8 Pillars for Exponential Business Growth

I started my own firm in 2008 with great intentions and a promise to myself that I would do things differently.  I will admit that I spent my first year dealing with the tyranny of the urgent.  I actually referred to myself as a firefighter rather than an accountant, as it that seemed that all I did was fight fires.  I was truly letting my clients manage me and my firm.  After a year in practice, I decided that this was not what I had intended for my firm, so I made some drastic decisions and took a hard look at where I was with my firm.  I no longer enjoyed going to work in the morning and I was at risk for burning out.  I had to learn lessons and make changes quickly if my accounting business was to survive the rapid growth that we were undergoing.  In hindsight, I see that our rapid growth was literally a crushing success – I was being crushed beneath the weight of my firm.
I did not become wiser overnight.  I invested heavily in attending conferences and courses in order to learn more about how to run an accounting firm.  I was actually frustrated as most local professional development offerings focused on the technical skills as opposed to the softer skills needed to become a full-fledged entrepreneur.  I began to travel to the United States in order to attend conferences.  Those trips made the biggest impact on me personally and my firm.  I met inspirational people and learned that business problems are business problems, regardless of where you live or the industry you are in.  Some of the courses I took were immediately relevant, others set me on a path that would eventually lead to change.
I dare say that my openness to change and willingness to explore possibilities has made all of the difference.  I learned about innovation, product mix, pricing, and business philosophy from very bright individuals.  I can say that many of my mentors have become friends, and we continue to learn from one another. 
Through this journey of discovery, I came to realize that I personally love to teach and educate.  Initially, I focused on building my own accounting practice and helping my current clients to build solid foundations for their businesses.  I knew that I was on the right path once I saw that I had ideas that could improve the lives of my clients and my clients were willing to pay me significantly more for the guidance.  I then started working with bookkeepers and accountants as my new client base – helping them to improve their practices.  I have truly built a niche advisory business and I wouldn't have it any other way.
My intention for you, the reader, is that you will find something interesting within these pages that resonates with you to the extent that it will guide you in pursuit of a more profitable and enjoyable bookkeeping business. 
I encourage you to personalize your journey through this book by taking a moment to study the table of contents and determine which areas in your practice are causing you the most pain.  Appendix 1, the bookkeeping business assessment tool may offer you deeper insight and it also offers starting points.  Focus on the areas that you most need to improve first, but by all means work your way through the entire book.  I will share my thoughts and ideas that I have implemented either in my own accounting practice or in my bookkeeper and accountant clients' practices.