkeeping business To find out more about Kelly, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you tired of working for your bookkeeping business? Or... Are you ready to have your bookkeeping business work for you? Our guest, Karl Kremer knows how to make the latter a reality. He is a business coach who has over 30 years experience in business development, planning and execution working with Fortune 100 companies throughout the world. He helps his clients forge their business into a tool that they can use to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them. During this interview, you'll discover... How to build your ideal firm Strategies and systems that help achieve faster results How to turn chaos and stress into fun To find out more about Karl, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How do you provide your clients with peace of mind? Our guest, Vicki Lynch, who is the owner of Bottom Line Accounting Pros and a United States Air Force veteran, does this by getting her clients on a regimented process of routine to help them understand the bigger picture of their financial situation. After over 20 years of experience in the accounting field, Vicki realized that adopting a system oriented mindset is one of the key things that helped her succeed with her business. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of having feedback from your clients How to identify your values and what you stand for The benefits of having boundaries To find out more about Vicki, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Business credit. For an entrepreneur, it can be a confusing thing. Enter our guest, Gerri Detweiler. She is a credit expert, author and speaker who has helped people find reliable answers regarding credit issues for the past 20+ years through her educational programs and materials. She gives all the needed information for small business owners to make better decisions with tools and strategies to create a financially healthy business. She has been featured in more than 3000 interviews including on The Today Show, Dateline NBC, The New York Times, USA Today and Reader's Digest. During this interview, you'll discover... What is business credit The benefits of talking to your accounting professionals Where to find free credit tools and resources for bookkeepers To find out more about Gerri, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Working virtually is the new reality. As the years fly by, it's become increasingly popular. Our guest, Gabrielle Fontaine knows all about it. She is a freelance bookkeeper who is an expert in working virtually. As the owner of BookkeepingDirect, she's had a 100% virtual bookkeeping service since 2003 as an Advanced Certified QuickBooks Advisor. She is also the author of the blog, The Freelance Bookkeeper which provides practice building tips and training programs for startup bookkeeping firms and virtual bookkeepers around the globe. During this interview, you'll discover... The different challenges virtual bookkeepers face How caring about your virtual clients can improve your relationship with them How doing something that scares you every day can make you successful To find out more about Gabrielle Fontaine, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How is your brand communicating to others? Today’s fast-paced business environment requires leaders who can create impact and influence others with sound communication practices. Our guest, Stacey Hanke has trained over 15,000 executives to influence, persuade, sell, or simply effectively communicate face-to-face with a clear brand message. She runs Stacey Hanke Inc. which is a company that exists to equip leaders within organizations to communicate with confidence, presence and authenticity, day in and day out. She is also the author of Influence Redefined: Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be Monday to Monday. It provides a step-by-step method for improving communication and producing the ideal type of influence that moves people to action long after an interaction is over. During this interview, you'll discover... How to navigate through transitions Importance of consistency in your personal brand How to create effective value ads To find out more about Stacey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How much should you charge? Our returning guest, Roger Knecht, who is the President of the Universal Accounting Center, is an expert in helping bookkeepers and accountants to be the best in the market. He has developed proven methods on how to understand your own pricing metrics and avoid the common mistakes. You will become more confident to charge your clients and it will give them clarity as to what services you're offering. During this interview, you'll discover... The 4 methods in charging for bookkeepers The importance of becoming a profit & growth expert How to improve your workflow To find out more about Roger, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How important are referrals to your business? Our guest, Stacey Brown Randall, who is a coach, author, and entrepreneur, cracked the code to overcoming the decades old advice that says “to receive referrals you must ask for them” then she perfected the art of self-maintaining clientele that consistently grows and drives revenue. She was able to save more time, make more money and bring in new clients. Today, she helps thousands of entrepreneurs accelerate their business growth through referral generation. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of being memorable and meaningful Why you need to know who your referral sources are How to build a 1 year outreach plan To find out more about Stacey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Expect the unexpected. Whether it’s a natural disaster, family problem or serious accident, a shocking event can disrupt business operations at any company. No one can predict the future; however, you can be ready with a comprehensive business continuity plan. With over 25 years of experience in financial management, project management, and all aspects of business operations, Cheryl Baldwin is an expert in continuity planning. She is also a Certified Professional Bookkeeper who launched BCP Business Services with the mission to help businesses and non-profits prosper. During this interview, you'll discover... The advantage of having a business advisor The steps to having a foolproof continuity plan The benefit of having a support system To find out more about Cheryl, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Opportunity is waiting for you. Sometimes you can access it by making a follow-up call, email or in-person meeting. But yet, not everyone does it. It's a shame because not following up can prevent you from attracting new bookkeeping clients, potential business partners or other rewards you've been searching for. Our returning guest is a master at following up. Cindy Stradling is a resilience coach, accomplished speaker and author. She has the skills and system that helped her align with great partners throughout her career and business life. She works with entrepreneurs, individuals and corporations (such as 3M Canada, Scotia McLeod and CIBC) to do what's needed to help them get where they need to go. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of following up with your prospects Steps in making a strong follow-up call Why LinkedIn referrals are a trend you should investigate To find out more about Cindy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your tool belt. Like any professional service provider, from a plumber to a dentist to a hairdresser, you need quality tools to do the best possible job for your clients. For bookkeepers, those tools come in the form of apps and software. These days they are a must to run your bookkeeping business effectively. Our guest today is one of the first in Canada to embrace and use bookkeeping apps. With years of experience, her intuition is always spot on. Elaine Orr, who is the CEO of BalanceSheets.ca, has over 30 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience and a strong interest in using technological innovations to maximize efficiency and reduce data entry. During this interview, you'll discover... Different accounting and bookkeeping tools and software The pros and cons of working virtually The best apps for your lawyer clients To find out more about Elaine Orr, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Big goals. They can be scary and overwhelming, but breaking those big goals to little ones that you can manage is the key. That's according to our guest today, Helen Latimer, who is a career coach and owner of the company, 925 Resources which combines unconventional thinking and business acumen to help people achieve career success. She has been a speaker at events for a number of professional associations including the Human Resources Professionals Association's national convention and more recently, the Administrative Professionals' annual conference. During this interview, you'll discover... What mentoring is versus coaching The significance of having a coach The importance of taking the time for reflection To find out more about Helen Latimer visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Communication. You see, each generation has different ideas, opinions, tactics, styles and preferences of technology they use when running a successful bookkeeping business. When different generations collide in a working environment (ie: you and your employees), it can be hard to collaborate at times because of their different points of view. As a result, communicating properly and getting on the same page can be a challenge. However, our guests today successfully found the solution in bridging the generation gap. They’re currently working together in helping businesses and entrepreneurs thrive. Returning guest, Dianne Mueller is the co-founder of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC) and owner of SOMA Small Business Solutions while her daughter, Bianca Mueller, is a second generation Certified Professional bookkeeper in Vancouver, Canada. During this interview, you'll discover... How to overcome the challenge of communicating with employees from various generations How trust and respect play an important role in having different generations of workers How to create a productive working environment To find out more about Dianne & Bianca, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Trust. It can be hard to earn especially if you're a bookkeeper who has never hired anyone before or has trouble letting current employees make their own decisions in fear they'll mess up and cause you more work and frustration. The process of taking an employee that knows nothing to one that will eventually know something to one that becomes someone you can trust takes time. Our guest, Rhamy Alejeal understands this. He has worked over 10 years in the payroll, benefits, and HR industry. He is the CEO of Poplar Financial which provides solutions to some of the toughest problems facing entrepreneurs today by providing products and services that can be catered to fit their business needs. He also has a best-selling book, People Processes: How Your People Can Be Your Organization's Competitive Advantage which was recently featured in INC Magazine as one of the top 10 leadership books in 2018. During this interview, you'll discover... How to let your employees make decisions that you can trust Why value judgement is important to your staff How changes can make your business grow To find out more about Rhamy Alejeal, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Happy New Year!! I have a question for you. Are you always striving to be LEGOS? Well, if not, you might want to consider it. Here’s what it stands for. L: Leave it better than you found it E: Execute G: Grow O: Ownership S: Serve There is a new level of competition in 2019, especially in tech enable and tech focus firms. Our returning guest, David Cristello, who is the founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, has followed LEGOS with his company. It helps small and medium business owners prepare, embrace and overcome what's coming in 2019. During this interview, you'll discover... Upcoming happenings that will affect bookkeepers and accounting firms in 2019 The concept of being 1% better a day for 72 days Characteristics to help you persevere To find out more about David Cristello, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It can be terrifying. Starting a bookkeeping business or running one, can have so many potential pitfalls that it could make you tear your hair out. However, if you have clarity in regards to what your direction is and determination to execute your goals, you can overcome challenges. Our guest, Billie Anne Grigg has done that. She has been a bookkeeper for years and is the founder of Pocket Protector Bookkeeping which aims to provide an excellent virtual bookkeeping and managerial accounting solution for small businesses that cannot yet justify employing a full-time, in-house bookkeeping staff. During this interview, you'll discover... How to overcome the fear of letting go of clients How to see hiccups as a motivating factor to grow your business How to improve cash flow and profitability from the ground up To find out more about Billie Anne Grigg, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

