The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

"I can't care about all of these other people, and I can't care about what I care about in this world if I'm not okay to contribute." -Dr. Arin Reeves We have all dealt with bad clients, most of us probably still are. Losing clients can make us feel unsuccessful, like it is our fault for not being 'good' enough to fulfill their needs. But this way of thinking is incredibly damaging. Sometimes a client just isn't the right fit. Learning to be okay with that is the first step in building a business filled with clients you really care for. If you are struggling to measure your success, find a sense of belonging in what you do, and set boundaries on your time and energy, then this is the episode for you. In the first of a two-part series, our guest Dr. Arin Reeves, author, advisor, president, and manager at Nextions, talks about the different ways to grow your network and business, what the value of caring about your clients and yourself can bring and how to make those tough choices that will free you to work with those that truly matter. During this interview, you'll learn... • The value of caring for yourself, so you can care for others • How to make tough choices to free up your time & energy • The importance of surrounding yourself with people that help you feel like you belong Find out what Nextions can do for you here. Learn more about Dr. Reeves at this link. Connect with her socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps 1:45 - Getting to know Dr. Reeves 5:20 - What it means to belong 7:10 - How women grow their business 12:25 - The value of caring 21:20 - Tough choices create new spaces 26:30 - Different kinds of success

"When you surround yourself with people that are either on their way to where you want to go, or are at where you want to go, you're going to get there because they've done it." –Lisa Campbell We all make excuses. When life gets overwhelming, it's convenient to shift the pressure and blame away from ourselves. But in doing this, we make it easy to avoid taking difficult but necessary action to improve our lives. Believing in yourself and being ready to level up can be scary. It involves a lot of time, money, and effort, for an outcome that isn't guaranteed. But what is guaranteed, is the growth and development of character if you have the courage to stop making excuses and start taking positive action. When you refuse to make excuses and apply all your effort into learning and surrounding yourself with the right people, you'll go beyond what you thought was possible. Lisa Campbell, founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, entrepreneur coach and author of Beyond Bookkeeping, talks today about the importance of taking responsibility for the future of your business, and having the bravery to act when your moment comes. During this interview, you'll learn… • The value of surrounding yourself with like-minded people • How to free yourself from an excuse mindset • The importance of knowing your value & worth Learn more about Lisa here. Explore Accelerate 2 Advisor at this link. Connect to the Accelerate 2 Advisor Community Group by clicking here. Connect with her on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Time Stamps 2:05 - Lisa talks about her recent experiences 4:00 - Investing in transformation 7:10 - Taking the right action to transform your life 11:00 - Taking action vs making excuses 17:25 - Breaking the excuse mindset 23:15 - The rewards of committing to yourself 28:10 - More than 'just' a bookkeeper 30:00 - Her masterclass 32:30 - Building a better future

"My work enables my clients to do the things, only they can do." -Bonnie Low-Kramen Great bookkeepers have a service heart. Their desire to serve others drives them. They are not interested in being in front of the camera, but they are comfortable being behind the scenes and making things happen. The best bookkeepers are proactive and they see around corners and they anticipate and understand the context of their client's work. When you connect to the idea that you are a subject matter expert that can add unique value to your clients, you will be empowered to price by this value, rather than just by hours 'worked'. We all have natural talents, but there is nothing stopping us from chasing our dreams by learning new skills that help us better connect with people. If we look at clients only in terms of the money they will pay us, we will never be successful. People remember kindness and will pay for the value real connections bring. Bonnie Low-Kramen, workplace expert, speaker, and author with 25 years of experience as a personal assistant talks about the importance of having the heart for service and how to use your innate and learned skills to create value for your clients that enables them the time, space, and freedom to do the things only they can do. During this interview, you'll learn… The value of conquering our irrational fears How to price on the value of your service What to do in order to have a harmonious work environment Learn more about Bonnie: Here Connect with her on social media: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Watch Bonnie's TED X Talk here. Time Stamps 1:40 - Bonnie discusses her career journey 4:50 - Understanding the role of a PA 8:00 - Adding value to your clients lives 11:50 - Mastering innate & learned skills 16:50 - Creating a harmonious work environment 25:00 - Bonnie talks about women in industry 32:30 - Conquering your fears 38:20 - Bonnie's talks & workshops

