SPEAKER_09: 0:12

Hey Ellie.

SPEAKER_05: 0:13

Yes, Andrew.

SPEAKER_09: 0:14

We are at Toacon. Now we were at Toacon two years ago in the Gold Coast.

SPEAKER_05: 0:19

Yes, which is pretty fantastic.

SPEAKER_09: 0:21

Pretty fantastic. The plane trip this time was slightly longer.

SPEAKER_05: 0:25

It was a lot longer because we are in the fabulous, uh, very humid and very hot.

SPEAKER_09: 0:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_05: 0:33

Barcai.

SPEAKER_09: 0:34

Barbakon. And in the Philippines, it was a it was a nine hours to get to Manila and then a four hour wait and then another hour to get to here. And it is it's pretty beautiful, it is somewhat worth the trouble.

SPEAKER_05: 0:45

Talk about an experiential conference. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02: 0:48

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_05: 0:49

Like you're flying away from all your problems and you're coming here and love and laugh and getting just the full experience, the beautiful people, the beautiful food.

SPEAKER_09: 0:59

Well, like I can even remember last time, like I I loved Telecom and the Gold Coast last time. The venue was great, the vibe was great, but I was still like a couple of hours on a plane home and I had to leave early for some stuff anyway. Whereas when you come in here, it's like what you hear. So it you almost go, well, I might as well be here for longer, and I want to might as well focus and invest myself into this time instead of still be a little bit spaced out because yes, time zones are similar ish, but not. So I don't know. I feel like I feel like the room today and tomorrow will be a little even more connected to what's happening than in the past.

SPEAKER_05: 1:29

And people who have invested into going to this conference have to spend a lot of money to get here and to be here. And so what you find is that I think that people will be very invested into the actual experience, into the speakers, into what you know we're doing, and wanting to bring some change, and so that's the thing I love about these really experiential conferences is it's an intimate group, it's a really invested, deep group, ready to grab something and run with it.

SPEAKER_09: 1:57

And there's there's a lot of uh diamonds in the buff here, I would say, as well. Like, I've already met a bunch of people last night at kind of the kind of opening, mingling, gathering session, and like I don't know a whole heap of people here, and I'm like, man, these these are some really interesting people. Oh yeah, they've got great specific businesses, and but also some other people who also run great businesses, but are but are learning and growing and developing and seeking more as well. So it's still it's still quite diverse in terms of the type of people that are here.

SPEAKER_05: 2:21

Absolutely, and they've got some people from America, New Zealand, Australia, so there's lots of people that have flown in. And the the wonderful thing about a telecom conference is the level of speakers that they have is inside.

SPEAKER_09: 2:35

These are people that you would go and listen to just standalone. Like this person speaking, I would go and listen.

SPEAKER_05: 2:40

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_09: 2:41

There's a special guest speaker, which we're not allowed to talk about. I know.

SPEAKER_05: 2:44

I know, and they don't even like the whole agenda is a secret, so they don't actually tell you which speaker is on when. So, because they want you to get the full experience.

SPEAKER_09: 2:52

You know what we're gonna uh I might just take the afternoon off. No no no no, I'm gonna be here because I wanna I wanna I wanna connect in the moment.

SPEAKER_05: 2:58

Absolutely, and it's gonna be an awards ceremony this evening.

SPEAKER_09: 3:02

Are you up for an award? I did, yeah.

SPEAKER_05: 3:05

I retired from awards, you know that. I won them all. No, I've got out on the premiership and I was like, I'm out, and it's everybody else's turn, so no, I haven't. But looking forward to that, and then they put a very they put on a very good, beautiful meal with some dances last night that had dances as well.

SPEAKER_09: 3:27

It was a subtle. It was just more of a suggestion.

SPEAKER_05: 3:30

It was a very severe push in the direction of the city.

SPEAKER_09: 3:36

Um Emily Emily joined the the the local dancing group, and you did a great job.

SPEAKER_05: 3:40

Look, um I didn't join the one where you had to balance a candle on your head, but I did do the other one in the middle. And look, I took their directions well, I think.

SPEAKER_09: 3:55

Yes. And I mean, obviously, uh the other thing I think I love about like a destination conference where we're mummed is that family can be a part of it too. Now, for me, um, Ivan and I decided that we wouldn't bring the whole family so I'm I'm running running solo, mainly because I'm here for a few days and then I'm off to Clark for a few days to visit our kind of tower team as well. And I figured that if I'm here for seven nights and I can only interact with my family for maybe one or two of them, my wife's gonna have to do a lot of wrangling with our three children, and she's probably not gonna enjoy it. You on the other hand, your kids, you've got a couple of older kids, which makes it a lot more doable. So you're here with your three kids.

SPEAKER_05: 4:28

Yeah, Still who's 19, lucky he's 16, so they're kinda gonna look after themselves and my little Livy who's eight. So um look, I think they're gonna spend the next two days at the pool. And look at the type of conference, if they wanted to come up, they could come up. And I said to them if they wanted to hear any of the speakers feel free. But I think they'll be next to the pool, the mother and mock to bell, and you know, get some food. And um, but yes, uh they um here, and I did have a dame in Cebo previously, and I'm gonna um stay at Borakama for a few more nights to spend some quality family time with them, and then we're heading to Cebu to see the team.

SPEAKER_09: 5:01

But the team know my um kids as well, so you know it's all kind of fun and I just I I love that you where we have places like this, it gives you opportunity to bring your family around the work. And and and and that's sometimes people kind of go, Oh, you don't want to bring family's like, no, there's there are points where it's like if I get to do this and my family can see what I do and how I do and why do then there's a a greater appreciation of everything as well. And my kids go, oh well, like that's what that's what mum or dad does, or that's yeah, that's what's happening here. I get to go on a holiday on a freaking moment.

SPEAKER_05: 5:30

Yeah, but when I said Am I gonna read this on the beach? When I said to a still you want to come to America and the answer was a rapid yes. And she's just super excited about it. And look, I actually think it's a really great thing to get your children involved and to bring them along to events. I've taken them to the BGO rubber chub events, and they've literally gone wam, that is not what I'm expected that you did. Or what am I expected the industry to be, and they've met some amazing people. So, how are we gonna keep our industry alive if they don't actually if the kids don't know what we do?

