Speaker 1: 0:05

Hey, Ellie.

Speaker 2: 0:07

Yes, Andrew.

Speaker 1: 0:09

You know what? Sometimes I'm not particularly good at what I do. Oh, shocking, oh, no, shocking. I was chatting with my mum the other day about getting a bit of advice, and she's like well look, Andrew, you're not completely useless. Of course not. You can always serve as a bad example.

Speaker 2: 0:33

Oh, that's a good one. That's a good one, but also very harsh on yourself.

Speaker 1: 0:38

I know, I know, I know a little bit harsh, but I guess it's in line with the theme of this season, which has been about being better and I know I'm a little bit- tongue-in-cheek in that, like I, I know that I I can be great and I can also be the opposite of great at times, but I think I think a bit of reflection, uh, is important there too. Like, sometimes you feel like you're completely useless. Actually, you're not. You're very useful as a bad example. That's why I like that one. But but we are going to talk today a bit of reflection over the season, but I really want to have a bit of reflection on what you and I have felt we've been better at over the last. It's been like three, four months since we've been recording this stuff, so I'd love to, I'd love to hear what you think you're better at I know I'm feeling very reflective.

Speaker 2: 1:20

it's that time of year, so let's get get to that theme tune I was going to say you're very shiny, I can almost.

Speaker 1: 1:24

my dome is clean. It's almost reflecting there as well. So yes, we'll go to David.

Speaker 2: 1:31

I'm going for the glossy.

Speaker 1: 1:32

We'll go to David, he can do his, and I might even David, if you're listening to this, so we might even ask you a question and see if you want to record an answer to it.

Speaker 2: 1:40

Why the heck?

Speaker 1: 1:40

not. We're going to be reflective, so let's go to the thing tune, hey, andrew.

Speaker 2: 2:02

So we were talking about being reflective and being a bit better, and you know it starts to get the cogs turning. What do you think that you've been better at in the last three to four months and I know that's a toughie.

Speaker 1: 2:14

It's a real tough one, and if I'm completely transparently honest here as well, which?

Speaker 2: 2:19

you always are.

Speaker 1: 2:21

I reckon I've had a challenging few months in certain areas of business and life and stuff.

Speaker 2: 2:29

I mean I love my life. Let me go get the psychologist's couch. I feel like I need it.

Speaker 1: 2:34

Look, we could, yeah, yeah, I could have a lie down and a chat, not in a way where I want to like fight and punch on, but more just a matter of like that reflective state of of of the time it's been so it's been interesting that we've been recording about being better and and I've really enjoyed our conversations, but I I think I've struggled in certain areas in terms of some things, but but I like maybe that's why we needed this season to. Actually, the universe is just coming around in circles, isn't it?

Speaker 2: 3:04

because sometimes that happens where maybe you don't feel like you have been better, but you actually need to consciously think about it and you usually find something.

Speaker 1: 3:11

Yeah, that's true, that's true. So one thing I think I have been better at, particularly over the last four months, is I think I've started getting better at being at making bold decisions with things that just have to be done you know how it's like like. Maybe it's like an element of like starting to remove procrastination around things that are itchy and challenging and going you know what a decision has to be made, or an action has to be taken, or a conversation has to be done, um and whether it's awkward or uncomfortable, yeah or it could, or it could be like oh there's, there's three options of good.

Speaker 1: 3:46

How do I choose the best? Like just getting to the point of actually doing something about it and removing an element of the fear that you might not be able to please everybody or it might not be, uh, exactly what you want it to be, because I do have an element of that perfectionism and of that obsessive nature sometimes on what I want it to look like. So I won't go into detail of the particular decisions or things I've got around. Feel free to pull me over on the side.

Speaker 2: 4:11

That would be a wild episode if we did. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:14

But I reckon I'm better at that and I'm intrigued to see how that pushes into the new year, because we did talk about on a most recent episode about making better decisions, and so I think an element of that's kind of like like just seeping into my brain about just removing some fear of disappointing others or making the wrong call and just being bold on doing something about it.

Speaker 2: 4:39

that rather than just twiddling your thumbs. I really love that for you. I love, I love that boldness claim and, interestingly, I think from the outside people might look at you as being bold or maybe bolder than what you are. But I think you come with this level of kindness and empathy and always considering others that sometimes you forego yourself, and I have actually mentioned that on prior episodes for you.

Speaker 1: 5:02

You have. You are a good reminder that I need to be a bit. I need to, yes. I need to be bolder and recognise that yeah, there's a lot of good in me that I maybe, I know, but I don't live out as much.

