The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

“You are your most powerful when you speak from who you truly are.” -Dia Bondi In part 1 of this 2 part series, leadership communications coach, keynote speaker, and author of Ask Like An Auctioneer, Dia Bondi shares how bookkeepers can unlock their full potential by discovering and owning their true voice. In this interview, you’ll learn... Why your authentic voice matters more than polished words How to build trust & attract better clients through clear communication What strategic asking can do for your pricing, positioning, and confidence To find more about Dia, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Get FREE resources HERE for Successful Bookkeeper listeners. Lear more about her book, Ask Like An Auctioneer at this link. Time Stamp 02:22 – From fitness coach to leadership communicator 04:24 – The bold ask that launched her career 04:53 – Coaching Olympic bids & global leaders 06:16 – Helping speakers build trust under pressure 07:41 – Why trust is the real outcome of communication 09:57 – Your voice matters more than the words 12:05 – Claim your voice, don’t invent it 13:57 – How a sabbatical led to auctioneering 15:55 – Turning auctions into impact & insight 17:18 – Asking big means risking “no” 19:08 – “No” is where real value lives 21:09 – Entering the Zone of Freaking Out (ZFO) 23:17 – Stretch the ask, gain more 24:27 – Ask for clients, influence & balance 26:11 – More things to ask for, starting now 26:38 – Preview of Part 2: Find your leadership voice

“Don't choose happiness, because choosing happiness is a privilege for yourself that we don't always have. We can't always choose to be happy every day. That's not always in our ability, but we can choose happiness for others, and we can choose kindness. And so just choosing kindness will inevitably make you happier.” -Jennifer Moss In part two of our conversation with workplace happiness expert Jennifer Moss, we explore how kindness and connection create a lasting impact at work and beyond. This episode is a reminder that simple actions can ripple through your business in powerful ways. In this interview, you’ll learn… Why altruism—not apps—is the key to lasting workplace happiness How “positive gossip” builds psychological safety Practical ideas to shift from burnout to wellbeing, one act at a time To learn more about Jennifer, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 02:00 - Why psychological safety matters more than wellness trends 04:00 - Altruism is the real driver of workplace happiness 06:00 - Positive gossip boosts trust & team confidence 07:30 - Speaking kindly creates a safer work environment 09:00 - Lost wallet study shows people are more trustworthy than we think 10:30 - “No News” habit increased optimism & trust 12:00 - Low trust hurts happiness; abundance mindset helps 14:00 - Social fitness needs rebuilding after the pandemic 16:00 - A mindset shift helped Michael drop road rage 18:00 - Forgiveness & kindness improve wellbeing 20:00 - Kindness chains can spark major ripple effects 22:00 - Tiny acts of generosity can shift workplace culture This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Succession Security! What if you couldn’t work tomorrow?  Who would step in to manage your clients and keep your income flowing? That’s where Succession Security comes in. Think of it as ‘insurance’ that pays out in labor.  If an unexpected emergency strikes—whether it’s an illness, accident, or even a family crisis—Succession Security ensures your business keeps running. They step in to manage operations, communicate with clients, and protect everything you’ve built. Learn more and start your business continuity plan today at successionsecurity.com.

“ We've adopted pretty bad behaviors since the pandemic of over meeting and not caring about time and not setting our own boundaries, and we have this toxic productivity where we always have to be on. There's a sense of constant urgency that's manufactured, and there's also a lot of learned helplessness where you go in and just like, I'm just burned out and I'm gonna quiet quit. Instead of deciding, ‘Okay, how am I gonna play a role in my own wellbeing?’” -Jennifer Moss Award-winning journalist and workplace happiness expert, Jennifer Moss talks about how small business owners can build more resilient, engaged teams—even during times of stress and uncertainty. In this interview, you’ll learn… The 4-part framework that drives workplace happiness Why certain personality types are more prone to burnout Simple, low-cost strategies to boost morale & team cohesion To learn more about Jennifer, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 01:00 - Building workplace happiness 02:00 - Jennifer shares the personal story that sparked her research 03:30 - How personality traits are amplified in crisis 05:30 - The four-part framework for a healthy workplace 07:30 - Why most people don’t learn psychological fitness 09:00 - Traits that increase stress risk 11:30 - How personality types need different support to thrive 13:30 - Why self-awareness is critical for leaders 15:30 - How to recognize signs of burnout 18:30 - Managers often mistake stress for underperformance 21:30 - Why empathy & human connection are essential skills 24:30 - Return-to-office mandates often reduce productivity 27:30 - Actionable tips 29:30 - Preview of Part 2 This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Succession Security! What if you couldn’t work tomorrow?  Who would step in to manage your clients and keep your income flowing? That’s where Succession Security comes in. Think of it as ‘insurance’ that pays out in labor.  If an unexpected emergency strikes—whether it’s an illness, accident, or even a family crisis—Succession Security ensures your business keeps running. They step in to manage operations, communicate with clients, and protect everything you’ve built. Learn more and start your business continuity plan today at successionsecurity.com.