SPEAKER_09: 5:59

I'm gonna show them what the truth is like. Yeah, behind the curtains and counting.

SPEAKER_05: 6:04

Absolutely, because it's exciting and it's fun, and there are some great people.

SPEAKER_09: 6:08

So now speaking of great people, you can hear a lot of noise in the background. That's because we are literally in like the exhibitor hall in front of the main room. The doors have not opened, no one has gone inside, so we don't know what it's gonna look like when we get on there, but there are a dozen or so different sponsors here. I'm not gonna say them all now because I'm gonna get them wrong. I will make sure I come back when we do a next uh little session. And I'll make sure I get them all right. But it's it's great that we have these sponsors that are also contributing to this in the moment and making sure that it's not just sitting room and gonna be this, it's constantly mingling this place.

SPEAKER_05: 6:41

Um, I guess one of the reasons that we're actually recording here today is that Tom is a sponsor of the population.

SPEAKER_09: 6:53

So we're big fans, big, big fans.

SPEAKER_05: 6:56

So um super, super lucky to be here and um we're excited about what the thing is gonna happen.

SPEAKER_09: 7:01

Very excited. Um when we come back next Ellie, I would like you to give me the thing that you thought was the best about whatever we did in the hour to perform the one. I want to get your one thing and we're gonna and I want you to grab a random person that you found interesting to see if they would like to share their one thing.

SPEAKER_05: 7:18

Alright, um, the challenge has been set and I shall achieve.

SPEAKER_09: 7:22

Yeah, excellent. Thanks, friend. Thanks.

SPEAKER_05: 7:25

Bye.

SPEAKER_09: 7:30

Alrighty, I am sitting here with a couple of young strapping men uh hanging out at Toa. Um now the two of you, uh, I'll introduce you in a second. These two men uh have played a pivotal role in the the growth and current and future of Toa Global itself. Um person number one, Nick Sinclair, founder of Toa Global. Person number two, Jeremy Clements, otherwise known as JC, CEO of Toa Global. Gentlemen, welcome. Thanks for joining me.

SPEAKER_01: 7:55

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_09: 7:55

Thanks for having us. Uh now obviously we're hanging out here in Barokai, Philippines. It's real tough. Uh is this do you guys just plan this and like put a big circle in the diary and say, all right, let's go, let's have the biggest, wildest, craziest kind of gathering of accountants in the most beautiful locations we possibly can. Like, how much thought do you both get to put in this, or do you just sit in the background and it happens?

SPEAKER_10: 8:15

A bit of both. I mean, our business is the Philippines, so we're fortunate there's seven and a half thousand beautiful islands here, and to host our clients here for the conference and the year-end parties, it's it's good. But you know, JC and the team put this together. We've got a pretty strong conference team that that worked on this for a lot of time to put it together.

SPEAKER_09: 8:34

So and you've done a fabulous job. Like the the the content so far, the speakers, there's been like a good element of diversity and kind of what they're talking about, but also I think a good like like I mean Nick, you mentioned it in your session, a mirror to the face. Like, I think there's been a few of those moments where people have been able to reflect and be like, oh yeah, actually I need to really think about that on myself. JC, did you have much say much involvement in what's happening uh over the last couple of days?

SPEAKER_01: 9:00

It follows a similar format, I guess, to what we've done before. Um, but with whatever we do, whether it's a meeting or a conference, I always say lead with um insights and education. I want people to walk away with something. I think we've all been to those conferences where it's just about the business performance or it's about activities, call it team building. And I think when you make the core insights and education coupled with a holistic approach, that's why we're getting the success that we did. And when I speak to um clients and say, What is it that you love so much? It comes down to yes, the location, but more importantly, it comes down to geez, I've come away with so much. Yeah, stuff that I can do stuff with, and that's the insights and education.

SPEAKER_10: 9:46

I think that comes back to, I mean, our company culture is all about you know, speed to companies, accelerating careers. Like JC, you know, he drives to our he probably listens to 15-20 hours worth of content every week that's external to what we do, and and it's part of our culture.

SPEAKER_09: 10:01

Obviously, a lot of that's the all Aussie Accounting Adventures podcast, right? Yeah, definitely a big part of it. There is one on his list that he listens to, so tick that one. Good, good, good job.

SPEAKER_10: 10:09

But I think the part of the conference is we don't want it to be about accounting content, we want it to be something that is actually implementable that will change their lives in a positive way, whether that be leadership running the business or whatever it is. So I think putting it together, we've got the playbook, we've done it, you know, five times now, but and it's about how do we get the speakers to just continue to level up.

SPEAKER_09: 10:30

Yeah, and I love that, and I I resonate so strongly with that as well. Anytime I've tried to do anything within the community, it's like I don't want to teach you how to be a better account. My assumption is you know how to do the thing, accounting. You figure you know how to do that shit. But what we probably struggle with is how to be the person within that, how to be the leader within that, how to how to drive and grow, and how to pay attention to stuff that actually matters other than the technical element of what we do. Um because it's you you find so many accounting firms and bookkeeping firms and whatnot have um the just the best accountant bookkeeper becomes the leader and the owner, but do they know how to run a business? And so it's great that you're putting on environments like this to help to the skill and the tool, I guess, the people in those positions to help them become better than they are. Very interesting. Now, um Nick, you shared with us uh a whole bunch before about effectively like the designing the life you want to live and really focusing and working towards that. And one of the things you talked about a lot during that session was obviously your transition from the role of being the CEO to the not CEO that was kind of the CEO, to then back to the CEO to now officially not actually the CEO. Uh and and Jason, you've obviously played a core part in that as well, right? Stepping in the COO role and then in the CEO or CEO role, and then politely letting Nick know that he can piss off and keep distance and and let's have roles. But obviously, I think one of the key things I took out of there is like a really strong role definition through there that actually enables the business to grow and take the steps of where you go. Do you guys mind sharing maybe a bit of that uh insider information on how you kind of really work together and like defining and creating those barriers? I'm assuming it wasn't perfect day one, but and and it still evolves. But talk a bit about that experience.