Speaker 2: 5:18

Yeah, that's right, and so I think that's a really lovely thing to have reflected on and seen that you've got that little bit better. And this season isn't about making these huge leaps and jumps and being a completely different person. This season was about just making those small incremental changes or making conscious choices to try to do better in whatever that means for you.

Speaker 2: 5:43

And I think for me that has translated into being kinder to myself and that could mean a million things to a million people, and those close to me understand what it means for me right now.

Speaker 2: 5:55

But, being kinder to myself is actually allowing other people to help and support, because I can present this really resilient, strong person of which I am. But we all have periods of time where we need help, where we need support, where we need people to listen, where we need people to help us to make decisions, and so that has really been my season actually.

Speaker 2: 6:19

And so I've actually struggled as well, andrew, with what was I doing better at. But when I kind of landed on the, I have been kinder to myself and consciously kinder, like actually saying to people I'm having to be kinder to myself here, so I need you to do this for me yeah um, or I need you to step up, and that has happened in my work life, where I I like to be across most things, and my team would be laughing their heads off right now because they'd see, they'd say across everything so nothing would normally leave the office without me a bit of a control freak every now and then a little bit, not every now and again a little bit and so because I I'm I have such a strong presence around brand and value and quality and client experience that it mattered.

Speaker 2: 7:08

These things really matter to me. But I've had some experiences where I've had to let go and let my team literally take it and run and my gosh, have they done that and I'm so incredibly proud of them. I feel so incredibly grateful that I have a team where I was able to be kind to myself and they were able to allow me to do that. But you know, it makes you realise how capable. It made me realise how capable they were and I already knew that, but that sometimes I was putting myself in places I didn't need to be and so allowing myself to step back and to give myself some grace and healing and kindness um, that's definitely something that I've become better at. Rather than just bullet a gate, I can do this. I can do this because of course, I can, but there are times in your life where you have to stop that and actually step back and say, oh, I've got some bruises or I've got some healing that I need to do.

Speaker 1: 8:05

I mean, that's the thing.

Speaker 2: 8:07

You absolutely can do, this and keep going, but at what cost if you keep bulldozing through that kind of thing and it'll be the point where you kind of eventually get to the end of it and realise you lost your legs and that's my honestly, I think that's what would have happened, like I could have kept going, but my body at some point would have said, and I'm done, it would have got a physical ailment or sickness, and you know how much I value my physical wellbeing. We went through that on our wellness episode. We did, and so I've had to be really kind to myself and, yes, I've still been incredibly consistent. That's the one thing I haven't changed. Is that consistent exercise, because that, for me, is a health and wellbeing thing.

Speaker 2: 8:49

It comes first. It's like putting my oxygen mask on, but I've also added to that, I guess, that mental health and wellness of being kind to myself and letting others kind of step up.

Speaker 1: 9:00

That's good, nice and reflective. I've got a quote I'm going to throw out. I'm going to throw it at the very end of the episode because you and I might just tear up on it.

Speaker 2: 9:08

Don't do it now.

Speaker 1: 9:10

I might save it until the end. We're going to go and have a listen to our sponsors, but David, david.

Speaker 2: 9:17

Easton, oh, david.

Speaker 1: 9:19

My question to you is given that you have been listening to the podcast as you you produce it and you've obviously had a few months and whatnot I'd be intrigued to see if you would like to share with all of us what's something that you think you are better at over the last year, what's something you think you've improved at that you're really happy and stoked about. So I'd love to learn and hear from you. There, too is that dave, so hopefully he listens and puts that in, I'm sure he will, but let's hear from some of our sponsors.

Speaker 4: 9:49

I love software that continues to innovate over years and years of time, and BGL is one that stands out above the rest.

Speaker 2: 9:56

of you ask me, ali 100%, but they do so much as well Corporate compliance, self-managed super funds, BGL ID verification and Simple Invest 360. Honestly, there's so much in there.

Speaker 4: 10:07

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.

Speaker 2: 10:17

Absolutely BGL.

Speaker 4: 10:21

Hey Ali, who do you use when it comes to additional resourcing for your accounting business?

Speaker 2: 10:26

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

Speaker 4: 10:30

Yeah, me too.

Speaker 2: 10:30

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

Speaker 4: 10:39

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%, get onto it. Get amongst the friends Tower Global. That's where the good stuff's at.

Speaker 3: 10:54

Producer David here, coming in hot from those sweet, sweet ads. We love our sponsors. I get to edit them into the episode every week. I get to edit them into the episode every week.

