The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

160 ⎸ The Alyssa + Serena Show Part 1

• Serena Shoup, CPA • Episode 160

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In this interview episode, I’m chatting with my biz bestie, Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen)! Introducing…The Alyssa + Serena Show: Part 1. We reflect on personal & professional experiences, offering valuable insights and strategies for navigating the world of bookkeeping and entrepreneurship.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • Serena's and Alyssa's business strategies & approaches
  • Feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated after a break
  • Empowering team members
  • Serena and Alyssa's evolving friendship & business relationship
  • Reevaluating life experiences and priorities in work and life
  • Advice for setting up and delegating tasks in a firm


Resources mentioned in this episode:


Meet Alyssa
Alyssa, aka the Workflow Queen, teaches bookkeepers and accountants how to utilize tech and automation to create better workflows, systems and processes. As a result they can run their practices on autopilot, stress less and save time!

Connect with Alyssa
🌐 Website: http://workflowqueen.com/
📱 IG: @workflowqueen
🎙️ Podcast: Conquering Workflows & Systems with the Workflow Queen

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me, @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

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Serena:

Welcome back to.

Alyssa:

With our hands. I can't see your hand. We're very excited. Really from our voice. If you guys don't hear, we're so excited that you're here, when you're doing a very special. Episode today. For you guys, or it's a two part series. We just decided to sewed.' Serena: cause we, we just are. Keep talking. We literally don't stop. It's going to go on forever. It might end up being a four-part. Um, yeah. So what are we talking about in this episode so that we get our listeners? Engaged. Well, I'm going to preface from the very beginning. If you guys hear a loud noises, just know that we are recording outside. So there might be a couple of chirps and a couple of loud cars here and there, so just be prepared., but in today's episode, we're really just diving deep into a couple of big questions that people have kind of reached out and wanted us to talk about as we're here in person together. And one of them being, how did me and Serena meet and how did we really get into our friendship and really, you know, just kind of dive deep and learn how to like, maintain that distance together, but yet still a strong friendship. And,

Serena:

and there was another question posed of what we would do differently while scaling our business. If we could do it all again. And we talk about staying motivated in our businesses. That's a big one. Yeah, we dive. We actually dive pretty deep., if you can hang on for the hour and a half or whatever that is. So,

Alyssa:

yeah, it's going to be quite a long episode, but it is really fun. Just imagine it, like you're sitting right next to us. Yeah. At a coffee shop. Or both. Clearly it's a coffee shop. picnic table coffee shop with picnic tables, dogs barking. Birds Derby. Yeah. Outside in the wilderness. All right. Let's dive in.

Serena:

Okay, welcome to the Alyssa and Serena show. Yeah.

Alyssa:

I

Serena:

like this

Alyssa:

name

Serena:

of the show. Yeah. Yeah. It's. It's because it's going to air on both podcasts. So we didn't really know how to intro this, but I'm Serena Shoup CPA. I don't ever introduce myself that way. I know

Alyssa:

it's really weird. Okay, her name is Serena Shoup CPA. She's the owner and founder. Ambitious bookkeeper and also the ambitious bookkeeper podcast. Let me see how many things I get right about Yelp and also the owner of her own firm, which is of course bookkeeping, but used to be called Serena sheep CPA only because that's still your contact in my phone. Since the first day we met, I just need to finally change it. I know, and she's awesome. She's a mom of three. And there that's it. That's

Serena:

it. That's all. That's everything about me. That's it.

Alyssa:

There's a lot of things, but I don't know

Serena:

if I could share all the things. And I'm joined here today by Alyssa Lang, the owner and founder of workflow queen and her firm magnetic, bookkeeping and consulting. And, uh, if you've been in either of our worlds for any amount of time, you've probably seen us do some collaborations together. I am currently in. Arrowhead. Do you say Arrowhead or lake? I. Arrowhead. Okay. When

Alyssa:

I'm talking when I'm introducing, like where I live. Yes. Arrowhead.

Serena:

I'm an Arrowhead, California. On Alyssa is back. Do you call it a deck or a patio? I'm like all concerned about. He calls

Alyssa:

it a Lanai cause she lives in Hawaii. So she's like it's a Lanai. And I'm like, okay, well we talk in normal. So we call it a patio. Like, so, yes, this is my secondary patio. So it's like the back patio. Yeah. What

Serena:

I would say.

Alyssa:

Yeah.

Serena:

I was visiting someone recently and they have. A situation like this, where it's like elevated in the forest. And I called it a patio and he was like, it's a deck. I

Alyssa:

don't care. Why are you calling? You can just call it like the hangout zone. Harley's

Serena:

area. So right now it's podcast recording studio. We We've got our mics. Yep. And I just got done at the lake. It's been such a good day. Yeah, we were ambitious. We were going to do a video podcast, but both of us decided we didn't want to get ready for that.

Alyssa:

I also have here like Tarzan right now. So.

Serena:

Probably not smart. On videos and no makeup situation. Happening,

Alyssa:

but we showed up that's the most important.'cause I feel like we always try to feel like I'm sure other people listening to it. Just always have this. Feeling that they always need to be perfect and everything used to be great. And like, I got to do these videos. It's like sometimes just show up as yourself. It is what it is, or do it in another way where you still get the same output, but yeah. Different input.

Serena:

Yeah.

