The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast Michael Palmer

“I find, even just that connection, talking to other people… helping each other out, so important to the success of an entrepreneur because you can’t do it alone.”
-Roger Pierce
Starting our own businesses is a daunting prospect. There are many roads to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and each person’s journey is so different, it can often feel like we have to walk the path in isolation. 
Acting in isolation, it can be hard to maintain course or connect to our purpose, chasing instead the hope of more money and clients. This is why support systems matter. When we surround ourselves with people who have or are on a journey of their own, it really helps us avoid common pitfalls and feel like we are a part of something bigger.
Roger Pierce, who is an entrepreneurship expert, is this episode’s featured guest. He has spent his career not only as a successful entrepreneur but also in bringing other like-minded people together to create their own business success. Roger speaks to the power of networking and community in building successful businesses, learning to pivot and how to approach your life with purpose. 
If you are tired of working for other people or are already on your journey but feel lost and isolated, this is the episode to get you thinking about the people you surround yourself with and the power of your purpose. 
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of learning to pivot How to approach your life with purpose The importance of building lasting relationships To find out more about Roger, click here. 
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Time Stamps
01:43 - Roger discusses his career journey 
05:42 - The challenges & opportunities of small business 
09:05 - Approaching your life with purpose 
13:05 - Evolving through education
16:30 - The Unsure Entrepreneur 
22:09 - Learning to pivot 
25:52 - What’s next for small businesses 
29:56 - Building lasting relationships 
34:50 - Learning more about Roger

“If I was just open to meeting somebody and having a conversation and understanding where they were coming from, it naturally turned into a client, and that’s what we have continued to do to this day.”
-Melissa Broughton
We all feel like imposters in our businesses at one time or another. This fear can paralyze us, stopping us from taking any action at all. But it will always be better to try and fail, than let fear stop us from ever trying at all. 
When it comes to putting ourselves out there, it is hard to know which school of thought to listen to. Do you go for the soft or hard sell, hit the pavement, or focus on online marketing? The answer will always be to try everything and see what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. 
Melissa Broughton, owner of Busy Bee Advisors, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career helping small businesses gain financial clarity. She speaks to the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones, leaning into our inner problem-solvers, and the way embracing technology will help you find financial freedom. 
If you are struggling to find clients, or just aren’t sure about the next step to take in your bookkeeping business, then this is the episode to help you get intentional about your goals, objectives, and purpose. 
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of leaning into our inner problem-solvers How to use technology to your best advantage The importance of stepping out of our comfort zones To find out more about Melissa, click here.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Check out Busy Bee Advisors at this link.
Time Stamps     
01:11 - Melissa discusses her career journey
04:53 - Stepping out of our comfort zones
07:41 - Building a successful network
12:38 - Embracing technology 
13:55 - Leaning into your inner problem-solver
16:28 - Working with family 
21:47 - Looking to the future 
24:25 - Passing your knowledge on
27:17 - Learning more about Melissa

“When people say, ‘What do you do?’ instead of saying I’m a bookkeeper, say ‘I run a bookkeeping business.’ It’s a subtle difference, but it’s actually a really big shift in mindset.”
-Peter Cook
We must all leave our businesses one day. This confronting reality can make us quite uncomfortable. So much so that we bury ourselves working in our businesses, rather than working on them. More than the work we do, our businesses are valuable assets, if we treat them as such.
Problems arise when we lean into negative thoughts and actions. If we only ever refer to ourselves as ‘just a bookkeeper’ that is all we'll ever be. Our habits define who we are, what might change if you began to introduce yourself as a business owner instead?
Peter Cook, co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping, is this episode’s featured guest. He speaks to the power of shifting mindsets, how to prove the value of your business to yourself and others, and why even small changes to our habits can have huge impacts. 
If you are worried about the future of your bookkeeping business, or just starting to consider it as a valuable asset for the future, this is the episode to get you thinking about long-term value and what leaving your business might look like.
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of long-term thinking How to shift into a business owner mindset The importance of creating successful habits  To find out more about Peter, click here.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Get your copy of The E-Myth Bookkeeper!
Click this link to listen to Peter's previous Successful Bookkeeper episode in 2024.
Time Stamps
02:01 - How you exit your bookkeeping business 
08:58 - Creating habits for success
10:46 - Positive versus negative thought
14:10 - The value of a bookkeeping business    
16:44 - Proving the value of your business 
19:55 - The challenges of stepping away
24:48 - Thinking with the end in mind

“If someone is asking for immediate payment, that’s a huge red flag. Telling you to 'go to your bank, buy a gift card’ or any kind of payment outside of the ordinary, be very, very weary. When it comes to taxes, you can always walk into an IRS office or state office. Go to the source.”
-Hubert Johnson
 
Fraud is one of the biggest problems facing business owners. It is hard enough to keep up with all the changes in compliance law, that when we are then faced with identity or money fraud, it can seem an insurmountable problem. 
 
