The Sharon Francisco Show

Sharon Francisco
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 I’ve been thinking about starting a podcast for years. To share the good, the bad, and the ugly that I’ve experienced in business. I feel like it's time to share some of the lessons, and I hope that it will resonate with you, and that you actually take action so that you and your business keeps growing. I’m Sharon Francisco, a business coach for bookkeepers, but what I talk about here on the podcast will help all sorts of businesses and business owners. I hope you enjoy it!

  1. 5D AGO

    A Bad Economy Doesn't Create Financial Problems. It Just Reveals Them

    This one might hit a little deeper. Because when things tighten… when clients slow down… when pressure builds… It’s easy to point to the economy. But what if the economy isn’t the problem? What if it’s simply showing you what was already there? In this episode, Sharon unpacks a powerful insight from The Road Less Stupid — and why pressure doesn’t break your business… it exposes it. Structure.  Money.  Leadership.  Time.  Confidence. The cracks don’t suddenly appear. They were always there. Pressure just turns the light on. In this episode we cover: • Why pressure is a spotlight, not the cause • The hidden cracks in your business structure • What cash pressure reveals about your pricing and decisions • How leadership shows up under stress • Why time pressure exposes poor planning (not lack of time) • The truth about confidence when things feel uncertain • How to prepare in the good times so you’re not scrambling in the hard ones This isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity. Because once you can see it…  you can actually fix it. 🎧𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀. https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    10 min

  2. MAR 26

    The Warning Always Comes Before the Wake-Up Call

    Change rarely arrives suddenly. It usually starts quietly — a whisper, a nudge, a small signal that something isn’t quite right. Most of us ignore it. In this episode, Sharon shares the powerful idea of “The Road of Life” — how every warning shows up in stages: first the tap, then the four-by-two, and eventually the MACK truck if we keep ignoring what life is trying to tell us. Whether it’s in business, health, relationships or money… the pattern is always the same. The question is: are you listening while the message is still quiet? In this episode we cover: • Why life always gives warning signals before major change • The “Tap → Four-by-Two → MACK Truck” pattern • How burnout, health issues and business struggles build slowly • Why most people wait until change is forced • How to recognise the early signs before things escalate The warning always comes first. The real power is learning to listen before life has to shout. 🎧 Episode 34 of The Sharon Francisco Show is now available wherever you get your podcasts. --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    8 min

  3. MAR 19

    The Person who Cares Least Holds the Power

    Nearly 30 years ago I read a book that I still think about today:  Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Dr Gordon Livingston. One truth from that book has stayed with me ever since: “The person who cares least in a relationship holds the power.” At first that can sound cold… but it isn’t about not caring. It’s about needing. Because the moment you need an outcome too badly — in sales, business, or relationships — something shifts. You start explaining instead of stating. You justify the price. You talk too much. You discount before anyone even asks. Not because you're bad at business — but because you're emotionally invested in the outcome. And quietly… the power moves away from you. This episode is about reclaiming that balance — not by becoming detached, but by becoming grounded. The real power comes when you know you’ll be okay either way. In this episode we cover: • The idea behind “the person who cares least holds the power” • Why needing the sale changes the energy of a conversation • How emotional investment shows up in business decisions • The hidden ways we give our power away with clients • Why confidence improves sales, marketing and leadership • How to stay grounded without becoming detached Because the moment you stop needing the outcome… you start leading. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts  https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    6 min

  4. MAR 12

    Tools Down: Success Without Self Sacrifice with Solicitor Midja Fisher

    What if success didn’t require you to be “on” all the time? In this episode, Sharon sits down with solicitor, author, and leadership mentor Midja Fisher for a big conversation about boundaries, energy, and building a life that actually feels good — while still doing exceptional work. Midja is the founder of the Legal Leadership Project, author of Unshakeable Confidence, Great Lawyer to Great Leader, and Take Off The Cape, and host of Mondays with Midja (returning soon). She’s also a living example of “tools down” leadership — finishing Fridays early, protecting weekends, and showing up with real presence because rest is part of the strategy. In this episode we cover: • What “tools down” looks like in real life (and why it works) • Why boundaries aren’t a luxury — they’re a performance tool • How energy, fun, and recovery make you more valuable at work • The mindset shift: rest as part of your business plan • Why so many business owners lose the freedom they built the business for • Values-based leadership and “tent peg” principles that hold you steady • Fixed vs growth mindset (Dr Carol Dweck) and giving yourself permission to experiment • Navigating change: AI, tech, and why we still need to keep thinking • Building connection and community (especially for introverts) • Why younger leaders are raising the standard — and it’s a good thing • The difference between urgent, reactive work and intentional leadership Key insights: • You do better work when your boundaries are sacred. • The evidence is in how you show up — not how long you stay online. • Values create stability when the world is changing fast. • You get to choose: build a business that supports your life, not consumes it. Mentioned in this episode: • Dr Carol Dweck — Mindset • Stephen Covey  — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People • Joseph Campbell — The Hero’s Journey • “Tools down” as a leadership and wellbeing strategy 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook Questions for the podcast? hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    54 min

