The Sharon Francisco Show

Sharon Francisco
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  • Entrepreneurship
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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. 1d ago

    The Most Important Relationship in Your Business — The One With Yourself

    What if the biggest influence on your business isn’t your qualifications, strategy or experience? What if it’s the relationship you have with yourself? In this episode, Sharon explores the small decisions that either strengthen or weaken self-trust — and why confidence isn’t something you wait to feel. It’s something you build. Through the promises you keep.  The way you speak to yourself.  The people you surround yourself with.  And the uncomfortable things you choose to do anyway. Sharon also shares a very personal story from life after her separation — standing in a crowded Aldi trying to recover a missing iPhone she simply couldn’t afford to replace. She was shaking.  She was embarrassed.  But she found her voice. And that moment became a lesson in what confidence actually looks like. In this episode we cover: • Why self-trust matters in business • The difference between confidence and having all the answers • Why keeping promises to yourself builds belief • How sleep, movement, food and relationships affect how you show up • Why the way you speak to yourself matters • Sharon’s Aldi story and what it taught her about courage • Why confidence is built through action • How uncomfortable experiences become evidence that you can cope • What happens when you’ve reached a comfortable level of success • Why growth and contribution don’t need to stop Key insights: • Confidence is not the absence of fear • Self-trust grows when you prove you can handle hard things • You don’t need to wait until life forces you to be courageous • Your next level may require becoming someone new Mentioned: Self-Compassion — Kristin Neff The Gifts of Imperfection — Brené Brown The Good Life — Robert Waldinger & Mark Schultz Mindset — Dr Carol Dweck 🎧 Listen now https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Questions? 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

  2. Sep 3

    Shae Giles Bruton — The Power of Being Seen: Why Authenticity Builds Trust

    What if the thing making you uncomfortable in front of the camera is exactly what your business needs more of? In this episode, Sharon sits down with Shae Giles Bruton, the creative force behind Shae Style Photography. With almost 30 years behind the camera, Shae has an incredible ability to help business owners move past the awkwardness, insecurity and overthinking — and show up as themselves. Because a great brand shoot isn’t simply about looking good. It’s about letting people see who they’re actually doing business with. And in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content, that human connection may matter more than ever. In this episode we cover: • Why even confident women can freeze in front of a camera • The insecurities almost every woman brings into a photoshoot • Why authenticity matters more than looking perfect • How the right photographer brings your personality and energy to life • Why AI may actually make real photography and human connection more valuable • How professional imagery builds trust before someone ever speaks to you • Why your photoshoot can create clarity around your personal brand • The role of clothing, colour, hair, makeup and styling • Shae’s simple “emu” posing trick for a stronger photo • Why old photos can quietly hold your brand back • How to show your personality even if you’re naturally quieter or more introverted Key insights: • People want to know the human behind the business • Your energy matters more than perfection • Confidence often comes through the experience of being seen • You don’t need to become someone else for the camera • As AI grows, authenticity and trust become even more valuable Your brand doesn’t need a more polished version of you. It needs you. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Guest: Shae Giles Bruton — Shae Style Photography   shaestylephotography.com.au  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

  3. Aug 27

    They’re Not Buying Your Service — They’re Buying You First

    Why can one bookkeeper charge $70 an hour while another confidently charges $120 or more for similar work? It is not always qualifications. It is not always experience. It is not the fanciest website, podcast, or social media page. So what is it? In this episode, Sharon unpacks why clients are not just buying your service. They are buying the experience of being with you. They are buying how safe they feel. How understood they feel. How confident they feel that you will handle things well. And whether they feel comfortable enough to tell you the truth. This is where your personal brand becomes powerful. Not the polished version of you. The clearest version of you. In this episode we cover: • Why people choose one provider over another • Why clients do not always choose the cheapest option • How trust, safety, and connection influence buying decisions • Why over-explaining your value can communicate uncertainty • The link between personal brand and pricing confidence • Sharon’s beauty appointment story and what it revealed about client experience • Why certainty is built through action, not waiting until you feel ready • How Dolly Parton, Oprah, and Taylor Swift show the power of being unmistakably yourself • Why your individuality helps attract the right clients • How Sharon’s early business experience showed her that people buy how you make them feel Key insights: • Clients are buying more than the service • Your pricing tells people what to believe about your value • Connection can create more trust than credentials alone • Your personal brand is not about being polished — it is about being clear • The right clients are looking for someone who sounds like you Mentioned in this episode: • Start With Why by Simon Sinek • Known by Mark Schaefer • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast 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

