Month: September 2025

Before we dive into today’s episode, I want to do something most coaches don’t — I want to talk about the cost of working with me.

If you’ve ever thought about reaching out or scheduling a consultation call but hesitated because you assumed it would be too expensive, I get it. You’re not alone — I’ve had a number of people tell me they waited because they thought coaching would be a huge investment of time and money.

The truth is, a lot of coaching programs out there are expensive. Many are structured to keep you working with a coach for months — or even years — at a time. And for some people, that might make sense.

But I’m a CPA. I know how accountants think, and I know what matters most to you — results, efficiency, and value. That’s exactly why I’ve designed my programs to be affordable, time-efficient, and highly effective.

The Smarter Accountant Program is just 6 weeks and costs $995.

The Smarter Accountant Time Management Program is 4 weeks and costs $795.

That’s it. No hidden upsells, no long-term commitments. Just focused, powerful coaching that helps you solve the real issues getting in your way.

And honestly, the results are priceless. Feeling in control of your time, your career, and your life — that’s not just worth the investment… it’s why I do this work.

So if you’ve been on the fence, worried about what it would cost — now you know. And if today’s episode resonates with you, I hope you’ll schedule that call.

Have you ever been told, “Just keep your head down, do good work, and people will notice”?

It sounds like solid advice, right? The kind of thing that seems smart and simple when you’re first starting out in your career.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize how wrong it can be—especially for accountants.

We’re trained to work hard, stay focused, and follow the rules. So when someone tells us to keep our heads down and do our job well, it feels like the right thing to do.

But what happens when you do all of that and still feel stuck?

What happens when no one seems to notice all the effort you’re putting in?

I was thinking about this recently because I read something in an email that said almost the exact same thing—that this was the worst career advice someone had ever received. And I have to admit, it hit home.

It made me think about how many of us have followed that advice without even questioning it.

We assume that being quiet and hardworking will eventually pay off. That someone will come along, tap us on the shoulder, and say, “Hey, you’ve been doing a great job—here’s your promotion or more money.”

But that’s not always how it works, is it?

Sometimes being the hardest worker in the room just makes you the most tired—not the most recognized.

And that can feel frustrating, confusing, and even a little lonely.

Because deep down, you know you’re good at what you do. You know you care, you show up, and you’re doing your best.

So why does it sometimes feel like you’re invisible?

Why do others seem to get ahead while you’re still waiting to be noticed?

If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions—or even just had that quiet thought of, “Why doesn’t anyone see how hard I’m working?”—you’re not alone.

This is something I’ve seen come up again and again with coaching clients. It’s something I’ve experienced myself too.

And the truth is, that simple piece of advice—keep your head down and do good work—might actually be what’s holding you back.

So let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about why that advice can lead you in the wrong direction, and what it might be costing you without you even realizing it.

Because if you’re feeling stuck or unseen, there’s a reason for it—and it’s not what you might think.

Why “Just Work Hard” Isn’t Enough Anymore

For years, many accountants have been told that the secret to success is simple: work hard, stay late, and follow the rules. We’re taught to be dependable, accurate, and low-maintenance. And while those are great traits, they’re not always the ones that get noticed.

You might think that being the person who never complains, who always gets the job done, and who keeps their head down is the best way to move up. But that’s not how it usually works. In fact, it can sometimes have the opposite effect.

When you don’t speak up or show up in a bigger way, people may assume you’re fine exactly where you are. You might be seen as reliable but not necessarily leadership material. Or you might be quietly passed over for opportunities simply because no one realizes you’re ready for more.

It’s not that people don’t value your work—it’s that they don’t see it. And if they don’t see it, they can’t recognize your full value.

This doesn’t mean you have to brag or become someone you’re not. But it does mean you need to stop hiding behind your hard work and start stepping forward a little more.

Because working hard in silence won’t automatically lead to success. And waiting to be noticed can leave you feeling resentful, overlooked, or stuck.

So if you’ve been doing everything “right” and still not getting where you want to go, this might be the reason.

In the next section, let’s look at why this quiet approach to your career can actually be a problem—and what it might be costing you without you even realizing it.

The Real Cost of Staying Quiet at Work

When you keep your head down and focus only on doing good work, it can seem like the right thing to do. But over time, it can start to feel like you’re invisible.

You might notice other people getting recognized, promoted, or trusted with bigger projects—even if you’re the one doing most of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

That can feel unfair. And it’s easy to start thinking something is wrong with you when really, you’re just not being seen.

Staying quiet at work can also come with a big cost. It can hold you back from earning more money, from taking on work that actually excites you, or from being included in important conversations and decisions.

It can even affect how you feel about yourself. You might start questioning your worth, wondering if you’re doing something wrong, or feeling like you’re stuck in a role that doesn’t fit anymore.

And when those thoughts start taking over, it becomes harder to feel confident or motivated.

The truth is, being the “best kept secret” doesn’t help anyone—not you, and not the people who could benefit from what you bring to the table.

If you want to grow in your career, you have to be willing to be seen.