Alyssa:

Love

Serena:

it. Yeah. I'm here for it. Me too. Which actually kind of rolls into our first question. So I kind of like. Polled? I polled the people I was going to use a different word and my brain just doesn't work these days. Cause we'll just. But. yeah, I like kind of sporadically was like, oh, I should just pull the audience and be like, Hey, we might, record a podcast while we're together. Drop your questions that you want us to answer. And one of the questions that came in was. How did your friendship develop? I think this is a really good one to start the podcast and then we'll roll into like more tactical businessy stuff. Yeah. It was, how did your friendship develop and how to keep up with the distance? So, part one of that question, how did our friendship develop? We kind of like what you were just talking about is like showing up as yourself and authentically. We're kind of talking about this while we were floating around in the lake. Like, what should we talk about? She was getting down by fish. Oh, yeah. I didn't know, that was possible. I was like, so trusting of the lake, I'm like this isn't the ocean. There's no jellyfish. There's no sharks.

Alyssa:

The fish head. The rainbow bloop, bloop, gill. I don't even know how to say the fish name.

Serena:

The blue, the blue. Uh, so we were talking about. Like how we were gonna talk about this podcast. And I was like, oh, this question came in and we started talking about. what

Alyssa:

it was like for us. Yeah. Our friendship. One floor. She, what was really, what were the secret ingredients that. Yeah, it seems to be that lot of people can't figure out how to find and not saying it's not possible, but it is. But like, what was it that we were kind of springing up to our own like recognition of like how it came up, you know what I mean?

Serena:

Yeah.

Alyssa:

But that was all you though. Yeah. And that was me,

Serena:

but, but we were talking about, which is so out of character, honestly, for me. Yeah. But it was the beginning of 2020, I think.

Alyssa:

It was, it was. I started workflow queen and you had just started ambitious, but we both, like,

Serena:

we both started launching, I think we had already started, but like during the beginning of 2020 was kind of when I ramped everything up and decided to launch my first digital product I had already like, had the same. I think I'll stick off of the sauna for like a week. Yeah. I had the Instagram, I had a blog, but like, I hadn't sold anything. I was just purely building. I was just sharing, honestly, it was sharing information and like kind of building an audience, but like not on purpose, not intentionally. I just was trying to create this community. and I found you on a hashtag, I think probably like. A bookkeeper or workflows can. Hashtag literally. When I was doing my own social media. Back when you were same. Back when we were just children in my day. My name 2020. It feels like a thousand years ago. And, I was like, let's see who else is like posting stuff on these hashtags. Back when hashtags really worked. And you popped up. And I remember, I honestly remember the first picture that like popped up in that feed was a picture of you with your first Yeti microphone.

Alyssa:

Oh, where I was very excited. I was. Pointing so excited. So excited. It was red. It. I was like a whole thing. I know what picture, you know, the one I know exactly which one.

Serena:

And that was the one. And I was like, this girl looks fun. And I was like, I kind of want to, I want to get to know her. And we're both kind of doing the same thing, but like not at the same audience. We're not, we're not competing, but like also, I didn't really care if we were, and I was just like, I just want to like link up with someone that is doing the same thing that I am that also, like, it was perfect. You're a bookkeeper. You knew the industry, but you were also like trying to help the industry. And I was like, she looks fun. She, she looks so cool. I want to be your friend. And so. I just DMD you. And I was like, I don't remember exactly what I said, where you found a screenshot. I remember you went. I did four years of conversations. They finally

Alyssa:

like took a screenshot of it.

Serena:

Yeah. That would be really cool to recover that I probably have it as like a video in my story. Yeah. Or in my camera roll.

Alyssa:

Yeah.

Serena:

And yeah, it was probably something like. Hey, like, I think you look cool. It was probably awkward as hell.

Alyssa:

Yeah, it probably was. I don't really remember it, but I remember like, from my perspective, I, at that point, like started to gain traction at workflow queen that people were noticing that I had a lot of pitches, a lot of people on Mike trying to reach out and being like, Hey, can we collab? Or can we do this? Or. how can you be on my program or like pretty much, how can you help me? Me, me, me, me to everybody else who was talking to me. And I think the reason why that was kind of going to flow into like, How it would naturally happen because like I said, there's so many people who come my way, that what was so significant about you that like made me like okay with it. I think it was one, like looking at your profile, like you showed up as yourself. I could see your face. That was a big thing. I would do remember that because it wasn't like, you know, a lot of profiles, like, especially in our space, a lot of people are so shy and. I want to hide behind the camera. I get it, dude. I'm going through that phase right now in my life where I don't want to be on camera or not on camera right now. That's why? Because like you just, yeah. It's. Anyways, it's a whole nother topic for a whole nother day, but I just remember like looking at your profile and being like, well, one, I also think I had stumbled across your blog. I remember, like I was telling you one time, like I stumbled across it. Something about Dubsado. And it was a long time ago, and this is when it was Serena Shoup CPA. And you had like a blog and you were just like helping people

Serena:

on my bookkeeping website.

Alyssa:

And it was just like, cause you wanted to just help other bookkeepers. And it just happened to be like one of your top blogs or something. And I just remember like being like, I feel like I recognize this name or something. And then I just remember being like, okay. And like, but the way you approached me was different. It wasn't like, Hey, I would love to collab with you and let's go do this. And I think you did ask a question around like, Hey, we both helped like the same PDF. I would love to get to know you. It wasn't even like, Hey, we, we know the same people let's collab on a webinar.