“Life doesn’t happen to me anymore, I go out and happen to life.” Our guest learned that the hard way after realizing that communicating with humans is not logical, it is biological. Leadership and communication expert, John Bates has a methodology and training that is based in the evolutionary biology and neurophysiology of human communication, connection and interaction. It not only makes you a far better speaker and presenter, it makes you far more effective everywhere in your life including with your bookkeeping business. During this interview, you'll discover... How to create automatic influence using the power of Neurobiology How to 10x your sales and profits through human biology and connection Different ways to connect with any audience, anywhere and at anytime To find out more about John Bates, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Challenges. All bookkeeping business owners go through them. Our guest, Jennifer Walsh, who is the president of Censea Accounting & Business Solutions, is no different. She's experienced everything from being in the middle of a bad recession, competing with a lot of bookkeepers and staffing issues, but she has persevered because of her passion and desire to be successful. Today, her business helps small to medium sized business owners achieve financial success and has over 165 clients. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of keeping track of your books Strategies on how to handle your business How the Pure Bookkeeping System can help your business To find out more about Jennifer, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bitcoin. Litecoin. Ethereum. These are a few of the popular cryptocurrencies in circulation today. Our guest, Dr. Sean Stein Smith, who is an assistant professor in the business and economic department at Lehman College and expert in cryptocurrencies, has some guidelines on how they might work in the accounting and bookkeeping worlds. Cryptocurrencies are slowly launching their way into the real world and it is best to know the basics about them before they become more widely used. During this interview, you'll discover... What is cryptocurrency? How will cryptocurrencies affect accounting and bookkeeping firms? Negative and positive outcomes To find out more about Dr. Sean, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How do you stand out amongst the competition? You learn to understand your prospective clients' lingo. Our guest, Jeffrey Shaw, who is a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker and host of the popular business podcast, Creative Warriors, helps entrepreneurs and small businesses with their brand and messaging. He shares his practical action steps and insights on how to make your bookkeeping business easier and profitable. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of putting out the right branding Why lingo is the ideal marketing strategy Why you should understand yourself first To find out more about Jeffrey, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Eradicate entrepreneurial poverty. That is Ron Saharyan’s focus. He is the co-founder and managing partner of Profit First Professionals. He is also a thought leader in business cash flow management, a speaker on the topic of small business profit and a host of a podcast called The Profit First Podcast along with his business partner, Mike Michalowicz. There’s an ongoing uprising change in the accounting and bookkeeping sector. And from Ron's exceptional vantage point of working with bookkeepers, accountants and business coaches, he will be sharing his thirst for embracing change and pricing renovation. During this interview, you'll discover... How to be a value-based professional How to create personal pricing How to develop a profit first mindset To find out more about Ron, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

You can't do value lead pricing without having a conversation about perceived value. Our guest, Ed Kless, has taught this to many and he still sees the problem out there. He is the Sage Senior Director of Partner Development and Strategy who is also the host of the Sage Advice Podcast and co-host of the hit show, The Soul of Enterprise with Value Pricing expert, Ron Baker. Ed believes quite a few professionals have challenges around crafting a great value discussion. It shouldn't have to be that way. He will share his insight. During this interview, you'll also discover... How can intellectual capital help in growing your wealth What are the spiritual components to gain profit The hidden possibilities in accumulating wealth To find out more about Ed Kless, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your business finances mirror your personal finances. Taunya Woods Richardson learned that the hard way. She is not your typical finance personality. She didn’t get to where she is by belittling startups on national television. She didn’t create a pop-culture money-management app, and never wrote a best-selling book. What she does have in common with the money gurus of the world is knowledge. The kind that comes with 30 years of training, coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs to build better, stronger, healthier, and profitable companies. She knows what it takes to turn a profit in business and how to build the inner-strength and confidence needed to see you through any situation a business can throw at you. Taunya is the founding partner of Epifany Financial Group and the architect of several proprietary financial frameworks. She is one of a small and distinguished group of specialists emerging in the field of behavioural finance. Taunya is applauded for her innovative and refreshingly pragmatic approach to inspiring money mastery among Canadian entrepreneurs through eliminating financial obstacles. During this interview, you'll discover... What is your motivation What are you willing to change and why What are the consequences of not changing To find out more about Taunya Woods Richardson, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

A big percentage of business failures are due to poor cash management. Blaine Bertsch, Co-Founder and CEO of Dryrun, focuses on helping businesses and financial professionals work towards financial health through financial forecasting. Dryrun is used to visualize cash flow, budget and sales scenarios, compare 'what ifs' and give businesses direction and keep them in the loop. Today, Blaine manages core operations at Dryrun and leads product design. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of keeping ownership and control Benefits of cash flow management Prioritizing what really matters To find out more about Blaine, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The next growth phase. It can be scary. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts has been there. Back in her bookkeeping business days, she spent 12 months trying to manage the transition including preparing her legacy clients. Change wasn't easy, but with the help of proven systems, software, and standard operating procedures, she managed to effectively communicate with those clients to begin a smooth evolution of her business. During this interview, you'll discover... The steps you need to take to successfully speak with your legacy clients Bookkeeping standard operating procedures Different systems and software for bookkeepers that could help in their next growth phase To find out more about Debbie Roberts, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Cloud financial technology is the key to organization. Our returning guest, Kellie Parks is a relentless organizer and a cloud accounting specialist who runs Calmwaters Cloud Accounting. An ardent devotee of QuickBooks Online, Kellie is passionate about introducing QBO and its app partner programs to accountants and their clients. During this interview, you'll discover... What is Cloud Financial Technology What are your cloud accounting options Different technology for small and medium businesses and how it can help your accounting clients To find out more about Kellie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Risk. Every time you take one, it will either work out or not. But, both results will teach you something. Our guest, Lauren Handel Zander, who is a life coach, author and co-founder of the Handel Group, mastered a revolutionary approach to life and created a groundbreaking methodology called The Handel Method. Through this process, you will understand your own inner dialogue and where it comes from. You will develop personal integrity and align your heart, mind, and actions with your dreams. You'll rewire yourself to speak and think the way you would design it versus the way you were born into it. Lauren has fixed corporate business relationships, mediated contract negotiations, reconciled marriages, and helped resolve complex family issues. The Handel method has been taught in over 35 major universities and institutes of learning across the country. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of correcting a conversation to make a difference Why it's crucial to have one bold move every day How to resolve your personal history and manage your mind To find out more about Lauren, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