But as with most things, these issues will only hit us hard if we don’t prepare for them or ignore them and hope they will go away. Education is the key to prevention, whether we do it one-to-one, or build community groups, sharing knowledge is the surest way to prevent more people falling into the trap of fraud.
 
Hubert Johnson, tax attorney and owner of Guardian Tax Law, is this week's featured guest. He has spent his career helping thousands of clients and businesses find resolutions and peace of mind when dealing with tax issues. In this episode, Hubert and Michael explore the concerning rise of fraud, how to protect yourself, and the value of working together to face the challenges of the future. 
 
The cost of cleaning up a problem is often far more than the cost of making sure the problem never occurs. If you want to defend yourself against fraud but aren’t sure where to begin, this is the episode to get you started. 
 
During this interview, you'll learn...
How to protect ourselves from ever-increasing fraud  The value of keeping up to date with compliance changes  The importance of community in facing the challenges of fraud  To find out more about Hubert, click here.
 
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
 
Time Stamps
 
01:46 - Hubert discusses his career journey 
02:42 - Protecting ourselves from identity fraud 
08:59 - Spotting the scam 
18:45 - The power of community in overcoming fraud 
20:28 - Understanding changes to tax rules 
26:52 - Getting payroll right 
31:33 - Investing in business protection  
38:17 - Learning more about Hubert

“I was outgrowing my money habits, and I was outgrowing the people teaching me about money, so what is that next level? Who is the next person I want to learn from?”
-Stacy Tuschl
Business owners often exist in the space between not believing we are worthy of our business, and believing we are the only ones that can get things done in our business. What would happen if you give yourself permission to start delegating some tasks to others?
Of course, everyone is unique. If you are happy with the way things are working for you, then your growth may lay in other directions. But if you aren’t happy, if you are spending too much time IN your business and not enough time ON your business, it might be time for a change.
Stacy Tuschl, founder of Well-Oiled Operations and operational systems expert, is this episode’s featured guest. She has spent her career not only building incredibly successful businesses but helping others to achieve their dreams, by freeing them from the limiting mindsets holding them back. In this episode, Stacy speaks to the power of delegation, shifting limiting beliefs and growing beyond our spheres of influence. 
If you are struggling to let go in your bookkeeping business, not sure how to start trusting others with the things you do so well, or simply want that push to try, then this is the episode to get you out of an operator mindset and start thinking like an owner!
During this interview, you'll learn...
The value of mindset in shifting our business perspectives How delegation can change your life The importance of learning from the right places  To find out more about Stacy, click here. 
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Time Stamps
01:46 - Stacy discusses her career journey 
03:02 - The challenges of building a healthy business
04:32 - Who are we learning money from?
06:26 - How is this working for you?
08:22 - Learning to delegate
12:40 - Stacy’s tips for successful delegation 
19:41 - Shifting out of the operator mindset
25:47 - Navigating the flow of change 
31:15 - Getting our finances in order 
36:35 - Learning more about Stacy

“I have to do a lot of things that are downtime, or non-billable things, so I have to roll that into my rate. I had to do a mind shift change. I had to do a complete 180 on my thoughts and how I thought of clients and how I billed them and what I am doing for them.”
-Robin Hall
Automation is the future, but shortcuts are only helpful if we have already been to the destination the long way round, otherwise, there is no way to know if we have arrived at the right place. Until we have a full understanding of just how many steps it takes to achieve a certain result, we can’t begin to implement any useful shortcuts. 
The next problem is successfully communicating the worth of that experience, especially when we reach levels of skill that make us really good at something, but unable to explain how to do it to others. Knowing the value of our skills is only half the battle. Not everyone that can do, can teach. It takes a different skill set to be able to effectively communicate and replicate in others those things we do well. 
Robin Hall, owner and principal consultant at VARC Solutions, is this spotlight episode’s special guest. She has spent her career helping people get to grips with automation.  She discusses all things automation, from how to shift our mindset, to understanding the value of your skills and time, and how to bring your team along on the journey.
If you have been considering a more automated approach to your bookkeeping business, but aren’t sure which direction to take, this is the episode to get you thinking about people-first automation. 
During this interview, you'll learn...
The power of pricing for your value not just your time How to shift your mindset to be open to the future The importance of bringing your people on the journey with you To find out more about Robin, click here. 
Connect with her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Time Stamps
01:24 - Robin discusses her career journey
03:45 - The value of passing on our knowledge  
06:03 - Shifting to value-based pricing 
11:56 - Getting to grips with automation 
15:44 - Factors to consider when automating accounts
22:31 - Bringing your team with you
27:10 - Finding your preferred solution partners 
36:14 - Robin’s automation tips
This episode is brought to you by our great friends at BILL!
BILL automates your clients’ AP, AR, spend, and expense, and lets them track and manage their cash flow, in real time.
You can also use the BILL Accountant Console to access insights to level up your advisory services plus so much more!
To learn how BILL can help you and your clients, and to sign up for the referral program, visit thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/bill.