Serena:

Yeah. It was more like, I w I just wanted to like, Talk to someone and like talk shop and like bounce ideas off of someone doing the same thing that I'm doing, basically running

Alyssa:

your firm, plus also helping the community and having it to businesses is already like, Stressful on its own. So like to know someone who was doing, but we'll talk about this all the time, but like, you're like the only person not in it that I truly know that really understands what I'm going through. I mean, there, I have a lot of friends in the industry that like, understand what I'm going through. In regards to like the firm and stuff, but I mean, like also operating this business, operating a different type of client, also being a face it to. Our personal brand and yeah. Yeah. And then, like, not only that, but also like the face to so many people in the communities yet. Like we have a lot of people who look up to us. I mean, granted. Yesterday as of the day we were recording the podcast. Yesterday. We went to lunch with Brooke Swan and we met. Well, someone who actually is a team member of, uh, several of our students in our programs. And that we personally know, and she was like, oh my God. It's like seeing celebrities and we forget, but like we carry the weight. in a different way, not just for our clients, but also for a big part of the industry that it feels like a lot. So you're the one person that I know I can really relate with because you get what you were carrying and what is overwhelming. So I think that that's why I really connected with you. And then we just started randomly. I don't even know how it just became all of a sudden, like besties. I know, I

Serena:

just, I remember just chatting back and forth, like. Almost all day, everyone was on lockdown. So that was part of it. Like. We have like this shared trauma. It was a trauma bond. Just kidding. It was a trauma bond. Being on lockdown and building this brand at the same time, we both kind of were building the same similar things at the same time, doing the blogs, doing the, like, trying to. Trying to grow Instagram and like create a digital product and, or a course or whatever. And, and learning this whole different marketing beast that you don't need to learn for a bookkeeping firm. And just being on all the time in the face of something. So like, I mean, I had no idea that things would get as big as they did. It was really just like a passion project. I. The same for

Alyssa:

me, it literally just kind of blew up in the most beautiful way. And

Serena:

I just, I have so much dedication to stuff that like, once I start a project, like. I'm still here. Y'all.

Alyssa:

Yeah. I'm not going away.

Serena:

We've seen the people come and go. Yeah. I just have too much, like, not that I have too much at stake, it's just like, for my own personal, like seeing something through yen, like yeah. But anyways, so. I just remember chatting back and forth. Cause you knew what was happening and we would share like, oh, I'm doing this for like, I think we talked about Facebook ads at one point. And like, we were both were like, we should do an Instagram live together. That would be so fun just to like chat.

Alyssa:

And I think that was like our first thing together was like, And I think it was around when I, the very first time I ever launched a kickoff for the sauna. I think we did our Instagram live. But we just kept connecting and then like, we would do random zoom calls. Like that's kinda where it started. Where would we get on zooms? And then we would talk about our firm, but we'd also talk about like these companies and like, we would just keep going, like all these ideas, because at that time, For anyone listening when you're first starting your business, you definitely have like an overwhelm of ideas and like, you really need to get it out. Even if it's like, sometimes it's not the same one. It's like a husband or boyfriend or friend. Yeah. Like, he really need to understand how to like go back and forth with you and like really understand what you're saying to be like. Yeah. It's a really great idea. It's not crazy. And I remember like, that's what we did for a good hot minute. And then it just kept going and it just kept building. And then it became like funny inside jokes or like the dog would walk in and like, we would say something about that and then conversations, it just kept coming up and they just kept building. I didn't know they were going to turn into anything

Serena:

I didn't either. And then at one point. like you were still here in California. I don't think you were an Arrowhead yet. So you were down

Alyssa:

here, like he's still here in California. I've been here though. I

Serena:

know

Alyssa:

California. Oh, that was, that was right when I left. That's right. I forgot because we had a plan to eventually meet up in San Diego, but it just never worked out with the kids and you were moving. Yeah. At COVID and we couldn't do anything. I remember that. So I was like, you

Serena:

should come out to Arizona. Everything's open. Yeah. And so you did, we met up in

Alyssa:

Phoenix.

Serena:

Yep.

Alyssa:

And you booked a room? I did. And then what is. That's how we became close friends. This is how we really became super close. So what happened was I went to go book the hotel room in. Is it Scottsdale? Yeah. Okay. So it was in Scottsdale, Arizona. I go to book the hotel and I swear to God to this day that I thought I pressed two beds. No, I just picked one big king bed. I think it was like right before we got there, I was like, I've got to tell you something, like, I know we haven't met in real life, but when we do, we kind of have to sleep in the same bed because I kind of booked a room. That's like just one single bed. And Serena is like, okay, like it wasn't like a problem. We got our room and we just passed out. Like it was not a problem, but it was just really funny because it was like what we're about to get real close here.

Serena:

And that, like, that was the, yeah, that was the first time we met up. We hung out for like three days or something and like just co-worked at the bar. Remember. We would sit at the bar and we would just sit there for hours and just work together and, share ideas and stuff like that. And so then we just kind of. Continue to do that. Then you started. Also

Alyssa:

the first time just to kind of take a step back real quick. But I think when we finally met in person. And you've brought this up today, but they don't know this, but like, like. That was a chance for us to actually see each other personally and get to know each other on a deeper level. It wasn't just a business. It was also seeing your weird quirks, like of you dancing. I still have videos of Lansing dance whistling while I work. Like, yeah, they're whistling of the chewing of the mouth. Like I can replicate everything that you do when you co-work. Now that I've been around you so many times, coworking, you definitely have habits. I do the same. I'm like I started doing like weird shit with my teeth. It's all bad. But that was like the first time that we also got deep into like, relationships, Yeah. Life what's happening at home. What, you know what I mean? Like, and I think that that's because like, you feel safer when you're not like on a recorded zoom call, like, it feels a lot safer. So I think that was the opportunity that we got to be like, let's get serious, but then like, man, we've been like strategizing for eight hours. Let's go to like, the bar, have Cocktails. We had those little shots out of the rubber duckies. I was so excited about that. We had way too much fun. but yeah, we got to let loose. We got to be a different version of ourself, like in front of each other and have a good time. And then like over time, it's just not stopped.

