The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

"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

In this episode, Lyla Smith, a technology expert and advocate for getting back to basics, discusses the value of knowing your worth to engage with the right clients. She emphasizes the importance of discipline, understanding, and passion in bookkeeping. Additionally, she talks about the formation of positive communities, the consequences of tolerance, and the challenges of working with family in a family-run business.

"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