Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey, ellie. Yes, andrew, I was chatting to an animal rights advocate the other day.

Speaker 2: 0:05

Oh no, yeah, oh god, I'm actually really worried, are you sure? This is okay? I?

Speaker 1: 0:10

think so. They got really upset with me, though. Yeah, I told them that I wash my dog with my own shampoo instead of using pet shampoo. Okay, and I got angry at that. I reassured her, though, that it had already been tested on animals.

Speaker 2: 0:26

Because you're the animal. Yeah, it was so much better than what I thought it was actually going to go, I know, so I'm super grateful that that didn't go where I thought it might.

Speaker 1: 0:35

You're welcome.

Speaker 2: 0:35

Yes, you are welcome.

Speaker 1: 0:37

You always get nervous when I kind of throw one out.

Speaker 2: 0:39

A little bit, because I'm like, oh, I don't know if they're going to go, because I always laugh at the inappropriate ones and don't say them, and I try and bring out something a little bit better. I know, I know, no, I enjoyed that. So how is this related to what we're talking about today?

Speaker 1: 0:50

Andrew, okay, you would have picked up a word in the joke. The word was advocate. I did not pick up that word.

Speaker 2: 0:57

I'm glad that you made that, very I'm glad. So we are about advocating, aren't we?

Speaker 1: 1:01

We're about advocacy. So we're in a season about being better. Yeah, and what does being better look like? And we wanted to spend some time talking about how can we be better for our industry and talking about better representation and better advocacy, and what better place to do it? We're actually sitting here today, live at BGR RegTech.

Speaker 1: 1:19

Yeah, and we figured you know what we're going to record this episode. Yeah, and we figured you know what we're going to record this episode and we're going to talk about how can we be better representation for our industry to further it, and go forward and good stuff.

Speaker 2: 1:28

Very poignant. Let's get that theme tune going.

Speaker 1: 1:30

We'll get the theme tune going. We'll be back in a moment. All right, there's a little bit of noise in the background there. Yeah, there is. That's okay. It's vibey. Yeah, it's good vibey.

Speaker 2: 1:51

It's always vibey when there's noise in the background.

Speaker 1: 1:53

And we've chosen a point to go and record whilst everyone's not as much in the room.

Speaker 2: 1:57

That is so true because it's going to be much louder a little bit later. We better get through the chats, otherwise it's going to get real noisy soon. Get through the chats, otherwise it's going to get real noisy soon yeah that's so true.

Speaker 1: 2:03

So talk to me, ali. I know that we both are pretty passionate lovers of our industry supporters of our industry, all that kind of stuff, yeah, 100%. But also, at the same time, it's not an easy thing to do. And I think it's challenging when you're running a business or you're a team member within a business to go, hey, I want to be really good at my job and really good at my business, but then what do I do about my industry at the?

Speaker 1: 2:26

same time and how do I do that? Well, do you think there's a responsibility on everybody to be?

Speaker 2: 2:33

good representation, good advocates of. I'm not going to say yes to that because there are some people that just aren't interested in it, right, but I think for me personally, I can talk from my personal experience. I'm incredibly passionate about the accounting community and what it has afforded me in my career, in my life, and I feel like I have a responsibility to give back okay but that that is something that is deep within me that I feel like I need to do that.

Speaker 1: 2:58

Hence why I actually lean into the community so for pull at the string, because through your career and your history you have had great examples, representatives and advocates to you of our industry. In fact, it's the opposite of that, andrew.

Speaker 2: 3:12

Oh wow, it is because I have not had that that I want to give it to others right. So it's actually the traverse of that. It's because I didn't have people supporting me. It's because I didn't have people supporting me. It's because I didn't have people advocating, it's because I didn't understand it.

Speaker 2: 3:27

But then when I went out on my own, that's when I got that support around me of the community and I and I realized how valuable it was, and then I thought, well, I haven't had that. I want to be able to give that to somebody else who hasn't had that. So that's the reason why I'm so passionate about the community. That's the reason why I'm all about. You know, community over competition. That's why I give freely and I prioritize actually giving to the community. Right, sometimes my team are like, oh, hey, I'll pull back. I'm like no, no, I'm leaning in I get that all the time.

Speaker 1: 3:58

What are you doing, you idiot? That's I'm like trust me man, but also there's karma attached to that right there.