Speaker 3: 11:04

But Andrew's just asked me this year what I've gotten better at, and this year has been a really strange year for me. I just started a new job in youth justice, and so I spend a lot of my day working with some of the most difficult kids in the state of Victoria, and it's really taught me a lot about patience and a lot about keeping calm under pressure and a lot about seeing through the emotion and bad behavior and trying to work out what the real issue is. So I've been quite an anxious person in my past, and so this job in particular has made me a lot calmer and also made me a lot more rational and a lot more thoughtful when it comes to these difficult things that I'm experiencing on a daily basis at work. I know that's kind of deep and not very accounting related, but that's what I've been learning this year. I hope you all have enjoyed this season and I'll throw it back to Andrew and Ellie.

Speaker 2: 12:17

Our sponsors are just completely and utterly amazing, aren't they? They're so consistent, I'll beat you there being better.

Speaker 1: 12:22

They're just bloody gorgeous. I know I reckon I say this every second episode or something like that, but it's still kind of ridiculous to think that, like you and I, just one day was like you know what we should just whack a podcast and just share some stories of what it's like to run a firm and our thoughts and ideas around it, and that there's a community of people that listen and sponsor and support and want to encourage conversations like the ones that we have within our industry.

Speaker 2: 12:49

And do you know, Andrew, that we've got, as at today's date, over 30,000 downloads?

Speaker 1: 12:54

30,000? Yeah, that's pretty crazy, and only 29,450 are me.

Speaker 2: 13:00

That's pretty good and I take up the remainder.

Speaker 1: 13:02

You do.

Speaker 2: 13:03

And David listens too, so maybe he can have a few. But that's pretty awesome, considering we didn't know if people would even listen.

Speaker 1: 13:11

I always wonder if we can hack those numbers. You know how you see those footages of the Indian call centres where there's like 100 mobile phones taped to wall and I press a button and it all goes and does the thing at once.

Speaker 2: 13:23

If we had the time to do that, I'm sure our numbers would be much higher. But do you know? Even our tech stack episode, which I highly recommend, by the way over a thousand downloads it's still soaring. That's crazy.

Speaker 1: 13:31

And it's cool to see that stuff keep getting and I get people who pop in. Oh, I listened to this one the other week. They do, I'm like that always around evergreen and just open conversation. That and even it might not be as relevant now, but it's.

Speaker 2: 13:45

It's interesting to listen back to it absolutely, and you know going back to the sponsors and you know tagging that back to our being better. It helps us to be better in our industry and that's one of the topics that we were talking about is how to better represent our industry have you? Is there anything that you've done or that you've seen in the industry about people being a bit better? Oh, you've spun that question on me hard I've thrown you in the deep end which is what you normally do to me.

Speaker 2: 14:12

I know, I know.

Speaker 1: 14:14

But, I've also taken a year of intentionally not seeking out as much engagement within the industry as a way to just as a way to learn outside of what it is that I do. So I'm going to push that back to you and I'm going to think a little bit more because I reckon you've got an answer, which is why you've asked me. Because that's what, whenever I ask a question is because I've already got my answer lined up.

Speaker 2: 14:41

Oh really no.

Speaker 1: 14:42

You go first Ali, and then I'm going to reflect a little bit more and see if I can come up with something.

Speaker 2: 14:46

I'm actually not going to focus on myself in this one, but I'm actually going to look at the industry as a whole and say how have we better represented our industry as a whole? And I think that, if I'm reflecting on, there was a Xero report and a Xero mentor. That was a way that we were able to represent our industry better. But there was also that really big campaign around a lot of the changes that were coming forward in relation to the privacy and the changes in the tax, agent registration guidelines et cetera, that we've really, as an industry, had to step up and find a voice, because what I found previously is that people would moan and complain internally but it would never go to an external. And so, and obviously Tim I think with Monroe was was very implicit and those change GPS guys were implicit in actually helping us find our voice. But I was super proud of everybody going out to their local members and actually creating noise so that we could better represent our industry. So I was super proud of that.

Speaker 1: 15:49

It's funny, as you started talking, that's what went into my head and then when you went and I was like like damn it, I was gonna say that like the things that stuck out I gave you the first opportunity yeah, right, I should have, I should have told you, but but I can definitely think of, like you know, over the years, like five or six years or so, we've we've had, um, a number of things as an industry that we've had to learn, grow, stand up and fight for and the like um, and I think, think advocacy is one of those ones where there's been some challenges, where we've had, you know, governing bodies and whatnot that maybe haven't been as united as we'd want them to be or haven't been as haven't been operating with as much timeless as we'd like them to be as well.

