Accounting Voices Podcast The Unplugged Vacation - How Accountants Value Time
Brannon Poe is the author of "The Unplugged Vacation," and founder of Poe Group Advisors and Accounting Practice Academy. Rob Brown and Brannon Poe delve into the often-overlooked challenges accountants face in managing their time and achieving work-life balance. Brannon, sheds light on the realities of the accounting profession, where the relentless demands of clients and the struggle to maintain boundaries can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction.
Brannon's book, "The Unplugged Vacation," serves as a guide for accountants to reclaim control over their time and learn the art of truly disconnecting from work during vacations. Through personal anecdotes and insights, he underscores the importance of setting boundaries, purging underperforming clients, and implementing value-based pricing to create a sustainable and fulfilling practice.
The conversation explores the challenges accountants face in saying "no" to clients, leading to unfocused and overextended practices.
Brannon emphasizes the importance of firm culture, work-life balance, and the need for accountants to break free from the billable hour mindset, which can perpetuate the cycle of overwork and undervaluation.
Key Takeaways:
- Accountants often struggle with time management, staff shortages, and an inability to let go of work, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction.
- Setting boundaries, purging underperforming clients, and implementing value-based pricing are crucial steps to creating a sustainable and fulfilling practice.
- Taking a truly unplugged vacation requires advance preparation, team readiness, and acceptance that some balls may drop during the absence.
- Firm culture, work-life balance, and moving away from the billable hour mindset are essential for attracting and retaining top talent in the accounting profession.
- Booking a vacation and committing to being unplugged is an actionable step accountants can take to recalibrate their priorities and improve their overall well-being.
Quotes:
"You don't like your practice, keep raising your prices until you do." - Brannon Poe
"If you're equating your time to money, well, there's probably one of the first problems you got to solve." - Brannon Poe
View this episode in video on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/LIP3OXh_yEk
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