For busy business owners, writing blog articles is a hassle. Writing business blogs can be time-consuming, expensive and tricky if you don’t know what small business owners want to read. Our guest is one of Canada's top startup experts and he will help you get a fresh box of professionally written expert small business articles ready to post to your blog, newsletter, and social media channels. Roger Pierce is passionate about helping people to start a small business. While creating and running 14 small businesses during the past 20 years, he learned first-hand what new business owners need to do to succeed. Today, he focuses on one of his companies, BoxofBusinessBlogs.com which is used by bookkeepers and accountants to make their content marketing easier and more relevant. During this interview, you'll discover... What is content marketing  How it will help your bookkeeping business Different marketing strategies that can positively impact your profitability To find out more about Roger Pierce, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Crisis ready. No matter the size, type, or industry of your business, being crisis ready will help you to be perfectly prepared for anything life throws at you. Our guest today is the author of Crisis Ready - Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World. Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. She is a coveted speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today's leading organizations faced with the greatest risks, helping them become crisis ready and build brand invincibility. During this interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to become crisis ready What it means to build an invincible brand How to prevent and manage issues before they become catastrophic, with the aim of never having them become catastrophic at all To find out more about Melissa Agnes, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Understanding and appreciating what it means to be an introvert in an extrovert-leaning world is hard to do. But, our returning guest, Beth Buelow has mastered it. She helps introverted entrepreneurs amplify their strengths and build sustainable energetically aligned businesses. She is also a professional coach, podcaster, speaker and author of The Introvert Entrepreneur - Amplify Your Strengths & Create Success On Your Own Terms. During this interview, you'll discover... How to create empowered, productive environments where introverts can flourish How to provide services for introverts and those who live and work with them Information and inspiration on professional introverts To find out more about Beth Buelow, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Risk Management. The forecasting and evaluation of financial risks is vital to the life of your bookkeeping business. If you don't pay attention, your business will suffer. Our guest, Jennifer North is a certified professional bookkeeper who developed the Risk Management Checklist. She joined the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers USA (ICB USA) as an Administrative Manager. The checklist along with her wide range of skills and experience, both in marketing and accounting, are now helping ICB USA in its efforts to lead the future of bookkeeping certification in North America. During this interview, you'll learn about... The Risk Management Checklist The list of key mistakes to avoid What value and credibility you can add to your client To find out more about Jennifer North, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bringing peace of mind to clients so they can focus on their businesses and not have to worry about daily financial operations are passions of our guest, Traci Yates. She is the founder and owner of Tralissa Inc. which offers bookkeeping, tax, and controller services to small and mid-sized businesses in Texas. Prior to founding Tralissa Inc, Traci served as corporate controller for three businesses. Her experience includes the automotive, lending, and startup industries. During this interview, you'll discover... Importance of the 8300 form to your bookkeeping business How to communicate accurate financial information Tips on saving companies money and improving their efficiency through automation To find out more about Traci Yates, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Resilience is the key to dealing with change, stress and adversity. Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to make more money and experience more success, an individual looking for professional development program or an organization interested in giving your employees new skills and tools to work more effectively, our returning guest has the information to help everyone become more resilient. Facilitator, coach, speaker, sales consultant and author, Cindy Stradling brings over 25 years of practical hands on business experience to her work. She has developed unwavering resilience through her journey and has developed her sales and resilience programs to show others how they can too. During this interview, you'll discover... The keys to lasting resilience The right tools you can thrive in times of change How to develop new coping techniques needed when life throws you a curveball To find out more about Cindy Stradling, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. If you're a bookkeeper, you must embrace it. Today, there are so many great apps that you can use to make your bookkeeping business more efficient, productive and profitable. In this special episode, you'll discover a few. This won't be a typical interview because you'll hear audio from a Pure Bookkeeping Licensee Monthly Success Call, hosted by Michael Palmer, which features the President of Graham Consulting & Training Inc., Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan. She'll share her technology findings from the Intuit App Roadshow she attended. During this interview, you'll learn... Different apps in the industry that can help small and medium businesses How to use technology efficiently How different apps can be powerful to business owners and their clients To find out more about Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Busyness is hyped in our present culture. It shouldn't be. Living a full life, at work and at home, is about doing the right things well, and positively missing out on everything else. Our returning guest will show you how to get there. Laura Vanderkam is an expert at finding that balance and has helped many people through her various time management and productivity books including her newest, Off the Clock - Feel Less Busy When Getting More Done. During this interview, you'll discover... How to spend your hours more meaningfully, regain enormous amounts of wasted time, and live an improved life What makes time so different for those rare productive and unstressed people Ways to do more without losing your sense of peace along the way To find out more about Laura Vanderkam, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Does your bookkeeping business earn enough profit? Our returning guest, Universal Accounting Center President, Roger Knecht, who co-wrote the book, In the Black, helps small business owners grow their operations successfully. It helps owners understand how they can run their businesses more profitably and also speaks to the importance of the accounting role in the success of the company. It is filled with principles and concepts that you can use immediately to enhance your expertise and wisdom in business decision-making. During our 100th episode, you'll learn... The importance of being efficient The tools you can take advantage to help your business The major functions of business To find out more about Roger, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What's your body language? Our guest, Mark Bowden, who was voted the number one body language professional in the world, has been fascinated most of his life with visual imagery and the way other people perform and how they affect our behaviour. He's passionate about giving people the most influential and persuasive communication techniques to stand out, win trust and build credibility every time they communicate. Today, his work has reached millions of people and presented to many of the most innovative organizations in the world. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of being persistent in what you want to be good at What are the 2 types of body language and how they influence people Why thinking a little bit different than others will benefit you To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Start investing in yourself. Andrew Argue, who is a CPA, spent years and years learning and understanding the fundamentals of how to become great at sales. He studied some of the most successful salespeople, read books, attended webinars, trainings, talking to mentors, and anything that he could get his hands on to help himself develop these skills. He started to work with larger accounting firms to grow their customer base. After a few months, his clients started seeing significant increases in new client fees. Today, he has assisted over 200 clients in 4 countries. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of seeing your clients’ situation Steps in taking control of your customer relationships How to help clients position themselves in the market To find out more about Andrew, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What do you want to be known for? Your brand can get to the heart of what you want to say, create a vision for where you're going next, and give you renewed focus and confidence in sharing what you do. Kathleen Shannon, who is the co-founder of Braid Creative and the co-host of the Being Boss podcast, has perfected her branding. Through her work at Braid Creative and Being Boss, she has helped thousands of creative entrepreneurs worldwide to authentically brand and position themselves as creative experts, cultivate confidence in their business, and blend more of who they are into the work they do. She continues to have a positive impact by co-authoring the book, Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms. During this interview, you'll discover... Branding advice and insights Brand vision, positioning and platform Creative services and media strategy To find out more about Kathleen, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Starting a business is a risky journey. There is more than one way to make mistakes that could hurt your long term success. Our returning guest, Louie Prosperi, who is the CEO of ICB USA, shares a way to help you get a firm plan in place. It's through The Proactive Business Model which is a program that ensures bookkeepers are consistently valuable to their clients and are running their businesses more efficiently. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of taking care of your clients and employees The difference between working on and working in your business How an ICB USA Certification can lead you to success To find out more about Louie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Our guest, Adele Spraggon, who is the CEO of Shaped Within, struggled with a lot of subconscious patterns. She quit 3 viable businesses, business partners, and sponsors. She even attended personal development programs to help her but didn't work out. Adele started to journal and created a highly effective 4 step technique that removes unwanted patterns. She created her own solution and it completely changed her life. Today, she speaks to hundreds of people about how to recognize when they are sabotaging their dreams. She also shows women entrepreneurs how to break through their limiting blocks and step into leadership roles in all areas of life. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of embracing being uncomfortable How the 4 step technique works The guides that will help you take on leadership roles To find out more about Adele, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you know your worth? Our returning guest, Lisa Campbell-Marchese, owner of The Marcam Group, has 27 years of experience in the bookkeeping industry. In the beginning, she struggled in her business and worried about getting things done on time or missing a deadline. She sought help from the Pure Bookkeeping System and started implementing systems into her business. The results were incredible. It kept her organized and her clients trust her more because she doesn't miss any deadlines. It helped her grow as an individual because she knows she has more value and expanded her business beyond what she expected. Now, she has more control over her work day regardless of how many clients she has. She's freed up, and spends more time on what is important. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of day-to-day documentation Why focusing on the value you create for your clients is important What systems or guides you should use for your bookkeeping business To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Take charge. That's Emily Thompson's mindset and it helps her be “The Boss.” She is the founder of Indie Shopography, which helps creative entrepreneurs build online businesses, and she is also a co-host of Being Boss, a popular podcast for creative entrepreneurs where she inspires, writes and curates content. She is also a first time author with the release of Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms. During this interview, you'll discover... How to be a boss How to take control of your work and live life on your own terms How to understand your strengths and challenges as a side hustler, freelancer, or business owner To find out more about Emily, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How are you speaking with your clients? If the way you communicate with them isn't transparent and open, it can lead to trouble. Our guest, Brad Wolford, who is the CEO of Wolford Companies Inc., has made sure effective client communication is a top priority. By doing so, he's able to find out what his customers need and they understand specifically what his firm requires to assist them. This is one of the reasons why Brad's company has transformed from nothing to a large firm in a very short span of time. Today, Wolford Companies Inc. (with 11 staff including Brad) provides financial accounting services for business owners to manage operations on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to increase your rate and earn from $14,000/year to $65,000/year or even more How having a checklist will make your life and business easier and healthier How implementing the Pure Bookkeeping system can help your firm overcome challenges To find out more about Brad, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Concerns. Anxiety. Stress. These are some of the examples that may affect your emotional health and day-to-day living. Jennifer Blake, founder and owner of Blake Consulting, helps entrepreneurs shift their emotional health incrementally everyday so they can focus on growing their business and improving their lives. Since she was 14 years old, she began helping, facilitating and volunteering in workshops. It was always her passion to make a difference in people's lives. Most recently, she became the Director and Co-Owner of the Hoffman Institute of Canada which facilitates The Hoffman Process, a life-changing 7 day residential self-development program that helps people release the limiting patterns they learned in their childhood and lead their lives with choice, empowerment and passion. Today, Jennifer guides entrepreneurs to focus on finding a deeper sense of happiness, fulfillment and passion in all areas and facets of their lives. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of getting the support from the people around you How taking care of yourself will bring you balance What the steps are to emotional fitness To find out more about Jennifer, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Hiring employees is not an easy process. Our return guest, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, President of Graham Consulting & Training Inc, encountered problems when she started hiring employees for her bookkeeping business. Three or four years ago, her practice got to a level where it didn't grow any further. She got super busy, her other employees quit the firm and she couldn't get anything done. That's when she decided to hire a professional bookkeeper. She started speaking with other bookkeepers, getting their advice, listening to podcasts and followed the Pure Bookkeeping hiring system which helped with her trust issues and the hiring process. Today, Nancy provides practice management and bookkeeping services to 35 law firms and counting. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of adopting a positive mindset everyday Figuring out your hiring process and what it's going to be How allowing yourself the freedom to make all kinds of mistakes will benefit you To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Did you know it takes 4 to 8 years to fully transition to a new chapter of life? Our guest, Stuart McConnell, is a life coach who helps transition professional athletes into retirement. He's also a part-time high school teacher who inspires students to embrace their entrepreneur within. He teaches his students the fundamentals of business then encourages them to leap into entrepreneurship and make money with their enterprises before the semester is done. During this inspiring interview, you'll discover... How to be an entrepreneur and make money Learn the tools to never have to work for somebody a day in your life if you choose Great life hacks on how to be a champion in your everyday life To find out more about Stuart, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Looking to get more out of your bookkeeping business? Since 1979, Roger Knecht, who is the President of Universal Accounting Center, has worked hard to help accountants and bookkeepers excel in their careers. His post-secondary school trains and certifies individuals in accounting, bookkeeping, tax and consultative skills so they can get paid what they're worth. He has developed proven strategies, processes and procedures for business owners to increase their profits and sales up to 71%. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of creating a plan and goal for your business What are the 4 keys to success and profit What are the accounting principles that will grow your firm To find out more about Roger, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Miscommunications. Often times, people tend to make a lot of assumptions and fail to ask more questions. That's why in order to avoid that, build your relationship and trust with your boss, employees or your clients. Our guest, Diane Brochu King, who is a team builder and coach, has helped people understand where others are coming from. She guides her clients to see their most pressing challenges in a new dimension and the world in a new light, inspiring and enabling them to make better choices, identify new ways of relating and reacting, resolve problems, and collaborate for success. Today, she has taught over 25,000 people to appreciate and learn new strategies for navigating the world of human relations. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of showing care to others by being interested What are the ways to developing awareness How to understand different types of people To find out more about Diane, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Our guest, Cindy Stradling, who is a resilience coach, has faced many difficult life challenges as a single mother with very little education and has developed the mental fortitude to keep going no matter what. In getting from there to here, Cindy has shined shoes, waited tables, cleaned houses and was a parking lot attendant while building her business. Undeniably, she knows firsthand what resilience is. She has developed it through her journey and has developed a program, Thrive, to inspire others to be their personal best and keep moving toward their goals. If you set your mindset right and have discipline, you can be successful at whatever you want to do in life. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of knowing your goals and objectives How the value of consistent approach will help you What are the keys to overcoming the fear of cold calls and sales To find out more about Cindy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Respect. After spending 31 years in the corporate world as an operations and country manager, our guest, Tobyn Pearson, the author of Manage This: An interactive Guide to Management and Other Absurdities, had success and many failures. He learned that it's not always easy to see your grumpiest employees or customers. Treat them with respect no matter who they are and keep working on building relationships because in the end they will see that you genuinely care and your efforts will pay off. It makes life a whole lot easier if you're able to deal with difficult people and situations along the way. All of his successes are directly attributed to the great people he had the privilege of working with over the years. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of having courage in yourself and your abilities Why having an incredible insights will help you along the way How appreciating your employees and customers will benefit you To find out more about Tobyn, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Running a bookkeeping business is not easy. You will encounter many changes, so that’s why you have to create new habits to stay on top of your game. Andrew Royer, owner of Royer Accounting, has dealt with stress and frustration while building his company. To help him overcome his struggles, he was looking for support and inspiration from like-minded people then he found it by joining a mastermind group. By learning new ideas from different people, he was able to implement successful strategies to make himself more productive and efficient without sacrificing time with his family. Even creating a shorter to-do list that focuses on the most important things to accomplish in his day became a big game-changer. Now, he feels recharged and happy every time he gets home to his wife and kids. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of focusing on what's more important Why changing your habits will make your bookkeeping business more successful Why joining a community will give you support and inspiration To find out more about Andrew, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers USA (ICB USA). It promotes and maintains the standards of American bookkeeping as a profession through the establishment of relevant qualifications and the award of grades of membership that recognize academic attainment, working experience and competence. Our return guest, Louie Prosperi is the CEO of ICBUSA and his organization is helping its members by introducing The Proactive Business Bookkeeping Model to improve their success. It's a program that ensures bookkeepers are consistently valuable to their clients and are running their businesses more efficiently. During this interview, you'll also discover... What are the 3 pillars of The Proactive Business Bookkeeping Model The importance of having a 100% capacity to be successful Focusing on what to do with your system and technology To find out more about Louie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Lack of confidence. Some bookkeepers don't believe they are good enough to close a deal or get a sale. According to Sharon Francisco, who used the Pure Bookkeeping System to increase the success of her bookkeeping business and is making her return appearance on our show, you need to find strategies that will give you confidence and take the pressure off of you so you can make the focus all about your clients. Having a 90-day plan and building a relationship with customers are key to gaining their trust and will make things easier for you. Be patient. If you want to grow your business, you have to understand it doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of creating your own style Why focusing on having a plan will increase the demand for your service Why eliminating negative and unhealthy stress can put you in a great position To get the check list mentioned in this episode.   https://purebookkeeping.com/ca/sell-without-being-salesy-checklist/

