Bookkeeping | Accounting | Wise, Wizardly Advice for coaches, consultants, and creatives
I’m the guy you call when you absolutely, positively hate doing the books
My fingers were itchy. Not just that day a few days ago. No, it was on and off again all fall. No, not because they were dry or any other medical condition. Nope. They wanted to do something.
Wednesday mornings at 745am I’m not far away…I’m at my desk for my BANG online networking group meeting (I’ve come to love those 5 minute commutes down the stairs, don’t you?) (I love networking. Maybe you’ve heard me say it before. Well, I’m saying it again). Sometimes we kick around a few ideas along with all the introductions. A few weeks ago, I asked “What do you expect out of your accountant or your bookkeeper?”
“Blueberry buns”, I said. “What?” “You asked — what’s my favourite childhood summer treat. It’s a blueberry bun”. “Never heard of it!” “Oh right, I forgot, you’re not from Toronto”.…
I wasn’t always owned by cat(s) (as I am now). That’s me and Smokey, our current cat, in the picture. He chases me onto the couch in the afternoons for nap time. I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. If you’re owned by a cat, you know what I mean.
12 noon, Friday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. Time to come out of the sunniest basement in Thornhill to deal with the Pooh-style rumbly in my tumbly. The one slice of leftover frozen pizza was a good beginning – but wasn’t enough. So I grabbed the Big Giant Pasta Pot and a few minutes later had enough macaroni for lunch (and a few more meals).
A couple of weeks ago, I screwed up. Big time. I forgot to file the T4 for one of my clients. (For my American readers, that’s the Canadian version of the W2).
“I think we’re lost. I’m going to turn left here. It’s not the street on Google Maps, but I think I missed that one”. Yes we were lost – no strike that – we were having an adventure – in Hamilton (ON) a few months back.
Yes, I’m a CPA. Got the framed certificate and everything. No, I don’t do taxes. It’s a clear strategic and practical decision that I made when I started my practice. Like Tevye says “Sounds, crazy, no?”
Everyone’s talking about AI. And some people are saying that accountants and bookkeepers should be terrified of AI. 5 years or so ago….Intuit’s QBO and other cloud-based accounting software introduced what they called “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) into their software. The gurus and thought leaders in my industry freaked out.
“I can’t believe they said that”, Gail said. “That’s just so wrong!”. We were in the car, headed for Walmart to pick up some ice cream for Gail’s birthday cake. Earlier that day I had read an email. I was gobsmacked when I got to the end.
Want to know what the QuickDiagnostic looks at? Here’s just a few of the items:
We hop on the telephone for a 45-minute, complimentary, no-obligation “Getting to Know You” consultation. I’ll ask you a whole bunch of questions to evaluate where you are now, where you want to go, and what you expect to get out of us working together. And yes, you’ll also have time to ask me questions.
If we do decide that we’re a good fit, we’ll schedule the next step. If we’re not a good fit (now) that’s OK. (It happens—better to figure that out now!)