“ I could take my time. That's a really big one because so many times, when we're in a crunch, you really wanna hire before you get to that. Because what happens is, when you hire, when you're in a crunch, you may end up settling or you may not pick the best fit.” -Nacondra Moran In part 2 of this great conversation, Nacondra Moran, founder of Exceptional Tax Services shares how she transformed her business by embracing intentional growth, setting boundaries, and investing in community and clarity. In this interview, you’ll learn… How to package your bookkeeping services with clarity & confidence The importance of hiring proactively, not reactively Why clarity of vision is essential when growing your firm and team To learn more about Nacondra, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Listen to her podcast here. Time Stamp: 01:00 – Evolving from underpricing to a structured, value-based model 03:30 – Avoiding scope creep with clear packaging & engagement terms 06:30 – Learning from industry peers & mentorship 08:00 – Hiring progression: contractors to full-time team members 10:30 – Hiring tips: clarity, culture fit & job roles 13:00 – Lessons from hiring missteps & finding the right fit 16:30 – Aligning business growth with personal values 19:00 – Starting her podcast & sharing her journey 21:00 – Using podcasting to build trust & attract clients 24:00 – Power of content & visibility in building authority 27:00 – Helping clients navigate money fears with transparency 30:00 – Where to connect with Nacondra & follow her work 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 had a lot more of mindset issues than the actual execution because I felt like I could provide good services. I had a certain level of confidence. But it doesn't matter really how much confidence, if you do also lack that critical mindset piece to really help you move forward.” -Nacondra Moran In part 1 of thie great 2-part series, Nacondra Moran, founder of Exceptional Tax Services, shares the mindset shifts, fears, and learning curves she faced after leaving her job at the IRS. From struggling with perfectionism to embracing entrepreneurship, she opens up about the messy middle of building a firm that works on her terms. In this interview, you’ll learn: What mindset shifts helped Nacondra transition from employee to entrepreneur Pricing mistakes, hiring lessons & boundaries What it means to design a boutique, high-touch bookkeeping firm To learn more about Nacondra, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Listen to her podcast, The House of CEO, here. You can also subscribe to her substack at this link. Time Stamp 00:01:00 – Introduction to Nacondra & her IRS background 00:05:00 – The mindset challenges of leaving a “safe” job 00:08:00 – Overcoming perfectionism & finally launching 00:11:00 – Freelancing, finding clients & learning on the fly 00:17:00 – Building systems, refining offers & setting boundaries 00:20:00 – Dealing with legacy clients & the “messy middle” 00:22:00 – The value of a waitlist & staying boutique 00:27:00 – Mistakes in pricing, hiring & client management 00:30:00 – Preview of part 2: burnout, alignment & content strategy 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.

“As a business owner, you have to pick up everything. So right now, it's not my goal to hire at that capacity, but definitely to hire more of an assistant for myself to make sure that I am getting the support that I need as I'm building this business, rather than bringing someone in to run this business.” -Christina Springstead Christina Springstead, founder of Springstead Solutions, shares her journey about hiring, finding her niche and much more! In this interview, you’ll also learn… How cleanups & rescue jobs became her niche & passion How to price cleanups & rescue jobs The power of paid diagnostic reviews for pricing & client fit To learn more about Christina, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 02:55 – Hiring & losing a key operations manager 05:32 – Shifting focus to build the business around personal goals 10:33 – Defining & niching into cleanup & oversight services 14:23 – Nonprofits, trades & in-house training as a niche 20:04 – How Christina prices cleanup vs. rescue jobs 23:04 – Why charge for diagnostic reviews & what’s to include 28:10 – Where best leads come from 30:31 – Converting cleanup clients into monthly engagements 36:51 – How systems like Pure Bookkeeping improve cleanup work 38:29 – What A2A gave her: safe space & smarter growth 45:01 – Where to connect with Christina 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.

“Think about what you want. Be intentional on why you're growing your business. Are you growing it for a money goal? Are you growing it so you have more time and flexibility? And then create those boundaries around giving yourself what your why is. Build a business that feels like your own fairy tale.” -Cindy Schroeder Cindy Schroeder, owner of Bright Bookkeeping and founder of Bookkeeping Buds, shares how she went from job-hopping in unfulfilling roles to building a remote bookkeeping business for painting contractors, creating a supportive community for women bookkeepers, and designing a life she loves. In this interview, you’ll learn… Simple networking tactics to grow your bookkeeping business The benefits of niching into one industry Why designing your business around joy can lead to lasting success To learn more about Cindy, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:29 - Cindy’s background and why she left corporate accounting 03:58 - Overcoming introversion through small networking goals 08:30 - Designing a remote business 13:15 - How niching into painting contractors changed everything 16:49 - Partnering with a coach to streamline client growth 19:07 - Building a team and creating repeatable systems 19:20 - Founding Bookkeeping Buds to support women bookkeepers 22:49 - Advice for new bookkeepers: Start with your “Why” 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!