SPEAKER_10: 12:03

Yeah, so for those that aren't here, we'll just give some context. So when JC came in to uh the B the CEO, the conversation we had was Nick, if I'm gonna uh be the CEO, I need to run the business and you need to let me do that. You need to get out of the way, I run the business, we're not running it together. We'll meet once a week, I'll get your guidance where I need it, but I ultimately make the decisions. And for me, I wanted to hear that, but I wasn't ready for it. So I had to, you know, and there's a lot of people that say, look, I'll I'd love to not have to work in my business, it can run without me. But the real and I've wanted that for 20-something years, but I didn't really want it because I wasn't ready to let go of the control. So when JC said it to me, I agreed to it. Uh but then I actually had to make it happen.

SPEAKER_09: 12:43

So the reality of what that actually means is like it's and and and it's something that I I I try to say to our team, like, don't refer to this business as my baby, but like you can't not do that because you you birthed it and you raised it. Um but it's is if you keep referring to it as my baby, you're never able to release it to the next person who's gonna take it where it is.

SPEAKER_10: 13:00

And it needs to be a vehicle, and for me, you know, it's hard at times to talk about like I'm not working in the business because I don't want everyone to go, all right, well that's what we want, and take away from all the work and hours the team do to make it what it is. Like they make the I suppose they give me the ability to do what I do now, which is the stuff that I'm good at doing, which is not working in the business. Um so I think you know, JC's a I call it a professional, you know, he's been in corporate, much larger businesses than us and and knows the playbook. And I think bringing him in was um both exciting but also you know a bit wary of well, we have to actually let this happen.

SPEAKER_09: 13:38

Yeah, you gotta you gotta release it to this person that you know but you also don't know at the same time, right?

SPEAKER_10: 13:44

So I think JC it'd be good for you to how did you find that, buddy?

SPEAKER_09: 13:47

Like time off on mute next, so you can just say whatever the hell you want to say. Um but talk to me, mate. What was that experience like kind of stepping into the into the um Toa world and then stepping into then obviously that senior role that you're in now?

SPEAKER_01: 13:59

Yeah, yeah, so it's um something that I've done before, um, and I've worked with uh entrepreneurs uh a number of a number of times before, and um they all know that I have a lot of respect for the entrepreneur. They come with a skill set that a lot of us corporate folk just don't have. But we we don't start building businesses, but we manage businesses, and it's a different skill set, and so I've got so much admiration for the risks they take and what they do to get things going. But you know, I think uh and I need to say this, it's um it's a tribute to to Nick because sometimes entrepreneurs can't make that adjustment, and he's been absolutely phenomenal, you know, he's been able to acknowledge um the areas that um both of us have strength in, and we can play to those strengths. The the relationship is very, very strong. Uh I have a lot of respect, a lot of admiration for for Nick. Um but I I don't want to water down the fact that Nick has been able to acknowledge that transition and that need and that importance because it is would be very hard when it is your baby not to do certain things. But in saying that, there is always that opportunity for Nick at any time to have whatever conversation he wants because once a week. Well, it is a long once a week. It goes for eight hours.

SPEAKER_10: 15:23

So uh for those listening, uh Nick has a a time once a week with JC to chat. Yeah, it's been an hour and a half.

SPEAKER_01: 15:32

But um, you know, we we have that conversation, and and I've also got an incredible resource in in Nick as well, and I know I can reach out at any time, and I believe it is a partnership, and uh it's a very, very strong partnership, and we play where we where we can excel.

SPEAKER_09: 15:49

Yeah, I I love that. Um, so one thing you weren't aware, JC. Now, you JC did a session yesterday where you did a bit of a tower update, like what's been happening in the world, tower global, how are your team performing, a whole bunch of interesting. I was standing at the back next to Nick while she's doing that. And I remember half the time Nick would turn to me and he's like, Oh, he's such a weapon. He's he's so he's done all these many seasons. Like, he was what I loved about it is like Nick was like cheerleading you in the back just to me. Just having like like I and I love to see that that that respect and that support that was there, and obviously hearing you that there as well. So that's uh I think a really a strong testament to the I guess the growth and change within your organization as well. Right, being able to step away from something for you, Nick, has meant released you to be able to live the life you want to live without having as much uh restriction and connection. JC, for you it's meant you're able to run the business and make the change that has improved it all, and and for the business itself it's made better. So I I I love seeing when uh people working together are cheering each other on and a really strong point.

SPEAKER_01: 16:44

And you would have saw that when Nick was doing that as well. I mean he's you know the number one fan, and it it is a deep-seated admiration and respect. And I don't just say that stuff, I just wouldn't say it otherwise. But what people like Nick do, it's pretty incredible. And yes, I can add my skill set, but he's got a business that's supporting four, four and a half thousand people's livelihoods. It's pretty crazy.

SPEAKER_09: 17:08

It's fascinating, it's so ridiculous to think of that. Obviously, Nick and I, we've spent a little bit of time over the years. We first got to each other know each other on the uh the big day out tour. Yeah, uh was a little bit smaller back then, as was as was my business idea, but like to think of like four and a half thousand, that's ridiculous.

SPEAKER_01: 17:24

But it's not just those people, it's the people that have come and gone, that's business, and they've been able to build international careers and take that skill set. Yeah, but it's also the families that they support, the money that's invested in the local communities. We pay taxes in the countries we operate, we don't have an head office in Dublin, for example, to enjoy tax breaks.

SPEAKER_09: 17:44

So and if you expand that as well, is then there's the accounting for the book that the firms you're supporting, and then the clients that they're supporting, and you look at that four and a half thousand, it becomes like a million like that, right? That's right.

SPEAKER_10: 17:55

Yeah, yeah, it's significant. I think that's the big thing. It's it's about the impact, but it's you know, who would have thought you know 13 years ago that this is what it is? I remember uh um some other people in Australia that were on a podcast, and one of them said, you know, outsourcing won't last uh more than two years, and you know, it's not that, it's never gonna make a thing. And I'm like, well, uh, you know, we'll see if it does make an impact or not.