Serena:

Yeah. So to answer the question of like how our friendship developed, that's how, and also like, to keep a friendship going, like, how do you keep up with the distance? This is just like any other relationship, like you still have to like, It's a two way thing. Like you have to show up for each other. Although like we give each other so much grace, as you should, for many friends, any anybody, any relationship, like people have personal stuff that happens. People get busy, but when you do get together, I'm sure anyone listening has a friend like this when you do get together, it's like, you never skipped a beat. Like when I got here, I was like, has it literally been a year since we've seen each other in. I literally felt

Alyssa:

like you were just here the night before. It was like you had said something. I was like, it's so weird. Like every time you hear it, it's like, I felt like I was just all you like, literally like a couple of days ago. Yeah, it's been over a year. Yeah. That's my birthday. Cause last year at my birthday, I spent in Prescott. When we went to the lake. I remember I left, I had my travel trailer for like a month.

Serena:

Yeah, that's

Alyssa:

crazy. It's been a year. Yeah. But that's kinda how it like went down. And I think that. For us, the big message was just be yourself. Just show up authentically. And don't be afraid to tell your problems. Cause I think that's a huge thing. I think me and you both, we're not afraid to tell each other what we were actually struggling with, like in the business, especially. and then I think we got deeper as we like, knew what in our life, like what we were like disconnected with and stuff like that. But I think that that's where for most of my really close friendships, it was always like, don't be afraid and always give more than you take. but then also know when, like, because I've been taken advantage of by people in the industry that I thought were going to be my friends and then they just like fizzled out. But like you said, we keep up with each other, but then. Literally for like a good. Five six months. We both kind of just disappeared. Yeah, but then we would randomly like, just be like, Hey, like, blah, blah, blah. And like here and there. But we would go through our own phase of that, but it's not, we don't take offense to it. I'm not offended by it. I'm like, you're busy. You've got your music stuff. You're just, life was happening. Life was happening to me. I didn't want to be like doing work and stuff. And I think, like you said, it's just so important. Like any other relationship to keep it up and just keep it going. Just continue to check in with people. Yeah. And it doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be like, let's go do all these crazy adventures. Yeah. They could just come up as they go.

Serena:

But I will say like, if you're listening to this and you're like, I want, cause people told me that all the time, they're like, how do I find my list? Or. How do I find my biz bestie like that? And it really did just start with., a brave moment on my, my part, I am an introvert. This is the weird part about it is like you're the person that always like brings people together and like, you're very extroverted. You. It's funny. Introverted.

Alyssa:

Well, okay. I, I just have to exude myself as extroverted, but I'm really, truly, I like get like social anxiety. Okay. But people don't know that because I feel like I've had to force myself to do. So I

Serena:

just totally embrace actually being awkward and socially anxious. If that has not been. I like, and I don't, I have a hard, very hard time going out of my way and starting conversations. It was easier online as a DM for sure. But like, don't be afraid to just like put yourself out there and someone may or may not be receptive to it. Yeah. And if they're not receptive to it, then they're not the one. Like, they're not the one, they're not the one at your soulmate, your Bissell. No, absolutely not. So try again with someone else and then just keep, keep up on your end of like, continue to reach out once you've established something and yeah., And make, make time to do a physical, like in-person meetup for sure.

Alyssa:

Right away. It could be a couple of years. I understand the whole financial thing, but we made it cheap and we made it. Easy for us to meet up. I think I flew to you. You drove, it was easier for me to go cause you have kids. So. Me, I can kind of just go whenever.

Serena:

You know, Yeah. and then you started putting on your retreats and I came out to those. So we got more like, you know, FaceTime with each other and maybe. Yeah. That was before the retreats actually. Wasn't it.

Alyssa:

So it was Scottsdale. And then we met up a couple of months later, which was in June.'cause I think we met up in Scottsdale in like March or something like that. And then it was June, which was B K. Next while we're speaking. And then you came in and we just had a little too much fun, but we got to meet. That was like the first time he in Sweden got to meet our students. Yeah. Like in person. And I think all of us were very, very excited and there was like alcohol involved and it was like a whole thing. But it was a lot of fun. So bad, but it's not even that bad though, because like, it was like a sponsored event. I don't remember. I think it was really. Does he lay sponsored that Mercer? I think it was keeper and relay. I don't remember what it was, but I remember everyone wanted to buy a strengths and they were like, oh, this one's Marina's here. And then we're like pulling us everywhere. And we just had way too much. Yeah. Literally just too much. And then it was just like a next day I had to speak and it was. But it was cool though. It was like she was there to support me while like she could've gone to the conference. She was there. You were there for me while I was trying to speak and freaking out. I'm speaking on stage. Literally like the last person to talk to me, it'd be like, just breathe in your mouth or whatever you said to me. I don't even remember what you said to me, but. So she was like my little hype woman with a camera and smiling and nodding at me. Yeah, it was great. And then after that was the two retreats.