  4. Aug 20

    Take the Darn Break — Why Getting Away Changes Everything

    What if the thing your business needs most… is for you to step away from it? In this episode, Sharon shakes things up with a very direct reminder: Take the break. Get away from your office. Get away from the familiar. Get away from the same desk, same routine, same thinking. Because rest is not indulgent. It is often where fresh ideas, clearer thinking, creativity, and better decisions finally have room to show up. Sharon shares the story of a recent weekend away to Eumundi — the lovely parts, the funny imperfect parts, the over-attentive Airbnb host, the cold cabin, the markets, the wine, the dog, and the unexpected business idea that came through when she finally had space to think differently. In this episode we cover: • Why so many business owners struggle to take proper breaks • Why self-care is not separate from business growth • How Sharon preloads her year with weekends away and holidays • Why getting away from your normal environment matters • The truth about breaks that do not go perfectly to plan • How imperfect trips can still leave you feeling refreshed • Why new places, new food, and new routines can shift your thinking • How creativity can appear when you stop forcing business planning • Why rest supports problem-solving, focus, and better ideas • Why taking a break before you are forced to is essential Key insights: • You cannot pour from an empty cup • Breaks do not have to be perfect to be powerful • A different environment can create different thinking • Rest is not the opposite of productive work — it supports it • Creativity often arrives when you stop sitting at your desk trying to force it • Your business benefits when you come back refreshed, not depleted So here’s the reminder: Take the darn break. Your business will still be there. But you might come back with the clarity, energy, and ideas you couldn’t access while you were stuck inside the routine. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast Questions for the podcast? sharon@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

  5. Aug 13

    Decide to Make Your Life Easy

    What if life does not need to feel as hard as we make it? In this episode, Sharon talks about one of her favourite practical life shifts: deciding to make things easier. Not perfect. Not impressive. Not “I can do it all.” Easier. From cleaners and mowers to simpler dinners, lower household standards, adult children learning independence, and no longer being everyone’s go-to person, this episode is a direct and refreshing conversation about the mental load so many women carry. Because sometimes freedom does not come from doing more. It comes from asking: Why am I still doing this? Does it actually need to be me? What could I stop carrying? 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: • Why so many women feel stuck in Groundhog Day routines • How to make practical decisions that free up your time and energy • Why hiring help is not indulgent when you own a business • The real cost of being the go-to person for everything • Why lowering your household standards can create more freedom • How home patterns often spill into business boundaries • Why adult children sometimes need the gift of independence • The link between always being available at home and always being available in business • Why saying no can make you lighter, calmer, and more fun • How to stop keeping all the balls in the air alone 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • You do not have to be everyone’s go-to person • Making life easier is a decision, not a luxury • Lower standards can sometimes create higher freedom • A cleaner, mower, or simpler food option can buy back energy • The way you run your home often reflects in how you run your business • “No” is a full sentence Mentioned in this episode: • The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi 🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast 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