SPEAKER_09: 18:16

Yeah, yeah, it's it's uh it's it's crazy. Um what have what have your highlights been? Obviously, we're like a day and a half through, we're lunch break day two, we've still got a little bit to go. What has your highlights been over the last little bit?

SPEAKER_01: 18:28

For me, it's um and I've said this to a number of clients, taking a person's lifetime of work, a lifetime of lessons, and condensing it into an hour and an hour and a half. You know, I mean the only thing that's better that that's not as good as that, but next in line is probably a book. But it takes longer to read, it's three to three to four hundred pages, and so it's that combined with a very holistic approach. So we're looking at the person, we're looking at, you know, uh technical now, so we're looking at such a broad range of subjects, and in just two days, we're gonna walk away with you know about eight or nine persons' lifetimes of skill and and and success and uh and learning.

SPEAKER_09: 19:12

So I mean that's just it's pretty valuable, and it's it's it's so rare to get the the consistent quality of conversation that we're getting from the stage. What about you, Nick?

SPEAKER_10: 19:22

What's your uh best and biggest favourite takeaway, other than obviously uh being here right now? Yeah, look the content, the location, they're they're amazing. Um to me though, it's the community part, it's seeing clients that have known each other for five to ten years, um coming back and sharing ideas and just the friendships that they've created over that time. But then there's you know more than half the rooms first time to the Philippines, first time here, and you know, the sessions that we're running, like we were all at the beach yesterday afternoon doing you know networking and learning from each other.

SPEAKER_09: 19:50

That was one of the and the number of people like I'm not gonna go in the water, and then as soon as they get they're all in the water throwing frisbees and the number of people that are just comfortable to get in their top, you know, bloke shirts off, cheeks and like and around people that you don't really know about cardio peers. Normally that's like a quite a nervous everyone was all about it because you'd built that community environment where they felt safe.

SPEAKER_10: 20:12

And the good thing is is that and that's I think the great part of it is that people are comfortable in their own skin, they're comfortable being them, but they're also there's a lot of sharing happening. Yeah, like people don't see others here as competitors, they see them as friends of community. Yeah, and the level of sharing, and that's probably my biggest takeaway, is the level of sharing is phenomenal. Like they're all helping each other, they're you know, they've all got their, you know, I love remote, I love in office, or I've done it this way for five years, and this is what I failed at. So I think for me it's the connection of community.

SPEAKER_09: 20:44

And the diversity of firm here as well. There's there's small, medium, and absolutely huge. Uh and but there's no kind of ego that's coming with it. You're always having a chat and like, oh, that's really interesting. And it's absolutely it's I think people are very open for that, which is cool.

SPEAKER_10: 20:57

Yeah, like one of our award winners last night was um won the award for you know what they're doing in the communities in the Philippines and the amount of firms that come up to me after that have been with us for 10 years and go, I feel like one of them, I'll quote, said, I feel like an arsehole because we don't do any of that stuff. We could make a massive impact with only a small contribution. Yeah, so for me, the takeaway was for him was oh, I'm gonna make a bigger impact in the communities that are helping our business now, not just go over there and treat them like my team. I'm gonna take that another step further and go, the country, I want to make an impact on.

SPEAKER_09: 21:32

It's funny, I I kind of sat similar, I was like, man, like I know we do a lot of Illuminate, but like we don't do that. And it's it's not not in a comparison, no, but it's more of just a reminder of like there's always something more that you could do. Yeah, and that's a choice that we take of where we invest those funds and how we support each other. So it's great to see that, you know. Uh I guess that tower community is is also helping to impact these families and these communities in other ways other than just the employment stuff you're opening up to. So 100%. We could all right. Well, hey, um gents, thank you for joining me. Um we're gonna go have some lunch, we're gonna enjoy the rest of our day. I think we've got another activity. Uh Ali and I would suggesting as a as a as a tip for next time, maybe we could have all the sessions at the beach and we can just sit and float in the water whilst the speakers are speaking from the sand. That could be an option. That could be cool, it could be a logistically we could make the an inflatable screen, a speaker, be fine, no dramas. What can go wrong? I've already got it planned out. I've got to get my people to talk to you. But thank you again. Thank you for putting on such a great thing. Thank you for having us all here. Um looking forward for the for how it all finishes later today.

SPEAKER_01: 22:32

Thanks for being here. Appreciate your time.

SPEAKER_05: 22:37

So Andrew's left me alone with Mike, and I found some beautiful people. Maybe you can introduce yourselves because you'll do a better intro than I ever will.

SPEAKER_06: 22:45

Um my name's Lisa and I'm from Backers Advisory in Piemont, Sydney. And I'm here with my business partner, Nick.

SPEAKER_00: 22:53

Hi, I'm Nick, also a director of Backers Advisory. We've been um well I've I've been at Bacchus since 2011, so that's a long time now.

SPEAKER_05: 23:02

So um tell me a little bit about your firm. So how big are you? What do you do?

SPEAKER_00: 23:08

How big are we? So we started in 2005, actually. I think we clocked up our 20 years now. Oh wow. The two founders, Rick and Shannon. Rick's uh now a consultant with our business um as he's 65. Shannon's also at the toller conference, but more drinking beer than you know. Doing podcasts, I will say.

SPEAKER_05: 23:30

Yeah, great purpose.

SPEAKER_00: 23:31

Yeah, and so we grew in um was it 2013 you joined us, Liz? Yep, yeah. Um that's I'm glad I remembered that. That's important for her. It is very important, yes. And she joined as a part-time manager slash mum.

SPEAKER_06: 23:48

Yes, I had a one-year-old, yeah, and I had a three-year-old. Yeah. So I was told in the industry you are never gonna find a part-time manager's position. And I said and I set out to prove that old firm wrong, and I did that.

SPEAKER_05: 24:00

Well done. I set up my firm when my little one was one year old, so I totally get it. Kudos to you. I'm loving you all already. Um so what size is your team?

SPEAKER_00: 24:12

So we are 19 in total now, 11 in the Philippines.

SPEAKER_05: 24:16

Yeah, but how long have you been with Tala? I see you're five years.

SPEAKER_00: 24:19

Yeah, we got we cocked up our five years.

SPEAKER_05: 24:21

Amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 24:22

Uh I actually first looked into Tala in 2017.