Serena:

Yeah,

Alyssa:

I think that, or the Nashville one. And then I know I've seen you before. And then the other thing

Serena:

you've made a couple trips out to see me. I only came out last summer, but you came out the summer.

Alyssa:

Cause then that's when I bought my travel through there on a whim while I was visiting you. Cause I was like, I'm going to camp across the us. And you're like, why don't you just buy a travel trailer? I opened up a can of worms. Next thing you know, I'm. Where's the RV place. Serena's like, gosh.

Serena:

I have like fed the monster on that one. You asked, why are you buying camping stuff? Why don't you just like buy an RV? And then I was like, oh, I need to live

Alyssa:

vicariously through you. And then I did. And then I ended up staying with you. I literally stayed the first time. I traveled in your driveway and it was 4th of July. And then we went to Watson lake. And then I took off, went to the grand canyon and then I went to Idaho. I went all over. And then came home. And then last year I was like, got snowed in from that storm. Oh yeah. I came out in the winter time. That's right, right before, because we went off-roading our last bumper. With random people that we met at the ski resort. And we were parked next to like a rugged, big reggae band member though. Yeah. I forgot their name though. It's going to drive me insane because the other day I was trying to tell this story about how, like, we ended up like being right next to them.

Serena:

Yeah, it was

Alyssa:

tomorrow's bad seeds. Oh yeah, that's right. And then we went, off-roading lost my bumper. And then you left. And then I had my Uh, excit attack right after you left from. Because the storm had started and that's another thing too. Serena was there for me for that, like, It's not just business it's becomes so much deeper. And like, I think that that's where it's been really successful. So really the whole story is people just find your people. Yeah. Put yourself out there. Yeah. like you're going to fail. You're going to find some **** people, but you're going to find some really incredible people if you stick it out.

Serena:

Yeah. For sure. Okay. So that's the personal story. That was only like a 20 minute story. We're good. Yeah.

Alyssa:

I'm like, is that too? And we still are people still here. I know, let us know if you like that story and you want to share your business story. I know we've shared it

Serena:

before on the podcast, but we didn't go that far in depth. I don't think no. One of the other questions we're going to switch gears a little bit and move into, some more tactical things. Love it. And we didn't really necessarily discuss what we would talk about on this. So this is kind of like a hot seat situation here. So, what would you do differently while scaling your business? If you could do it again?

Alyssa:

Um,

Serena:

so I'm, I'm going to say what's. Preface this. With a bookkeeping firm, not obviously like our, our course creator. Because, yeah,

Alyssa:

they'd be like, what.

Serena:

Two different things. Two different animals, for sure. Yeah. So you actually have gotten the opportunity to do this because you forgot

Alyssa:

about

Serena:

that. Yeah. So why don't you just tell us what you did?

Alyssa:

Yes, actually, I will. I totally forgot about that. So for context, for anybody wanting to know this. I had my first firm, which started out as taxes. And then I eventually realized that I was tired of people just being mad that they don't have a refund or just like, they just wanted a refund. Which I get, then it turned into like, how can I help business owners? And then that's when I found bookkeeping, I started bookkeeper launch and it was like a whole thing. and so I started in the tax space and moved into the bookkeeping space and then. Workflow queen really liked, just flourished so fast. and like, from that point on, I was like, I can't be in two different places. Like I can't at that time, I did not know how to manage two different businesses. I feel like I've learned that over time, but it's overwhelming. so anyways, back in 2021, that's where I was like, I'm done, I'm done with my firms. So I closed down top-notch I did, I sold a portion of my client list. and then I gave away a lot of my clients to my students, which is really cool. I still have some students that still have my clients, which is really cool. and anyway, so I was just like, I'm done. I'm just going to go full force workflow queen. And then when I had the other idea to start it all over again, because I'm freaking crazy and I can't just be a normal person and just be like, I'm done with that. I close that door. that's when I started magnetic bookkeeping consulting and I started it in 2020. Too. I think you're 20, 22 at the very beginning. But at that time I had asked my, that was the one thing I did do different. The thing that was huge for me was I didn't want to do it alone. That was huge for me. I was like, I'm just tired. Like I'm tired of pulling all the strategy. I'm tired of guiding them. I'm tired Steering the ship. It's overwhelming. Yeah. As you know, And to be doing all the work on top of that. Yeah. And that too. And like, it's just so overwhelming. And so at the time, when I knew that I wanted to make this happen, and started another firm. I actually approached my then operations manager at workflow queen and asked her if she wanted to be my business partner. So that was something that I did differently. I wouldn't say it was a fail because that's not right that right word, because it was a great lesson, but it, I don't no longer have her as a partner anymore. I wish I would've thought through that process a little bit more, but that's a whole nother conversation for another day.

Serena:

I mean, that's actually worth talking about, because I've had clients kind of do the same thing where they're like, I'm going to go into business with this person because they're the best. I feel, kind of like the. The sales lady on bridesmaids with the wedding rings. I feel like that about partnerships. I'm like, it's going to go sour. That's going to go south,

Alyssa:

that will go away.