  6. Aug 6

    Olivia Story — From 5 to 18 Team Members and a $1.5M Bookkeeping Business

    What does it really take to go from feeling stuck and ready to walk away… to building a bookkeeping business with 18 team members and $1.5M in revenue? In this episode, Sharon sits down with Olivia Story, founder of Gecko Cloud Solutions, for a powerful conversation about growth, leadership, mindset, systems, AI, pricing, and the future of bookkeeping. Olivia shares how she went from a team of 5 to 18 team members, rebuilt her confidence, strengthened her leadership, and created a business that now supports more clients, more team members, and a much bigger vision. In this episode we cover: • What brought Olivia to the point of nearly walking away • The mindset shift that helped her grow again • How she went from 5 to 18 team members • Hitting $1.5M in revenue and what helped that growth compound • Why leadership can look nurturing, not loud • How Olivia structures her team with BAS agents and team leaders • Why systems and checklists are essential for scaling • The role of apps, automation, and strong processes • Why AI will change bookkeeping, but not remove the need for trusted advisors • The future opportunity for bookkeepers who build advisory and relationship skills • Why undercharging the industry has to stop • Olivia’s advice for bookkeepers who feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or ready to give up Key insights: • Growth starts with mindset, but it needs structure behind it • You do not need to be a “traditional” leader to lead well • Systems create freedom for both the owner and the team • Bookkeepers are already leaders to their clients • AI will remove some of the manual work, but human review, trust, and advisory still matter • Pricing needs to reflect the professional value bookkeepers bring • You are not alone in this industry, and you do not have to grow alone 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast 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

  7. Jul 30

    Business Is Personal — What Your Business Is Really Showing You

    When you’ve built a business from the ground up, of course it feels personal. You found the clients. You did the work. You took the risks. You paid the wages. You carried the responsibility. So when someone says, “Don’t take it personally,” that advice can feel almost impossible to follow. In this episode, Sharon explores why business decisions are rarely just practical. A price increase can bring up fear of rejection. A marketing post can trigger fear of judgment. A boundary can feel like risking approval. Delegating can challenge trust and control. The numbers may be clear, but the woman behind them still has to find the courage to act. In this episode we cover: • Why business feels so deeply personal • What really sits underneath pricing decisions • Why visibility can feel uncomfortable, even when you have something valuable to say • How people-pleasing shows up through overdelivering and weak boundaries • Why being helpful can become tied to feeling safe, liked, and needed • The role emotions play in judgment and decision-making • Why psychological safety matters in leadership • The four areas your business reflects back to you • Your relationship with money, visibility, boundaries, and leadership • How to use emotional reactions as information rather than evidence that something is wrong Key insights: • The practical decision is often not the real challenge • Your business reveals where you feel solid and where you still feel wobbly • Boundaries are about more than saying no • Pricing confidence begins with self-trust • Business does not only grow your income — it grows you Where is your business feeling more personal than practical right now? And what might it be trying to show you? 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast 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. Jul 23

    The Woman Behind the Business — The Invisible Load of Success

    What is the woman behind the business carrying that no one else can see? Not the brand. Not the polished website. Not the smiling photo. The actual woman making the decisions, holding the money stress, supporting the team, managing the clients, remembering the appointments, organising the family, and trying to keep everything moving. From the outside, she may look completely capable. But there is a difference between functioning and feeling free. In this episode, Sharon unpacks the invisible weight so many successful women carry — and why better time management is not always the answer. Sometimes the problem is not the diary. It is the weight of the bag. In this episode we cover: • Why successful women can look fine while feeling completely exhausted • The difference between functioning and feeling free • Why rest does not always fix the deeper kind of tiredness • The unpaid and invisible work women often carry • The four loads behind the successful woman • The practical load everyone can see • The mental load of remembering, anticipating, and following up • The emotional load of keeping everyone calm and supported • The identity load behind pricing, boundaries, hiring, and saying no • Why overwhelm is often too many loads sitting in one nervous system • How to identify what should be shared, systemised, or put down Key insights: • Being capable does not mean you should carry everything • Your business should support you, not swallow you up • What stays invisible stays heavy • Boundaries are often about identity, not just behaviour • The next level may not require more effort — it may require less carrying What are you carrying that no one else can see? And what are you finally ready to stop carrying alone? 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts https://www.sharonfrancisco.com/podcast 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

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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
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sharon Francisco Show
  • Show Website
    The Sharon Francisco Show