It’s Going to be Good: Building Your Accounting Firm

We're taking Q4 off from recording new episodes! So, let's unpack what planning + taking this (or any) break actually looks like:Where would one of us, Anna as a CEO and Jill as a COO, even start with planning our out-of-office time?TIP: What do you know that no one else knows?What does it look like to trust our team while one (or the both) of us is out on that well-deserved break? Can we give ourselves grace for the things that we didn't get to? (We're all only human, after all!)Taking a break gets its own episode because, at the end of the day, if you aren't able to step away -- do you own the business, or does it own you? We'll back with more episodes in a few short months so that Anna can focus on the launch of AccrewU's first course, Accounting Fundamentals, and Jill can really be present in the preciousness that is maternity leave! In the meantime, we hope you get inspired to take a break and look at trees (or lakes, or beaches, or puppies, or whatever your jam is) instead of spreadsheets!Ready to learn more about the AccrewU course, Accounting Fundamentals?Or, are you ready to invest in yourself by taking the course? Enroll today! Follow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

"Either we're both thrilled to work together or we shouldn't."We believe that sales is designed to establish long-term partnerships rather than just making the sale. It's about partnership over promises. Let’s be real - overpromising only leads to trouble down the line. It’s crucial to be clear about what you can deliver and, just as importantly, what you can’t. Clients will respect honesty, and that will set the stage for a long-term, trust-based partnership.First impressions also matter, especially in our field. So, the initial onboarding experience is where you set the tone for everything that follows. Communication is the name of the game here. It’s likely the reason they came to you in the first place, so be clear, be concise, and don’t shy away from setting realistic expectations right from the start.And repricing is one of the trickiest parts of client management. From fumbling through overly apologetic explanations to streamlining our process, there isn't one right way to do this... but there are a few wrong ones. Now, we keep it simple. We’re upfront about where our time goes, and we offer clients options that align with their values. Some clients want that deeper connection and are willing to invest more, while others prioritize affordability. It’s all about meeting clients where they are, without overcomplicating things.Sales is tough, no doubt about it. But it doesn’t have to be miserable. By focusing on partnership from the outset, you set the stage for a relationship where clients are excited to say "yes"—and happy to keep saying it, even when you have to reprice their services. Remember, how you start is how you intend to continue!Listen in to part 2 of the conversation with Anna and Jill as they discuss making sales and repricing effective and easy to tackle... because it's pretty essential to your business.Join the waitlist and get updates on the Accounting Fundamentals Course from Accrew U!Follow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

Listen to the last 15 minutes of this episode to hear about an exciting project we've been working on!Learn more HEREThe tools that helped you build your company at the beginning aren't the skills you'll continue needing as you grow and scale. There is a learning curve when you move away from startup mode into a more sophisticated form of leadership. As the leader of an organization, the skills you gained to build your firm, like being the technical expert or the best salesperson, aren't the things that will continue being essential to you as you, your team, and your company grow. Moving from knowing the right answer into equipping others to know the right answer is a key example of this. Mentorship and development is a the key to empowering others to be successful, so the success of your company is no longer entirely on your shoulders.This episode outlines a lot of the ways that we tend to think and act and how those behaviors can cease to serve us. It takes a lot of self-reflection and reimagining what purpose you serve is the right starting point for becoming the leader you want to be. Join us as Anna and Jill discuss how their skills have had to adapt and change across time as Accrew has grown. Sign up for updates on the Accounting Fundamentals Course from Accrew ULinks mentioned in this episodeLink to What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Follow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

It's not enough to aim at having a satisfied customer; what you should be aiming at is a customer who is so overwhelmed by the service they've received that they have to tell everyone about it. For us, that's been a key element to our growth through referrals from both client & referral partners. This idea comes from Ken Blanchard's book Raving Fans. We think this starts with understanding what makes your firm unique and enjoyable to work with. If your best fit clients love working with you because of how fast you work, how precise your reports are, or how effectively and frequently you communicate - that's what makes working with you awesome and creates raving fans. Then, once you're engaged with clients who are a great fit and are picking up what you're putting down, you need to continue showing up in that way day after day. Building systems and fostering a team that makes working with you an enjoyable experience for your clients creates raving fans. And only offering the kinds of services you enjoy allows you to continue loving what you do! Listen in to part 1 of 2 episodes where we discuss building trust and relationships with clients that make them "raving fans" and some of the systems and processes we implement to make sure this happens as often as possible. Links mentioned in this episodeLink to RAVING FANS | A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service by Ken BlanchardFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

We genuinely believe that the way you show up in one thing is typically how you show up in most things. This is also what people assume when you run a referral-based business. When it comes to business, your professional reputation matters. This is even more relevant when you're networking with other business owners and leaders.Where you network and with whom is a great starting point! Are you hoping to collaborate with other professionals in your industry to share ideas? Or are you looking to gain new clients? Those will happen in different circles.Once you've got this down, the real work comes in deciding how you want to show up. The goal is to stand out, so you're remembered two weeks or two years down the road as someone they'd send an associate to for services. But standing out isn't about telling them how great you are. It's often most effective in your ability to make it about them. Demonstrating curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and connecting on a personal level will make you memorable! Taking the time to think strategically about how you want to build strategic partnerships can all the difference in the way people talk about your business, how you refer to others, and how people refer to you. It's a long game! Join us for part 1 of our conversation around how we play the long game of networking.Follow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