Speaker 2: 4:04

I don't do it to get back, but there is a level of karma that comes back, that there are some paid opportunities that pop up every now and again that wouldn't have not have come if I hadn't have invested in community. What's your reason?

Speaker 1: 4:18

Well, I guess, to some extent somewhat similar, but also other things, I would say I became an accidental advocate within representatives.

Speaker 2: 4:27

You're never accidental in anything that you do. Would you be no?

Speaker 1: 4:30

I would say that a lot of what I do, I do because it just feels right, like you fall up. There was often, yeah, like you're constantly falling upwards instead of falling over. It's the idea of like you know why do you do this? Because it's the right thing to do. The idea of like you know why do you do this? Because it's the right thing to do, um, not now.

Speaker 1: 4:47

I have had good examples and I've also had poor examples through my career of what a great accountant looks like yeah and it probably wasn't until, oh, maybe three, four years into running illuminate that I really truly appreciated that there was a broader industry and other people around yeah that uh either have, can or will contribute to my business because of what they do within the industry.

Speaker 2: 5:07

Yeah right.

Speaker 1: 5:09

And that was like a really unique one, like I remember, you know, bumping into people at conferences and hearing people speak and seeing the way that people kind of worked, collaborated, supported, shared their knowledge, and I was like, oh, that's quite interesting because I think when you're stuck in your own bubble of your own business, firm, job, job, whatever it looks like, is, it's hard to recognize and appreciate what's out there yeah and without that you you're living a very one-sided view oh, absolutely, and that's where we know when things are going bad in your business.

Speaker 2: 5:37

That's where you need to get outside of your bubble and actually get that connection and support to build you up and get you through. I mean, we could not have got through COVID without, I don't think, the community being as strong as what it was, and so I think, in that regard, you know, when you're in the down times, that's really when you need to lean into the community, but when you're in the good times, that's when you need to share with the community, right?

Speaker 1: 5:59

And give back a little bit. You can't forget when that's like a theme that's going to keep running through this. We talked about wellness already and the idea of you know you can't just do things when you're bad and then you get better, and then, once you're better you stop, and those kind of things.

Speaker 2: 6:13

There's so many ways that you can be a community contributor, and it doesn't have to be on a stage, it doesn't have to be doing a podcast. It's as simple as being active on Facebook, for instance, or on LinkedIn, or being able to connect with people outside, or if somebody says oh hey, can I catch up with you in a minute, actually giving you time freely you know, Do you?

Speaker 1: 6:35

I can't remember your answer because I think I asked you this before and you probably answered and I was probably thinking of something else. That's okay, that's all, right, do you feel that everybody has a responsibility to be a good representative and an advocate within our industry.

Speaker 2: 6:46

Or do you think that there are? I took the cheats way out and I said for me yes, I feel like for you.

Speaker 1: 6:50

But do you think everybody, do you think that every single accountant out there should be looking at ways to do so? Or do you think that that is a role for a smaller number.

Speaker 2: 7:01

I would say a majority need to lean in to help to build the strength of the community. But there are some people who either are not passionate about it or are hesitant, or got some PTSD or something else has happened to them. I would never force everybody to do something, but if the majority do it, then it builds a stronger community.

Speaker 2: 7:24

And if we take on that responsibility and say what, if the majority do it, then it builds a stronger community. Okay, and if we take on that responsibility and say, what little bit can I do, what little part can I play? I think that that's what builds community. If we just put it on some people to do it, then it gets too heavy a burden.

Speaker 1: 7:37

But wouldn't the argument be if many people are doing little things, that's done in such an inconsistent way that we'll never make change?

Speaker 2: 7:43

Or if a small number are doing bigger things.

Speaker 1: 7:45

there'll be more consistency and more focus?

Speaker 2: 7:46

No, but everybody has their own little things that they're really really good at and really passionate about. So you know, yeah, if we're trying to get a message across from our community to other communities or to an industry or to, for instance, the younger generation, then yes, I think there needs to be.

Speaker 1: 8:02

So for you and anyone that's like 40 and below, Stop it.