Speaker 1: 16:36

And I think, um, yeah, I can, I definitely feel like there's been a lot more uh, unity in things when it comes to advocacy and and um, uh, because it's always challenging with these things where, like it can be, very easily becomes like a bitch and nine fest about oh, they're bloody wrong, let's do that. But then it's like well, what are you going to do about it? Are you just going to complain and just become a keyboard warrior or are you going to do something about it? And I, I think, I think that's something I would say, like that advocacy element, you know, really looking out for our industry.

Speaker 1: 17:06

But but I also think that as we continue to look out for our industry, we also then look out for our clients and our team and the broader community too, because the more, more that we as accountants, advisors, bookkeepers and the like, can function in an impact-based environment without ridiculous restrictions or expectations on us that are not designed to help but to almost hinder. The more we can operate in those better environments, the better we can do as a result.

Speaker 2: 17:34

Absolutely, and that kind of covers off, because we also have episodes on being better examples for our team.

Speaker 1: 17:41

Oh, it's all connected.

Speaker 2: 17:42

I know, and being better client collaborators Like those, are some deep topics that we kind of really deep dived into. So, if you haven't listened to them, go back and have a listen, because that's why we're summarising this season Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 17:56

And like if I, if I fly on that team one and and like there's, there's some stuff I think I feel like I'm getting better at as well with and obviously, because I'm involved in a few different businesses, this isn't necessarily connected to the accounting side of things, but you know, I'm I'm learning how to communicate better with other people within my team who might not communicate like me, Actually a couple of hours ago I was sharing a beer with a guy who's a CEO of a decent scale business and I think when you're you know business owners of scale and complexity depending on where the conversation starts or where it goes, it can sometimes get into an element of toxicity and I was definitely picking up on that.

Speaker 1: 18:41

We were teetering on the edge of just bitching and moaning about people who were different. Yeah, good insight.

Speaker 1: 18:48

And almost to some extent and not me, I promise, it wasn't me, but almost to some extent operating with an element of elitism around business owner and the difference of a business owner versus someone who's not a business owner.

Speaker 1: 19:01

I know that and there are differences, but, like you know, there's like not in a positive way.

Speaker 1: 19:05

We weren't talking about it, and so I found myself and him, we found stuff corralling back to the whole like, yeah, but I think what we have to understand and appreciate is like everyone is different and everyone communicates differently, and it would be so ridiculously unfair of me to assume that people had to communicate just the way I communicated, and if they are not succeeding or performing or doing the things that I'm asking them to do, perhaps I'm contributing to that.

Speaker 1: 19:34

And so I feel like over the last four months, in certain environments within my world, I am learning how to communicate, particularly requests, in a way that is more collaborative as opposed to instructive. So for me, I've learned, like, how do we get better at bringing someone on board and even for little tiny things, you know, how do I make sure that it doesn't? It's not just Andrew going hey, here's the thing we're going to go do. Please go and do it, as opposed to hey, here's something that we need to achieve. I think a positive outcome would look like this how do you think we could go about that?

Speaker 2: 20:14

Yeah, and that's that real collaboration element.

Speaker 1: 20:19

So, yeah, outcome would look like this how do you think we could go about that? Yeah, and that's that real collaboration element. So, yeah, I reckon I'm getting better at that and I've got a. I have a very particular example that I I won't share because it might, if that person happens to listen to the podcast, which I would be ridiculously surprised if they did. I don't want them to feel like they're getting um spotlighted here, but but what I've also seen in reply to that is that person is now communicating better back to me. So, rather than sometimes coming with maybe a complaint or an argumentative approach, they're using language like hey, I feel like we might have an issue here. Can I talk to you about it? And that issue isn't like an issue with me, but it's more just in general something happening, and I love it because it's like, oh, when someone says oh, I fucking hate this thing.

Speaker 2: 21:00

I take that personally. I'm not going to put the explicit on the episode. We were so close, andrew.

Speaker 1: 21:04

No, you know, we weren't going to get there. We weren't going to get there, explicit every way. But yeah, but rather than saying we've got to fucking bravura. And I feel that because when someone comes and complains about an experience that happens within our business.

Speaker 1: 21:18

I take it personally because I will go. Well, hold on a second. What could we have done to have avoided that? I know that someone else might have created it externally, but what could we have done? So I'm seeing that improvement in that human and a few months ago I was very uncertain about that human's future. And now I'm sitting here going. I don't know if we can afford to lose them. They are showing growth. What?

Speaker 1: 21:39

a turnaround and it was just little things of, like I said, involving them differently in conversation, and recognize that I'm contributing to that. Not it's all on them.

Speaker 2: 21:47

And having that being better and having those brave conversations right, because you give that person the opportunity to change or to have insight into their behaviors, to become better themselves. So that in itself is a loop, isn't it? You get better and they get better, and I've always had that belief that we need to walk in other people's shoes. Where are they coming from, how are they feeling?