SPEAKER_05: 24:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 24:27

Um, had a business plan prepared for the founders. Um Shannon was in, and Rick's call was um it would not be well experienced by the by the clients. Um so in 2020, Rick retired. Myself and Justin took over at that stage, Lisa joined us in the last few years. Um, and uh the first thing I did whilst COVID was raging through was change all of our IT systems. We did that in six weeks. Um once our new cloud-based systems were in, we hired our first team member, Shereen. Um, directly into Lisa's team. That was a very good idea. And she's been with me ever since.

SPEAKER_05: 25:13

Yeah, my first hire was in 2018, so she's still there at the end.

SPEAKER_00: 25:16

Yeah, we were just we were telling someone else before. It was figuring out how to do it, it was not straightforward. We didn't get it right straight away. We had our one of our high-performing young Australian go-getters and was like, here you go. In the old days they get an Australian grad, and in the new world they got a qualified Filipino um accounter, about as high as you can get for the age. About four or five months in, I turned to Lisa and I said, Look, we're billing less with two people than she used to do on her own. I said, Lisa, I think I think you need to get involved because I think I'm right. I think I know this can work, but it's not actually being reflected in the business results. Um so Lisa's got a very strong background in training and that side of things, so um I'll let Lisa talk.

SPEAKER_06: 26:14

So I think yeah, about four months in, Nick goes make a decision, it's to stay or to go.

SPEAKER_02: 26:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06: 26:21

And she had one job and she did that job perfectly on budget. And I went, Nick, it's not it's not the Philippines, it's it's the training. Yeah. I said, I'll take over. Yeah. And I think within probably about four months of taking over that girl's training, the intermediate that was training her resigned, and it was left as me and this Filipino. Yeah. And she's great, and she just was prepared to put a hand up and learn. And so I've actually been quite privileged up there. I've got like a team of six accountants that report to me and one EA, and they're all based out of the Philippines.

SPEAKER_05: 27:01

Yeah, and I love them. You can just make it work, that's so good. It's so good to hear those stories. So, what we're talking about on this episode is conferences, and we are currently at a destination conference. And I wanted to get your point of view on why you come to a destination conference. What is it? What drives you and it can be.

SPEAKER_00: 27:20

So, why do we come to a luxury hotel to hang out with like-minded people? Yeah, throw a bit of scuba diving in there if that's what you like to do. I'm guilty of guilty of that.

SPEAKER_06: 27:33

Um, it's always nice to have a little bit of a break just before the busy season. Yeah. So I'm not gonna lie, I took a couple of days off and just enjoyed myself. Um but I actually like just to come to meet people. Yeah, and so last night at the conference I just needed a glass of wine and I was walking around, and I think I met 30 people I did not know about 20 minutes before I walked into that conference. So that was good. Yeah, I think it's a good idea.

SPEAKER_00: 27:58

And I will I will compliment TOA. They put on a really good conference, they put in a lot of effort, the speakers are good. It's not particularly industry focused, it's it's really sort of business and life focused. So it's it's not hard to say yes to something like this. I believe we actually met at a TOA conference a few years ago.

SPEAKER_05: 28:20

Yes, we did at the last Koro Kai one, I think.

SPEAKER_00: 28:23

Um and look, we've never we've never had been to a bad one that Toa's put on, and we'll go to plenty in the future as well.

SPEAKER_05: 28:31

And you're gonna tack on a little a few days after as well, or are you going straight back or meeting your team?

SPEAKER_06: 28:37

We're meeting our team. Yeah. So one thing I like to do every time we come, like just to get out and have some fun. So we work hard and we play hard. So this time the fun is going to be laser tag. Nice. Last year our team did not realise how competitive we were in our firm. And Nick is a runner, Lisa is not a runner, but Lisa did chase him down with a laser tag, and we were literally shooting each other. So I've been standing on this trip. I'm here to shoot my team in the loveliest way. Yes, just with a laser and nothing else. I love it.

SPEAKER_05: 29:08

And what do you want to take away from this? What are you gonna take away?

SPEAKER_06: 29:12

We've been we've been talking about just changes to our business, and I think everything we've heard here is actually leading us down the path that we already thought we were gonna do. Great. Um and Nick is very much health-focused, he's he's really done that, and I think a lot of the foundational stuff comes from that, so but I think we're both talking about how can we be better at work ourselves personally, but look, it's um it's really about filling your own cup first and taking care of yourself, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 29:46

And then it allows you to take care of others and take care of your business.

SPEAKER_05: 29:49

Yep, uh, I completely agree with that. You're speaking my language. I also just want to give a shout out. You guys won an award at the Abacus Awards last night. Which one was it?

SPEAKER_06: 29:57

Firm of the year.

SPEAKER_05: 29:58

Firm of the year, you've Time at the top gold, and so we wanted to get you on to time to talk that through so what do you think you want that? What do you want?

SPEAKER_00: 30:08

Firstly was very humbling, um, and I will say that it's very much to uh American at least uh put into her team in the Philippines automatically. Um which really can leave you get out what you put in and um and it challenges, it's challenging the results that we get and the relationships that we have and and their and their commitment to alpha.

SPEAKER_06: 30:39

Yeah. Um I think it's very much a mental mindset in Australia. You you some firms will go, oh, we're getting someone from the Philippines, well they're quite they're not as expensive as Australians, so they can do the lower value work. Yeah. And these are qualified accountants. Sometimes I've got double degree, but honestly, they're brilliant. And some of sharing and alphabetists have CPA qualified. If anyone knows the Philippines, that is almost impossible to get. Very hard. Um, she does some of the harvest one for the on my plug, and she helps me, and she's always got a hand up to police of police, to me or teach me the men like to come here and do that hands-on training with them. Yeah, but I'm also a feeling get them to scroll up that if you come into their home, you're gonna see how they interact naturally and then have a table of the truth. I remember coming one time on my moment and I sat there at lunch, maybe not speak a word of English, and it's all intergal. And then I just sat there when I saw how they all vented with each other, and then the actual real numbers they were very much a family. Yeah. And so then that and then they were just welcoming me into their family, which was great.