Serena:

She's like, look

Alyssa:

at

Serena:

you guys are so cute. That will go away. That's how I feel about partner business partnerships in general. Yeah, because I've seen that happen so many times. They can work. But I feel like you've got to put in a lot of work. They can work, but I think the only time they actually do work is when there's like more than two partners. And it's like a group of partners that actually aren't active in the business and they hire other people to run the business, their lifestyle they're there, they're out. Yeah. They're not involved in the day-to-day operations. That's the only time I've seen partnerships truly, really

Alyssa:

thrive, actually work. Yeah. But for me, So just to go back well, The original question was like, what would I do? So that was what I did differently because my ex little did, I know that if I would have stopped and paused. As you know, I'm very impulsive. Serena knows this about me. I'm impulsive, but that's just because I know exactly what I want in that moment, but sometimes the impulsiveness does backfire on me. Like where I'm almost like second guessing myself, it goes the wrong way. So I made the decision because I was kind of blinded by like, I don't want to do all this work when like the solution shouldn't have been a partner. It should have been other team members to execute to then grow into leaders to then take over type of thing. so I just needed to slow down is really what I'm trying to tell anybody. If you're ever thinking about a partner, slow down, do you actually really want it? Can you actually handle that? so that's what I did differently. But during that time, I thought it was like the smartest move I really did, especially because she was good at different things. but the downfall was, she wasn't had never been in the space as far as like owned her own firm, owned a business, stuff like that. Yeah. And so I felt like. I was the best way I always described this is. I felt like I was in quicksand, like really thick mud that I was trying to run. But I had to go really slow. Yeah. And that's honestly how I felt was because she, totally okay. That she wanted this wanted to learn a lot. How did the business operate? How did we do the month end process? What does this look like? What's quality control. Explain, explain, explain. Which is great, but then it meant, oh, when we have that new client, can you walk me through everything? Which makes slow, slow, slow. And it got to a point where I was feeling really frustrated because I'm like, I'm not, you know, me, I'm a sprinter. If I want you to done, I'm going to get it done. With certain exceptions, but you get what I'm saying? Yeah. So that was really hard for me to have that, but like, I try to stick it out because I'm like you chose this and I let myself guilt trip myself that like, Well, you signed up for this, like you have to do it. Like, who are you to tell her, like, you know, all these things. Yeah. So that's when I did different. The other thing that I did differently to what's from the beginning was hired. Like we actually did very intentionally start, like. Well, who can we hire? Who can we bring on? Like, is there another bookkeeper who can we hire in the space to be able to take care of all the things? And that was a big thing that we did differently. Also implemented the system right away. So as you know, I'm like known for a sauna. So as soon as we did, I literally had someone that I hired that used my own program, that I teach everybody in and had them upload the same templates into my firm. So we started a brand new, a sauna, uploaded, everything, customize, everything that we needed to. Because every firm, no matter what, even if they use the templates are always different. Like you're different. I know you've used some of our stuff. Like it changes like it's different. Yeah. so that was another really big thing that we did was implementing the systems. We also documented a lot of like KPIs and information from the beginning, because I wanted to know immediately what wasn't going to go. Right. And what wasn't going to go wrong. and then the other thing that we did differently was meetings, which obviously it was easy because we had a par at a partner. So you can't like talk to yourself if you're like by yourself. Yeah, but you could schedule an intentional meeting with yourself to go through KPIs, performance. What's happening. other than that, like, I feel like it was a one big blur and, you know, the story, but like, it was one big blur for like eight months, following that when we started it. Cause it all happened fast, hired a graphic designer. Didn't want to mess around with social media. It was like immediately. I was like, I already knew exactly what I didn't want to do. But the next, you know, six ish months were a bit of a blur only because I was feeling so disconnected from my partner. Like we did sponsorships. We were bringing on clients. Like everything was great. But there was just massive disconnect. So I feel like I kind of pulled back. And that kind of slowed down. we documented, a lot of processes, but those processes landed on me. To document to put together it's beyond just the project management system. There's like, how do we operate as a company? and then I disappeared. And, you know, that's how I always do things. I just disappeared. I just was like, I need a break. I don't know what I'm just connected. And that's when I found out that I was disconnected with, I took my travel trailer trip at that time. And then I was talking to you about it as well. And then I met with my coach and realized like, it's my partnership. Like then I was willing to lose the company in the process and say, you could buy me out. I could buy you out. Or we could dissolve it. but I wasn't willing to like work on it. And then after that, I was able to like, kind of get back on my toes. So I felt like I kind of restarted it twice. You did.'cause I feel like a part of it died. Which needed to happen. And then I was like, you know what, I'm going to ride out the rest of the year. I went to Europe for 30 days. I took time off from the business, that team member, because she also worked with the workflow. Queen ended up quitting as well, at workflow queen. So I lost her not only as a partner, but also, and I knew I had, I was going to risk that with the partnership change. Yeah. And then, It was 2023. At the beginning of the year. And I was like, I'm just going to coast the rest of the year. I'm not going to try to push anything. And then it felt like I was rebirth. It felt like new energy and it was like a new year. And like, then I changed everything and everything was like, now it's moving fast and now I can change whatever I want. I don't have to get approval. You don't have to go. Nice. It's been so nice, but that's what I kind of did different was I did one major thing that I did differently that I actually, I wouldn't say regrets, everything. Is a lesson. Yeah. But I do, because I feel like I lost two years of our firm because there was just so much like, Friction. Yeah. That's the way I can describe it.

Serena:

Yeah. Should I try to answer this question? Cause I don't. I mean, I've. I've built my business in such an intentional way in slowly. That I don't think I would do anything very differently.

