The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

"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!

Gina Cotner, virtual assistant expert, shares insights on the transformative power of hiring assistants in your bookkeeping business. She emphasizes shifting mindset to focus on high-level tasks, delegating effectively, and maximizing efficiency with virtual assistants. Learn how to streamline your workload and enhance business profitability.

"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!