The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

"I think that the hacker mindset is a superpower because what it does is it fosters independent thinking. And independent thinking enables a person to observe or discover overlooked pathways, overlooked opportunities, things that other people have missed." -Ted Harrington Ted Harrington, cybersecurity expert and author of Hackable: How To Do Application Security Right and his upcoming book Inner Hacker: A New Way Of Thinking, returns to talk about the hacker mindset and how it can transform both business and life. In this interview, you'll learn: The four traits of the hacker mindset How AI is shaping cyberattacks Ways to tap into your inner hacker To learn more about Ted, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Check out his new book, Inner Hacker: A New Way Of Thinking here. Time Stamp 01:22 – Ted Harrington returns with his new book Inner Hacker 02:47 – Why thinking like a hacker is a superpower 09:17 – The four traits of the hacker mindset 12:39 – What holds people back from channeling their inner hacker 18:24 – How the book supports his business & clients 23:13 – AI's role in modern cyberattacks 29:20 – What's changing for small businesses & cybersecurity awareness 32:31 – Why hackers target small businesses 36:36 – Protecting yourself by knowing where you're vulnerable 37:45 – Ted's future plans & keynote speaking This episode is brought to you by our amazing friends at Hub Analytics! Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips. Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you'll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials! Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level? Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!

"You have to keep evolving. We're always evolving. Never stop growing. Never stop learning. If you're not happy with what you're doing, there's always a way to change. And you can lean on great thought leaders like this to help you get there. " -Lisa Campbell Lisa Campbell, Founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, returns for part two of her series about Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She shares practical ways bookkeepers can apply the next four habits to strengthen client relationships, build stronger teams, and sustain long-term success. In this interview, you'll learn: How to create win-win client & team relationships Why discovery calls should focus on understanding, not selling The power of synergy with your team and professional partners To learn more about Lisa, visit her profile on LinkedIn. Sign up for her Masterclass here! Time Stamp 00:00 – Win-win results with accountants through systemized books01:25 – Habit 4: Think win-win 06:57 – Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood09:55 – Why selling is ongoing & rooted in understanding clients' real needs 12:28 – Listening & trust with clients & team members 15:25 – Habit 6: Synergy 18:20 – Building referral networks & partnerships for growth 21:14 – Niching & connecting with industry vendors & partners for referrals 23:25 – Real-world example: systemized bookkeeping driving strong CPA referrals 25:07 – Habit 7: Sharpen the saw 29:50 – The most transformative habit for bookkeepers 35:00 – How proactive bookkeepers put first things first to reach advisor level 35:56 – Wrap-up & invitation to Lisa's Accelerate to Advisor masterclass This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"The opportunity now is huge with accountants and bookkeepers to provide more of a proactive service, more forecasting, more future visibility. But certain things have to be in place for that to happen." -Paul Lodder Paul Lodder, VP of Accounting Product and Strategy at Dext, discusses how bookkeepers and accountants can use cash flow forecasting and automation to move beyond compliance and become true strategic advisors. In this interview, you'll learn… Why 1 in 4 small businesses face cash flow issues How to make cash flow forecasting personal How automation frees time for advisory To learn more about Paul, click here.  Time Stamp 00:01 – Dext study on 500 Canadian SMBs 02:27 – Why 42% fear closure 04:48 – Opportunity in cash flow forecasting 07:22 – Make cash flow personal for clients 10:25 – Cost of manual vs automation 14:39 – 1 in 4 face cash flow issues 18:09 – Barriers: capacity & strategy 20:44 – Scenario planning & sensitivity 23:42 – Key metric: debtor days 27:11 – Charging for automation, value pricing 32:28 – Tech plus relationships build trust 37:29 – More conversations, more advisory 38:17 – Where to find the Dext study This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

