By Mindshop
1
11 ratings
The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.
In this episode of The Authentic Advisor, James Mason and Shabir Ladha discuss insights on networking for success and how too much can be just as bad as not enough. Shabir shares his journey to becoming an advisor and the importance of networking in his role, emphasizing the need for authenticity, meaningful conversations, and setting goals when networking. James & Shabir discuss the pitfalls of selling too early and the importance of maintaining a positive personal brand. The conversation concludes with practical tips for networking effectively as an advisor.
In this episode, James Mason interviews Kim Marshall from WK Advisors and Accountants in Christchurch, New Zealand, about her insights on cutting through with business advisory services in a regional market. Kim shares her background and journey to becoming an advisor, including her experience managing a sheep and beef farm while doing advisory work. She discusses the challenges and opportunities in regional areas, such as poor vintage and droughts, and how she helps clients focus on customer needs to improve their businesses. Kim also talks about the importance of being authentic, investing in oneself, and having a growth mindset.
Key Take Aways
Building a successful business advisory service in a regional market requires authenticity and a focus on customer needs.
Regional businesses often face challenges such as poor vintage and droughts, but there are also opportunities for improvement.
High cadence sprints, where quick catch-ups are combined with longer sessions, can be effective in addressing immediate challenges and driving progress.
Collaboration and sharing ideas with other businesses in workshops can lead to valuable insights and solutions.
Investing in oneself, being open to learning, and having a growth mindset are key to personal and professional development as an advisor.
Chapters
00:10 Introduction and Background
03:34 Challenges and Opportunities in Regional Areas
08:02 High Cadence Sprints: Addressing Immediate Challenges
10:11 Collaboration and Idea Sharing in Workshops
13:57 Investing in Oneself: The Key to Advisory Success
Peter Longhurst, a long-time Mindshop advisor, shares his wisdom on the keys to happiness and success in business and life with Mindshop’s James Mason. He discusses his journey from accounting to advisory, the impact of his book 'A Simple Thank You,' and the importance of core values and client-centricity. He emphasises the power of listening, simplicity, and the concept of 'value to others' in business.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 The Keys to Happiness and Success in Business and Life
03:04 The Journey from Accounting to Advisory
08:13 The Impact of Core Values and Client-Centricity
14:44 The Role of Core Values in Business Success
25:12 Final Tips for Advisors
Chris Black, a Director of Advisory Business, Purpa, shares insights on mental health challenges and leadership. He discusses the impact of mental health on business, the role of leaders in addressing mental health, and practical strategies for mitigating negative impacts. The conversation emphasises the importance of vulnerability, empathy, and creating a safe space for conversations around mental health.
Takeaways
• Mental health challenges have a direct impact on business performance, including absenteeism and presenteeism.
• Leaders play a crucial role in creating a safe space for conversations around mental health and promoting a culture of empathy and vulnerability.
• Practical strategies for mitigating negative impacts of mental health challenges include building emotional intelligence, setting boundaries, and creating a third space for mental well-being.
• Investing in mental health awareness and well-being programs within organisations can have a positive return on investment, both financially and socially.
Chapters
00:45 The Journey of Purpa and Understanding Mental Health Challenges
03:45 The Impact of Mental Health on Business Performance
06:31 Drivers of Mental Health Challenges and Accelerating Factors
09:19 The Role of Leaders in Addressing Mental Health Challenges
11:45 Practical Strategies for Mitigating Negative Impacts of Mental Health Challenges
23:06 Future Outlook: Mental Health Challenges in usiness Leadership
Kirsty Bullen, a director at Campbell Tyson, discusses how she has been accelerating internal referrals and greater advisory success in the firm. Around for over 100 years, Campbell Tyson is based in Pukekohe, New Zealand and has a varied client base, including the agricultural, commercial, and investment sectors. Mindshop tools have been used in the firm to bring consistency to the advisory services with a focus on workshops and business health checks to provide value to their clients. In this podcast Kirsty talks about how they cultivate referral relationships and focus on storytelling to deliver services.
Chapters
00:10 Introduction and Background of the Firm
06:35 Getting Others to Refer the Firm
13:05 Cultivating Super Referrers
Takeaways
Neal Morrison, partner at McInerney Saunders in Dublin, Ireland, shares insights on successfully selling an accounting firm. He discusses the background of his firm and the factors that led to their decision to sell. Neal emphasises the importance of culture, succession planning and alignment when choosing a buyer and highlights the benefits of partnering with a private equity firm. He also advises practitioners to get their own house in order before considering a sale and to ensure that key team members are incentivised. Neal concludes by offering his tips for others considering selling.
