You’re busy. All the time. And while that might sound like a good problem to have, it’s not a badge of honour.
Your firm has grown. You’ve got new clients coming in from both referrals and smart marketing. But if your weeks are spent bouncing from one urgent thing to another, without room to think, breathe, or spend time with the people you care about most, something needs to change.
Because let’s be honest: how long can you really keep this up?
Are you too busy to build the practice you actually want?
Plenty of accountants I speak to are so tied up managing client work that they’ve no time left to manage the business itself.
If you give clients business advice (as I do) you probably talk about planning ahead, managing growth, and being intentional. But when was the last time you followed your own advice?
Some of the accountants I’m working with have found this simple reminder helpful:
“Your firm is your most important client.”
You wouldn’t let a paying client drift without a plan or ignore the risks of burnout. So why are you doing that to yourself?
When a client tells you about their ambitions, hopes and dreams, you might, if you’re well versed in delivering business advice, ask them about their strategy.
If you don’t have a strategy for your practice, you’re not alone.
When I used to judge the Accounting Excellence awards I was initially shocked by how few accountants gave evidence of having a strategy. Over the years I got used to it.
When asked to explain their strategy, the vast majority simply set out what they hoped to do and to achieve. In effect, their dreams, hopes and desires.
Knowing where you want to get is one thing. Planning your route is quite separate otherwise who knows where you’ll end up?
One of my newest mentoring clients, ‘Sarah’, recently admitted something I hear more often than you might think. She told me she’d put off reaching out to me for months. “I thought you’d tell me off,” she said. “That you’d make me feel daft for letting things get so out of control.” So instead, she convinced herself she’d sort it all out on her own.
Of course, she didn’t. Because she is normal and because it’s hard to change without support and encouragement
When we finally spoke, ‘Sarah’ was relieved to discover I didn’t judge her at all; I understood her. And together we worked out simple, practical steps to help her reclaim control, reduce the stress, and make real progress toward the kind of practice she actually wants to run.
Success shouldn’t come at the expense of your health or happiness
I know the business needs you. But so do your friends, your family – and your future self.
You’ve worked hard to grow something valuable. But it shouldn’t cost you your evenings, your weekends, or your peace of mind.
There comes a point when firefighting stops being impressive and starts being destructive.
At some point you need to press ‘pause’ – just long enough to look ahead. That doesn’t mean spending days locked away writing a fancy strategic plan. It just means carving out regular time to consider what you really want, and what changes might help you get there.
Ask yourself:
- What would I tell a client in my shoes to do?
- What’s stopping me from making time for the business?
- Who could I talk to about my ideas, frustrations or ambitions?
You don’t need to have all the answers. But you do need to give yourself permission to ask the questions.
If this post has struck a chord, I’d love to have a chat. No pressure, no obligation – just a genuine conversation about where you’re at, and where you want to be.
Together we can explore what’s possible, what’s getting in your way, and how you might start treating your firm like the important client it truly is.
There’a link below so that you can now book a call with me. Let’s give your future the attention it deserves.