Charge an hourly or fixed rate? It's a decision many bookkeepers, who are business owners, have pondered at one point or another. Our guest, Amanda Birch, the President of Birch Accounting & Tax Services, was one of them until she figured out fixed pricing was the way to go. For her, fixed pricing made sense because it is offered upfront so that clients would know exactly what they're paying for, whether it be bookkeeping or taxes, so they would not end up with a surprise bill at the end. That decision has worked well. Amanda's business continues to provide value while her customers have reaped the benefits. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to optimize bookkeeping in real time with online applications How to provide cloud and desktop accounting solutions to your customers How to use a secure encrypted portal for your customers' tax return information To find out more about Amanda, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. It improves efficiency for your accounting and bookkeeping business. Our guest, Kellie Parks, a Certified Professional Bookkeeper and Financial Technology Expert, is a relentless organizer and believes cloud financial technology is the key to organization. While running her business, Calmwaters Cloud Accounting, she spends much of her days educating accounting firms and small to medium-sized businesses, but she loves taking care of her clients' day-to-day accounting needs. During this interview, you'll discover... Different financial technology that will help your bookkeeping business How Cloud Financial Technology makes it possible for you to enjoy working from different countries How technology can maintain your training and bookkeeping business seamlessly To find out more about Kellie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What impact do you have on your clients? Woodard exists to transform small business advisors to radically impact the way small businesses operate. Each business unit of Woodard serves to educate, support, and connect accounting professionals throughout North America and, increasingly, the world. It is led by Joe Woodard, CEO and Founder of Woodard Consulting and Woodard Events. He was recognized by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Influential People within the accounting profession in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2008, he was recognized by CPA Practice Advisor as one of the Top 40 Up and Coming Thought Leaders under the age of 40. Today, he has trained over 100,000 accounting and business professionals in the area of practiced developments, changing technology trends, strategic consulting and how to maximize the use of accounting software in their practices. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance and role of using adaptive capacity Tips on how bookkeepers can turn things around in their businesses Why picking the right people you surround yourself with will help your business To find out more about Joe, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Small businesses. It’s the heart of the global economy. Our guest, Keri Gohman, President of Xero Americas, is passionate about helping small businesses grow and thrive by enabling entrepreneurs to work toward their financial goals. For bookkeepers, Xero automates many basic functions allowing you to do tasks quickly and easily while maximizing your time, build relationships with your clients and have instant growth results. Xero is helping over 1 million subscribers worldwide transform the way they do business and they’re just getting started. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of bringing together the “Financial Web” for business success Tips on how to grow your clients, team and profits How being a trusted advisor will attract great people To find out more about Keri, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Buffer. LinkedIn. Youtube. These are some of the applications that are out there and within reach to streamline your business and make it grow. Seth David, Chief nerd and President of Nerd Enterprises, Inc., built his company through his confidence of making training videos which created a powerful online lead generation engine that has people calling him for his services. Today, Nerd Enterprises, Inc. is one of the leaders in the small business accounting world in online training by offering courses on a wide range of software products. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of producing great content marketing Step-by-step actions on how to manage your business and gain more profit Tips on how to network more effectively To find out more about Seth, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

We all need balance in our lives and she perfected it. Our guest, renowned publisher, founder & CEO of MomTrends, Nicole Feliciano, did this by understanding her priorities, taking action and making mindset changes that would alter her life for the better. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Work-life balance is possible and you're about to find out some tips to help make it a reality. During this interview, you'll discover... How to balance your entrepreneurship, family and success Powerful tips in making your bookkeeping clients satisfied How to have a successful bookkeeper and client relationship To find out more about Nicole Feliciano visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Focus and confidence. Those are the keys to attain success and become the Intuit Firm of the Future Global Winner. According to our guest, Karine Woodman, who is the owner of 24hr Bookkeeper, putting everything into experience will help bookkeepers avoid costly mistakes. During this interview, you'll discover... Effective tips in marketing, hiring & training Staff How to develop from desktop to QuickBooks How to build internal structures that are a company structure and not a customer facing structure To find out more about Karine Woodman visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Productivity, Production & Profitability. They play an important role to a successful bookkeeping business. According to our guest, co-founder & CEO of Receipt Bank, Alexis Prenn, bookkeeping should be a very profitable business and Productivity Manifesto explains how you can make this a reality. Productivity Manifesto will help you learn how focusing on one key ratio can be the foundation for building a productive, profitable, and scalable bookkeeping business that’s ready for the future. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of productivity in industrial scale How technology can help clients and “wow” them How technology can assist your staff and benefit them To find out more about Alexis, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Facebook. It's a powerful tool in bringing together like-minded people to create supportive communities. That's what we have with The Successful Bookkeeper Facebook group. It's filled with great bookkeepers who are always willing to help each other. Recently, we mentioned to them that Ben Robinson, the founder and chief teacher at the Bookkeeper Business Launch program, would be returning to our podcast. So, we asked them to pass along any questions. Ben was more than happy to answer and deliver incredible insight. During this informative interview, you'll discover... The importance of finding a support network that will guide you through your business What are the four pillars in launching a successful bookkeeping business What is the best marketing strategy for home-based companies To find out more about Ben, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Free. Everybody loves the sound of that. CPAacademy.org offers a free, easy-to-use platform for knowledge sharing and idea exchange through the marketing and presenting of the most up-to-date educational content and developments important to the accounting profession. According to our guest, CPAacademy.org President, Scott Zarret, his website isn't just for accountants, but bookkeepers can also receive great value by consuming its online courses and live webinars. To stay ahead of the game, it's important to have a continuous thirst for knowledge, so that's why a useful resource like CPAacademy.org can definitely be an asset as you grow your business. During this interview, you will discover... What to look for at CPAacademy.org and where's the best place to start for bookkeepers The advantages of a continuous learning culture Why getting out of your comfort zone and figuring out your goals will lead you to success To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you want clients? For those bookkeeping businesses that do, especially startups, it can be challenging to find them. Many bookkeepers aren't comfortable with prospecting because they'd rather just do the books. According to our guest, Omar Visram, who is the co-founder of Enkel which is a Vancouver-based bookkeeping practice, it doesn't have to be hard. When he began his business in 2016, he leveraged the power of coffee meetings for business referrals and it worked incredibly well. It was such a hit, his firm now has over 15 employees to handle the increased workload. During this interview, you'll learn... How to master an effective coffee meeting to produce results and not feel uncomfortable while doing it Why you should use your warm network to select people you'd like to meet Why coffee meetings are a quicker referral strategy then SEO and content marketing To find out more about Omar, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It's all about your perspective. If you think it's going to be a bad day, chances are it will. You're in control of your attitude and mood. You set the tone. Many of us forget that. According to business mentor, Sharon Francisco, who used the Pure Bookkeeping System to skyrocket the success of her bookkeeping business, you have to start your day right. Since many bookkeepers are operating solo, it's hard for them to be their own champions. Negative thoughts and doubts always seem to find a way into their minds. There are ways to break those mental cycles and become the confident and successful bookkeeper you are capable of being. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of using your first hour of the day to be inspired & filled with positivity Why it's okay to make mistakes and not beat yourself up over them Why you should have a clear idea of what you do and don't want in 6 main life categories To find out more about Sharon, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you THAT bookkeeper? You know, the one that tells her clients to set business goals for the year, but she, herself, doesn't set any? Our guest, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts has chatted with bookkeepers like that. She's discovered that if you don't take the time to set goals, you'll wander aimlessly without achieving what you'd like. Don't begin a fresh year like that. Instead, listen to Debbie as she will help get you on track by discussing... The importance of setting 12 month, 3 year and 5 year goals Why KPI reports are crucial to tracking your success Why you should have an accountability partner during your business journey To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Time. It's a precious resource. Yes, if you lose money, you can make it back, but once your time is used, it'll never return. With this in mind, our guest, Scott Friesen, who is a productivity expert, will help you better organize your time by introducing us to some great tools. During this interview, you'll discover... The power of Asana, Slack and Trello when it comes to project management and communication Why note-taking apps such as Evernote and Google Keep can help you store your ideas and give your overworked brain a break Why the Pomodoro Technique could be a time management strategy that changes your business life forever To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Why do you do what you do? Do you run a bookkeeping business only because it makes money? Is there deeper meaning? Our guest, Jeremy Allen, who owns System Six Bookkeeping which generates over a million dollars per year, has his own answer. The core value for his company is “Our Clients' Success Is Our Success.” At the end of the day, it's about assisting businesses to become as healthy as possible so they can flourish which ultimately helps our economy, feeds families and provides the quality of life you'd like. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of putting your clients first & committing to excellence with your bookkeeping services How to avoid being full up with the wrong clients by raising your prices Why you should always strive to improve and never rest on your success To find out more about Jeremy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Udemy. Have you heard of it? It's an online learning and teaching marketplace with over 55,000 courses and 15 million students. Recently, on The Successful Bookkeeper Facebook page, we noticed today's guest, Ron Trucks of RJT Consulting, posted a link to his Udemy course, Bookkeeping Basics, which received incredible engagement from our community. The course is 3 1/2 hours long and features 55 video lessons. Originally it was for people from non-bookkeeping backgrounds such as small business owners. So, why would established bookkeepers want to invest in a course that is mainly for beginners? You're about to find out. During this interview, you'll learn... How this course helps bookkeepers teach their clients bookkeeping fundamentals Why giving the gift of online education can make a great impression with customers Why it's important to communicate bookkeeping terms in a way your clients can understand To find out more about Ron, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bad hires. As you probably know, they can be an emotionally, financially and psychologically expensive decision for your bookkeeping business. If you don't have the RIGHT people working for you, you'll be inviting a storm of trouble. This is why it's absolutely crucial to bring employees on that are a fit. How do you do that? Today's guest, Carrie Mulrooney has some insight. She is an expert in establishing great work culture. Her company, Mulrooney & Associates, was named Canada's 2017 Bookkeeping firm of the year, so she knows what it takes to form a fantastic team. During this interview, you'll learn... The ingredients to look for in a terrific employee The importance of staff having input on company decisions Why celebrating group accomplishments together is great for morale To find out more about Carrie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Workflow. If your systems regarding it aren't great, your whole bookkeeping business suffers. Today, there are plenty of tools in the marketplace that help heal this pain point, but today we'll focus on one - Receipt Bank. What is it? Receipt Bank extracts the key information from your clients' bills, receipts and invoices, removing the need for manual data entry. It then allows you to publish this data directly to their accounting software. During this interview, our guest, Alexis Prenn, who is Receipt Bank's Co-Founder & CEO, will discuss... How Receipt Bank can help you deliver an awesome client experience Why you should always think of how workflow tools will ultimately result in giving customers value The importance of reviewing your clients' files at least 2 times a week To find out more about , visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Over 30,000 bookkeepers. According to the Canadian Revenue Agency, that's how many there are in the Great White North. You can only imagine what the number is in the United States. But, here's the thing, many bookkeepers across North America haven't taken leadership with their client relationships. Many choose to “fit in” by adapting to the software and workflows their customers currently have as opposed to letting the clients know how they want the working relationship to operate. According to Rachel Fisch, Accountants Group Leader at Sage Canada, the reason is bookkeepers are at odds with saying NO. They're kind people and problem solvers. They usually don't like conflict. But today, it's important to remember one thing. YOU have the choice to select the clients, software and workflows you want to work with. Hopefully, this episode will help you realize that. During this interview, you'll learn... How to help your clients see you as a valuable partner in their business success How to identify when you have a terrific or horrible client How to attract amazing customers through the use of a powerful spreadsheet exercise To find out more about Rachel, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Desperation. It lives within many business owners who are struggling to make revenue. When the panic heightens, they're likely to accept any clients that walk through the door. But, here's the thing, not all of them are a fit. In fact, by agreeing to help those bad apples, they sometimes end up costing you more in the long run. So, why don't bookkeepers say NO more often? Well, it's likely because of FEAR. Many don't want to lose the income. Our guest, Megan Goodall of Bastion Bookkeeping, is the classic example of how you shouldn't let fear paralyze you when it comes to recruiting new clients. She's realizing the magic formula is about knowing what you want your life and business to look like FIRST then finding the customers that will support your vision. During this interview, you'll learn... How to create the standard you want for your ideal client How to nurture good relationships with prospects in your local community The power of having a business goal and chipping away at it every day To find out more about Megan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