In the next section, I’m going to explain what’s really going on in your brain when you stay quiet and why visibility can feel so uncomfortable—even when you know it’s what you need.

The Brain Science Behind Why You Stay Invisible

If you’ve been playing small or staying quiet at work, it’s not because you’re lazy or don’t want more. It’s because your brain is trying to protect you.

Your brain’s main job is to keep you safe. And for your brain, safety often means staying comfortable, avoiding risk, and not drawing too much attention.

Putting your head down and doing good work feels safe. It’s predictable. It doesn’t invite judgment, rejection, or embarrassment. So your brain thinks, “Great, let’s keep doing this.”

But being seen? Speaking up? Asking for more? That feels risky. Your brain sees that as a threat, even if you know it could help your career.

For example, maybe you want to speak up in a meeting and share an idea, but something in your body freezes. Or you think about asking for a raise, but you feel nervous and end up putting it off. 

Even writing a short message on LinkedIn can feel like too much. That’s not because you’re not capable—it’s because your brain is trying to keep you from doing something unfamiliar.

Your brain would rather you stay in the role you know, even if it’s not the one you want. It doesn’t understand growth—it understands comfort. And that means it will push you to avoid anything that feels too new or uncertain.

This is totally normal. There’s nothing wrong with you if being visible feels hard. Your brain is wired to choose comfort over growth unless you give it a new job to do.

The good news is, you can train your brain to handle visibility without shutting down or pulling back.

Next, I’ll share a story about a coaching client who struggled with this exact issue—and how things changed once she stopped being the best kept secret.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Not Following Bad Advice

One of my coaching clients once described herself as “the go-to person no one ever talked about.” She was the one fixing mistakes, staying late, and making sure nothing fell through the cracks—but still, she felt overlooked.

She told me that when promotions came around, she was always passed over. Not because she wasn’t good enough, but because no one really saw her. She wasn’t someone who spoke up in meetings or shared her wins, and she never asked for more—not more pay, more responsibility, or more recognition.

Her brain had her convinced that doing great work in silence was the right move. She thought it would speak for itself. But instead, she ended up feeling stuck and a little resentful.

So in our coaching sessions, we worked on shifting that. She started by simply writing down what she accomplished each week—just for herself at first. Then she began finding small ways to speak up—thanking a teammate in an email thread or sharing a short update in a meeting.

Little by little, her mindset started to shift. She stopped waiting to be noticed and started showing up more—still in a way that felt natural, but no longer invisible.

By the time we wrapped up our sessions, she had been given a leadership role on a new project. Not because she suddenly changed who she was, but because she stopped hiding.

The bottom line is that you don’t have to be loud or flashy to be valued. But you do have to be willing to step forward and be seen.

In the next section, I’ll recap what we’ve covered and give you a few key reminders to take with you—especially if you’ve been quietly waiting for your work to speak for itself.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is that when you spend your career waiting to be noticed, you give up control. You hand your future over to chance and hope that someone eventually sees your value.

But visibility isn’t about bragging. It’s about ownership. It’s about being clear on what you bring to the table—and making sure the right people know it.

You can still be humble and be seen. You can still be helpful and have boundaries. The two are not opposites.

When you become more visible, you’re not just helping yourself—you’re helping your team, your clients, and your organization benefit from everything you have to offer.

Your work matters, but people need to know you matter too.

So here’s a question to ask yourself: “If no one ever noticed my hard work—would I still keep doing things the same way?”

It’s not an easy question, but it’s an important one. If your answer makes you pause, that might be a sign that something needs to shift. Not your work ethic—but the way you show up and share the value you bring.

In the final section, I’ll pull back the curtain and share my own experience with being the “best kept secret”—and what changed when I finally let go of that old advice.

Pulling Back the Curtain

I remember early in my career being told to just keep my head down and work hard. And I did exactly that. I stayed late, said yes to everything, and made sure my work was always done right.

At first, it felt like the right thing to do. I thought my dedication would speak for itself. I assumed people would notice and reward me for how reliable I was.

But they didn’t.

Looking back, I can see what that advice really cost me—missed opportunities, slower growth, and years of feeling like I had to prove myself over and over without ever really being seen.

Instead, I watched others get promoted or praised—people who weren’t necessarily better at the job, but who were better at being seen. And I started to feel frustrated. I was doing everything I thought I was supposed to do, and it wasn’t getting me anywhere.

It took me a long time to realize that doing great work quietly wasn’t enough. I had to stop waiting to be discovered and start showing up differently.

Not louder. Just more intentional.

One of the biggest shifts came a few years ago when the small firm I worked for merged with a mid-sized firm. I had been with my firm for over 20 years, and suddenly, there was a new partner who didn’t know me or what I brought to the table.

During my first year-end review with him, I knew I had a choice—I could either keep my head down and hope he noticed, or I could speak up and tell him exactly who I was and why that mattered.

So I did. I told him how I’d been a steady, reliable presence for over two decades. I explained how much continuity I provided for the clients during the merger, how they leaned on me because I was familiar and dependable. I made it clear that I wasn’t just another employee—I was someone who helped make the transition smoother and kept the firm running strong.