SPEAKER_05: 31:42

It's so beautiful, and I think you get a greater level of understanding of when you visit them, the type like if they're late, there's a reason it's traffic or the weather or you know how family-based they are, and so I think it's so critical to and um the way that I described it is it didn't it opened up my eyes but it opened up my heart and it just made me so connected to them in such a different way, and I think that's so important when you have team members that aren't, you know, literally physically sitting with you that you do need to connect to them in that way.

SPEAKER_06: 32:10

But I think I think our fans just a bit different, like we've always said, we we're not just personalised to our clients, we're personalised to our staff. Amazing. So everyone is different, and you can't have the same cutout and how you're going to train everyone. So I think we're quite lucky, and then just with the the tower piece, I've actually made it a real effort to make have a relationship with their PSM as well. So I'm quite lucky that the PSM ship we call her Philippines mum and I'm the Australian mum. And so we actually work together to take care of those guys.

SPEAKER_05: 32:42

So good. And look, you're truly inspiring. I remember you from when we first called up and today and obviously up to today, and I'm so pleased that you guys got the award in the top gong, and I hope you enjoyed the final session of the day. I know it's gonna be absolute corker because I had a little bit of a secret look. So thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you.

SPEAKER_09: 33:06

Alright, I am hanging out here. It is the end of day two. Um, some of us have been in the beach, some have gone for a wander. Um, the the Toa crew are starting to pack down the main hall, and Toa Con is somewhat coming to a bit of a close, but I've managed to wrangle a couple of the attendees to hang out with us. Uh, I've got James and Krishang from Deveni Pain. Fellas, welcome. Thanks for jumping on for a chat.

SPEAKER_03: 33:28

Thanks, Andrew. It's great to be here.

SPEAKER_09: 33:29

Thanks for having us. Excellent. Now, uh, what's always good about these kind of conferences is community and the gathering together of different people, the sharing of ideas and the collaboration, as well as the late night dancing. James, um, you're a bit of a beast on the dance floor. We have experienced that uh over the last couple of days. Talk to me. Dance moves, is that like a thing that comes that you're all about? Like have you been always been a confident dancer? And why, Krishang, do you not dance as much as James does?

SPEAKER_03: 33:55

Um interesting question, Andrew. Um look, realistically, where the moves come from is actually more martial arts than anything else. I was throwing out some martial arts stuff last night. Um just having a bit of fun, just going with the flow, not really caring about what everyone else was thinking and doing, just enjoying the music and um the alcohol that went with it.

SPEAKER_07: 34:12

Lovely. I I I love to dance actually. So um I'm uh I want to say I'm a good dancer.

SPEAKER_09: 34:20

And uh from what I could see, you have moves.

SPEAKER_07: 34:22

Yeah, the more the the other the thing that I love about it's not just me, I like uh having people around, and that's why I was trying to get everyone um on the stage. Get them up, got JC on it, Nick, JC said Nick won't come, and I said, nah, you watch, and I got him on the on the dance floor as well. So that's what I love about dancing because it's with people who you love, who you enjoy, and that gets the best out of me.

SPEAKER_09: 34:48

Mate, that is the best lineup for a segue that I've ever had uh recording a podcast, doing things with people you love and doing it collaboratively. Obviously, we're here at Toacon and there are a hundred or so other accountants in the room. How have you found the last couple of days in terms of the intermingling with other people, the conversations and stuff that comes?

SPEAKER_03: 35:07

Um, firstly, for me, the the major highlight and my major goal this um couple of days was to reconnect with my business partner. Um we spent a lot of time apart, um, just the way our cycles work with regards to our work and everything else. So um the first couple of days before Toacon started, we got some great time sitting by the pool, cocktails, just talking shit, hanging out. Um, and then that's flowed on to the connections that we've made over the last few days in the water with other firms, being open, being honest, being vulnerable, um, letting people know what works, what doesn't, and where we're going.

SPEAKER_07: 35:42

Yeah, I would say I think the experience, this this conference, I think James and I had conferences before, but it has been a while, and as he as he said, um we connected um really well um at at the tourcon. Um funny thing, I was just talking to my wife and I said, uh, interestingly, it's been four days now, and I have not opened Facebook or Instagram.

SPEAKER_09: 36:05

Wow.

SPEAKER_07: 36:06

And I just realized that I said, Wow, I haven't even opened Facebook or Instagram, and that's the power of connection and people and uh good people that you're really enjoying. That that tells you that you're having a great time and you don't have to go on a social just to kill your time because you're just having fun.

SPEAKER_09: 36:24

And obviously, something like Toacon in Baracai is quite a unique kind of conference to go to, right? We're used to kind of jumping on a Zoom webinar or heading into the the local, you know, capital city and kind of sitting in a room with a bunch of other people. Obviously, here, like I'm I mean like board shorts, thongs and a and a singlet pretty much, like having just been at the beach, like we are we're a lot more relaxed. Do you find that adds to the environment in terms of like uh the two of you obviously connecting as business partners and then connecting with others and hearing and learning? Are you do you feel like you're more receptive because of that?

SPEAKER_07: 36:55

Yeah, we are, and I think what it does as well, it breaks that um uh the ice straight away, and no one's judging the other person based on the appearances or anything, and you don't have to uh dress up, but also if you love dressing up like me, I like it, so I dress up, but I don't care. Yeah, um if if if I'm dressed up, only the only guy in the conference dressed up, that's okay. I still enjoy it. Um so I think it does it does help. Uh the location does help, yeah, I would say for sure.

SPEAKER_09: 37:25

Excellent. Now we've obviously had a couple of days worth of content. We've had um you know guest speakers, we've had you know, you know, inspirational stories and all that kind of stuff, as well as the conversations with with our peers and whatnot, and all the events around the side. What do you highlight, Bean? If you can pick one thing to pull out of the last couple of days, what's that one thing that you're gonna hold tightly onto for the next you know, day, week, year, and so on?

SPEAKER_03: 37:46

I think Andrew, the underlying message from all the speakers is um if you control yourself um and you can lead yourself, you can lead your team and you can lead improvement. But not one person actually spoke about making drastic changes or making major changes. So it all comes back to that one percent improvement level, making small changes, small adjustments, and watching those compound to actually give you the overall result result.