  5. MAR 5

    Dunbar’s Number, Belonging, and Why Growth Can Feel Lonely

    Have you ever noticed that as your business grows… things can start to feel lonelier? Not because you’re doing it wrong.  But because you’re wired a certain way. In this episode, Sharon explores Dunbar’s Number — the research by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar showing that humans can comfortably maintain around 150 meaningful relationships. Within that are layers: • 5 deeply bonded relationships • 15 trusted confidants • 50 active social connections • 150 meaningful contacts Beyond that? Trust, energy, and connection begin to thin out. In this episode we cover: • What Dunbar’s Number actually means • Why growth can feel isolating as circles expand • The neuroscience of belonging and social safety • Why your brain treats connection like food and security • Why leaders feel anxious as teams and communities grow • The hidden burnout of trying to stay equally connected to everyone • Why boundaries preserve intimacy (not reject people) • How high-performing groups create smaller pods for belonging • Why friendships naturally reorganise as you evolve • Why depth always beats width • A powerful shift: designing for intentional connection, not endless availability As roles change, circles change.  That isn’t betrayal. It’s evolution. You are not designed for unlimited access.  You are designed for meaningful connection. Dunbar’s Number isn’t a limitation.  It’s permission — to choose depth, to protect capacity, and to stop apologising for not belonging everywhere. Because you’re not meant to belong everywhere.  You’re meant to belong somewhere that matters. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook Questions for the podcast? hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    8 min

  6. FEB 26

    Your Workspace Is Quietly Shaping You

    Your workspace isn’t neutral. It’s quietly influencing how you think, how you feel, and the version of yourself that shows up to make decisions every day. In this episode, Sharon unpacks why your environment — your office, home, and the spaces you spend time in — has a powerful impact on your nervous system, focus, confidence, and leadership. This isn’t mindset talk. It’s neuroscience and environmental psychology. In this episode we cover: • Why your workspace shapes your thinking before you even realise it • How the brain scans your environment for safety, calm, control, and value • The impact of clutter on cortisol, focus, and cognitive load • Why visual “noise” drains energy and decision-making • How beauty, order, and meaning improve clarity and creativity • Why personal objects matter more than generic décor • The role of touch and texture in calming the nervous system • Why physical books, journals, and grounding objects slow thinking in a good way • How scent bypasses logic and directly influences emotion and memory • How to intentionally anchor confidence and success through smell • The effect of sound, music, and silence on mood and cognition • Why designing your space isn’t indulgent — it’s leadership • A powerful question: does your space support who you’re becoming? Key insights: • Your environment answers “Am I safe?” before your mind does. • Clarity improves when your space reduces friction. • Intentional spaces support better thinking, not just better aesthetics. • Your workspace should match the level of responsibility you carry. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook Questions for the podcast? hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    15 min

  7. FEB 19

    The E Myth and Why So Many Smart Business Owners Stay Stuck

    So many smart, capable, hardworking people build businesses…  and still feel exhausted, trapped, and way too dependent on themselves. In this episode, Sharon revisits one of the most influential business books of all time — The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber — and unpacks why being good at your craft does not automatically mean you’ll build a business that supports your life. This conversation explains, simply and honestly, why so many business owners end up buying themselves a job — and what needs to shift if you want freedom, sustainability, and growth without burnout. In this episode we cover: • What the “E-Myth” actually is — and why it keeps business owners stuck • The three personalities inside every business owner: – The Technician – The Manager – The Entrepreneur • Why the Technician often runs the whole show • How businesses become exhausting when systems are missing • The difference between working in the business vs working on it • Why systems don’t remove your personality — they protect it • Why so many owners feel guilty letting go of being “the hero” • The identity shift required to grow without burning out • A powerful reflection: what would break if you stepped away for 30 days? • Why feedback isn’t failure — it’s a roadmap for where to build next Key insights: • Being great at the work doesn’t mean you’ll build a great business. • Most business owners don’t fail — they just start from the wrong point. • Freedom comes from design, not doing everything yourself. • You don’t need a big team — you need the right structure. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook  Questions for the podcast? hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    10 min

  8. FEB 12

    The GROW Model and why clarity changes everything

    Most people aren’t stuck because they lack intelligence, motivation, or capability.  They’re stuck because their thinking is noisy, emotional, and circular. In this episode, Sharon breaks down one of the most widely used coaching frameworks in the world — the GROW Model — and shows why clarity is often the missing piece between good intentions and real follow-through. Introduced by Sir John Whitmore in Coaching for Performance, this deceptively simple framework has shaped Sharon’s work for decades — and it works in business, leadership, health, and everyday life. In this episode we cover: • What the GROW Model is and why it creates momentum fast • Why people procrastinate, avoid, or feel “stuck” without realising it • G is for Goal — how to move beyond vague wishes into real direction • Why “I want less stress” isn’t a goal (and what is) • How curiosity helps you clarify what you actually want • R is for Reality — telling the truth without judgment or drama • Why plans fail when reality is skipped • O is for Options — how choice restores energy and possibility • Why you’re not trapped — you’re choosing • W is for Will — where commitment, belief, and action live • Why clarity without action changes nothing • How confidence is built by follow-through, not thinking • A simple way to apply GROW immediately in your business or life Key insights: • Most people don’t need more motivation — they need clearer thinking. • Direction calms the brain and unlocks momentum. • Options create energy. Commitment creates change. • Leadership starts with choosing to act. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook Questions for the podcast? hello@sharonfrancisco.com --- 👉  Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook. Have a question for the podcast? Email hello@sharonfrancisco.com

    15 min
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About

 I’ve been thinking about starting a podcast for years. To share the good, the bad, and the ugly that I’ve experienced in business. I feel like it's time to share some of the lessons, and I hope that it will resonate with you, and that you actually take action so that you and your business keeps growing. I’m Sharon Francisco, a business coach for bookkeepers, but what I talk about here on the podcast will help all sorts of businesses and business owners. I hope you enjoy it!

Information

  • Creator
    Sharon Francisco
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sharon Francisco Show
  • Show Website
    The Sharon Francisco Show

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