And you know what? He heard me.

It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable—it was honest. And it gave him a new level of appreciation for what I do and how I do it.

In fact, at my last year-end review, I came with a list of things I was able to accomplish despite dealing with cancer and chemo.  I even joked that they probably should throw me a parade for how I was able to handle everything as well as I did.

That’s the power of choosing to be seen.

Now, as a coach, I see so many accountants doing exactly what I used to do—working hard in silence and wondering why they feel stuck.

So if that’s you, I want to help. Start by taking The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. It will help you see if you’re underutilizing your brain in ways you may not even realize. And once you do, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me so we can talk about how to stop being the best kept secret.

Because being smart, capable, and hardworking is a great start. But being a Smarter Accountant? That’s when everything changes.

And of course, if you know another accountant who needs this message, please share this episode with them. The more of us who learn to work smarter—not harder—the better this profession becomes.

The truth is, you’re already smart. But this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started, I’m not sure if you know that every week I do an additional podcast episode in a segment I call “Smarter in 5 Minutes.”  Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest shifts. That’s the idea behind Smarter in 5 Minutes, a weekly mini-episode series from The Smarter Accountant Podcast. 

Each short episode is designed for busy accountants who want quick, practical ways to understand how their brain works—and how to use it to work smarter, not harder. In just five minutes, you’ll learn why your brain reacts the way it does to things like stress, procrastination, overthinking, and a packed calendar, and what to do differently so you can stay focused and in control.

These episodes aren’t about more theory or long lectures. They’re quick, brain-based insights you can actually remember and use in the middle of a hectic day. 

Think of them like your weekly reset button: five minutes to step back, reframe what’s happening in your brain, and choose a smarter way forward. If you’ve ever wished you had a coach in your ear during those tough moments at work, Smarter in 5 Minutes was created for you.

They are available on any podcast platform that carries The Smarter Accountant Podcast like Itunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to say “no” when someone needs something from you? Even when you’re already busy, it’s easy to feel like you should just squeeze one more thing into your day.

Most accountants are great at helping others. We’re the ones who jump in, figure things out, and try to make everything run smoothly. But sometimes that means we put ourselves last without even realizing it.

You might wake up with a plan for the day, but then emails, meetings, and other people’s requests take over. Before you know it, the day is gone, and your own priorities didn’t stand a chance.

It’s easy to think that being flexible and always available is a good thing. And sometimes, it is. But not if it leaves you tired, stressed, or frustrated at the end of every day.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s no line between your work and your life, you’re not alone. For a lot of accountants, the days just blend together—and the to-do list never seems to shrink.

And if you’ve ever had the thought, “I’ll get to my stuff after I finish everything for everyone else,” then you already know how easy it is to put yourself at the bottom of the list.

The truth is, when you try to do it all, you wind up doing less of what matters. Not because you’re lazy or disorganized, but because there’s only so much time and energy to go around.

You might not think of it this way, but saying yes to everything is really just saying no to yourself. And over time, that can take a toll on how you feel—both at work and at home.

Here’s the tricky part though: a lot of us don’t even realize this is happening. We’re so used to being helpful and dependable that we forget to check in with what we need.

What if the answer isn’t doing more, but making better choices about what you say yes to? What if your workday could feel more calm and less chaotic—not by changing your job, but by changing what you allow?

It’s not always easy to protect your time and energy, but it might be one of the smartest things you can do. Especially if you want to show up strong for the things and people that matter most.

So if you’ve been feeling stretched too thin or like your day is running you instead of the other way around, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about what’s really getting in the way—and why it matters more than you might think.

Why Accountants Struggle to Set Boundaries

One of the biggest issues for accountants is not realizing they’re missing boundaries in the first place. When you’re always helping others, it can feel like you’re doing the right thing—even if it’s wearing you down.

Without meaning to, many accountants slowly give away their limits. It starts small. You say yes to one extra task. You answer emails at night. You take that one quick call on the weekend.

Before long, people expect you to always say yes. And you start to expect it from yourself too.

This can happen in so many areas—not just with time. Maybe you take on too much at work. Or maybe you keep quiet during meetings even when something bothers you. Maybe you don’t speak up when someone crosses a line because you don’t want to make things awkward.

Being reliable feels good. Being helpful feels right. But when those things come at the cost of your peace, your health, or your focus, that’s a sign something’s off.

Accountants are used to being the one who steps up. We carry a lot of responsibility. We want to be the person others can count on. But when we never give ourselves space to say no, to pause, or to ask for what we need, we end up running on empty.

The problem is, this starts to feel normal. You look around and see other accountants doing the same thing—working long hours, always available, always pushing. So you tell yourself it’s just part of the job.

But when there are no boundaries, everything feels urgent, and nothing feels fully done. You go through your day reacting instead of deciding. You spend more time putting out fires than focusing on what really matters.

It’s not that other people are trying to take advantage of you. Most of the time, they simply don’t know where your line is—because you haven’t shown them.