SPEAKER_09: 38:11

Yeah, it's great insight. I and and and I I really hear you there. There was no like dramatic if you believe you can do it, change things, everything, get up and leave and do like it was more just a matter of like, hey, like just a little bit here, over time you'll see a massive incremental improvement as a result of that. So that's cool. What about you, man?

SPEAKER_07: 38:28

One thing has now going to stay with me for the rest of my life is the last slide um was up uh from Emma. Yes. If you can, you must. And that's that's hit me. And I was talking to my wife, and I was quite emotional because I think this conference without my wife and my son has made me realize that how much I miss him. And uh when Emma was going through that uh exercise of close your eyes, you're falling, you're falling, what's coming through your mind? Yeah, and um the all I saw is I wanted to run home and hug my wife, hug my son, and give them a kiss.

SPEAKER_09: 39:09

It's beautiful the emoji. Like for those listening, so Emma Carey, um the girl who fall fell from the sky, she she sort of effectively survived a skydiving accident where her chute didn't open um and uh and learn how to walk again uh and still has a bunch of stuff she deals with in her life, but uh is doing probably things more than any ordinarily fully healthy person would be able to. Uh and she started by getting us to imagine what it's like to fall from a helicopter without shoot opening, not knowing what we were imagining, and then not knowing that that was her story. And and yeah, it's lovely that that like the things you go to in that that moment. Uh that was me too. Like I have wife and three kids, so like that those are the people that I care about the most that I want to be around the most. And so, you know, coming to places like this and then being away from them reminds you that actually I really like them. But then it also for me it reminds me what I do, the business I run, the things that I do help to contribute to the life that we get to live, and there's balance that I need to have in that place. I can't just be all family because then actually I'm able to not able to provide my family. But if I'm all business, then I lose that family.

SPEAKER_07: 40:08

But if if I could if I can extend to that, so yes, I shared a story about like I want to go to go home to my wife and my son, right? But we treat like James and I, the way we uh do business is we treat our clients as a family as well. It's an extension of your your family because we spend eight hours a day with our clients pretty much every day, uh the whole year, right? Apart from the holidays. And if you apply the same logics and uh share the same stories with them, they'll get something out of it as well. And that's again that that one person uh one percent change will make a big difference in their personal lives as well.

SPEAKER_09: 40:44

Awesome. Um now speaking of change, we've talked about little incremental things. Is there anything other than remembering the fact that you really like your family? Is there anything you guys are going, I'm gonna take that home and there's something I'm gonna try and implement or do differently, or is it more just a uh a reaffirmation of what you're already doing?

SPEAKER_03: 41:00

Um one of the big things I'm gonna take back, Andrew, from today or over the last couple of days was certainly from one of our first speakers, and trying to change things with the way I work with our team. Instead of it um, you know, you should be doing this, um, try and reframe that into a could conversation and then a will conversation and then a when. You know, trying to get them to look at what they could be doing differently, um, look at what you know, are they willing to do it differently, and when do they think they're actually gonna execute on that? You know, um, I think that's probably gonna change a fair bit of my approach to the way that I work with my team or work with our team and um what we're gonna do going forward.

SPEAKER_09: 41:37

I have the same thing. That whole should to could, um, what could you like? I'm thinking with my kids, like I keep telling my kids, oh you if you want to get good at sport, you have to practice. I don't have to. I'm like, well, you don't have to have to, but if you want that, well, it's changing the narrative of the language where it becomes an opportunity for them to engage within it as opposed to a forceful thing. So I think that's really good. What are you Christian? Anything that you're picking up?

SPEAKER_07: 41:57

I I think what I picked up, and um gonna share that with the clients, the team, and everyone as well, that every mistake is a learning opportunity. And uh it doesn't matter whether it's it's it's a it's a guy playing sport or even in your business, everyone makes mistakes, right? Someone, I think one of the guys has talked about it. So every mistake is a learning opportunity. Learn from it and uh share, share the knowledge because if you have overcome that mistake, someone else is definitely gonna have it. So let's help them not to have the same mistake. It doesn't matter, it's a business, personal, or or uh uh helping your kid in sport. Amazing.

SPEAKER_03: 42:35

Just extending on that, Andrew, um one of my favourite authors is actually Richard Branson, um, and I love his book, um Virgin Strip Bear. And the reason for loving that book is I don't believe through that whole book he actually talks about actually having a success. He actually outlines the amount of money he lost on so many different projects and what happened and what went wrong. And for me it was interesting to hear someone that is so successful actually sit there and say, Hey, you know what? I fucked up, and here's how it happened, and this is what I learned, and here we go from there.

SPEAKER_09: 43:07

Yeah, it's that truth element that um that Dom spoke to us earlier today about like bring the truth into that story, and it's funny what happens as a result of that.

SPEAKER_07: 43:14

I like that. Seek it, um hear it and speak it. I think I I like that. And even I put a note a couple of notes. Um we are quite open as a practice. We always ask our team to speak up, come tell us whenever they're not happy about it or they have any improvements or feedback. But I think converting that into some sort of like a uh with agenda uh meeting once a month, um open floor, just tell us whatever and we'll we'll find I think good insight out of it from the team. Yeah, they'll they'll speak up. Once they find the comfort zone, I think they'll they'll talk up and then we'll be able to find a lot.

SPEAKER_09: 43:56

Amazing. Jens, thank you. This has been a fun conversation. I've also enjoyed spending time with you around the conference too. I love the the energy enthusiasm that both of you bring. You're a bloody hoot to be around. Uh, and you bring I think you really help to bring uh a bunch of really good vibes and good energy to the people around you. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_03: 44:14

Thanks for having us, Andrew. We much appreciate it. Pleasure.

SPEAKER_09: 44:17

We'll see you uh we'll see you on the dance floor again soon.

SPEAKER_03: 44:19

Totally.

SPEAKER_09: 44:20

Definitely. Thanks, Andrew.

SPEAKER_08: 44:24

Good morning, Andrew. Good morning, Mark. How are you, mate? Um I'm great, mate. How amazing to see you in Boracai. I know, right? Amazing. We're ticking a bucket list off for you right now, aren't we? Absolutely. Recording a podcast. I'm recording on a live podcast that is going to get published.