Speaker 2: 8:07

I think, if we're trying to get a message out that we need to be consistent and I'm going to call out the elephant in the room here we're leaning into this. What is the perception of accounting? How do we get the younger generation in? And I think there's some infighting going on and I'm so disappointed about that because it's like we're picking it sticks, like we need to look at the really big picture and look at why people are trying to go out to market to say, hey, like let's bring the younger generation in. But what some people are saying, oh well, it's not the right person doing it and well, I don't care who's doing it. Um, I think it's really important that we go out and try to win that next generation, and everybody's going to do it in a different way. But I think we need to be really careful about not bagging each other and bringing each other down in that conversation and nitpicking.

Speaker 1: 8:52

So, keeping with my line of just slightly poking bears around, oh, please poke my bear.

Speaker 2: 9:00

No that sounded really off. Do not do that. Why I said that no please poke the bear, is that?

Speaker 1: 9:06

David, edit that one out. No, don't Leave it in, and that can become a meme. Oh Lord, why?

Speaker 2: 9:13

do I open my mouth.

Speaker 1: 9:14

Sometimes we can get one of Amy, Amy, who hosts the tech episode she has a collection of bears she does?

Speaker 2: 9:19

She collects them, but you don't. No, I do not, do not, but you were intimating that you were going to poke the bear. Being me, poke the bear, I'm going to poke the bear.

Speaker 1: 9:28

So encouraging people out there and whatnot, at what point does encouraging people in terms of their industry advocacy, their representation of and their efforts and their contribution border on? Hey, you're actually not good at it, but I'm really want to encourage you anyway, so at what? At what point do we look and say, because everyone has different roles to play within there, like I know that andrew should not be sitting in a room when it comes to really technical style advocacy stuff.

Speaker 2: 10:00

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 10:00

Because I will interrupt the room, I will not contribute in a positive way and that won't work. But then, conversely, people who might be great in that room might not be good at doing other things that maybe I'm particularly good at doing, and so it's finding your sweet spot. It is.

Speaker 2: 10:16

When do we stop encouraging?

Speaker 1: 10:17

people who might be doing things they aren't great at doing. And then how do we help them to be better if maybe they have the opportunity to do good at it in that space?

Speaker 2: 10:26

Yeah, and I think this is well. There's two things. One, there's self-awareness, and some people have that. Some people don't close enough relationship with the person that is potentially creating damage or not working in their laneway or putting themselves in their best light. Then I think there is a responsibility to have a really deep, meaningful conversation.

Speaker 1: 10:48

Ali, I need to have a really deep, meaningful conversation with you Okay what is?

Speaker 2: 10:53

it. Don't talk about bears. I'm understanding of that.

Speaker 1: 10:56

No, but I think it's true, it's interesting and I think what's so unique in the space of advocacy and representation and let's throw out other things like thought leadership and and influencing and all these. And this is where I think like there's the positive elements. And then when people are focusing on advocacy and representation and improvement and that kind of stuff, naturally they might become influencers and connect in there. But if they focus on influencing and thought leadership and revenue generation kind of way of approaching that.

Speaker 1: 11:28

I think they forget about the advocacy and the representation.

Speaker 2: 11:30

And what got them to that point. You're trying to earn money from the community that built you and I think that that's the important component here. There needs to be a level of authenticity and a level of care and compassion, and it's not a community to make crap tons of money from and but you can. You can absolutely, but it's like illuminates.

Speaker 1: 11:50

Value the impact before income. Are we trying to be advocates and great representation? And as a result of that are we has a, has a platform or a thing built, and are we consistently ensuring that we're in tune with what that looks like? Instead of bringing our own personal opinion without paying attention to the rest of our industry. Yeah, what does that look like?

Speaker 2: 12:07

And look, it does depend on your driver, and my driver here isn't to make money from the community. My driver is to build the community and I think sometimes that's where it comes from and I go back to that level of authenticity. You need think sometimes that's where it comes from and I go back to that level of authenticity. You need to have a passion for the community and to give to that community and look if some of it comes back and it's paid, that's amazing. But if that's your priority, I think you need to reassess it, because there are a lot of people in need in our community and I don't think that we should be using that to benefit ourselves.

Speaker 1: 12:36

Yeah, um, we're going to go and hear from some of our incredible sponsors, but whilst they're playing, I'd love you, Ali, to think about this. Can you give me a rating out of 10 of where you think we are at as an industry of being advocates and representatives of the thing that we love? Out of 10? Where do you think we need to be Like? Is 10 realistic or not Like? Where's?