I tell my coaching clients all the time – you teach people how to treat you and you teach people how to treat your time.  The problem is that we don’t realize what we’re teaching them.

In other words, when you always say yes, always show up, and always push through, it sends a quiet message: “I don’t have limits.” And once that message is out there, it’s hard to take it back.

This isn’t about being selfish. It’s about being clear. And that clarity is what leads to more control, less stress, and better decisions—not just at work, but in every part of your life.

Now I want to get real and talk about the cost of not having boundaries.  We can’t afford to stick our heads in the sand any longer.

The Real Cost of Not Having Boundaries

When you don’t set boundaries, the lines between work and the rest of your life start to disappear. What was supposed to be a quick check of your email turns into an hour of catching up after dinner.

Even if you’re technically “off,” your brain doesn’t know how to shut off. It stays in work mode because you’ve trained it to always be alert, ready to respond, and never fully rest.

At first, you might not notice the toll it’s taking. You might just feel a little more tired than usual or a little more irritable. But over time, the pressure builds.

Without clear boundaries, everything starts to feel like too much. It’s harder to focus. It’s harder to care. And even small things can feel overwhelming.

You might even start to feel resentful—at your job, at your clients, or even at yourself. But you don’t know what to do differently because this is how things have always been.

That slow buildup leads to burnout. Not the kind that hits you all at once, but the kind that sneaks up day after day. The kind where you start dreading your work, even if you used to enjoy it.

And when your brain is constantly in stress mode, it’s hard to make good decisions. You might find yourself spinning in indecision, forgetting things, or struggling to keep up—even though you’re working more than ever.

Boundaries aren’t just nice to have. They’re how you protect your energy, your time, and your ability to do good work. Without them, everything gets harder, and nothing feels quite right.

So if boundaries are this important, why are they so hard to set? The answer is in your brain—and we’re going to talk about that next.

What Your Brain Has to Do With Setting Boundaries

Your brain doesn’t like change. It likes comfort, routine, and approval. So when you try to set a boundary—especially one that feels uncomfortable—your brain sees it as a threat.

Saying “no,” asking for space, or even just pausing before responding can feel scary. Not because something is actually wrong, but because your brain is wired to keep you safe by avoiding anything that might lead to rejection or conflict.

That’s why people-pleasing is so common among accountants (I’ll be doing a whole episode on this topic soon). It feels safer to say yes, go along with the request, and avoid rocking the boat. Your brain believes that keeping others happy will help you avoid trouble.

It also explains why you might feel guilty or anxious after setting a boundary. Even when it’s the right thing to do, your brain sends out an alert: “Wait! This is unfamiliar. We don’t know what will happen.” And that discomfort makes you question your decision.

Your brain has learned that being helpful and agreeable often leads to praise, approval, or a sense of safety. So when you start changing those patterns, it can feel like something is wrong—even when nothing is.

That feeling of unease is not a sign that you made a mistake. It’s just your brain doing what it’s designed to do: protect you from perceived risk. But in this case, the “risk” isn’t real—it’s just new.

The good news is, your brain can be retrained. The more you practice setting and keeping boundaries, the less uncomfortable it becomes. Your brain starts to see that you’re safe—and that your needs matter too.

Setting boundaries isn’t selfish. It’s smart. And once you understand that your brain might fight you on this at first, it’s easier to keep going—even when it feels awkward.

So now that you know why your brain makes boundaries feel hard, let’s talk about what smarter accountants do differently.

The 5 Boundaries Smarter Accountants Set

Once you understand why boundaries matter and why your brain pushes back, it becomes easier to set them with more confidence. Smarter Accountants don’t try to control everything—they focus on what they can protect. And that starts with five key boundaries.

1. Work Hours – Define your start and end times

When you don’t set a clear start and stop to your workday, your brain stays in “work mode” all the time. Smarter Accountants choose work hours and stick to them, whether they’re in the office or working from home.

Example: You can decide your workday ends at 6pm and stop checking emails after that time, even if something is still unfinished.

2. With Clients – Set response expectations

When you respond to every client request immediately, it teaches people that you’re always available. Smarter Accountants set clear expectations for response times, communication preferences, and what’s included in their services.

Example: You could let clients know you respond within 24 hours and only check emails twice a day, so they don’t expect instant replies.

3. Meetings – Limit and structure your calendar

Unplanned or excessive meetings can take over your day. Smarter accountants limit how often they meet, how long meetings run, and when they’re scheduled.

Example: You can set aside certain days or time blocks for meetings and keep them limited to 30 minutes whenever possible.

4. With Yourself – Protect focus, energy, and attention

This boundary is often the hardest because it’s about holding yourself accountable. Smarter Accountants block off time to focus, take breaks without guilt, and recognize when perfectionism or people-pleasing is taking over.

Example: You could block off a two-hour time slot each morning for focused work and silence notifications during that time.

5. Work-Life Balance – Guard personal time from work intrusion

Without a clear separation between work and life, everything starts to blend together. Smarter Accountants protect evenings, weekends, and personal time.

