You probably know that Peter Cook and I are in the middle of the 7 Secrets of Growing Your Bookkeeping Business Seminar Roadshow where about 100 bookkeepers will be taking time out of their busy schedule this week to work ON their business instead of IN it.
I love to take time to listen to the bookkeepers and hear about their journey and the challenges they face. Although they are at all different stages of their business growth I find it comforting to hear that many of the issues that they experience are not so different from the issues I had growing my business to "Black Belt". Why comforting? Not because of some masochistic pleasure, but just because it makes me feel normal.
Everyone growing a business (without exception) will have the same, or similar, issues as I've had. What's satisfying for me is when I see the bookkeepers at the seminars have one of many "light-bulb" moments. They realise they're normal as well and despite the mistakes they've made so far, it's encouraging for them to realise it's still possible to grow a Black Belt business and they learn the strategies they need to do that.
When I asked one of the bookkeepers who came along what he wanted to get out of the seminar he said (tongue in cheek) that he wanted to hear how easy it was going to be to grow a profitable bookkeeping business. If only that was truth! I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear though, no point to that. I'm going to tell you what you NEED to hear. To share with you what you WILL encounter unless you make other choices or take certain actions.
Is the journey worth it? Hell yeah! I've always maintained that anything worthwhile is worth the effort. Will everyone reach Black Belt? Some will definitely but others won't, giving up on their vision feeling worn out and disillusioned. Some, like me, will have the support they need, the courage to face their demons and to learn about themselves in the process and will have the resources and tools to build a strong base on which to succeed.
Article by Debbie Roberts