55 percent.   According to our guest, Plooto Co-Founder & CEO, Hamed Abbasi, that's the percentage of North American businesses that still use cheques daily to make payments.   In today's advanced technological age, that's hard to believe. Fortunately for bookkeepers, Plooto is a business-to-business payment management platform that makes things easier.   During this interview, you'll learn... How Plooto works and why it's a powerful tool How it can be used to teach and impress your bookkeeping clients Its new features that will make it even more user friendly To find out more about Plooto, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The robots are coming!   So what?   Yes, Artificial Intelligence has and will continue to take away some duties from bookkeepers, but according to our guest who is the founder and chief teacher at the Bookkeeper Business Launch program, the future is something to look forward to and not to be feared. Ben Robinson has helped thousands of people start their own virtual bookkeeping businesses and along the way has realized relationship building with clients and becoming their trusted advisor will protect bookkeepers from the AI invasion.   During this interview, you'll discover... Why you should call your clients once in awhile to check in on them with no business agenda to build deeper rapport Why you should know the jobs, pains and gains of your ideal customers and use simple marketing methods to reach them How you can go from pain to power by taking action despite your fears To find out more about Ben, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

She's back!   After Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and E-Myth Bookkeeper co-author, Debbie Roberts did such a great job answering bookkeepers' questions in her previous appearance, she has returned to answer some more! During this interview, you'll learn... Her proven strategy to transition from a full-time job to running a bookkeeping business The importance of having a powerful vision to power you through the hard times Why being a part of a bookkeeping association is a wise investment To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology.   As you've heard, it's quickly taking over some bookkeeping duties and it doesn't appear to be slowing down.   However, there's a way to keep your business viable during these interesting times.   According to our guest, Evelyn Jacks, who is the founder and president of Knowledge Bureau which is Canada’s leading tax and financial services post-secondary educational institute for continuing professional development, you need to be a trusted advisor.   Artificial Intelligence can't replace the human touch of offering guidance to your clients.   To become a trusted advisor, you have to be on top of your education and always be learning, so you can utilize that insight.   During this informative interview, you'll also discover... Why you should consider yourself as a Real Wealth Manager Why you must have corporate and personal tax knowledge in your bookkeeping toolkit The importance of taking the time to educate yourself on new industry trends and other relevant news To find out more about Evelyn, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

So, you want to grow your business to the next level?   As you probably guessed, it's not easy, but it can be done and there are many ways to get there.   For our guest, Cheryl Knight of the Balcatta, Australia-based, Carbon Bookkeeping, she partnered with others to form a mega firm where she runs her $1 million dollar business inside a $7 million dollar one.   It's a unique situation, but it's one that likely wouldn't have happened if she hadn't set up her business for success beforehand.   During this interview, you'll discover... The power of documenting your business procedures and writing checklists to teach staff The importance of being open to new ideas that could provide profitable opportunities Why you should be adaptable to industry trends to always remain relevant and valuable to clients To find out more about Cheryl , visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bookkeepers are everywhere.   As a result, prospects have a lot of choice, so what makes you stand out?   Why should someone choose you over another bookkeeper?   Today's guest, Dorie Clark, who is a branding expert, author and speaker that has worked with Google, Microsoft & Yale University, feels you can get an advantage by becoming a recognized expert.   During this informative conversation, you'll learn... Why you should take control of your narrative and personal brand The three ingredients you'll need to broadcast your bookkeeping expertise to the world Why you should always look for ways to bring client value and create additional revenue streams To find out more about Dorie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Experience.   Pure Bookkeeping Co-Founder & E-Myth Bookkeeper Co-Author, Debbie Roberts has been in the bookkeeping industry a long time.   She's made every mistake possible, but learned from them and eventually documented all her wisdom into systems she would use to successfully run her bookkeeping business.   Today, she's on the podcast to answer YOUR questions!   During this interview, you'll learn... Why having a vision for your business impacts your future decisions Why checklists can be a powerful way to keep your staff on track Why bookkeeping startups should focus on one type of bookkeeping software To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Let's face it.   Without your team members, you'd likely be drowning in client work right now.   But, fortunately, you have great people working with you that believe in you and your company and are providing terrific results.   Sometimes, though, things can get busy and, as a business owner, you might forget to let your staff know how grateful you are for their efforts.   It's important to acknowledge their excellence and help them grow in their roles.   Our guest, Tammy Christiansen of Aeble Business Services realizes this and has seen her business prosper as a result of taking care of her staff.   It truly does make a difference.   During this interview, you'll discover... Why you should allow your staff to make some decisions to improve the business while you have the final say Why you must encourage and support your team through good and bad times Why you should consider investing in your staff by having them take courses & other educational opportunities  To find out more about Tammy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

You don't need to be alone. As a bookkeeper, it's pretty easy to isolate yourself especially if you're a solo practice working from home.   For some, they don't even realize how big of a community of bookkeepers there is in the world.   Our guest, a marketing and branding expert for bookkeepers, Amy Hooke had no idea.   In the early days of her bookkeeping business, she was too busy dealing with terrible clients to notice.   But, that all changed for the better.   Today, she's a part of a supportive group of bookkeepers that give her the confidence she never had before.   Being with these like-minded people definitely changed her world for the better.   Joining a bookkeeping community can do the same for you.   During this interview, you'll learn... How fellow bookkeepers can point out the positives in you that you never knew you had How a bookkeeping community can provide good advice when you're dealing with client issues Why you should find ways to pay it forward to your bookkeeper friends To find out more about Amy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Predictable and repeatable.   It might sound boring, but when it comes to creating systems, that's what you want in order to ensure you and your staff create the same positive result over and over again.   Your marketing is no different.   Today's guest, John Jantsch, the author of the popular book, Duct Tape Marketing, has some tips on how you can fine tune your marketing efforts. During this interview, you'll learn...   The power of building a 90-day plan from your marketing strategy Why it's important to know who your ideal clients are & what your core promise is to them The importance of focus and delegation when creating your marketing system   To find out more about John, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What if you fail?   That question has crossed the minds of many bookkeepers when first starting their businesses.   It's perfectly normal and it's something that our return guest, Debbie Roberts asked herself in the beginning.   She was concerned that if her bookkeeping services weren't good, her reputation would be damaged and that would affect her business. It scared her that, as a small business owner, she didn't have any backup.   Fortunately, for her and bookkeepers worldwide, the co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping and co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper overcame her fears and became a tremendous success.   During this interview, you'll learn... Why having small wins through bite-sizeable, manageable & planned actions can give you confidence The importance of realizing your mind usually makes your concerns worse than what they seem How the weaknesses in your personal life can hold you back in your business if you let them To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you introverted? If so, you're not alone. Many bookkeepers are. But, what if there were ways to be more at ease around people and have win-win partnerships with them? Today's guest, Siobhan Harrop-Scott of Harrop Scott & Associates Ltd., has some ideas that just might help. Through her bookkeeping business, she's developed hundreds of connections and has become a terrific leader for her staff. During this insightful interview, you'll learn...  The importance of listening and taking notes when speaking with people and having a system to record that information for future meetings Why you must be supportive and consistent in your daily communication with your staff Why building positive relationships are good for relieving stress To find out more about Siobhan, visit here. 

