The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast Michael Palmer

“Everybody ultimately wants to be the surgeon. Ultimately, you want to do the part of bookkeeping, that had you become a bookkeeper and had you open a bookkeeping business.”
-Gina Cotner
Taking on an assistant can sometimes feel like a burden. When we are already overwhelmed, the last thing we need is a new person in the mix, one we have to train, oversee and constantly course correct to get things done the way we want them to be. Not to mention the additional cost of a new hire.
But hiring an assistant doesn't have to be like this. A small shift in mindset can have a dramatic impact on your bookkeeping business. Rather than thinking about the cost and time spent hiring and training an assistant. Imagine how much more profitable your business would be if you spent the time you are currently using on repetitive and monotonous tasks, doing the high-level work in your business. 
Gina Cotner, CEO and founder of Athena Executive Services, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career training and connecting the right people with the right businesses. Her approach focuses on finding people to fill your gaps so you can do more of the things you love in your business.
Delegating is a skill that takes practice. If you are spending too much time in the minutia of your business and want to get back to the tasks that you love, the tasks you created your business to do, then this is the episode to start a shift in your mindset toward what your business could look like with the right help.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of delegating tasks to free up your time How to let go of the tasks that aren’t the best use of your time The importance of finding the right VA for you To find out more about Gina, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Time Stamps
01:41 - Gina talks about her career journey
10:25 - The challenges of hiring a virtual assistant
13:41 - Letting go of the tasks that eat up too much of your time
19:10 - How to delegate effectively 
21:07 - Finding the right VA for you
27:33 - What to look out for & what to avoid
32:28 - Building a healthy relationship with your VA 
37:14 - Getting connected with Athena Executive Services

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

“We’re testing these same services in my business, seeing what’s working, what’s not. And then going out to the marketplace and saying, ‘We know you have this problem, would you be interested in letting us help you?’” 
-Mark Kappleman
 
When getting started in business there is often a pressure to be a generalist, to try and learn and do everything for any possible client. But, there is nothing wrong with combining your skills and experience with all those clients and your own passions to specialize in the niche that perfectly suits you.
 
Letting go of clients is hard. It is tough to shake the scarcity mindset. Imagine, however, all of the people who could be served by your unique knowledge, not to mention the relief found when you’re not dealing with twenty different problems in one day. Instead, applying your expertise in ONE area to twenty different clients.
 
Mark Kappleman, co-founder of RealEstateAccounting.co, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career, seeking out the niche within the niche, creating and building market opportunities to help clients achieve their dreams.
 
There has never been a better time to leverage your skills and experience to solve the problems your clients don’t even know they have. If you have been struggling to identify your niche, this is the episode to get you to follow your passion!
 
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of specializing in your niche How to manage the unspoken & unknown problems The importance of following your passions 

To find out more about Mark, click here.
 
Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
 
Time Stamps
 
01:31 - Mark talks about his career journey 
06:04 - Following your passion 
09:18 - Getting to the root of the problem
13:44 - Focusing your niche 
17:14 - Becoming a generalist or a specialist 
19:23 - Sometimes the niche finds you
22:04 - Managing the unspoken & unknown problems 
27:05 - The future of business 
30:55 - Learning more about Mark 

This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late! 
 

“You’re juggling balls in the air, and some are rubber, and some are glass. If you’re going to let a ball drop, don’t let it be a glass one.” 
-Jessica Lackey
It is unfortunate, but we often have to suffer to learn what it is we truly value. It is okay to make mistakes, but if we get to a point where mistakes are our dominant choices, it is time to reach out for help.
There are many different measures of success. To some it is financial security at any cost, taking on as many clients as possible, even if the quality of the work begins to slip. To others, helping clients improve their businesses is the mark of success.
In any case, what we choose to do, and what we choose to get help with has a dramatic impact on our business’ viability. Especially the way in which we outsource tasks to others. Throwing tasks at people because we are too overwhelmed only doubles the workload in chasing and checking the work to see if it has been done right.
Jessica Lackey is a strategy and operations consultant who has made it her life’s work to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs build sustainable and well-rooted businesses. Her approach is a human-centric one focused on creating the right feeling in our businesses, by being intentional in our decision-making.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, are struggling to know what to focus on, or what to outsource, this is the episode to get you thinking about the choices you are making in a whole new way.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of supportive outsourcing How to set effective and healthy goals The importance of making thoughtful decisions To find out more about Jessica, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
You can take her free Radical and Rooted Business Lifecycle Assessment and learn about her services, including the next steps by visiting this link.
Time Stamps
        
01:33 - Jessica talks about her career journey
03:40 - Answering the journey's call
09:35 - Making your vision come to life
13:00 - Outsourcing: helpful or hindering
16:57 - Avoiding mistakes with thoughtful decision-making
20:50 - How our decisions affect our well-being
23:56 - Finding the right co-pilot
25:44 - Letting go of the numbers
27:54 - Learning more about Jessica
This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late! 

