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!

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How can you create a culture where people do their work, do it well, and do it on time?

In this episode, we dive into setting high expectations! High expectations go beyond just telling people what to do; they create a culture of accountability, excellence, and purpose.

As a firm owner, you set the tone for your team; what you permit, you promote. If you’re not holding yourself to high standards, how can you expect your employees to do the same? When leaders consistently demonstrate the behaviors they want to see—like aiming for excellence, being transparent about mistakes, and holding themselves accountable—it fosters a work environment where everyone knows what’s expected and feels motivated to deliver their best.

Setting high expectations is about helping your team to grow and find meaning in their work.

• When employees understand what excellence looks like and feel supported in reaching it, they are more likely to take ownership of their responsibilities, meet deadlines, and contribute to a culture of success.
• On the other hand, if standards are low or unclear, it can lead to disengagement, lack of motivation, and a feeling that the work doesn't matter.

Your commitment to setting and maintaining high expectations—starting with yourself—is key to building a motivated, dedicated team that thrives on excellence and drives your business forward.

Ready to learn more about the AccrewU course, Accounting Fundamentals?
Or, are you ready to invest in yourself by taking the course? Enroll today!

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"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!

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The goal of sales is not simply to get to the "yes." The goal of sales is to get to the right "yes."

Finding and keeping the right fit clients is a game-changer for any company. It means that you get to streamline your processes, because you're only working within your specialty, your clients are well-served, and your team gets to work in their sweet spot - win, win, win!

Getting wise about how you bring in clients, how you track progress throughout the sales pipeline, and how things actually worked out with them in the end - did they sign? were they a great fit? - it all makes up your sales process. And it can mean the difference between an easy, repeatable process and something you dread, because you feel like you're constantly reinventing the wheel.

Good fit clients will stay and keep saying "Yes!" to working with you. The issues with clients who aren't a good fit will come up eventually.

So how can you make this process as easy as possible, so it's not the kind of work you hate doing? We got you!

Listen in as Jill and Anna talk about how to set your future self up for success, so that one of the most important things you can do for your firm, bring in new clients, isn't the kind of work you dread.

Join the waitlist and get updates on the Accounting Fundamentals Course from Accrew U!

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Listen to the last 15 minutes of this episode to hear about an exciting project we've been working on!
Learn more HERE

The 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 U

Links mentioned in this episode
Link to What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

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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.

Our conversation continues around this idea, which comes from Ken Blanchard's book Raving Fans.

Prioritizing creating a great client experience is a long game. It's not just about the immediate benefit of revenue, and so much more about the ongoing relationship and benefits of playing that infinite game.

When your clients' goals and your goals can align, that's where the magic happens!

When it's not working, how do you identify exactly what's not working, tackle those problems, and know when to call it? And starting that conversation about whether things are working can be challenging, but has the potential to engage clients who can either become raving fans or who would be better served at another firm.

At Accrew, we're still thinking about and working on all of this! There could be better ways to gather proactive data on client satisfaction with as little effort from the client as possible. And we want to continue finding opportunities to add even more value and align our values and priorities with the clients' goals.

We aim to love working with our clients. Listen in to part 2 of 2 episodes of our discussion around building excellent client relationships that foster them becoming "raving fans."

Links mentioned in this episode
Link to RAVING FANS | A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service by Ken Blanchard

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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 episode
Link to RAVING FANS | A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service by Ken Blanchard

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Anna and Jill continue their conversation around networking, referrals and doing business in a way that builds trust.

Giving and receiving referrals is a huge part of a service-based business. But knowing how to do this isn't necessarily intuitive.

Building a referral network is all about relationships, so how you establish interest, build rapport and being able to effectively refer to other businesses makes all the difference.

What you need to know comes down to the basics: Are they someone I could trust? What do they actually do? Would they be able to effectively help a referral? Would they be a good fit? Are they even taking on new clients? How would they ideally receive referrals?

And at the end of the day, it often starts with your own generosity, so expecting to receive referrals before you've ever even given one isn't entirely realistic.

Once you've got a good sense of what your referral sources do well, you can start informing them about how you best work. Are you taking on new clients? If so, in what industries? And what time of year do you take on clients if your business has a "busy season?"

Ultimately, who is your ideal fit client and how can you effectively refer ideal clients to each other?

Networking and referring effectively really comes down to building relational equity with other leaders in your circle. And how you do that matters.

Listen in to part 2 of 2, as Jill and Anna talk through their experiences and thoughts around networking & referring effectively.

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