Prospects. How do they hear about your bookkeeping business? Do you do in-person networking? Do you advertise in local media? Do you solely use referrals? Our guest, Katrina Aarsman, who is from Melbourne, Australia and is the owner of Bookkeepers HQ where she mentors bookkeepers, has some strategies that you can add to your marketing basket. During this interview, you'll learn... How joining business-focused Facebook groups and providing value to those audiences can lead to sales How using the LinkedIn advanced search engine can connect you with your ideal clients How leveraging a joint venture referral partnership with someone you know, like and trust can become profitable To find out more about Katrina, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Investing. For your bookkeeping business to be successful, you'll need to invest money into products, programs, systems and tools to ensure your operation has all the resources it needs to deliver great service to your clients. This reality is one our guest, Peter Broberg of Monitor Bookkeeping Services based in Perth, Australia, accepted and has never looked back. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of buying a proven and pre-made system that allows you to focus on your business instead of reinventing the wheel Why exploring fixed pricing can be a game-changer and who you should research to implement it properly The importance of always looking for ways to automate your enterprise to increase its efficiency and productivity To find out more about Peter, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Starting out is always scary. There are so many unknowns which makes it incredibly easy to stay in your comfort zone and not take any chances. Our special return guest today, the lovely and talented, Debbie Roberts of Pure Bookkeeping, remembers what those times were like. Fortunately, with the help of her longtime business coach and co-founder of PB, Peter Cook, she overcame those fears and realized her true potential as a successful bookkeeping business owner. For those of you who are just beginning your bookkeeping entrepreneurial journey, don't worry, Debbie is about to give you some golden tips to help you through the bumps. During this inspiring interview, you'll learn... How to increase your confidence when speaking with accountants and prospects The importance of leaning on qualified mentors to ask questions and advice to avoid mistakes Why practice and preparation will always serve you well when marketing yourself to others To find out more about Debbie & Pure Bookkeeping, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Hiring mistakes. Unfortunately, many bookkeeping business owners make them. Those poor decisions likely cause emotional and financial stress in addition to the large amount of time used to mop up the bookkeeping messes of those you thought could do the job. One man who has cracked the code on how to hire great and loyal staff is our guest today, Bob Wang. He is the owner of Legacy Advantage which has 2 offices and around 15 employees and will make $1 million in sales this year. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of building a powerful company vision that will inspire others to want to be on your team Why having the right culture fit is a huge requirement when hiring someone new How to craft an effective and unique job advertisement that will attract your ideal future employees To find out more about Bob, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Who do you want to work with? If you answered, “EVERYONE.” That could likely cost you. Many bookkeepers don't have a clear niche of clients they focus on and, as a result, they likely accept any new customers that walk through the door. Unfortunately, that thinking can attract potentially bad clients who are not a fit. By not taking the time to identify what type of client would be ideal from a financial and personality standpoint, accepting “EVERYONE” can lead to increased headaches, stress and payment issues. It doesn't have to be this way. Our guest, Ingrid Edstrom pointed out that in 2015, her bookkeeping company, Polymath, had 96 clients, but after finding a profitable niche, it now serves only 30, but it makes double the money. Once you figure out what core group of customers work best for you, it can be an absolute game-changer in your bookkeeping business. During this fun and inspiring interview, you'll learn... Why you should focus on an industry niche that you want to work with and that can pay you well What questions to ask yourself to determine your ideal niche clients To not be afraid to refer potential clients who aren't a fit to other bookkeepers To find out more about Ingrid, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Be of service. Usually, you'd think helping your bookkeeping clients would be enough. But, if you want to be truly valuable and generate countless referrals, it pays to be on the good side of accountants as well. Today's guest, Lynne Moore, who is the owner of LAM Consulting, has mastered the art of attracting the best referrals by being of great value to accountants and her clients. By assisting both, it has created a profitable business where she doesn't spend a penny on marketing including not even having a website. During this interview, you'll learn... What to ask your new clients in order to connect with their accountants Why it's important to know how accountants want their files prepared Why clients and accountants like when you have a relationship with both sides To find out more about Lynne, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Have you made this important decision? Many bookkeepers haven't. The decision in question is whether you want your bookkeeping business to make lifestyle income where you trade your time for dollars to hopefully earn $100,000 to $200,000 per year... Or... You want to grow your business by creating teachable and repeatable systems so it can run without you and eventually be sold to a third party for potentially bigger profits. Our guest today, John Warrillow, who wrote the book, Built To Sell, feels you should figure out what direction you want to go so you can align the appropriate actions towards achieving your goals before it's too late. During this interview, you'll learn... Why your profit and loss statement isn't a good business value indicator How to determine if your business is scalable using the Trifecta of Scale The importance of having teachable systems to help your business function without you and be more attractive to potential buyers To find out more about John, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The classroom. It was once the main destination where people consumed educational information, but in today's online world, things have changed and bookkeepers are slowly becoming more open to learning in new ways. Managing Director of K2E Canada Inc. and IPBC board member, Alan Salmon recently conducted a survey that measured how bookkeepers and accountants learn. It was sent to 10,000 contacts and 990 responded. The results were fascinating. During this informative interview, you'll learn... What is the number one online educational tool for bookkeepers How active bookkeepers are in social media groups Whether bookkeepers still consume traditional forms of media To find out more about Alan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you looking for clients? If you're just starting your bookkeeping business then you might be. If you're already up and running then maybe you'd like to add some more business. A way to do it other than spending thousands of dollars on marketing is to get referrals. How do you do that? Our returning guest, Melissa Lenos of King Accounting Solutions, knows how to master this fine art. She never spends money on advertising because her revenue comes strictly from referrals only. During this interview, you'll learn... How to turn a conversation with your client's accountant into a new referral partnership Why you should have lunch and learns with senior managers at accounting firms How to leverage BNI to have a 30-50 person sales team for your bookkeeping business To find out more about Melissa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Chaos. No one likes that in their bookkeeping business. But, when you don't have a trusted process or system in place for staff to follow which details how your operation works, a tornado of destruction will likely ensue. This could happen because clear instructions are not given on how things get done, so others will come up with their own solutions which can lead to disaster including some angry clients. Today, our guest David Cristello, who is the founder of Jetpack Workflow, will offer some suggestions to get you started on systemizing your bookkeeping business. During this interview, you'll learn... Why it's important to download your brain into a Google Doc Why the quality of your product is dependent on the quality of your process Why you should include your staff in the creation of your systems To find out more about David, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Emails. According to our return guest, productivity expert and owner of Simpletivity, Scott Friesen, he says the average professional spends 6.3 hours per day tending to their emails in some capacity. Those are easily hours that could be dedicated to more important things, but for many reasons we're choosing to be a slave to our inboxes. Today that's about to end. It's time you take a stand and Scott will help. During this informative interview, you'll learn... Why you should space out the time in between checking emails How to turn off your email notifications Why it's important to acknowledge email requests quickly & provide a deadline to address them To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your home office. It's the location where many bookkeepers begin their business journey. It's convenient, affordable and comfortable. It can also be a lonely place. Think of the days when you're so swamped with work that you don't even have time to go outside. Before you know it, you're completely cut off from civilization. You're essentially on your own little island. Sound familiar? Today's guest will help you get a little more balance in your life. Tanis Young is an Alberta-based bookkeeping business owner who knows what it's like to feel isolated because she experienced it herself when she was starting out. During this interview, you'll learn... How to be intentionally social by actively engaging with your clients' accountants & seeking associations to join Why having a mindset of collaboration can build strong bonds with fellow bookkeepers & clients Why surrounding yourself with top achievers is a must To find out more about Tanis visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. For bookkeepers, it can be a great thing, but also a scary one. With all types of automated bookkeeping software and apps out there, some of you might be worried that your services may be obsolete because of new advances in technology. According to today's guest, the co-founder and chair of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada, Dianne Mueller, there is a way to make yourself valuable so you can thrive despite these uncertain times. During this interview, you'll learn... The one mindset shift that will help your business adapt and prosper during this rapidly changing digital age Why you need to get out of your bookkeeping box to expand your network and build strong connections Why you should learn from successful bookkeeping leaders to get where you want to be To find out more about Dianne visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you WOW your clients? If not, you might lose them. According to our guest, customer service expert and New York Times best-selling author, Shep Hyken, you have to recognize every interaction you have with a client forms an impression, so make it a good one. During this interview, you'll discover... The power of gratitude and how it will take your customer service to new heights The importance of truly understanding your clients' needs How to deal with difficult customers in a respectful way To find out more about Shep, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your office. Does it look like a tornado whipped through it or is everything organized and tidy? For some bookkeepers, when life gets hectic, it's pretty tough to keep their desk in order. Have no fear, today's guest has some great suggestions to help you get on track. Lisa Campbell-Marchese is the owner of a bookkeeping company called The Marcam Group. Throughout her 25 years of experience, she had to learn different tricks to handle not only the constant referrals she received and current workload, but she's had to do it all while balancing being a mother too. She understood things had to change to increase her efficiency and make her work/life balance realistic. As a result of being open to learning new strategies, she's been very successful and now she'll share some of her golden tips with you. During this informative interview, you'll discover... Why having 3 monitors in your personal workspace can help you be more productive Why you'll want Jetpack Workflow & Hubdoc to be your new best friends Why having systems is crucial in organizing any part of your life To find out more about Lisa & the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Value Pricing. Some bookkeepers love it while others don't. There's no question Value Pricing can be complicated to implement because setting rates for bookkeeping services is very subjective due to the varying needs of different clients. Our guest today, Mark Wickersham, who is a chartered accountant, author and public speaker, will give you clarity on how you can profitably use Value Pricing in your business. During this informative interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to ask commitment questions to prospects Why you need to build up the value of what you do first before revealing your price Why the first price you present to a client should be the most expensive To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Are you overwhelmed? Some bookkeeping business owners with families are. Let's face it. It's hard work making sure the kids are fed and your clients are happy. Our guest, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan knows the battle all to well. She's a bookkeeper who helps lawyers grow their practices profitably. But, she also doesn't like grocery shopping. It used to really drain her. In fact, doing some of these family tasks would take up her weekends then she'd dread going to the office on Monday especially during tax season. Well, that all changed when she discovered how to streamline these duties so she could not only be more efficient at home and with her business, but she was able to enjoy life at a more reasonable pace. During this interview, you'll learn... How to utilize the power of productivity apps such as Evernote to keep you on track Why delegating tasks to family members is a must Why planning meals weeks in advance is a huge time-saver To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Ask questions. Some bookkeepers don't do this when working with clients. As a result, they are missing out on an incredible opportunity to not only help their customers grow their businesses, but they lose the chance to become a powerful asset to them in the process. Our guest, Angela Meharg, who owns Datisfy which helps business owners receive custom QuickBooks reports, feels bookkeepers should increase their value by digging deeper and truly getting to know what their clients' needs are. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should research the industry your customer is in and find out the things that are typically measured The crucial questions to ask your client that could be the key in solving their major problems and catapulting them to greater success Why you must send a monthly email to your customer detailing how you've gone over and above to assist them To find out more about Angela, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