Speaker 2: 22:08

And I've also had that really light bulb moment as I get older, that I'm learning that I'm wildly different to everybody else, as I'm sure you are, andrew yes, um and everybody is so wildly different and how we think and feel and approach things are so different, and so we do need to consider the other person and and it's for me, it's just a simple example of I don't suffer from anxiety, um, but a lot of people do, and so I find client conversations, communication, hard conversations.

Speaker 2: 22:37

I actually find them easy yeah, it's in your wheelhouse it's in my wheelhouse, whereas I'm learning that that might be the five to one percent is like that. Most people aren't and don't feel that way, and so I have to adjust my behavior now and really be conscious of my team and my clients so that I'm not putting them in spaces where they feel too out of control. And you know, that took Lee and my team to really understand. Oh, there's little Jericho.

Speaker 1: 23:08

Sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but my son, jericho, is outside the window of where I'm sitting and was running to the window banging da, da, da, da, and I'm like I don't know if you can hear that, but I just thought I'd just show.

Speaker 2: 23:19

I can. He loves his dada.

Speaker 1: 23:22

He does, he does. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'll take it.

Speaker 2: 23:27

It's the adoration age, where you don't actually have to do much but receive, receive, because you know it doesn't last forever.

Speaker 1: 23:33

And look, talk about walking in other people's shoes. His current obsession is he will wear his shoes, come into my room and then put my shoes on, because when he's got his shoes on, he can almost wear my shoes. It's very, very cute it's very, very cute.

Speaker 2: 23:46

Have you got him a catalogue of cool sneakers? Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:49

So he's already got, like some Kobe basketball shoes, a few pairs lined up to wear. He's got some Travis Scotts that have managed to land in a size that will be good. So either when he's 10, 12, whatever, he'll be the coolest kid around, or people will wonder why are you wearing shoes, mate? We don't wear shoes anymore, so he'll be one of the two.

Speaker 2: 24:10

My child has got into watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and in that this scientist creates a spray-on shoe, so maybe at that point we'll all have spray-on shoes, so he will look totes uncool.

Speaker 5: 24:21

That could.

Speaker 2: 24:22

He will absolutely be snaked out, and I know that these things are an investment because my 15 year old boy is into them as well. So I didn't realise there was a whole new thing going down.

Speaker 1: 24:32

But you know, be better with shoes be better, be better with shoes? Well, I think we might. We might end it there, mate. Thank you again for another season of being better I feel like because of spending time with you, I feel like I'm better, so I'm grateful for that.

Speaker 2: 24:45

Thank you and I'm always better after spending time with you. You always make me feel better in many different ways, either through laughing or sharing and caring. It's about being better, so I'm glad we both were able to find something that we absolutely we did. It's funny.

Speaker 1: 25:00

The more reflective we get.

Speaker 1: 25:02

And I wonder, uh, for those of you listening, the millions of you out there, um I wonder what you would reflect on, like what are you, yeah, what do you feel you've improved at, what are you better at? And whether that's because ali or I kind of shared some ideas and thoughts, or whether it's simply because it's just something you focused or fluked there, I'd be intrigued. Whether it is so, please like, share with us as well. Like it's sent us a slide into our dms, let us know yeah, we love that seriously.

Speaker 2: 25:28

we love it when people connect with us and tell us, um, you know, and, and reflect on the episode and tell us what they liked or did not like. That's also, you know, good feedback, so anything at all. So think about it and make some conscious choices, if you haven't already, about being better as we head into the new year?

Speaker 1: 25:46

Absolutely, and if you need help with going to the gym and all that kind of wellness, then you hit up Ali for that one.

Speaker 2: 25:50

That's right, we've got to be all into future wellness.

Speaker 1: 25:53

Yes, we've got to be all into future wellness. Yes, and I will end with this quote and we'll finish up there. It's from Helen Keller, who is a writer and activist, and the quote says when one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. Poignant, very poignant, I think, about being better, and sometimes we long for the past and we forget that another door is opened that's better and improved for us, and we gotta gotta stop looking at some of the stuff that used to exist and and think about what might come there too. So beautiful. Thank you, my friend, thank you everyone listening, thank you, thanks for the adventure good one.

Speaker 2: 26:32

Everyone Catch you later.

Speaker 5: 26:33

Yeah, I know, See ya Hooey, 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.

Speaker 2: 26:54

It so is, and you know what. 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. You know how much we love that stuff.

Speaker 5: 27:06

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 breaking and becoming. We can't wait to share more cool adventures with you we love you guys.