Example: You can plan activities after work that have nothing to do with your job—like dinner with family, going for a walk, or reading a book.

Each of these boundaries is a decision made in advance—one that helps you stay in control instead of constantly reacting. They’re not about building walls; they’re about creating space for what matters.

Next, I want to share what happened when one of my coaching clients finally started using these boundaries—and how it changed everything.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Setting Better Boundaries

One of my coaching clients came to me feeling completely overwhelmed. She was working long hours, answering client emails late at night, and saying yes to every meeting—even the ones she didn’t really need to attend. She thought this was just part of being a “good accountant.”

At first, she didn’t think she had a boundary problem. She thought she had a time problem. But after just a few sessions, she realized she wasn’t protecting any part of her day. Her time, her energy, and even her personal life were all wide open.

We started small. She picked one boundary to focus on: setting a firm end to her workday. No more checking email after 6pm. At first, it felt uncomfortable. She worried she’d miss something or let someone down.

But once she stuck with it for a week, everything started to shift. She slept better. She felt less anxious in the evenings. And surprisingly, no one complained. In fact, a few clients even started respecting her time more.

From there, she added one boundary at a time. She created “meeting-free” hours in her calendar. She added an auto-response letting clients know her typical reply time. And she blocked time for focused work in the mornings before diving into email.

Little by little, her stress went down and her productivity went up. She stopped feeling like her day was running her and started feeling in charge again. Most importantly, she had more energy left over at the end of the day—for herself, her family, and the parts of life she used to put last.

This wasn’t about becoming a different person. It was about giving herself permission to make better decisions—and letting those decisions protect her time, energy, and focus.

Now, let’s wrap up by going over the key takeaway and the five boundaries one more time so they’re fresh in your mind.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, pulled in too many directions, or like your day never really ends, it might not be about needing more time. It might be about needing clearer boundaries.

Smarter Accountants don’t wait for burnout to make a change—they set boundaries that protect their time, focus, and well-being. As you listen to this recap, think about the questions for each boundary and answer them as honestly as you can.

1. Work Hours

They decide when their workday starts and ends—and they stick to it.

Question to ask yourself: Do I have clear start and stop times, or am I working around the clock?

2. With Clients

They set realistic expectations for response times and availability.

Question to ask yourself: Am I teaching clients that I’m always available?

3. Meetings

They limit meetings and structure their calendar to avoid interruptions.

Question to ask yourself: Are my meetings helping me work better, or just filling up space?

4. With Yourself

They protect their own focus and energy—even from themselves.

Question to ask yourself: Am I giving myself space to focus, or constantly interrupting my own work?

5. Work-Life Balance

They guard their personal time just as carefully as their work time.

Question to ask yourself: Am I making time for life outside of work, or letting work take over everything?

The bottom line is that you don’t need to change everything overnight. But if you want to feel better, think more clearly, and actually enjoy your work again, start by setting just one small boundary—and honoring it.

To wrap up, let me pull back the curtain and share a personal story about how I learned the power of boundaries the hard way.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Let me take you back to a time when I had no boundaries…

When I first started working in public accounting, I didn’t even know what a boundary was—at least not one I was allowed to have. The culture was all about showing up early, staying late, and saying yes to whatever was asked. So that’s what I did.

At first, it felt like the right thing. I got praised for being dependable. I became the person people could always count on. But over time, it started to wear me down. I was exhausted, stressed, and secretly frustrated—but I didn’t think I had another option.

I remember one week during busy season when I worked ten days straight without a break. I didn’t set a single limit—not with my hours, my clients, or even myself. I told myself I could rest later, that this was just part of the job.

But that weekend, I completely crashed. I couldn’t think clearly, I was short-tempered with my family, and I felt like I had nothing left to give. That’s when it hit me—being available all the time wasn’t helping anyone, especially not me.

I wish I could say I made changes right away, but I didn’t. I went back to work that Monday and kept pushing. 

It took years—and a lot of personal growth—before I realized the power of boundaries. Not walls, not ultimatums. Just simple, clear decisions made in advance that protected me from overextending myself.

Now, I know better. I know how to say, “That doesn’t work for me,” without guilt. I’ve learned how to pause before saying yes. And I’ve learned that people respect your boundaries a lot more when you start respecting them yourself.

So if you’ve been working without boundaries, I get it. I’ve been there. But I promise—it doesn’t have to stay that way. You’re allowed to protect your time, your energy, and your peace of mind.

If this episode hit home for you, I’d love for you to take the Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. And if you’re ready to set better boundaries and finally feel more in control of your workday, let’s talk. You can book a free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar.

And of course, if you know another accountant who needs this message, please share this episode with them. The more of us who learn to work smarter—not harder—the better this profession becomes.

The truth is, you’re already smart. But this podcast will show you how to be smarter.

Before I get started I just wanted to mention that if you haven’t downloaded The Smarter Accountant’s Cheat Sheet For Better Time Management, you’re missing out.