"You shouldn't be afraid to ask your question, just go out and ask, because people really want to help each other." -Anita Koimur Adapting early to innovation can be a challenge. It can be easy to get comfortable with the way we do things. To take our time and wait and see if the benefits are truly as good as people are saying, before taking the leap ourselves. There is nothing wrong with taking time for careful consideration. But when you are open to sharing, to talking with others in our industry, to put yourself on the cutting edge of all the latest advances, you reap the benefits collectively. In this first episode of our Spotlight series that focuses on people who are positively impacting the bookkeeping industry, Anita Koimur, founder of LiveFlow, discusses the value of talking to people, understanding their needs, and relieving their pain points as efficiently as possible. Efficiency that comes from being right at the heart of new developments as they happen. To create the best possible value for yourself and the client. During this interview, you'll learn… The value of sharing with a group to resolve pain points How to get comfortable on the cutting edge of industry innovations The importance of asking what is needed & truly listening to the answers Learn more about LiveFlow here. Connect with Anita: LinkedIn Twitter Want to attend the FREE How to Automate Reporting & Become a Trusted Advisor webinar on April 26th mentioned in this episode? SIGN UP HERE! LiveFlow is also offering an incredible deal of 20% off for 3 months for new users. Find out more at this link! Time Stamps 1:40 - Anita talks about her career journey 5:40 - Learning & innovating from customer needs 8:40 - Finding the right service tools for you 9:25 - Overcoming the challenges of a new business 11:50 - Changes in the automation of bookkeeping 15:00 - Getting on the positive side of new trends 18:20 - The value of sharing within the community 20:45 - Best practices in automation 26:50 - Anita talks about LiveFlow 31:20 - Information about the upcoming webinar

"It's been a great partnership and it's allowed us to grow in a lot of different ways." -Lynda Artesani Partnerships can be really challenging. That's why it is so important to find people that can match your passion. Skills can always be taught, but finding someone that wants to work as hard as you do, can lead to incredibly fulfilling working partnerships and that can only be a bonus for your bookkeeping business. When you find your niche, you're better able to serve those clients with passionate interest, using your unique knowledge and abilities to bring those clients peace of mind. When you find partners that share those interests too, you can really start to scale your business. Lynda Artesani and Sarah Prevost of Artesani Accounting Services talk to Michael about the value of teamwork, the power of respect and communication in building health partnerships and client relationships. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of respectful & communicative collaboration How to market yourself correctly to the right people The importance of staying healthy on the job Learn more about Artesani Accounting Services at this link. Connect with Lynda: LinkedIn Twitter Connect with Sarah: LinkedIn Want to join the Accountant's Law Lab? Click here. Time Stamps 1:30 - Lynda & Sarah talk about their career journeys 3:50 - Embracing teamwork 5:00 - The challenges of partnership 7:50 - Finding your niche 14:00 - Securing new clients 18:50 - Learning how to price 21:30 - Adapting to innovation 27:00 - Looking to the future 32:30 - Keeping healthy on the job

"Don't look at what's the bare minimum you should be doing, look at what's the furthest you can push yourself." -Daniel Breez Starting a new bookkeeping business or growing an existing one can be a real challenge. Too many businesses try to be all things to all people. Working more hours but having less to show for it rather than connecting passionately to who it is you really want to help. It can be tempting to blame other people, to question a lack of success as the fault of someone other than ourselves. When we take responsibility for our own success, we are more likely to push ourselves to greater heights of achievement, rather than doing the bare minimum and blaming others for our lack of conviction. Once you know who it is you want to serve, and are passionate about them, the clients will come. If you only focus on building systems and processes that serve what you want, the workload will never get any lighter or any easier. When you find your niche, you make it possible to create a business that won't feel like work. Daniel Breez, owner of Measured Growth CPA and a Pure Bookkeeping licensee, talks today about the value of personal responsibility, finding your niche and learning how to leverage your strengths. During this interview, you'll learn… The value of finding a niche you are passionate about How to hire the best & most capable people for the job The importance of personal responsibility Learn more about Measured Growth CPA here. Check out Daniel's socials: LinkedIn Instagram Time Stamps 1:50 - Daniel talks about his business journey 4:15 - Finding the right mindset 10:00 - Knowing the right niche for you 14:40 - Getting yourself in the right rooms 17:00 - How Pure Bookkeeping elevated Daniel's business 20:50 - The right approach to hiring 27:30 - Looking to the future

"My goal is to never be so proud that I think that I can stop learning." -Paige Hulse Having the knowledge and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a while. Navigating the legal complexities of business can be tricky! To become successful requires more than just a vision. Whether self-employed or starting a new bookkeeping business, we often have to wear many hats until the business gets off the ground. If you can surround yourself with a network of like-minded people and mentors, you are far more likely to learn time and profit saving techniques to help your business thrive! Paige Hulse, owner of Paige Hulse Law, talks today about the value of continuous learning, knowing your worth, and offers some great tips on protecting yourself and your bookkeeping business from potential disasters. A little effort to protect your business now, will go a long way towards securing it into the future. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of separating your personal & business finances Some key legal advice that can help protect your bookkeeping business The importance in finding clients you are passionate to work with Learn more about Paige here. Looking for contract support? Visit this link. Check out her socials here: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Time Stamps 1:40 - Paige talks about her career journey 7:30 - The lightning bolt moment 12:46 - Overcoming obstacles 16:30 - The value of consistent learning 18:10 - Knowing the value of your worth 23:08 - Paige talks about finding the right bookkeeper 28:00 - Piercing the corporate veil 31:00 - Paige offers her legal perspective 39:35 - The importance of confidentiality