“Speaking requires feedback. We have to listen to ourselves. We have to listen to each other and give feedback in order to get better. Speaking is social.” -Ruth Milligan Ruth Milligan, founder of Articulation and curator of TEDxColumbus, dives into how better communication leads to better business — especially for bookkeepers and business owners who want to be more clear, confident, and effective. In this episode, you’ll learn… The hidden cost of unclear communication How to fix filler words, jargon & “shaded habits” How to explain complex topics without dumbing them down To learn more about Ruth, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 02:14 – Helping people own their voice & ideas 02:53 – From speechwriter to TEDx coach to business owner 05:47 – What’s a “threshold concept” in speaking? 07:30 – Speaking is social: your audience decides the meaning 09:30 – Why technical experts lose audiences 14:35 – Bookkeepers: Your audience isn’t in your field 15:15 – The pain (and power) of watching yourself speak 17:43 – The power of feedback & self-awareness 20:30 – Emails that confuse vs. emails that get results 23:00 – Declarative vs. procedural knowledge 25:00 – Training clients: Why reschedules are your problem 34:18 – Using AI for voice notes & speech prep 37:28 – The risks of AI hallucinations with real content 41:23 – A direct takeaway for introverts: Watch your “shaded habits” 43:07 – What you don’t know can hurt your influence 45:48 – Breath: the simple fix for filler word 55:29 – Valuing yourself & your time 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!

“Practice is what gives the consistent and reliable delivery of whatever you're mastering. So for me, I remind myself that I'm not faking, I'm becoming, I'm working on it until I become it.” -Michelle Quiñonez Michelle Quiñonez, CEO and partner at Financial Stories Inc, shares how childhood play led to a lifelong love for administration and business building. She opens up about her journey from stay-at-home mom to entrepreneur, and how her passion for structure and growth fueled the launch of a full-service accounting firm alongside her CPA co-founder. In this episode, you’ll learn… Why keeping your word to yourself matters The impact of joining a CEO peer group Simple time-blocking that actually works To learn more about Michelle, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:53 - Michelle’s early influences: childhood office play & college mentorship 02:11 - MBA shift & why she chose the accounting field 04:04 - Founding her first solo business as a stay-at-home mom 05:01 - Pain points with external tax firms & why she co-founded Financial Stories 06:50 - Merging systems, hiring, remote tech stack & onboarding 08:19 - Surprises: how hard it is to find good people & differences in accounting roles 09:51 - Personal transformation, CEO roundtable, imposter syndrome reframed 12:00 - Time management 14:18 - Why business growth is about daily consistency & reps 16:35 - How Lisa Campbell & A2A influenced Michelle’s mindset & systems 19:45 - Setting clear intentions to stay present with her family 22:39 - Keeping your word—to yourself & how that shifted everything 25:47 - Visualizing success, parenting parallels & trusting your own word 31:33 - Her experience with Profit First & how it supports delegation 34:48 - Where to connect with Michelle 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!

“Just start small. Just start doing it. It'll take a while, most likely to kind of build. So start even before you feel like a hundred percent ready. Just start. It's a lot of it the first year or so, it's just like kind of practice too.” -Morgan Law Morgan Law, founder of Fine Points Bookkeeping and a popular YouTuber, shares how she transitioned from corporate life and copy editing to part-time bookkeeping, and eventually into full-time content creation. Morgan's story is packed with actionable advice for anyone starting or growing a bookkeeping business. During this interview, you'll learn... How to build a thriving YouTube channel Why confidence, clarity & community are key for new bookkeepers How free certifications like the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program can jumpstart your journey Click here to learn more about Morgan. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Check out her YouTube channel at this link. Time Stamp 00:27 - Morgan’s Journey to Bookkeeping 01:49 - Early Hurdles in Starting a Business 02:37 - Starting on YouTube 03:54 - First Breakthrough Video 04:44 - Challenges with Growth 05:45 - YouTube vs Bookkeeping Today 06:36 - Common Struggles for Bookkeepers 08:32 - Content That Resonates 10:04 - Should Bookkeepers Start a Channel? 11:29 - Getting Started on YouTube 12:53 - Growth Timeline & Milestones 14:02 - Bookkeeping Today vs 10 Years Ago 18:53 - Favorite Tools & AI Experiments 20:14 - Resources for Listeners 22:02 - Value of Facebook groups & online communities 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!