Speaker 2: 12:54

a realistic target.

Speaker 1: 12:55

Yeah, and then practically, practically, what can we as a individuals be like a broader community and probably see then specific, like actual institution, you know, groups that are like technically set up to do that? What can those three things be doing to be better?

Speaker 2: 13:11

okay, I love that. That's a heck of a lot, but let's unpack that after the break. After the break.

Speaker 1: 13:19

I love software that continues to innovate over years and years of time, and BGL is one that stands out above the rest, if you ask me, hallie 100%, but they do so much as well Corporate compliance, self-managed super funds, BGL ID verification and Simple Invest 360.

Speaker 2: 13:34

Honestly, there's so much in there.

Speaker 1: 13:36

It's so good. It means that there's a bunch of stuff within your firm you need to do, and you only have to go to one place to be able to do that, which is fantastic no mucking about with different things, just get in, get it done and make it happen absolutely bgl hey, ellie um, who do you use when it comes to, you know, additional resourcing for your accounting business?

Speaker 2: 13:57

100% tower, 100% Tower Global. They're the bomb and you.

Speaker 1: 14:00

Yeah, me too.

Speaker 2: 14:01

Oh well, we are both the best. Why do you use them? Elite talent, my friend for an accounting firm and people are job ready.

Speaker 1: 14:09

Ready to rock and roll. I love it. I think it unlocks firm potential. I think it's really good and I think it allows you to build a strategy to grow your business and service your clients better 100%.

Speaker 1: 14:18

Get onto it, get amongst the friends Tower Global. That's where the good stuff's at. You know what, ali Whilst, I love building and growing Illuminate, my accounting business. There are definitely times where I get stuck in my own head and I can doubt what it is that I'm doing, and that's where I think the value of having someone external to come and support you within your business. Do you agree?

Speaker 2: 14:41

Absolutely, and that's where Rob Pillens from Planet Consulting comes in. Their purpose is to enrich the lives of professional firm owners and managers and the people that they work with. How good is that.

Speaker 1: 14:51

Absolutely, mate. Whether it's workshop facilitation, professional coaching or mentoring, rob Pillens and the Planet Consulting crew are where it's at. So, no matter where you are, get on the planet consulting, all right. So out of 10, yeah, where do you think we, as an industry, sit when it comes to advocating and being a representative of our community? So, advocating for a community which would be to like governments and bit shit like that right, and being a representative which would need to be to the broader community? Where do you think, out of 10, we sit?

Speaker 2: 15:26

look, I honestly think we sit at a five or six. I think we do a lot of internal communication in the community but we struggle at getting that external. But in saying that, there are some people now stepping up to help us get out to the external. So I do see that we're getting better at that. Do our industry bodies do that for us? No, I think they crap at it and they need to get better um, because no, no, keep going because I I think they've been.

Speaker 2: 15:47

I think that they're not um in tune with the community and what we actually need, and I don't think that they're advocating for the right things. I think that they focus on the big four and not the larger community, and that's my concern. And so do we need to get better at advocating externally? Yes, 100. Do we need to get better at advertising ourselves? Yes, 100. Do we need to get better at telling people what we do and how we can do it and why we do it? Yes, 100. But I think in the community as a whole is actually strong. And if I compare that to other industries, I think we have a better community and a better, stronger feel of care and connection than most other industries. I think we have a better community and a better, stronger feel of care and connection than most other industries have.

Speaker 1: 16:24

So I think about this as well, because I think about, like, the glory days of cloud accounting right. When it blew up and people would be in rooms and clapping and cheering and like you'd feel, like we're all holding hands and skipping in rows.

Speaker 2: 16:37

But that was also a bubble, because there were people outside of that that were not In fact. They were calling us the happy clappers.

Speaker 1: 16:42

There was, but I felt like, if you think about how we are united and how we are connected, I feel like there was potentially a lot more positivity in our unity.

Speaker 2: 16:53

I agree there was way more positivity.

Speaker 1: 16:54

Potentially now, because of the challenges we face with, you know, changing legislation and lockdowns I think, since COVID Perspective on what we want our life to be, you know ever-growing social media kind of approach to how we share our opinions that we might be more united now. But is it in a positive way? Or is it to complain and collectively complain?