You're not alone. According to our guest, Melanie Power, who is the head of bookkeeping at Xero, many bookkeepers are working on their own. They might have staff, but they probably aren't as like-minded. As a result, bookkeeping can be isolating, but there's a way to battle that. You could start by joining bookkeeper communities like Melanie's Bookkeeper Revolution and our own Successful Bookkeeper Facebook Group. It's a great way to share challenges and wins with people who know what you're going through and are willing to support you. During this interview, you'll learn... How to collaborate with bookkeepers across the globe Why selling isn't a dirty word The importance of getting your business model down To find out more about Melanie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Fear. Your bookkeeping clients have it. They're always frightened or worried about something especially the survival of their business. When incorporating new software (ie: cloud-based or otherwise) into your bookkeeping services, this may also be scary for them since it's their money you're working with. Our guest today, Jan Haugo, who is the CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) USA, sees a great leadership opportunity for you, the bookkeeper, when it comes to learning and informing your clients about the new technology you'll use, so you can help grow their business and become their trusted advisor. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of testing new software first for effectiveness before incorporating it with your services Why you should confidently detail what benefits this new technology will do for your customers Why you must reassure and offer continuously support for your clients during this transition To find out more about Jan visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Goal setting. Yes, it can be hard. It requires deep analysis of what you truly want to acquire, why you haven't achieved it yet and how you'll go about making your dreams a reality. Our guest today knows how to master the fine art of successfully setting and executing goals. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and the co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts wouldn't have achieved her great wins without determining her destination first. During this informative interview, you'll learn... The importance of taking time to evaluate what you want to achieve Why you should work backwards when figuring out how to accomplish your goals Why you'll need an accountability partner to keep you focused To find out more about Debbie and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com. 

Technology. Most bookkeepers can't survive without it. You probably have your “go to” software that helps you run your business. Today's guest, Managing Director of K2E Canada Inc. and IPBC board member, Alan Salmon, who is Canada's leading analyst in the area of accounting technology, will open your mind with some different options you might have never considered before. During this interview, you'll discover... 3 tools that can dramatically increase your productivity and efficiency The fascinating results of a survey that reveal what the average bookkeeper earns per year and other details Tips on how to organize your day the night before to achieve optimal success To find out more about Alan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Business networking. If you're an introverted bookkeeper, it can be a scary thing. But, it doesn't have to be. Just ask our guest today. Dr. Ivan Misner is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) which is the world's largest business networking and business referral organization. It has over 7,800 chapters and 213,000 members in 72 countries. So, he knows what he's talking about.  During this fascinating interview, you'll learn... 4 things to look for when deciding on what networking group to join How identifying certain body language cues in others can enable you to approach them more easily Why networking isn't a face-to-face cold calling opportunity To find out more about Dr. Misner, his books, BNI and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bad hires. If you're a bookkeeping business owner, you've probably had one of those. They can be painful and toxic for many reasons including the damage they can inflict on your workplace culture. Our guest today, Melissa Lenos of King Accounting Solutions, knows what it's like to hire poorly. She's done it before, but she is wiser now and will share her lessons learned to help you avoid the same mistakes. During this informative conversation, you'll discover... Why you should consider looking for your ideal employee 6 months in advance Why you must hire based on the job candidate's skills AND personality The importance of having consistent staff communication and being available for support To find out more about Melissa and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com. 

Are you ready? The time has come for you, the bookkeeper, to realize you're a truly valuable asset to small businesses. The days of you thinking you're not a core piece are over because, without your expert knowledge and skills, your clients would be in serious financial distress. According to our guest, Garry Carter, the co-founder of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), bookkeeping isn't a trade, it's a profession. Many bookkeepers don't think that way. That's unfortunate because you are a valuable professional. The more you realize that, the more profit and impact you'll have. During this interview, you'll learn... Your number one thing that makes your business unique Why your day-to-day client care is crucial to establishing trust and value Why ICB is a powerful organization to support bookkeepers To find out more about Garry and the ICB, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you know what a lion looks like? Of course you do. Your brain automatically creates an image that needs no explanation. Unfortunately, when you introduce yourself as a bookkeeper, people automatically have a mental picture of someone who does data entry, collects receipts and so on. If you're trying to set yourself apart, your label has to change. Our guest, Mike Michalowicz, who is the author of books such as Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, can help you stand out. During this interview, you'll learn... Why becoming a profit advisor is more attractive to potential clients than just being a bookkeeper Why you should learn the envelope banking system then teach it to your customers for their financial health How you can use the power of Parkinson's law to help you and your clients' businesses To find out more about Mike, his newly revised book, Profit First and his white paper, How Bookkeepers Can Position Their Business To Get More Clients, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Niverville, Manitoba. The population is around 3500. You'd figure running a bookkeeping business there would be extremely challenging. Well, it can be unless you're our guest today, Mira Salter. She is the owner of Emerald Tree Accounting Services who found a way to be a success despite operating her business in a small town. Her secret? She discovered a couple of niches by catering her bookkeeping services to non-profits and parishes in her surrounding area. Her business has been doing extremely well ever since. During this inspiring interview, you'll learn... Why focusing on a specific niche can lead to more business Why you should always get referrals from clients you love Why you should take advantage of networking opportunities To find out more about Mira and access the script for generating referrals from your customer base visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you hate asking clients for their receipts? Or any other documents to get your bookkeeping job done? If you said yes, you know how incredibly frustrating that scenario is, for not only you, but your clients as well. You might be spending more time doing those administrative duties than actually advising your clients on the financial state of their businesses! Our guest today found a solution. Jamie Shulman is the co-founder & co-CEO of Hubdoc which is software that extracts key information from your receipts, invoices and bills. It's changing lives for many bookkeepers, accountants and entrepreneurs. During this interview, you'll discover... How Hubdoc can allow you to become a trusted advisor, instead of an administrator, with clients Why standardizing your bookkeeping software can help you find your ideal customers Why you should always be keeping up-to-date with the latest bookkeeping technology To find out more about Jamie visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Are you determined to having a successful bookkeeping business? If you are, you'll have to commit to doing things that are likely out of your comfort zone. One of them is networking. For many bookkeepers, this is a terrifying task. But, you know what? Networking is necessary and effective. Just ask, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts. In the early days of her business, she remembers being afraid of networking, but once she realized that mastering it could lead to more clients, she worked on her confidence and communication skills then the referrals began to roll in. You can do the same. During this interview, you'll learn... Strategies on how to successfully approach people at an event even if you're scared The power of Givers Gain & not focusing on helping yourself first when networking The qualities of a great networking group and where to find them Why business coaches can be an incredible referral source for your business To find out more about Debbie and her 60 second infomercial script resource, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Do you want a successful bookkeeping business? Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts certainly did. When she first began her entrepreneurial journey, it had many bumps, but the best decision she made was hiring master business coach, Peter Cook to help her along the way. At the time, little did she know that Peter would become the source of inspiration, guidance and accountability she'd need to create the now popular Pure Bookkeeping System and eventually sell her personal bookkeeping business for over 6 figures. Peter, who is a co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping as well, saw the potential in Debbie and now she has transformed into a terrific success story. During this interview, you'll learn not only about Peter and Debbie's journey together, but you'll also discover the crucial tips you'll need to operate a prosperous bookkeeping business. Some include... Why clients will pay any price if you focus on solving their pain first instead of just marketing your services Why having accountability is the difference maker in achieving your goals Why basing hiring decisions on job interviews is a waste of your time To find out more about Peter and to check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you ready to get some sales? If the thought of you finding new clients makes you want to curl up in a ball and hide from civilization for a few days, you're not alone. Most bookkeepers just want to do the books and let word of mouth referrals bring in the business. That's not always enough. Many times you'll have to go out in your community and go to networking events or other public places to meet prospects. For bookkeepers this can be a frightening thought. Our guest today is a sales expert who has lots of experience helping service-based business owners get over their fears in order to increase their profits. Lori Richardson of Score More Sales will help you change your mindset around sales and show you that it's actually a way to help build strong and vibrant communities. During this informative interview, you'll learn... -Why it's important to focus on relationship building and helping others when networking -The key questions to ask to find out if the person you're with is either a suspect or prospect -Why you should never take rejection personally when someone decides not to hire you To find out more about Lori and check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you afraid to take risks? Many people are. It's fear that paralyzes them from catapulting their businesses to higher levels of profitability. Patricia Sawatzky was like you. She was scared to get out of her comfort zone. An admitted introverted bookkeeper, who operates her business, TAP Bookkeeping, out of small town Campbell River, British Columbia, was hesitant about making any big leaps. But once she recognized the value in taking a risk, her business and world would change forever. Today, the clients are rolling in and now she's become an inspiration to bookkeepers across Canada. During this interview, you'll learn... The tools that can help you feel more at ease when making scary decisions about your business Why it's important to take advantage of organizations like the IPBC to get you comfortable in social environments Why professional growth only happens with personal growth To find out more about Patricia and to download the resource mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

How many to-do lists do you have? How many of the tasks on those lists have you actually finished on a consistent basis? For many bookkeepers, the answer is likely “not many.” Why is that? For most, distractions get in the way such as email, useless meetings and other potential time wasters. Our guest today, Scott Friesen of Simpletivity is here to help! He's a productivity expert who will teach you the following... How to batch the amount of times you check email to improve your focus on more important activities Why planning the night before to complete 2 top priorities the next day is extremely powerful Why spending too much time on strategizing “what to do” instead of actually executing negatively affects your results To find out more about Scott, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you struggling when it comes to recruiting or maintaining a terrific team? You're not alone. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and co-author of E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts has been there. Over her 30 plus year bookkeeping career, she realized there were many moving parts when assembling her rockstar squad of great, talented and loyal bookkeeping staff. She learned from her mistakes and is now passing on those words of wisdom to you. During this fascinating interview, you'll learn... How to engage your employees in your vision and mission How to build loyalty with your staff How to create systems that give great job satisfaction for your team To find out more about Debbie, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