Alyssa:

Well, you also had goals of like immediately, you knew you wanted to hire right away. You didn't even care if it was like for five hours a week, which most people won't do because you're like, I just, you knew the value of what you wanted with your kids.

Serena:

Yeah.

Alyssa:

And that was, I don't want to miss them growing up. So like for you, you value that more than money.

Serena:

Yeah,

Alyssa:

which was like, I still want to make money,

Serena:

but yeah, but having that already built in from the very beginning has allowed me to create a pricing structure that I've never felt like I. Really have to like make huge price increases because I, I hired so early on that my, my margins have always been what they are like, you know what I mean? Like I've always had to share in that revenue with. My team. And so I didn't have to really like make a mindset adjustment with a price adjustment, which is usually what the issue is. When we T we talked to other bookkeepers about like raising their prices, they have to raise them so that they can hire, but like, there's all this mindset stuff around. So you're tackled it because that was already like your, your goal from the very beginning of. So you had to work through it quickly? Yeah, like from the very beginning and I have the benefit of having already. Had to delegate a lot in corporate. So like that was another hurdle that I didn't really have. So I was like, I know how to build an accounting team. Yeah. that's the easy part. Yeah. Like for me, it was more like just balancing everything. And so. yeah, I immediately almost immediately hired. I always knew from the very beginning, I didn't want to work more than 10 to 15 hours a week in my firm. Yeah. And to this day, I still there's maybe been a couple months where I have when I've had some turnover and I had to pick up slack.

Alyssa:

Yeah.

Serena:

But all in all, I rarely work more than 10 hours a week on the firm's side. Yeah, we've talked about this before. most of the hours that I put in working or for this brand. For this podcast. For my students, which I love. And the only reason I had apples. Yeah. Sometimes it can be draining, but it's like, it's, it's that passion behind it. That allows me to keep the energy going. But what's talk about this. I think. The staying motivated piece.

Alyssa:

Oh, fun stuff. Yeah, you're ready to dive in. Yeah. Yeah, I'm motivated.

Serena:

That would've made it. I came out here literally to motivate her. No. Yeah, for real, for real, I don't even know how it ended up happening. cause you'd been traveling a lot. We generally get together in the middle of summer in July. And so it's like kind of a tradition. And I was like, you know what? I have space in my calendar. And I was like, I just can't.

Alyssa:

I asked you as a friend, I was like, I can not come to you this time. I like really need to be home because I'm traveling a lot. And so I was like, I'll come out.

Serena:

There let's do like five hours. Let's. Do it like next weekend or whatever. Perfect.

Alyssa:

It works out. and. But I was telling you before you came out here that like, I've been struggling. I've been so to give people context, listening. I literally today is the day I actually got back from three weeks unplugged from the business, like just. I went, I was supposed to be in Europe for the three weeks, but everything was going wrong. So I ended up coming back. But I was like, I'm not coming back team, like just cause I'm back. And you know, that I'm back does not mean I'm working. And so, because I've just been feeling so much, like, I don't know where I'm going. Like, I feel overwhelmed. Like I know what I want, but like, I just don't feel like steering the ship anymore. I'm just like so overwhelmed anyways. So I called you and I was telling you about it. And then when you said you were coming out here and I had like voiceover. I'm like, I just need some help with a couple of things. Like I'm really struggling. I cannot get motivated. I can't figure it out. I don't know what's happening. Like, yeah. You know, I just need some time, but also at the same time. I'm cool. If we don't talk about business one time. Yeah. Sometimes it's all happy. All I do with that. Yeah. And I was very frustrated like, and this is probably such a good thing to say. Cause I think a lot of times we put this like limit on ourselves or not limit whatever the word is, where. We say, okay. If I take these three weeks off, when most people would be like, oh my God, Alice, I would love to take three weeks off from not having to worry about the business. And it's great, but at the same time, it's like, I kept telling myself after these three weeks, I'm going to get motivated. So I gave myself a deadline and I should not have done that to myself because I know myself way too. Well, I need to let it naturally happen. And then where's the drawing line between what I have to force myself versus when I just let it happen. And I just remember telling you, like, I'm just really overwhelmed and like, don't know where to really. I was like, literally two days ago. I

Serena:

have a note on this same notepad. I. Uh, it says Alyssa marketing strategy versus process. Cause you were like, this is the thing that I'm having a hard time. I need to get like a marketing strategy in place. And like Lola and I was like, I don't know what exactly she means, but. After being here. And kind of just having regular organic conversations about life. Yeah. And just being in your presence and seeing like where your heads at. Yeah, your energy and everything. I was like, okay, now I feel like I can come with some suggestions. Yeah. And just like, planting little seeds of ideas. I don't even know how it happened.