Speaker 2: 17:14

I'm with. I have a concern that we are becoming too negative and trolling each other and pulling people down when they're trying to do something good, and seeing the bad rather than the good, and I think that that changed since covid. But if I look more generically at a whole, as our in australia and in our community, I think that that's happened across the board. I don't think it's just specific to accounting, but I do think we need to kind of do a lot of self-reflection here and say what am I actually bringing to the table? Stop tearing other people down, and it's kind of like throwing stones in glass houses. Right, like, look at yourself before you start throw stones at somebody else. What are you doing in that particular area? If you've got a really strong opinion on something, what exactly are you doing to advocate for change and for better? What's your opinion? I'd love to know yours.

Speaker 1: 18:01

Yeah. So my opinion on what you can do or where we're at or just in general I like whiskey is my opinion.

Speaker 2: 18:07

No, not at all. Like where are we from an advocacy point of view and where can we be better?

Speaker 1: 18:18

I think there are a number of groups of people on consistently trying to be better at this. I think there are a lot of people out there that are recognising that we need to be better at this. I think there are a lot of smaller bubble groups that are popping up all the time. That pop up, make a bit of noise and six months disappear.

Speaker 2: 18:36

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:37

And that kind of breaks my heart a little bit, because I feel like a lot of the times I've got a very consistent message, thought process and desire, but it's different people that are doing it.

Speaker 2: 18:46

So, for whatever reason, group number one and group number two never collaborated together, so they become one plus one, they became separate things, and then they get tired and it's hard.

Speaker 1: 18:58

So I'm intrigued with how we connect groups of people and people within an industry who want to be advocates uh well, so that we have a louder voice I know that it's always a challenge c-a-c-p-a-i.

Speaker 1: 19:09

It's like it is this okay, where do we go to do that? And then we have the type of softwares that might, we might play around with and like it's. It's like you kind of want to walk into the room and I don't mean this factually actually but you want to walk into the room naked, with nothing on you, to be like great here I am as someone who does accounting and let's not define what accounting I do. Let's not, let's not define how I do it that kind of thing.

Speaker 1: 19:29

Let's just say, I do accounting and I and I care that other people care about what I do, and I want other people to either utilize my or our services or have a desire to do what I or others do.

Speaker 2: 19:40

We come with no judgment, no judgment, no agenda. Which is hard because I will always come with opinions and I will always come with that because of the experiences that I've had.

Speaker 1: 19:49

So, how do we remove that? I think it's impossible. I don't think it's ever going to happen.

Speaker 2: 19:52

But we need to be thinking about it. We need to be present in that moment and actually consciously choose to not do that, or to give somebody space and time, or to not automatically go to the negative. And you know how do? The question that keeps resonating my mind is how do we be better in this space? And I just want us to come in with a positive attitude of I'm not going to look for the negative in this there might be some and if some of that needs to be called out, do it privately, face-to-face, like you would Like, don't be a coward and troll people, like do it the right way. And but also come with a positive vibe. What am I going to do? How can I help? What else can I contribute here? And come with a really open heart.

Speaker 1: 20:38

I think it's the idea of like I mean done is better than perfect.

Speaker 2: 20:41

It's a phrase that oh, exactly, don't wait for perfection.

Speaker 1: 20:44

And I think this is sometimes what happens when we get into groups around advocacy or representation or what should we do and how should we do. It is that we're trying to build the perfect solution for it and then we're so heavily invested into that action and the change that that will bring, that often nothing happens as a result or it crumbles, or there becomes infighting or disagreements and and I know like within my own business, I struggle with that of going, hey, let's just do something, as opposed to try to do the thing that we actually are never going to be able to achieve because we can't agree on what it looks like and I think that's important make like

Speaker 2: 21:18

doing something is better than never doing anything and if somebody else is doing something, give them the freedom and space to do it if it's not going to create damage, right?

Speaker 1: 21:28

Unless you know them, and you know they should it, like you said before and you go hey, it's all well and good that you're doing that thing, but maybe don't.

Speaker 2: 21:35

And I think sometimes people are just too quick to judge. They're too quick to judge. Oh, you're doing that because you're trying to make money from it, but are they?

Speaker 1: 21:43

You're saying this from personal. Do you get a bit of that? Do you get a bit of people?