SPEAKER_09: 44:39

Yeah, I actually have hit record as well, so we are recording this. Okay, so I can't swear now. Oh, you can. Okay, okay. I know you can swear it. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_08: 44:46

We are in Boracai, it's amazing. How many times have you been to Towacon now? I've been to every Toacon that I've had since day one. That's like what, 34 of them? About 110, I think. 110. You've been to Boracai before as well. We were Boricai uh three years ago. Yep. That was the um we had Toacon and Gold Coast was the last one, and the one before that was Boracai and It's extremely tough.

SPEAKER_09: 45:09

I don't I don't know how people do this on a regular basis. I have no idea how it's gonna happen. There's like beach and there's water and there's beautiful gar there's sun. There's humidity.

SPEAKER_08: 45:18

There is a lot of like hairs curling. There's a lot of humidity. I wish I had hair that would curl. You did have a long time ago. Yeah. Yeah, good. But no, what an amazing place. The Shangri-Lar's really good. The food, the bars.

SPEAKER_09: 45:31

I feel like I got to walk to like the town next to me to get to my room from um from the buffet, which is fine. I'm good. I like the distance. We're the same.

SPEAKER_08: 45:38

We're gonna walk off the food. Well, it's amazing because when we checked in, they actually took us to our rooms with a buggy. Oh and I'm thinking, oh no, I'm not gonna do a buggy every time I have to go somewhere. But we realised it wasn't that far. Excellent. Yeah, it's a good few steps. So what have I done today? I've done three kilometres already. So just back and forth to picking your room and breakfast. Beautiful. And what are you looking forward to the most with Tobacon? Oh, just the amazing speakers that we've got lined up. Yeah. And um Gala dinner tonight, the award tonight, which will be really interesting. And then uh more speakers tomorrow. And apparently we've got surprise activities happening today. We do. Because I've got a bit of an idea. Yeah, I've got a bit of an idea too, but we're not gonna. Well, technically we won't. No, we it's we've got to leave it a surprise for a little bit.

SPEAKER_09: 46:19

Leave it a surprise, yeah. Excellent. Well, thanks for jumping on. No worries, thanks for having me. Unofficial, official guest at Comic Con 2025.

SPEAKER_08: 46:26

Cheers, buddy. Cheers, mate. Thank you very much. Enjoy your day.

SPEAKER_09: 46:32

Hey Ellie.

SPEAKER_05: 46:33

Hey Andrew.

SPEAKER_09: 46:34

What a couple of days it has been.

SPEAKER_05: 46:36

I'm exhausted, I have to tell you, but in the best way.

SPEAKER_09: 46:39

In the best way. We have sat in content learning sessions, we have uh gathered around beaches and pools, danced, we've networked, we've drunken, with Eaton. No, we've gotten hot and sweaty and the humidity has been an epic couple of days here at TowerCon Twitter.

SPEAKER_05: 46:57

And I've loved every single second of that.

SPEAKER_09: 47:00

I have too. Um what would you say your highlighter's been over the last couple of days, Mark?

SPEAKER_05: 47:05

Okay, it's just so hard to kind of nail down. But um look, I think it's the environment that they created in every way. So the destination, the community, the people, their team, the content. Like talk about an experiential web conference in the best way, and this is where I say it's so hard to top these experiential ones like yeah, it doesn't but like I think even you know, if you're doing a local one or a small one, there's nothing like getting away, experiencing a beautiful environment with beautiful people and really great curated content and people.

SPEAKER_09: 47:44

For me, I would say the people elements are there, but I like I f I felt like everything that we were doing, everyone was engaged, loving, welcoming, like whether it was uh like the tower team, whether it was the the other peers and colleagues, whether it was the speakers, everybody was engaged here. And I think we we've we talked a bit about this around that destination, and you kind of you're here, so you're like you might as well get the most out of it. And I reckon they've done an absolutely outstanding job of making every moment feel special and inclusive and great. Um you didn't feel like you were forced to do anything, but you wanted to be a part of everything at the same time.

SPEAKER_05: 48:17

Exactly, exactly. And so for anybody out there that hasn't been to a destination conference, why not give it a crack?

SPEAKER_09: 48:23

I'd give it a solid 5.3 out of five.

SPEAKER_05: 48:26

Yeah, I'm definitely over, I'm definitely a greater than five. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09: 48:29

Well no, five point three out of five. Five, no, that's what I mean. I'd give over five because it was just like extraordinary.

SPEAKER_05: 48:35

Just bloody do it. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_09: 48:36

But you know what? Allie and I are pretty knackered. It has been a couple of days. We have done a lot of more podcasting in the last two days than we have in a long time.

SPEAKER_05: 48:43

The whole year, I think.

SPEAKER_09: 48:44

I think I want to just kick back in the pool or the beach. So we're gonna sign out for now.

SPEAKER_05: 48:48

I'm getting myself a mocktail for sure.

SPEAKER_09: 48:51

I'm gonna I'll get the heavy version just to make up for yours. Uh I hope everybody has enjoyed the conversations. This is a two-episoder, so the episode that you're listening to right now is effectively Allie and I surrounded with some firms and whatnot. There's another one coming soon with all the speakers. So make sure you listen to that one. That'll have a whole bunch of really cool conversations. We have some really smart ones.

SPEAKER_05: 49:10

And then we've got a round another one to round out the year with our Christmas episode. So we are coming in hot at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_09: 49:16

All right, Allie. Thank you, friend.

SPEAKER_05: 49:18

Thank you. Catch you, everybody. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09: 49:28

Wasn't that a fun adventure, my friends? Thank you so much. So incredibly much for hanging out with us today. Allie, you've been amazing. Andrew, you've been alright. How good is it to be able to have adventures together?

SPEAKER_05: 49:40

It so is, and you know what? Keep following us. We are all over the socials at accounting adventures. Uh, check us out on the website and give us a bit of a like. You know how much we love that stuff.

SPEAKER_09: 49:52

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 back and we can't wait to share more cool adventures with you.

SPEAKER_05: 50:04

We love you guys.