“What story are we telling ourselves about why they don’t get it? Then, finding a way around that and asking the question…what unites us?”
-Sally Helgesen
Communication is the cornerstone of business. Yet despite this many of us struggle to communicate with people different from ourselves. Not only that, but we also find it uncomfortable to effectively communicate our value and worth to others too.
So many of our issues arise out of a need to ‘prove’ our point of view. We are so busy trying to tell other people they are wrong; we stop living right. We withdraw from people different from ourselves or become just like them in our disregard for their opinion or their right to it. 
What would happen if instead of trying to tell people what to think, we focused inward, on removing our own internal barriers, and went out into the world open to different people and points of view? Focus not only on what we hope to get from others but what we could do to help them too.
Instead of saying older people can’t do this, or younger people don’t understand that, what would happen if we were open to lessons everyone of a different background has to teach? 
Sally Helgesen, who is an international bestselling author, speaker and leadership coach, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping people create more inclusive businesses and networks, by focusing on what unites us, what is real, and what moves us forward, rather than the distracting influence of other media.
If you are struggling to communicate open-heartedly, this is the episode to get you ready to embrace who you are, and how you can be of service to others.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of overcoming our own self-narratives How to express your value without arrogance The importance of being open with people different from you To find out more about Sally, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
To buy her book, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace, visit this link.
Time Stamps
    
01:40 - Getting inspired to write a new book
04:10 - Identifying the things that get in the way
08:28 - Understanding generational miscommunication 
12:52 - Bridging the communication divide 
20:32 - The 8 common triggers undermining us
27:36 - Connecting your value with your paycheck 
30:10 - Building an inclusive network  
35:40 - Learning more about Sally 
This episode is brought to you by The Successful Bookkeeper's newest online event.

Introducing the Technology Showcase!

If you're looking for the best apps and solutions for your bookkeeping business needs then this one-of-a-kind experience is for you!  

It happens on June 22nd at 9am Eastern.

To find out more, click here and REGISTER NOW before it's too late!  

“You’ve got to do the work in yourself first, otherwise we can’t do the work in our practices.” 
-Christina Foxwell
All too often we are consumed by the idea of competition, that to be successful means constantly proving ourselves in every room we enter. While a certain amount of competition can be a driving force for growth, too much makes us a nervous wreck, so concerned with how we are showing up, we have no space or energy to learn anything new.
By changing our mindsets from one that constantly feels the need to prove ourselves, to one that seeks peace and calm understanding, we are better able to show up for ourselves, our clients, and our businesses.
Being mindful of the reasons behind our behaviors and choices is a great way to reframe and refocus on what is truly important, and whether our current mindset is serving us well, or just a habit we have come to rely on. A habit that is more damaging than good.
Christina Foxwell, CEO and founder of Ignite Purpose, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping organizations to engage their people, rebuild their cultures and create places where people are better working together. 
If you are feeling burnt out, struggling with feeling like an imposter in your own bookkeeping business, or want to build relationships and connections of substance, this is the episode to help you shift your mindset, from trying to prove who you are, to living as you are.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of going with the flow to find your purpose How to show up in peace rather than trying to prove yourself The importance of being present & engaged in the moment To find out more about Christina, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Time Stamps
01:42 - Christina talks about her career journey 
03:37 - Overcoming the obstacles of business 
09:30 - Finding a new flow 
16:13 - Learning to be present in the moment 
20:40 - Building community; finding your tribe 
27:30 - Transforming workplace cultures 
31:10 - Bringing your peace to others
36:50 - Learning more from Christina 
This episode is brought to you by our good friends at Pure Bookkeeping!
If you want to grow your bookkeeping business, get back your time, be more efficient and have confidence that your work is best practice, you need proven systems, processes and standard operating procedures.
That’s what Pure Bookkeeping offers. To find out more, visit PureBookkeeping.com TODAY!

“I like the idea of considering the workplace to become a source of well-being, rather than a source of distress.”
-Dr. Karen Doll
As bookkeepers, we understand the finite nature of available resources. We find the balance in our clients’ books. And yet when it comes to ourselves, we often don’t consider the nature of our own available resources. This could be our emotional capacity, our time or our energy. We work flat out, not stopping to consider the long-term impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Taking time to evaluate of our needs and allocate the necessary resources to keep us happy and healthy isn’t selfish. The selfish act is burning ourselves out and putting our clients’ resources or our employees’ jobs at risk by overpromising and under-delivering due to burnout.
Dr. Karen Doll, a consulting psychologist with over 25 years of experience, is this episode's featured guest. She has spent her career helping people build psychological fitness. Her approach champions the need for whole-person development in the workplace, by creating conditions at work that support people in their well-being.
Being honest and open isn’t easy. We know our clients and employees depend on us for certainty. But struggling people can’t help with the struggles of others. If you are struggling to manage your mental health and aren’t sure of what to do about it, this is the episode to get you thinking about your psychological fitness and self-compassion.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of managing our mental & physical health How to attune to your well-being needs The importance of cultivating psychological fitness  To find out more about Karen, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Visit this link to get her book.
Time Stamps    
01:30 - Karen talks about her career journey 
03:53 - Facing the post-pandemic world 
06:12 - Avoiding common mistakes in workplace mental health
10:25 - Managing our own mental health 
12:40 - Karen talks about the value of her book
16:18 - The impact of good physical & mental health 
20:47 - Practices to keep you in tune with your health 
29:40 - Getting in touch with Karen 

This episode is brought to you by our good friends at Pure Workflow!

It’s a simple, easy-to-use workflow practice management solution which will help you manage your clients, deadlines, workflow and team with ease.

The BEST PART? It's specifically made FOR BOOKKEEPERS!

For more information, visit PureWorkflow.com!