When do you celebrate success?
Part of the reason I love what I do is because of the connections I make with the people I meet. This might sound like a bit of an odd thing for an accountant to say, but for me it’s a really important part of why I do what I do, and even what drove me to choose Kindred.Co as the name for my business.
When I work closely with people and their businesses I find myself getting quite attached to people and projects. I love to find solutions to problems, help people out of sticky situations and help people achieve big goals. Being a part of those things actually changes lives, it is really valuable to experience and it’s definitely the most satisfying.
When people come to me it’s usually because they feel they don’t have enough time, they don’t have enough money, or they’re too stressed out. Sometimes it’s all three! But something that I find helps my clients a lot is by telling them that these are very common problems - in fact it’s usually a huge relief.
These problems can be caused by any number of things. I have worked with people where they have not been in a good place, but fast forward months down the track, we have worked together to cut hours out of their week with improving systems, gaining control over situations, improving cash flow, and getting big tax debts with the IRD sorted.
Those people will know who they are - and it’s always confidential, so whatever happens with me, stays with me.
Something that is really important to take stock of while you’re concentrating on growing a business is keeping track of key milestones. My method for reaching milestones is to always plan ahead. I don’t wait to complete them one by one. I am always thinking in advance! But equally important is a good reset and taking stock. Time out is key to achieving the next one for sure. If you take the time to reset, your body and mind will thank you for it.
The other thing that business ‘health checks’ will do is help your business grow. Adaptability, positivity, and energy all play a part to get out there and make stuff happen too. But the real magic is your support network.
This is your team, your financial advisors and accountant, family, other people in business you can get advice from. The more you have around you, the quicker you will get to success, and have an attitude that is willing to learn. I read a book once which said “success leaves clues” and I thought it was absolutely spot on. The people who are always propelling forward are usually organised, they don’t do it all themselves, and they utilise others to hold them accountable for achieving tasks and goals they have set.
With planned and nurtured growth comes success. It sounds like a cliché but success is not a destination. It is an ever-moving journey that I personally won’t ever feel like I fully reach because I’m always moving the target.
Specifically, it’s:
Being in control of my environment with confidence in what is happening around me.
Being comfortable financially to be able to do all the things I want to with my family and set up for the future.
Feeling excited about what I am doing and having fun while I am doing it.
The minute I stop getting excited about what I do, is the minute I rethink my career path. And yes, Accounting can be exciting!! Anyone who has worked with me can vouch for that!
It might sound as though I’m hard on myself with my own business journey, but I do make sure I stop to enjoy the important moments. Acknowledging success means anything from fist pumps, high fives, and looking back at where I have come from. Maybe even a glass of wine with friends.
Celebrating the wins are something we should all get better at. It’s easy to pick on the negatives and the losses, but we need to focus on the good stuff too so that we are always motivated to keep going in the direction that leads us to more milestones of success.
Lisa-Jean Foote
June 3, 2019
