The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast Michael Palmer

“Nowadays I fire people. I fired one client last month. They didn’t even make it two months in. But the way they talked to my staff and scope creep and demanding a lot of things that we never agreed to, I let them go within a month and a half. Where before I would suffer those clients for a year.”
-Tyler Otto
It is natural when starting a business to want to take any clients, no matter how much they demand of us, or how badly they might treat us. We want to be grateful for something because it is better than nothing.
But we don’t have to get stuck in this mindset once our work starts to speak for itself. We can increase our price, and remove negatively impacting clients and employees, without feeling guilty or disloyal.
The goal for our business is growth and hanging on to things that just aren’t working, isn’t going to help us grow. 
Tyler Otto, President and Owner of Specialty Bookkeeping and Tax, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career building systems for business success. In this episode, Tyler and Michael explore learning from past mistakes, getting your people and systems right, and why building strong workplace culture matters.
If you aren’t sure how to say no to difficult clients, want to hire a strong team, or just develop your company’s culture, then this is the episode to get you thinking about what the future could look like when you embrace your growth.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of getting it wrong so you know how to get it right How to roll with the punches The importance of building a strong work culture  To find out more about Tyler, click here.
Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn.
You can listen to the UNAccountable Podcast at this link.
Time Stamps
01:36 - Tyler discusses his career journey
03:05 - Positioning yourself for success
05:16 - Getting it wrong, to get it right
08:36 - Managing problem clients
11:32 - Pricing for your value 
16:36 - Rolling with the punches
18:55 - Future thinking
21:43 - Building a strong work culture 
27:12 - Setting the rules & sticking to them

“The number one marketing strategy for bookkeepers, people would say, is 'do a good job and referrals will come.'”
-Debbie Roberts 
Finding the right people to work in our businesses is tough. Managing expectations on both sides can be challenging, maybe our systems and processes aren’t as great as we hoped, or maybe they just aren’t the right fit for us. 
No matter what happens, mistakes are only a waste of time if we refuse to learn from them. When we get things wrong, it gives us a great opportunity to review our practices and see what isn’t working. This will help us understand where the fault lies and how to fix it. 
Not everyone wants to be the boss, some just want to turn up and do what they love, but in order to find these people we have to be sure of their skills. You cannot take someone’s word on success. Spend time with them, sit with them and have them show you they can do everything you want them to do, in the way you want them to do it. 
Peter Cook, and Debbie Roberts, co-authors of the E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founders of Pure Bookkeeping, are this episode’s featured guests. This sixth episode regarding The E-Myth Bookkeeper is all about how to hire great people, develop your systems and be relentless in the pursuit of your dreams. 
If you are struggling to grow in your business and want to scale but aren’t sure how to find and test the right people for you then this episode will teach you how to build the right systems and then test and hire with confidence.  
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of never giving up on your dreams How to hire great people & keep them The importance of systems & processes in your business To find out more about Peter, click here or connect with him on LinkedIn. 
To learn more about Debbie, visit  this link or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper.
To learn about Pure Bookkeeping, visit this link.
Catch-up on the full E-Myth Bookkeeper Peter Cook podcast series with past episodes below!
Episode 1
Episode 2 
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Time Stamps
01:21 - The Successful Bookkeeper
05:27 - Debbie’s story
09:34 - Developing your systems
18:52 - Finding the right people for you
30:54 - Embracing what you’re good at

This episode is brought to you by Pure Bookkeeping. It's the proven system to grow your bookkeeping business.

“You don’t have to know everything, but if you can ask the questions and then if you can figure out how those tie into the financials, you can say ‘here are the numbers, but here’s what they mean.’”
-Jeff Bartsch
All of us have a story, but few of us embrace the ability we all possess to change the narrative at any moment. There is comfort in familiarity, but it can also imprison us. If we keep saying to ourselves, ‘I am just a bookkeeper’, that is all we'll ever be. 
But, it doesn’t have to be this way.
We can change our personal and professional stories at any time, and when we do, we begin to think differently about ourselves. If we are what we think, then changing our thoughts will automatically change our actions. Easier said than done, but given the alternative, what do we have to lose in trying to think better of ourselves?
Jeff Bartsch, founder of Story Greenlight, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people understand the story of their business and how to tell it successfully. In this second of a two-episode special, Michael and Jeff discuss tactical ways to add advisory services to your business, the power of measurement and how to attract and keep your ideal client.
If you think of yourself as just a bookkeeper or aren’t sure how to put your experience to greater use, then this is the episode to get you believing you don’t have to have all the answers, just the willingness to think better of yourself and try harder for your clients each day.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of measuring the data How to add advisory service to your business What your ideal client looks like, and how to keep them To find out more about Jeff, click here.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
 
Get your complimentary 1-on-1 coaching with Jeff at this link.
 