See if you can relate to any of these typical issues: Never having enough time, things taking way longer than planned, procrastinating even when you know better, not knowing what to focus on first, never feeling done at the end of the day, getting interrupted all day long or your inbox is controlling your day.

If any of those resonate with you, I suggest downloading the cheat sheet because for each issue, I give you the Smarter Solution – what to do and why.  You can simply download the cheat sheet at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/cheat-sheet/

Do you ever get excited about a goal, only to feel stuck a few weeks later? You start off with the best of intentions, but something always seems to get in the way. One minute you’re motivated, and the next, you’re wondering why you ever thought this would work.

It might be a business goal, something for your health, or even just trying to work fewer hours. Whatever it is, it probably started with a strong feeling—like this is the time you’re finally going to figure it out. But then… life happens, and you’re right back where you started.

Maybe you’ve even told yourself things like, “I’m just not great at follow-through,” or “It’s too hard with everything else I have going on.” Believe me, I get it. When you’re already busy, trying to hit a goal can feel like one more thing on a never-ending list.

I used to think reaching a goal was all about having the perfect plan. You know, the one where you map everything out, color-code it, and tell yourself this time will be different. But then you miss a day, or you get behind, and suddenly, it feels like you’ve failed again.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You’re smart. You’re capable. You work hard. So why does getting from “I want to do this” to “I actually did it” feel so tricky?

The truth is, most of us were never taught how to really stick with a goal. We think it should come naturally. But in real life, it doesn’t always work that way.

We’ve got plenty of advice on how to set a goal, but not how to guarantee we’ll follow through no matter what.

The truth is, sometimes it’s not about trying harder—it’s about trying smarter. It’s about knowing how your brain works, what makes you quit, and what helps you keep going when things get messy. And yes, they always get messy.

Imagine what would be possible if you could set a goal and actually know you were going to follow through. Not just hope or wish—but truly believe you had what it takes to make it happen, even on the hard days.

What would that kind of certainty feel like? And what would it change in your work, your time, or even your confidence?

That’s what this is really about. Not just making goals—but knowing how to reach them, no matter what. If you’ve ever wondered why some goals stick and others slip away, you’re not alone. Let’s start by looking at what might really be getting in the way.

Why Most Goals Don’t Work for Accountants

A lot of accountants set goals. But most of those goals never actually go anywhere. They stay stuck in the “someday” category.

You might say, “I want to make more money,” or “I want better work-life balance,” or “I want to stop working weekends.” And those are good goals—but they’re also too fuzzy.

When goals are too vague, your brain doesn’t know what to do with them. It’s like giving directions without a real destination. You’ll stay busy, but you won’t move forward.

The truth is, a goal without a clear plan is just a wish. And when things get busy, wishes are the first thing to go.

This is where most accountants get stuck. Not because they don’t care, and not because they’re not capable. But because they haven’t been taught how to turn goals into something that actually works.

And without a simple way to follow through, even the best goals get lost in the day-to-day.

So if you’ve ever felt like you’re always setting goals but never quite getting there, you’re not the only one. And there’s a reason for that.

Let’s look at why that’s such a big problem by exploring the hidden cost of unfinished goals.

The Hidden Cost of Unfinished Goals

Every time you set a goal and don’t follow through, something happens that’s easy to miss—you start to lose trust in yourself.

At first, it might just feel like disappointment. But over time, it turns into doubt. You start thinking maybe you’re not disciplined enough, or maybe you just don’t have what it takes.

And when those thoughts take root, they quietly affect everything. You procrastinate more. You overwork to make up for lost time. And you start to feel stuck—like this is just how things are.

Even if you have good intentions, your brain remembers the times you didn’t follow through. So the next time you set a goal, it quietly whispers, “Why bother?”

That’s how the cycle builds. The more often it happens, the harder it is to break. And before you know it, goals start to feel like something other people achieve—but not you.

But here’s the thing: it’s not that you’re not capable. It’s that your brain is working against you—and you might not even realize it.

Let’s take a closer look at why your brain makes following through feel harder than it should.

Why Your Brain Fights Your Goals

You might think the problem is willpower. But the truth is, your brain is wired to avoid most of what goals require.

Your brain’s main job is to keep you safe and comfortable. That means it prefers what’s familiar—even if that familiar is stress, overworking, or burnout.

When you set a goal, it usually requires doing things that feel new or uncertain. And your primitive brain doesn’t like that. It wants quick wins, not long-term effort.

This is why things like checking email or helping someone last minute feel easier than sticking to your goal. They give your brain that quick reward, while your goal feels far away.

Another part of your brain, the Reticular Activating System (RAS), decides what to focus on based on what seems important. If your goal isn’t clear, your RAS doesn’t know what to look for—so it gets distracted by everything else.

Then there’s something called loss aversion. Your brain naturally fears losing something—like time, status, or approval. So instead of taking bold action, it quietly nudges you to play it safe and do nothing.

The result is that you stay stuck in a cycle of busy work, vague plans, and goals that never really get moving.  But once you understand how your brain works, you can use it to your advantage.