What does it look like to be an Ideal Team Player? We all bring different strengths and skills to an organization, but how can you build a team that works in alignment AND complements each other? Patrick Lencioni at The Table Group built a tool that helps you evaluate where you fall on the Venn diagram of Humble + Hungry + Smart. We define "humility" a bit differently: It's not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less (C.S. Lewis). It's not just about avoiding pride or arrogance; it's also not about being self-deprecating or having a lack of confidence. "Hungry" is about being eager to work hard and strive for excellence... within the context of healthy boundaries. It's not really about being a workaholic or working so hard to get credit for the effort you put in. "Smart" is more about being emotionally intelligent and attuned to the thoughts and feelings of others than it is about being intellectually smart. Join us for part 1 of 2 episodes where Anna and Jill discuss The Ideal Team Player, how the tool is leveraged at Accrew, what it looks like in action, and how it's affected the way they work with team members and clients alike! Links mentioned in this episodeLink to The Ideal Team Player (by Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group)Follow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/Goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/ReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

Most companies know it's good to do training and development. But how can you actually build a culture around continuous growth, where your team is empowered to upskill?You have to understand and believe in the actual benefits before you decide to integrate training & development into your organization. It won't appear to affect your bottom line in a direct way, but it has ancillary benefits that absolutely do affect the bottom line; namely in retaining high-quality employees who are loyal to the organization, because growth becomes a real option for them. When building a culture around learning and development, it starts with a clear goal. From there, you can outline specific guardrails for what does (and doesn't) count, integrate systems of accountability, and create a culture of generosity with the learning that encourages others to share what they've gained and expands that knowledge beyond just the one individual who completed the training. It continues to grow and become a real part of the culture when your leaders continually model what it looks like to learn and grow regularly, sharing how they're making incremental progress in their own development. Join Anna and Jill as they sit down to get into the nitty-gritty of what works (and doesn't) when it creating a learning culture at work!Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser

Effective client relationships always start with effective communication. From the way we approach sales to how we're going to work together ongoing all the way to ending services, working with clients should feel collaborative. And for it to be a true partnership, we need to be on the same team! That starts in the sales process - we should be looking for a win-win solution, whether or not that means we end up working together. The goal is to ensure we're a good fit on both sides. Once we've both agreed that working together will be mutually beneficial, we move into onboarding, which requires us to set clear, reasonable expectations at the door. Then, when we're working together ongoing, we should all be on the same page about what is our part vs. the client's part in achieving our shared goals. And along the way, we'll still need to iron out the details! That's what partnering looks like. And even when it's time to call it, that should be as positive as it can be, and when possible, collaborative! Whether we're celebrating a client selling their business, retiring, or just outgrowing our services, because they're ready to hire an internal accounting team, we want to show up as humans who care. And even when it becomes obvious that we're not meeting each others' needs, on either side, we can still show up in a way that doesn't put us at odds with each other. Listen in as Anna and Jill talk about what it should take to set clients up for success and work together with clients in a way that makes an ongoing partnership sustainable and positive. Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser

When we get to the point where we're overworked, becoming too essential or handling too many problems, it's really appealing to throw a person at the work or at the problem. But how often does that actually work? So, if delegation through abdication doesn't work, it can feel like the alternative is that you must do everything yourself in order for it to be done right. And that is unsustainable. In the short-term, it is absolutely harder to build process, train and equip others, create clear expectations and provide feedback. Equipping and expecting people to show up is fire prevention rather than fire fighting. This results in equipping more firefighters, which means you will stop being the only person who can solve a problem. Join us as Anna and Jill talk about their journeys in learning to empower others and make themselves less essential in the day-to-day. Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser

We're looking back on this year and looking ahead to next year. Listen in as Jill and Anna talk about this year, what they've learned and what they're looking forward to in the year to come! Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser

Do you answer the same question over and over again? Where does your team go for answers? And how can you make that functional when you're in the midst of busy season? Answering questions in a way that encourages people to continue asking questions is hard work! It takes time, effort and energy to practice patience at work, especially when you're the expert! By creating a place for crew members to look for their own answers first, we've changed the way our team seeks information, leverages resources and solves their own problems independently. Listen as Jill and Anna talk about the Information Station at Accrew and how it supports in guiding crew members to success! Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser

A zero-sum game is the idea that one person's gain is equivalent to another's loss. But is that how it is? Or how it has to be?One of our core values is "Be excited to learn and generous with your knowledge," so sharing what we know is built into the way we work. But can you engage with people typically perceived as "competitors" - other bookkeepers, accountants, tax preparers, and even owners & leaders in other industries? Is there a way we can be generous while we network and collaborate, so we all win? When we work with and network with other professionals in our industry, it is possible to see them as collaborators rather than competitors. And when we do, we find ourselves with infinitely better ideas and business strategies! Listen in as Jill and Anna talk about abundance vs. scarcity mindset and thinking about business as a win/win rather than a zero-sum game. Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribe:Subscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!

Emotions aren't actions. But they are really good "dashboard lights" that can show us a lot about what's happening under the surface. Experiencing negative and positive feelings at work is inevitable, but it's how we respond that really matters. Engaging emotions with curiosity, focusing on responding rather than reacting, and showing up as the people we want to be are a few of the ways we encourage our team to bring their whole selves to work. Join us as we talk about how we cue into our emotions, evaluate, and make decisions about how we respond. Podcast Sponsors + Advertisers:AccrewLinks to resources mentioned in this episode:Atlas of the Heart by Brené BrownFollow the Going to Be Good Podcast on Social Media:twitter.com/goinggoodpod/linkedin.com/company/goinggoodpodcast/facebook.com/people/goinggoodpodcast/instagram.com/goinggoodpodcast/Review:Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribe:Subscribe to the Going to Be Good Podcast in your favorite podcast app!