Time Stamps
 
01:18 - Understanding who you are
09:24 - You are what you measure 
18:05 - Attracting & keeping your ideal clients 
25:11 - Learning more from Jeff 

“A story is where a character wants something, overcomes obstacles to get it and experiences transformation as a result. Identity, desire, obstacles and transformation. And then we as providers of services and products, we are the guide, we come alongside to help that hero get what they want.”
-Jeff Bartsch
 
Being a bookkeeper is about more than our ability to do the math. There are plenty of technological solutions to bookkeeping, yet clients continue to hire human bookkeepers because we understand the story of that client’s business. 
 
We can leverage our experience in a way a machine is unable to. We build personal connections with our clients and guide them to success. In this advisory role, lies the true value of a bookkeeper. Someone who can reassure, support and advise in a way that builds connection and empowers clients to make the best of their businesses. 
 
Jeff Bartsch, founder of Story Greenlight is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career helping people understand the story of their business and how to tell it successfully. In this first of a two-episode special, Michael and Jeff explore ways to build connection with your audience, the power of storytelling and how businesses are transformed when you give the numbers meaning.
 
If you want to connect with your clients more, but don’t feel confident using your knowledge and experience to build deeper relationships, then this is the episode for you!
 
During this interview, you'll learn...
The power of giving meaning to the numbers How to tell your story successfully The importance of building genuine connections
To find out more about Jeff, click this link.
 
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
 
Get your complimentary 1-on-1 coaching with Jeff here.
 
Time Stamps
 
02:12-  Jeff discusses his career journey 
05:55 - Connecting with your audience 
11:39 - Telling your story 
24:24 - Giving meaning to the numbers
30:10 - Delivering for your clients

“I think there are three main things that are super important for running a business. One is knowing how to be a great leader and a great manager of people. There’s learning how to hire the right people for your business and how to build a team. And then there’s knowing how to follow the rules and stay out of trouble!”
-Jackie Koch
As with all things in life and business, the earlier we get plans and systems in place, the more time, energy and money we will save down the road. This is especially true when it comes to employees. How do we know if we are hiring and firing too quickly or too slowly? The answer is we probably don’t. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
We all want to do as much for ourselves as possible, but even if we can spread our knowledge to cover all the bases in a simple way, we will never be as good as a dedicated expert. We can guess what we need to do, but when we don’t know what we don’t know, there are going to be gaps. 
Jackie Koch, founder of People Principles and host of the World’s Greatest Boss podcast, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping people create and maintain HR strategies for lasting success. Jackie and Michael explore the way small mistakes often lead to big problems, the value experts add to your business and the true meaning of Hire Slow, Fire Fast. 
If you want to hire new people or are finding exit conversations too challenging, this is the episode that will get you connecting with the right people to help you find your right people.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of expert experience in building your bookkeeping business How to hire & fire the right people at the right time The importance of catching mistakes early  To find out more about Jackie, click here .
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the World’s Greatest Boss Podcast.
Time Stamps
01:54 - Jackie discusses her career journey 
05:09 - Small mistakes lead to big problems 
08:51 - Understanding the value of an expert 
14:12 - Hire slow 
22:47 - Fire fast!
30:44 - Finding the right fit 
34:58 - Jackie’s recommendations
This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Payworks!
If you're looking for a reliable and affordable payroll platform for your business, look no further!
To learn more, visit Payworks.ca TODAY!

“Spend 15 minutes a day every single day on something that matters to you. I don’t care if it matters to anybody else, but something that matters to you, and preferably do all this before you check your email.”
-Sam Bennett
Habit building is hard, especially when we aren’t always sure which way to direct our energy. The more we build a habit, the more momentum we gain, and the less we want to quit whatever it is we are doing. Unfortunately, the same is true of negative habits. If we struggle to even try, that is all that will happen. We’ll give up before we start to see results, and the more we give up, the more we’ll keep giving up.
We can’t just copy others and hope to find the same success, we aren’t them. It’s scary to realize there is no right way to success, there is only our own way, all we have to do is lean into it, and build it up with good habits. Success is what follows those good habits. 
Sam Bennett, author of The 15-Minute Method, has spent her career helping overthinkers get things done, 15 minutes at a time. She has created an environment to help people live their best, most fulfilling and productive lives. 
In this episode, Sam and Michael illustrate the power of the 15-minute method, how to beat procrastination, and how to spend more time in your flow state. If you are an overthinker, constantly worried about making the right choices, then this is the episode that will get you believing you can be who you want to be.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The power of the 15-Minute Method How to spend more time in your flow The importance of overcoming procrastination To find out more about Sam, click here.
To explore the Get it done! Daily Practicum, visit this link.
Connect with Sam on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Time Stamps

01:35 - Sam discussses her career journey 
04:30 - Adjusting to a new reality 
10:10 - The power of 15 minutes 
17:43 - Getting to grips with procrastination
20:58 - Building time in your flow state 
32:03 - The daily practicum 
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Visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/forwardly for more information!