Speaker 2: 21:48

oh, you're just doing it because you make money. Do you get that? I've never actually had somebody say that to me. We get crap about sponsors on this podcast, but trust me, it takes time and effort and money to actually produce this type of thing right. But I think one of the things that I think I've struggled with is that people I've been in rooms where there has been this really robust conversation about how do we improve our industry, how do we get out to help people in our industry, how do we attract people into the industry and it's done with the most pure of hearts and then I've seen them actually take some actions towards doing that, to build the profile, to get out publicly. And then people come in that have had not sat in those conversations and have absolutely slammed the crap out of it and it breaks my heart because they don't have perspective.

Speaker 2: 22:30

They haven't had the perspective and I know the intention, I know the conversations that were had and none of them none of them had a revenue purpose. But here we are online and that's all that's gaining the traction is everybody bitching and moaning and it breaks my heart like I have shed tears because I love this profession and I want it to exist in the future and I want to attract the next generation, and I just think, if somebody's willing to put some money into it and to deliver a step, I'm going to take that bloody step up.

Speaker 2: 23:03

Stop trying to pull people off the effing step Like stop it.

Speaker 1: 23:07

That's good mate. Joel Hanna, a good friend who was actually on our podcast last season him and. I, when we were doing a social enterprise back in the day, we'd often talk about the idea of would you rather run a not-for-profit charity with $150,000 per annum budget to be able to do that, or would you rather be the CEO of a huge bank that has a $5 million charity thing?

Speaker 2: 23:30

CEO of a huge bank.

Speaker 1: 23:31

Not the wrong thing, but it's about the impact. It's like, well, in this little thing it might be perfect, but you have way less ability to make change. But at least someone's doing something.

Speaker 2: 23:42

Yeah, so I Stop jumping to the negative. Stop, stop, stop.

Speaker 1: 23:46

So I always get given crap by a few people out there that I know, because I don't get paid for most of what I do. No, same. They're like dude, why do you do that, why do you do those things? And I'm like, well, I don't know. And I'm like, well, I don't know, it makes me feel good. So there's three reasons I do something. One, it makes me more money top line insert. Two, it makes me more efficient bottom line profitability. Or three, it makes me feel so fucking good that it's worth it.

Speaker 2: 24:11

I'm the same, aren't?

Speaker 1: 24:11

you and I would say that like 90% of anything that I do within the industry is built around that, and I think there's so many people that are in their industry that do that as well, because it makes them feel good, because they feel like they're helping and contributing, and I think that's your first step.

Speaker 1: 24:24

If so, if we're talking about how do I get better at this, look at what you see around you and what can you do, that doesn't necessarily require you to be paid to do so. How can you carve out some of your time and some of your skill set and how can you contribute that back, whether it's to a large group to contribute that into, whether that's into your local community and maybe there's a handful of other, and we do that too, and there's a lot of stuff that you and I do that people don't see publicly, right, we?

Speaker 2: 24:49

don't promote every single thing that we do online.

Speaker 1: 24:54

So, you know, but if it makes you feel good to do that, that's great, that's step one.

Speaker 1: 24:58

So then at least you're getting the good juju and the good vibes from giving back to your community and then you might be like, oh, there's some more opportunity to do that, more opportunity to do that more good you can do there, and I think that's step one to do so. I think the other thing, if I'm giving some thoughts and some advice out there, is if you're really wanting to contribute and be an advocate within our industry and represent it well, um, if you see people that are doing that well, have a chat with them, get, get some, get some feedback, get some advice. You know, ask for some help here and there. Don't use that as a platform for you just to say what they say no.

Speaker 1: 25:33

Find your own voice with that's right but use that as a way to be encouraged on like okay, cool, I really want to help. How can I help? Yeah, um, and it's interesting because I would say that probably more often than not, people that might hit me up, uh, are not hitting me up about advocacy stuff, they're hitting me up about how to run their business, which is absolutely fine and I love contributing there.

Speaker 1: 25:50

Yeah, but I'd love to get more people to hit us up and be like, hey, like I want to I want to advocate for industry, yeah things like oh, how do I get on X-Pac, not that thing, because I think that can have a bit of grayness between why you want to do that. Now you might want to do it for good reasons, which is great, but sometimes it can blur the lines, depending on where your ego goes with it. Yeah, but like, how can I help?