Let’s talk about what smarter accountants do differently when it comes to setting and reaching their goals.

What Smarter Accountants Do Differently

Some accountants actually reach their goals—and it’s not because they’re more motivated or have more hours in the day. It’s because they follow a simple process that actually works.

Let me share the 4 step process that I’ve used and that I work with my coaching clients on:

Step #1 – Define the goal clearly and understand why you want to achieve the goal.

Most goals are way too vague. Your brain needs something specific to focus on.

So instead of saying, “I want to grow my business,” you’d say, “I want to sign 3 new monthly clients by September 30.”

Instead of, “I want to work less,” it becomes, “I want to stop working after 6pm at least three nights a week.”

Instead of, “I need better boundaries,” you say, “I’ll only check email at 10am and 3pm.”

When your goal is clear like that, your brain can finally get to work helping you.

But there’s one more piece that’s just as important—you need to know why this goal matters to you.

Having a strong “why” gives your brain a reason to keep going when things get hard or uncomfortable.

I always recommend coming up with three compelling reasons why you want to reach this goal. Not just surface-level stuff like, “It would be nice.” Real reasons.

• Maybe it’s so you can stop working weekends and finally enjoy time with your family.
  
• Maybe it’s because you want to feel more confident raising your rates.
  
• Maybe it’s because you’re tired of feeling stuck and you’re ready for something better.

Whatever it is, write it down. When you start to waver—and you probably will—you can come back to those reasons and remind yourself why this matters.

A clear goal plus a clear why is how you set yourself up for success from the very beginning.

Step #2 – List every possible obstacle.

Don’t skip this part. Most people do, and that’s when they get tripped up later.

Think about what’s likely to get in your way. And be honest.  I suggest coming up with at least 5 obstacles that have either gotten in the way in the past or that you anticipate will get in the way in the future:

• Maybe you tend to procrastinate when you’re overwhelmed.
  
• Maybe you say yes too quickly and then regret it later.
  
• Maybe you’re afraid to raise your rates, or you think clients will get upset if you push back.
  
• Maybe you’re just short on time and your calendar’s already packed.

Whatever it is—write it down. No filtering. No judging.

Step #3 – Come up with a strategy for each obstacle.

This is where things start to shift. And here’s the trick: almost every obstacle falls into one of three buckets. It’s either something you need to do, something you need to learn, or something you need to get coached on.

For example:

• Obstacle: “I never have time.” → The solution might be to do a quick calendar audit and cut one low-value task a day.
  
• Obstacle: “I don’t know how to market my services.” → The solution might be to block off an hour to study how other accountants do it.
  
• Obstacle: “I feel guilty saying no.” → The solution here is coaching—because that guilt isn’t going to go away just by reading another book.

Here’s a quick warning about the “learn” category: it’s very easy to use learning as a crutch instead of a tool. I see this all the time with accountants. They sign up for another CPE course, download another webinar, and feel like they’re making progress—when really, they’re just avoiding action.

Learning has its place. But if you’re always collecting information and never using it, that’s passive action—not real progress. Be honest with yourself about whether you really need to learn something—or if you’re just stalling.

And when it comes to coaching, here’s the truth: your brain will not be on board with a lot of the strategies and actions you’ll need to take to reach your goal. That’s normal. Your brain is wired to resist change.

That’s why coaching is so important. It helps you deal with the mind drama, the self-doubt, the fear, the excuses—everything that bubbles up the minute you try to do something new. Coaching helps you stop spinning and start moving forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.

So yes, you’ll need some actions. Maybe a little learning. But chances are, you’ll need more coaching than you realize—because without managing your mind, even the best plan won’t go very far.

Step #4 – Schedule and follow through.

With this last step, it’s not just scheduling and following through on the task—Smarter Accountants also schedule the feeling they need to follow through.

This part is key, and it’s something most accountants completely overlook. We think we just need more discipline. But what we really need is to feel a certain way on purpose—focused, determined, committed, even calm.

So when you’re planning your week, don’t just write down the task like, “Work on pricing proposal at 2pm.” Ask yourself, “How do I need to feel in order to do that?” Then write that in, too.

For example, maybe you write: “2pm – Work on pricing proposal (feeling: confident).”

That way, when the time comes, you’re not waiting for the right mood to magically show up. You’ve already decided how you need to feel—and your job is to create that feeling before you begin.

You might do that by choosing a helpful thought like, “I know my value,” or “This doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to get done.”

Smarter Accountants don’t leave follow-through up to chance. They plan for resistance. They expect to not feel like doing the thing—and they still show up for it, because they’ve already decided how they want to feel going in.

And yes, sometimes things come up. But they don’t cancel just because something’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. They only adjust when there’s a real reason—not because they’re tired or unsure or nervous.

This step is the difference between hoping you’ll follow through… and knowing you will.

Now, let me show you how one of my clients used this process—and what happened when she made that emotional piece part of her plan.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Successfully Achieving Her Goal

I once worked with a client who came to me feeling completely stuck. She told me, “I just want to grow my business.” That was her goal—but she had no idea what that actually meant or where to start.