How confident are you? If your answer is not very, you're not alone. Many bookkeepers struggle with self-confidence for various reasons. According to our guest, Vicki Fenn, who is an elite leadership and personal improvement coach, you don't have to. During this interview, you'll learn... How to boost your confidence to a level you've never had before Why it's important to focus on your strengths to build you up Why you should get excited about hearing “no's” from prospects To find out more about Vicki, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Will you be left behind? In recent years, cloud accounting has been all the rage. For some bookkeepers, though, it has been a challenge to implement for various reasons. Here's the thing. If those bookkeepers aren't willing to adjust and find ways to figure it out or hire people to help them, they will eventually be out of business. According to Senior Business Development Manager for Intuit Australia, there is hope. You just have to block out some time and evaluate how being in the cloud can help your business then take action. During this interview, you'll learn... How to choose the right cloud accounting software for you Why automation is powerful for your enterprise Why it's important to become a digital mechanic To find out more about Trent, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/14

Are you wasting your time? Many of us do. It's usually in the form of busy work or other activities that shouldn't be a priority. Before you know it, a week has gone by and you don't even remember what you did! What if you could do the fun things you want and still get done the necessary stuff that isn't as enjoyable? According to Laura Vanderkam, the author of I Know How She Does It, it's completely possible. She conducted a time diary study that focused on the 1001 days in the lives of professional women, who have children, to see how they used their waking hours. The results were quite eye-opening. During this interview, you'll learn... How many hours you really have to dedicate to creating the work/life balance you crave How to find out what you'd truly like to do with your spare time Why tracking your time is absolutely crucial to your future happiness To find out more about Laura and her books, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/13

Stop hiring poorly qualified employees! Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts knows the effects of that. During her 30 plus year career, she's hired her share of disasters that cost her time, credibility and sanity. After learning from her mistakes, she eventually figured out how to systemize her hiring process which was one of the things that eventually helped her bookkeeping business sell for high 6 figures in 2014. During this episode, you'll learn... How to create a skills test to measure the ability of potential bookkeeping employees What questions to ask when interviewing job candidates Why you should never believe a resume To check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/12

It's time to investigate value pricing. Ron Baker has devoted his life to eliminating the billable hour and time sheets. If you're a bookkeeper that depends on those things, you might be concerned. But, Baker has an alternative. He is an expert on Value Pricing where he believes set prices for services should be presented upfront to customers. His movement is catching fire and may be something that could help you. During this episode, you'll learn... How to implement value pricing in your bookkeeping business How to have a value conversation with your new and old customers The importance of offering 3 different price packages To check out the free resources mentioned in this episode, visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/11

Inspirational. Heather Weiler is exactly that. She is the owner of Weiler Bookkeeping Services, but more incredible is the journey she travelled before becoming a business owner. A few years ago, while she was 7 months pregnant with her third son, her husband died in a car accident. For many, it could have broken them forever. Not Heather. It was a heartbreaking moment in her life, but she kept moving forward. Through sheer courage, determination, perseverance and conviction, she found a way to support her kids and create a great business that continues to grow every day. During this powerful episode, you'll learn... How your mindset is the determining factor in your success especially during challenging times How the power of community can help you in your darkest hour Why it's important to have grit, focus, a willingness to learn and a great work ethic to achieve your goals To find out more about Heather, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/10

Networking. If you're an introvert, the very thought of it might strike fear into your heart. It's hard to gather the energy to meet strangers at events and attempt to create rapport, so they can like you enough to want to hear how your business can assist them. Today's guest is an introvert and has been where you are, but she cracked the code on how to overcome her struggles to achieve success. Her name is Beth Buelow and she is a trusted speaker, published author and host of The Introvert Entrepreneur podcast. During this episode, you'll learn... How to let go of your negative inner stories around why you don't like networking The importance of seeing networking as having meaningful conversations with people and not feeling like you have to push your business onto them Why listening is an introvert's greatest superpower especially when it comes to networking and sales To find out more about Beth, visit here - https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/09

Sales & Marketing. For many bookkeeping business owners, they'd love to outsource those activities and just focus on doing the books. But, if you're an underpaid bookkeeper, you'll have to roll up your sleeves and do the marketing and sales yourself. This reality is a frightening thought for many introverted bookkeepers. But, today's guest, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts was just like you. She hated marketing, but with help from her business coach, Peter Cook, she got over her fears and discovered some great marketing and sales tips along the way which enabled her to create a 6-figure bookkeeping business with a staff of 12 bookkeepers. So, if she could be successful, it's possible for you too. During this episode, you'll learn... -How to overcome the negative mindset you have towards marketing -Various useful strategies to attract more referrals including approaching accountants -The importance of having an accountability partner who pushes you out of your comfort zone and keeps you on track To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/08 

It's a busy world. You're overwhelmed with distractions. For many bookkeeping business owners, they're not only balancing an enterprise but families too. How do you make it all work? Today's guest will show you how. Productivity expert and host of the podcast, The Productive Woman, Laura McClellan will give you some proven tips to help you navigate through your action-packed life, so you can have more time to do things you truly love without feeling guilty about it. This interview was recorded during a mastermind call with Michael Palmer and the licensees of the company, Pure Bookkeeping. Enjoy! To find out more about Laura and The Productive Woman podcast, visit here - https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/07

LinkedIn. It's likely the most powerful business related social media network out there. If you don't have a presence on it, it's also a huge untapped opportunity that could be the golden ticket for many more sales leads and networking opportunities for your bookkeeping business. If you're like many bookkeepers, who don't know how social media works or seriously question if it's worth their time, you're about to find out some extremely useful information. Our guest, LinkedIn Customer Success Leader, Perry Monaco, whose worked there 6 years and has helped many companies attract new business leads, will walk you through step-by-step on the following... How to create an effective profile that will clearly communicate who you are and what you offer, so prospects will know where to find you The importance of figuring out your target audience and knowing exact who they are so you can cater your LinkedIn profile to them How to further boost your credibility as a bookkeeping expert by creating and sharing relevant content with your audience To find out more about the resources Perry mentioned in this episode, visit any of the below: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/06

Most people don't want to be sold to. They want to feel special. They want their voice heard and have their needs taken care of. Most importantly, they desire a service provider that will truly look out for them in their time of need. According to Intuit Canada's Quickbooks Online Senior Product Manager, Melika Hope, the best way to do that for bookkeepers is to create an authentic relationship with potential clients. If you do, you'll open the door to opportunity. In this interview, you’ll learn... Why meeting your prospects in person to understand their small business and its challenges are great ways to build trust and rapport Why prioritizing time to develop meaningful client relationships is a must And why having a mindset of service will endear you to stressed small business owners who urgently need help with their finances To find out more about the resources Melika mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/05

Bookkeeper Debbie Roberts built a business that gave her freedom and a great income. She had 12 bookkeepers working for her. She charged some of the highest rates in her market place, was able to take up to 6 weeks off at a time, only worked 1 day a week in her business and eventually sold the business for over $500,000. While this sounds amazing, it was not easy. She made every mistake in the book along the way but instead of making those mistakes again and again she build systems around the solutions. It took over 6 years but she eventually got the business to operate more like a business and less like a job. In this  interview, you’ll learn... Some of the mistakes Debbie made and how to avoid them How to get staff to take ownership 1 resources that change the game completely (Plus you can have a free copy by signing up for our FREE RESOURCES) To find out more about Debbie and Pure Bookkeeping, you can visit any of the below: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/04

It's not everyday you hear from a legend. In this episode, you will. INC Magazine calls Michael E. Gerber, “The World's #1 Small Business Guru” and deservedly so. He's a New York Times Best-Selling author of The E-Myth Revisited, which has sold millions of copies, and has co-written other impactful books including The E-Myth Bookkeeper. During his over 40 years of teaching the value of systemizing your enterprise, Michael has helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses across the globe. In this powerful interview, you’ll learn... * Why you're invisible as a bookkeeper and how you can break through that perception by becoming a leader in your client's eyes * The importance of changing your “technician” mindset and not operating your business like a job * And why you should be the chief aggravator in your industry To find out more about Michael, his books and courses, you can visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/03  

You hear it all the time. As technology improves, more human operated jobs are becoming obsolete. What about bookkeeping? Will software or a robot be the end to your business? According to Louie Prosperi, the CEO of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC), there is definitely hope, but you have to adjust with the times. His organization helps hundreds of bookkeepers nationwide learn cutting edge skills, meet new people and prepare for future trends that will allow their businesses to grow. In this informative interview, you’ll learn... * Why you should communicate your value in this age of automation by providing more services, including consulting, that best suit your client's needs * The importance of keeping up with technology to better serve your customers and make sure software is properly monitored and running smoothly * Why it's crucial to document what services you provide onsite so you can charge them accordingly through value pricing or an hourly rate * And how being a part of the IPBC can help you be ready for the future through its various useful resources, meetings and annual member conference To find out more about Louie, you can visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/02  

Debbie Roberts. During her over 30 year bookkeeping career, the Australian made every business mistake in the book. But, the key was she learned from them and the global bookkeeping community would benefit. How? Thanks to Debbie's chance meeting with a business coach, Peter Cook, at a networking event in the early 2000s, he'd suggest she use all her learnings to create systems in her business. Eventually they'd form a company called Pure Bookkeeping then develop The Pure Bookkeeping System which is helping hundreds of bookkeepers over 3 continents. Today, Debbie is an inspiring success story after selling her original bookkeeping business for a high 6-figure amount in 2014. In this interview, you’ll learn... * The one question that Debbie asked herself every time she made mistakes with her business * Why it's crucial to have systems in place before hiring new staff * And why it's critical to not be afraid to communicate with current clients when changes in your business are on the horizon To find out more about Debbie and Pure Bookkeeping, you can visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/01