Takeaways
Culture and alignment are crucial when choosing a buyer for your accounting firm.
Partnering with a private equity firm can provide opportunities for growth and a second exit.
Get your own house in order before considering a sale, including working capital management and debtors.
Ensure that key team members are incentivised and motivated to stay after the sale.
Consider the long-term vision for your firm and whether remaining independent or selling is the best path forward.
Chapters
00:20 Introduction and Background
09:20 Choosing a Buyer: Culture and Alignment
13:39 Preparing for the Sale: Getting Your House in Order
27:42 Final Tips for Selling Your Accounting Firm
In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason interviews Tony Szczepaniak, the global CEO of LEA Global, about the pathway to partner in accounting firms. They discuss the challenges faced by firms, the attributes of high-performing leaders, programs for developing future partners, building business advisory skills, and tips for building a strong pathway to partnership.
Takeaways
The biggest challenge for firms is attracting, developing, and retaining talent.
High-performing leaders focus on culture, visualization, and execution.
Firms should have clear career paths and development programs for employees.
Building business advisory skills is crucial for future partners.
A people-first culture and clear alignment with organizational goals are essential for a strong pathway to partnership.
Chapters
01:00 Introduction and Background
04:54 Challenges Faced by Firms
11:38 Attributes of High-Performing Leaders
13:07 Programs for Pathway to Partner
22:28 Building Business Advisory Skills
24:33 Tips for Building a Strong Pathway to Partnership
In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason interviews Peter Lucas from Kestrel Solutions about turning around underperforming businesses. They discuss the challenges faced by business owners and managers, the early warning signs of a troubled business, and the use of technology for early identification.
Peter shares his approach to starting the turnaround process, including conducting waste audits and involving the team. He also shares a case study of a successful turnaround in the timber windows and doors industry. The episode concludes with Peter offering final tips for advisors seeking to help their clients in similar situations.
Takeaways
Chapters
01:10 Introduction and Background
03:20 Challenges for Business Owners and Managers
05:45 Early Warning Signs of a Troubled Business
10:22 Using Technology for Early Identification
12:23 Starting the Turnaround Process
16:00 Waste Audits and Involving the Team
21:01 Case Study
22:43 Constant Involvement and Evolution
25:58 Final Tips for Advisors
Business Health Checks are a great foot-in-the-door business advisory offering for professional service firms wanting to add client value and bridge the gap between 'the numbers' and more intensive advisory services such as strategic planning workshops & implementation.
But where do you start? Sharing her playbook, Lisa Wilson talks about how professional service firm Morrows design, price, deliver, promote and resource business health checks and why using Mindshop diagnostics, the Now-Where-How methodology and one page plans are integral to their success. Touching on how to generate internal referrals, Lisa also talks about capacity issues, reveals the power of 'BAMFAM' and shares ideas on how to use business health checks as a springboard into further advisory work.
Time Codes
00:00:51 Lisa's background and business advisory journey
00:02:40 Morrow's business advisory service range
00:03:41 Maturity of client base wanting business advisory services
00:04:47 Who's delivering business advisory services at Morrows?
00:05:38 Types of Business Health Checks
00:06:15 Pricing Business Health Checks
00:08:13 Weaving in financial insights
00:09:27 Internal referrals & marketing
00:12:22 Getting further advisory work
00:15:38 Managing capacity
00:16:33 Emerging demand for advisory services
00:18:47 Final tips & thoughts
Can a business get away with operational deficiencies if they're run by a passionate group of people? Jason Langford-Brown shares his experience as a senior business advisor and coach as to whether culture is a bigger contributor to success than a winning strategy (as the well-known aphorism suggests).
Do most organisations have an accidental culture? How is it businesses with seemingly toxic cultures still succeed?
Jason and James Mason discuss what problems arise if a business holds onto staff that don't align with core values and how culture can be fit for purpose, ultimately posing the question, 'can culture be too perfect?'
Time Codes
00:00:42 Jason's background and business advisory journey.
00:02:27 Is culture a bigger contributor to success than a winning strategy?
00:04:54 Can you succeed with an amazing culture but poor strategy?
00:06:17 Can having a deep passion for what you do compensate for a lack of execution?
00:07:24 What are the keys to a high performing culture?
00:10:26 Is culture the fashionable silver bullet?
00:12:13 Poor performance v bad behaviour.
00:13:22 What are the first steps an advisor should take with a client when addressing culture and strategy?
00:19:17 Aligning core values throughout an organisation.
00:20:32 Can a culture be too perfect?
00:23:22 Does culture eat strategy for breakfast?
The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.
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