"If I can't find it myself, I guess I'll just create it!" -Jessica Hearsey Logging in online or heading to an office everyday where you don't feel valued can be very demoralizing. It is tough to get energized to do a job that lacks vision, clarity, or a sense of purpose. If you don't know how valuable you are, how can you communicate it to your clients? Building a business is never easy, but if you feel passionately about committing to your goals and creating something you truly believe in, the clients will come. When you take the time to understand and truly know your value, people will listen. Jessica Hearsey, owner of Altitude Accounting, talks this week about the differences between working a job and building a business. By finding the courage to stick to your convictions, you can create the life you dream of. One where people come to you because they believe in what you are doing, not just because they need something done. During this interview, you'll learn… The value of creating your own vision rather than waiting for someone else's How to tear down mental barriers & act with conviction The difference between working a job and building a business Learn more about Altitude Accounting here. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:42 - Jessica talks about her career journey 8:16 - Being your own mentor 9:40 - The hurdles of a new business 11:30 - Building a business not a job 16:33 - Committing to your goals 19:25 - Adapting to an ever-changing market 23:18 - Knowing your value 27:50 - Finding your conviction 32:10 - Tearing down mental barriers 34:10 - The challenges of the future

"If you put five bookkeepers in a room, and give them the same set of books, you're going to come out with five different ways of doing things." -Jenn Green Life isn't always smooth sailing. We will all face unforeseen challenges that can rock the foundations of our careers and lives. How well we bounce back is entirely dependent on our willingness to keep trying. To take time to learn new skills, attend seminars, workshops and training that make you a better bookkeeper. If you find yourself in a lull, unsure about how to proceed then this is the episode for you. When you connect with your purpose, you'll better understand what value you bring to your clients, and so, be able to price accordingly. Rather than reacting, you'll be able to take a proactive approach driven by value and quality, not an hourly rate. How can you expect your clients to value you if you don't value yourself? Jenn Green, owner of Bookminders Full-Service Bookkeeping, talks today about bouncing back after difficult and challenging times, the value of a strong, learning focused mindset, and how to set your prices based on the value you add, not the hours you work. During this interview, you'll also learn… How to build a successful business with the right pricing How to identify the ideal learning tools for you The importance of effective communication Learn more about Jenn at this link. Contact her directly at jenn@bookmindersservices.ca. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:15 - Jenn talks about her career journey 2:40 - Navigating peaks & valleys 8:55 - Bringing the right people in 11:00 - Jenn talks about the impact of effective processes 15:15 - Recovering from Covid losses 17:25 - Marketing yourself confidently 22:20 - Setting your price 25:15 - Finding the right programs for you 29:10 - Changing our mindset 34:10 - Creating exponential growth

"Uncommon services command uncommon prices." –Ron Baker Building relationships with our clients can be complicated. It can be really tempting to measure success by the number of clients or billable hours we manage to cram into a month. And yet, so many of us are left feeling overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid, and not living up to our true potential and purpose. Shifting from an hourly rate to a value-based pricing structure is a big move. Even bigger is recognizing your worth in relation to the subscription economy and pricing based on your relationship with your client. When you connect with the idea that you can charge a premium for giving a few select clients consistent peace of mind. It will wash away the belief that success is a client roster so full, no single client ever gets the best of you. Ron Baker is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, with a passion for values-based pricing. On today's episode Ron talks about creating lifetime customer value and the importance of pricing based on achieving customers needs, not billable hours. During this interview, you'll learn… How to price on your relationship with your clients The value of tailoring your services to a niche market The importance of purpose & position driven pricing Learn more about Ron here. Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn. On March 22nd, you can watch him speak at the Convert with Value workshop series. You can register for this free event at this link. Time Stamps 2:00 - Ron talks about the subscription economy 6:20 - Adapting to innovation 9:12 - Pricing the customer, not the work 11:24 - Transforming your clients on a deeper level 18:35 - Overcoming the mental hurdles of subscription pricing 22:15 - Setting your price by relationship 28:55 - Putting a price on peace of mind 31:05 - The value of an uncommon offering 36:04 - Tailoring your services to a niche 37:55 - Convert with Value workshop 39:00 - Crafting your options for pricing 42:25 - Getting in touch with Ron