Speaker 1: 26:14

Yeah, and what do you believe it's like great, you can absolutely help. Here's 10 people already trying to do that. Join them join now. They're 10 better because of you, yeah absolutely make these environments better, because you're contributing, collaborating, rather than trying to build your own thing off off the back of something and running with that yeah, and look how do I, how do I think we be better in the industry?

Speaker 2: 26:34

stop being judgy mcjudge, face and actually bringing positive vibes. Think about the positive we. You control your mind.

Speaker 1: 26:42

So this is Ali, who's been whinging for the whole podcast, like be positive, be positive.

Speaker 2: 26:46

Yeah about being positive, like stop judging and be positive.

Speaker 1: 26:50

I'm not giving you shit, mate. I know you are. I'm giving you a deep and meaningful conversation.

Speaker 2: 26:53

But I deeply believe we control how we present ourselves and how we think about it, and if we think about the positive first and not the negative, you might actually find some goals so how do we change that mindset?

Speaker 1: 27:07

because I know that I will struggle in certain situations. So, and it could be a certain person it could be a certain uh, it could be a certain piece of technology it could be a certain environment like how do I, when?

Speaker 2: 27:18

I look at it, it's what you surround yourself with and the conscious choices that you make. And this is me being me, because I can make that conscious choice.

Speaker 1: 27:24

I don't know whether other people can, but if you can't surround yourself with people that can, Yep, and if you find yourself complaining about the same thing a lot, maybe go on, hop off, ask yourself why you're doing that.

Speaker 2: 27:36

Is there a deeper thing for you that you actually need to sort through? Is it jealousy? Yeah?

Speaker 1: 27:44

Is it that you clearly see that something bad?

Speaker 2: 27:45

is happening and something needs to be changed and you need to call it like have a face-to-face conversation with somebody.

Speaker 1: 27:49

Yeah, Is it that you're recognizing that it's all well and good? They're doing it, but everybody else is like, so understand why we have an issue with that, but if we're talking about advocacy, I want to be positive. But if we're talking about advocacy, I want to be positive how do I find opportunity? I know, like CA, CPA are always looking for quality people I know that accounting conferences are all looking for quality people to contribute.

Speaker 1: 28:09

I know, that there are many think tanks and groups and stuff out there. Find them and be positive in those environments and look at the ways you can contribute, because I mean, the way I run a lot of my life when it comes to industry stuff is I have capacity to do things for nothing, yeah, and then once that fills up, then it's like okay, cool, I might need to be reimbursed for my time and or be profitable for my time and normally I look at it and say if you're going to make money out of this because I'm getting involved, that's different.

Speaker 1: 28:34

Yeah, that's not a pro bono, that's a something different. Um, but it is, it's like I want to. I want to make sure I create space within my world to do that and I and I and I trust you said karma, I trust that by taking those actions and those steps, that it is the right thing to do, and if something good comes back, be it opportunity or be it a hug from someone on top. Yeah, that is just that's secondary to it, that's not why I do it.

Speaker 2: 29:00

That's exactly right. I'm exactly the same.

Speaker 1: 29:02

And if you can create that frame of mind to go I'm doing this irrespective of what comes back to me. You'll be surprised what comes back to you, and that's how we can be better.

Speaker 2: 29:14

That's how we can be better. Love that for like poking the bear.

Speaker 1: 29:17

And out there. If you want to be better, just be better. Hit up your mates, hit us up, hang out. It's so easy, just do it. Better is better than more. Our industry needs you to be great advocates. Our industry needs you, we need you, we need you Be amazing, be better and we'll catch you on the next adventure.

Speaker 1: 29:32

Have a great wasn't that a fun adventure, my friends, thank you so much, so incredibly much, for hanging out with us today. Ali, you've been amazing. Andrew, you've been all right. How good is it to be able to have adventures together it so is, and you know what.

Speaker 2: 29:56

Keep following us. We are all over the socials at accounting adventures. Check us out on the website. Give us a bit of a like.

Speaker 1: 30:03

You know how much we love that stuff the best thing about the adventure is the people that we do it with. So thank you so much for listening, thank you so much for hanging out with us, and please bring all the ideas keep bringing coming. We can't wait to share more cool adventures with you we love you guys.