She kept trying different things. Posting on social media here and there. Tweaking her website. Thinking about networking. But nothing really changed. She felt like she was always busy, but not getting anywhere.

During one of our sessions, I asked her to get specific. What exactly did she want? That’s when she set a clear goal: sign 3 new advisory clients in 90 days. Now we had something to work with.

Then I asked her why this goal mattered. Why 3 advisory clients? Why now? At first, she paused, but then it clicked—she was tired of relying only on tax season income. She wanted more stability, more control, and more time to actually breathe. That became her “why.”

We wrote down three solid reasons she wanted to reach this goal, and she kept them where she could see them. So anytime she felt doubt creeping in, she had a reminder of why this mattered to her—and that helped her stay grounded when things felt hard or uncomfortable.

From there, we listed out every possible obstacle that might get in her way. Fear of rejection. Not knowing what to say on a sales call. Worry that her pricing was too high. Feeling like there wasn’t enough time. We wrote it all down—no editing, no judgment.

Then we went through each obstacle and came up with a simple strategy. Some things she needed to do, like block out time for outreach. Some things she needed to learn, like how to talk about her offer in a way that felt natural. And some things she needed to get coached on, like the fear of seeming “pushy.”

She didn’t try to feel motivated every day. She followed the plan we put on her calendar. She picked the emotion she wanted to feel before each action—things like focused, brave, or calm—and practiced generating that feeling on purpose.

And the best part was that she successfully reached her goal in an easier way than she had ever tried before.

Three new advisory clients in 90 days. But more than that, she felt in control. She wasn’t spinning anymore. She was moving forward.

What changed wasn’t just the goal—it was the way she approached it. That’s what made her a Smarter Accountant.

Now that we’ve seen what’s possible, let’s wrap up with the biggest takeaway from today’s episode—and a question for you to think about.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The smartest accountants don’t just set goals and cross their fingers. They make success feel possible—because they take their brain into account from the very beginning.

They get clear on exactly what they want. They expect obstacles to show up. And instead of giving up or getting stuck, they create a plan for how to move through them.

They don’t rely on motivation or wait for the “right time.” They rely on the decisions they’ve already made—and they trust themselves to follow through.

That’s what separates spinning in circles from steady progress.

Now it’s your turn to check in with yourself.

This week, ask yourself, “What’s one goal I’ve been putting off because I didn’t believe I could actually achieve it—and what’s one obstacle I could solve for today?”

Don’t try to figure out the whole path. Just look for one thing you can make easier right now. That one shift could be the start of something bigger than you realize.

The bottom line is that reaching your goals doesn’t have to feel like a constant uphill battle. Once you understand how your brain works and start planning with that in mind, things get so much easier. You stop second-guessing yourself, you stop spinning, and you finally start seeing real progress—even when life feels busy or unpredictable.

You’re already capable of more than you think. And when you follow a process that works with your brain, not against it, success becomes something you can count on—not just hope for. 

Whatever goal has been sitting on the back burner, now is a great time to bring it forward and give yourself the tools to actually follow through.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Pulling back the curtain for a minute…

When I decided to write and publish my book, The Smarter Accountant, I gave myself one year to get it done and have it delivered by Amazon to my mailbox. That might sound like a solid plan, but at the time, I had no experience in publishing—and a lot of doubts. 

I was working as a CPA, taking an advanced coaching course, doing a different weekly podcast, coaching accountant entrepreneurs.  I had no idea where to start, and part of me wondered if I could actually pull it off.

But I used the exact four-step process I shared with you today. I got clear on the goal: finish and publish the book by July 31, 2022. 

I listed every obstacle I could think of—finding the time to write, imposter syndrome, learning the publishing process, fear of putting myself out there—and then I made a plan for each one.

Some things I needed to learn, like how self-publishing works. Some things I needed to do, like block out writing time on my calendar. And some things, like the fear of not being good enough, I had to get coached on more than once. 

I didn’t wait to feel motivated. I picked the feelings I wanted to have—committed and determined—and I practiced that feeling every time I sat down to write.

And let me tell you, the book didn’t get written because I was super inspired every day. It got written because I followed through on a plan, even when I didn’t feel like it. That’s how it works. Not with perfect conditions, but with consistent decisions.

I’m happy to say that the book was delivered to my mailbox by Amazon two days earlier than my goal and I literally cried as I held it in my hand.  I guaranteed success by following the steps I shared with you but also by managing the heck out of my brain along the way.

So whether your goal is big like writing a book or simple like reclaiming your evenings, I want you to know it’s possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.

If you haven’t already, take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. It’ll help you see where your current habits might be working against you.

And if you’re ready to stop spinning and start moving forward, schedule your free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar. I’ll help you figure out your next best step.

And if this episode gave you something to think about, share it with another accountant who might need to hear it. The more of us who learn to work with our brains, the better this profession gets for everyone.

The truth is, you’re already smart. But this podcast will show you how to be smarter.