" Beginning with the end in mind is very helpful for people who are starting, but also for people who are already in the weeds and they just like, 'I can't do this anymore. I need to do something else.' Figure out what it is that you want to build and then reverse engineer it and build it." -Lisa Campbell Lisa Campbell, founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, shares how to apply the first three of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People directly to your bookkeeping business. In this interview, you'll learn: Why being proactive creates stronger client relationships How to begin with the end in mind to design the business you want The importance of putting first things first & delegating effectively To learn more about Lisa, visit her profile on LinkedIn. Sign up for her October 20th Masterclass here! Time Stamp 00:01 – Importance of systemizing every transaction for accurate books 01:04 – Focus on Stephen Covey's first three habits 02:11 – Lisa shares her backstory: from overwhelmed bookkeeper to mentor 03:26 – Discovering Pure Bookkeeping & freeing time to grow beyond data entry 04:45 – Building the Accelerate to Advisor Mastermind program 07:42 – Lisa introduces Level Up Live & her sessions on Covey's habits 10:25 – Habit 1: Be proactive 15:19 – Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind 21:14 – Habit 3: Put first things first This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"Anyone who grows plants knows that sometimes you have to trim the leaves to have an overall healthy plant. Not every customer will come with you as you grow your business, and that's actually a good thing. It keeps your business efficient and healthy." -Etinosa Agbonlahor In the finale of this two-part conversation, Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist and CEO of Decision Alpha, returns to share practical strategies for raising prices without losing confidence or clients. She explains how to overcome resistance, use behavioral nudges, and position your services to attract the right customers. In this interview, you'll learn: How to spot signals your pricing is off Simple nudges & choice architecture that boost client acceptance How to raise prices with confidence & retain long-term relationships To learn more about Etinosa, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Learn more about Decision Alpha. Download your free Behavioral Pricing Playbook here. Time Stamp 03:01 – The fear of losing customers & why churn can be healthy 07:23 – Building confidence to justify premium pricing 12:29 – Signals your pricing isn't working 19:14 – Behavioral nudges that influence client choices 26:40 – Using choice architecture to present pricing 30:41 – Raising prices while honoring long-term clients This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"You should be distinct enough and positioned just a bit enough that people go, 'Oh, I am caring about the value they're gonna bring to me, to the point where I wanna double click.'" -Etinosa Agbonlahor Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist and CEO of Decision Alpha, shares how pricing is about more than numbers. She explains why understanding your value and talking to clients is key to building a profitable bookkeeping business. In this interview, you'll learn: Why most bookkeepers underprice their services How client conversations uncover real value Ways to position yourself so price isn't the only factor To learn more about Etinosa, click here. Connect with Etinosa on LinkedIn. Learn more about Decision Alpha. Download your free Behavioral Pricing Playbook here. Timestamps 02:32 – Etinosa's career journey in finance & behavioral economics 04:57 – Why businesses leave 11% profit on the table 07:56 – The number one mistake in pricing: not talking to customers 11:12 – How bookkeepers often copy pricing from competitors 13:55 – Should you show prices on your website? 15:30 – Positioning: are you in the bazaar or the premium store? 19:02 – Differentiation through unique processes or systems 21:15 – Telling your story to build perceived value This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"Just having the courage to allow some of your real story to come through publicly is your differentiator. It builds trust, opens doors to sales conversations, and draws future customers to you." –Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, is back for the second part of this powerful conversation. In part one, she revealed why your personal story is the ultimate marketing tool. Now, she's sharing how to put it into practice with a clear, step-by-step framework for building a digital presence that feels authentic, consistent, and achievable. From breaking through inconsistency, to leveraging AI for content ideas, to showing just the right kind of imperfection—Jess shares practical strategies small business owners can use to show up online and grow their influence. In this interview, you'll learn… How to overcome the biggest barrier to showing up online: inconsistency Why the right kind of imperfection can make you more trustworthy than polished content How AI can accelerate your content creation while still keeping your voice authentic To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link. Time Stamps 00:00 – Why courage & vulnerability build trust 01:25 – Simple ways to dip your toe into posting 02:20 – Why responding matters more than likes 04:04 – The real barrier: inconsistency 06:17 – How AI can help with idea generation 09:06 – Treating AI like a junior employee you train 12:08 – The psychology of showing up online 14:38 – Imperfection as a powerful differentiator 18:16 – Why collaborators & "yes/no" people matter 18:58 – Where to find Jess online & claim your free LinkedIn audit This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.  Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"People are interested in other people. So you can talk about your practice or where you see perhaps the industry going down the road, but from a point of view that is informed and experienced and maybe has a little bit of vulnerability woven in." -Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, has helped leaders at Microsoft, Qualcomm, Adidas, and now small business owners across North America build their digital presence. In part one of this two-part series, she shares why personal storytelling is key to standing out in today's crowded market. In this interview, you'll learn… Why personal voices connect more than brand voices How storytelling humanizes small businesses Ways to overcome fear & self-doubt To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess Jensen is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link.   Time Stamps 00:00 – Why people connect with personal stories 01:23 – Journey from global brands to co-founding Co-pilot Communications 03:16 – Helping executives build digital platforms 04:31 – Humanizing brands through leadership voices 06:47 – Applying storytelling to small businesses 09:52 – Overcoming fear & finding your voice 13:45 – Differentiation: "Differences sell, similarities don't" 16:08 – Step 1: Define your "audience of one" 20:28 – Step 2: Clarify what you want to stand for 24:38 – Step 3: Practice creating content & iterate 25:41 – Step 4: Build relationships in the comments 26:46 – Preview of part two: Jess's full four-step playbook This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.  Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"A woman came up to me and said, 'You know, you really get me.' And I thought that's really the mantra I want to kind of go with. I want people to understand that I get what they're saying. I can't be them, but I can translate the pain and the successes that they're having." -Jennifer Kahnweiler Introverted leaders bring unique strengths to the workplace, but they're often overlooked. In this episode, Jennifer Kahnweiler, an expert on introverted leadership, shares how introverts can thrive, influence, and lead with confidence. In this interview, you'll learn: How the Four Ps help introverts succeed in leadership Practical ways introverts can influence without being loud How listening can become a powerful sales advantage To learn more about Jennifer, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:00 - Introduction to Introverted Leadership01:57 - The Journey to Understanding Introversion 05:31 - The Evolution of Introverted Leadership 11:21 - Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces 14:48 - The Impact of COVID on Introverts 19:42 - Navigating the Changing Workplace 21:01 - Empowering Introverts in the Workplace 22:54 - Embracing Introversion in Leadership 24:27 - The Evolution of the Introverted Leader 26:20 - The Four P's of Introverted Leadership 32:24 - Listening as a Key Skill for Introverts 38:08 - Recognizing & Valuing Personal Accomplishments This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage! Drowning in paperwork? AutoEntry lets you snap, scan, and sync receipts, invoices, and statements—so you can ditch manual entry, reduce errors, and get back to what really matters: growing your practice and delighting your clients. Learn more about AutoEntry or get started for free at Sage.com.

" I think it's important that you go for it. You imagine what that looks like. I didn't go into this with the intention of having a big company. It happened one employee at a time. How do you get the 30 employees? Well, start with one." -Jenny Groberg In this episode, we wrap up a two-part conversation with Jenny Groberg, founder of BookSmarts Accounting and Bookkeeping, where she shares how she turned a small team into a high-performing force, overcame personal challenges, and scaled her business to seven figures. In this episode, you'll learn… Raising expectations & setting clear boundaries How to delegate effectively to focus on growth & leadership Adopting subscription pricing to streamline billing & boost cash flow To learn more about Jenny, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:01 – Transition from hobby employees to a committed team 03:55 – Personal recovery journey & building a supportive culture 05:30 – Giving back through scholarships, donations & teaching 12:36 – Shift to subscription pricing & improved cash flow 21:00 – Letting go of toxic clients to safeguard staff 26:36 – Encouragement to set big goals, delegate & believe in yourself This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage! Drowning in paperwork? AutoEntry lets you snap, scan, and sync receipts, invoices, and statements—so you can ditch manual entry, reduce errors, and get back to what really matters: growing your practice and delighting your clients. Learn more about AutoEntry or get started for free at Sage.com.