Alyssa:

Honestly, I think it's probably, this is going to sound really crazy, but it's like subliminal messages. Like whatever, they, I don't even know. I just say weird **** half the time. So like subliminal messaging. What I mean by that is like, Serena got to see me at my new house and she can actually walk into my home and see all the construction I'm doing at my house to see and understand. Y I'm a little bit overwhelmed, like, yeah, like what's going on? Like you get to also see my mood and like, what's changed about me, like how I've been, like, you know, prioritizing different things. And I'm also no longer drinking. And like, you got to see like me in a different way. And I think that that's why the being in person is so important. Like you said before, you can help me. It's like, I really need to understand. That's why we're really good coaches because as coaches. We don't just ask, like people come to us and say, Alyssa, I want like systems consults. All my freaking problems. Just download this one system. That's not how it works. I need to understand, like what's happening in your life. need the full picture. So I think you coming out here got to see. The full picture and then like we would just be randomly talking. I think it was the first day, because as soon as Serena got here, It was like 94 degrees guys, which is not normal for lake Arrowhead, because it's usually really cool. We don't have AC up here. It's like not normal as soon as she. I was at landed like as if you're on a freaking airplane. My Explorer. And your Explorer in my front yard. As soon as she got here, I was like, we're blowing these tubes up. We're going to the lake. So we went down to my dock and we were just sitting in the water. And then she was like, well, how are you? Like. Because usually if everyone's always asking how's the business and stuff, and you asked me like, how are you? And I told you what I've been going through and everything, and then also told you what's going on in the business. And I think we just naturally just started talking and then you were pulling things, you do the coaching thing where you like shifted then sometimes I don't notice. I think she's being a friend. Ninja. All of a sudden I'm like, she's just. And you're crying. You weren't this time, but I have. Yes, where you filled out your little coaching hat and I'm like, are you coaching me? I literally halfway through was like, are you coaching me right now? Cause she does this thing where she's so sly about it. So interesting. She's just being my bestie, but she's like, I put my coaching hat on. but it naturally came up just like things that I'm just going through and you're just like, well, what's stopping you. And I'm like, it's just, I need, I need a body double. If you don't know what a body double is, it's a term they use when like you suffer from like, uh, But you have add or ADHD or you just have like attention problems. And they call it body doubling, which means that you just need someone to sit next to you that sometimes that alone can get you motivated. And I was like, dude, I think I just need a body. And I told you that I was like, dude, I think I just need a body double. Like, I just need someone to sit next to me.

Serena:

Yeah.

Alyssa:

Like I just can't get motivated.

Serena:

Yeah.

Alyssa:

You know,

Serena:

and then you like shared a couple other, I can't remember exactly how we landed on it. We did start talking about. oh, you were like, I need to figure out something like to just keep this stuff on autopilot. And I was like, well, let me share what I'm doing with my, like, Automated webinars. It's like I have an Alyssa soon. We'll have this because we laid out the plan for her. So hopefully by the time this comes out, it will be out there into the world. Um, But yeah, basically like you can go to a page on my website. That's just a training landing page. We'll keep it on contact slash training. I'm all awkward. I'm like, should I plug this? So ambitious bookkeeper.com/training. It's less than an hour of a training for anyone who is thinking about starting a bookkeeping business, or like, you know, you have the skills for the bookkeeping business, but you know, you don't have. The like the business background to run a business. So I walk you through basically the steps and get to help you get started. So that is a free. Training that you can access any time. But like, there's more to it. Cause obviously it's like, well, at the end, if you want to work with me, this is what you can do. So there's all these steps and layers, and it's not just a training, like there's all this backend stuff that needs to be done. So it's like, that was one of the things that was like, you know, that you're capable of doing it, but sometimes you just need someone to be like this step one, step two, step three. Just like you listen to her that you probably come to this podcast and listen to tactical steps. What you need to do the list. Yeah. And that's really what I,

Alyssa:

like I told you, I was just like, cause this is in regards to workflow queen because I do a terrible job. Which I'm sure everybody listening does a terrible job of talking about their own stuff, because like, we think that we're talking about it all the time. When, like people don't see every email, they don't see everything just like for a great message for everybody is like, you're not talking enough about your **** is all I have to say, like you usually are not. And like, if you think you're being annoying, you're not because people subscribe to your stuff, they can unsubscribe and they can leave. They chose to be in your world. And so for me, one of the big things is I need to start talking more about what we do and implement bigger strategies here at workflow queen. And that was like the biggest, I was just like, dude, I really want to like hire out like an, a marketing assistant. I've got all. Cause that was originally what I told you. I wanted to work on. I was like, I just wanna hire a marketing assistant, but then it was like, but what's going on? Like, why aren't you moving this for like, what's happening? Because I know how to build the job description. I know how to interview the people. Yeah. Yeah, I hire amazing, incredible people all the time, but why is this one stalling me? And then you kept asking the questions of like, to get deeper. I'm like, I just need someone to push me. Like, I just need someone to like, I'm just tired of making the decisions, or I just need someone to bounce an idea off of. Yeah. And listen, or who's already done it where I can just be like, you don't have to tell me everything. I don't need to see your emails. I don't need to see all the details. I just want to know, give me the asset list. What do I need to create? So then I could just like, be like, guys, this is what you're creating right now. Yeah. Yeah.

Serena:

Absolutely. And, One of the other times that you were out visiting me, we kind of did the same thing where I just was like, this is a theme. I know this

Alyssa:

isn't chaos. Alyssa comes visit Serena. Alyssa gets fine. That's fine. Make some money. And she's okay. She's not stressed anymore. Uh, yeah, it's true. It's the same cycle. Every time I realized that every time we've ever met up in person, That wasn't for the, like, for like BK X or like our, my own retreats or something. It was literally because, well, even at your own

Serena:

retreat, I coached

Alyssa:

you. Remember that. I need to go see Serena. That's like my new thing. She's like, I pretty much am here to be your therapist. I'm like, Pretty much I'm your secret weapon, but that just goes to show that like, sometimes your motivation comes in different forms. Some people are doers. Like we talked about this, like your human design and stuff. You're like such a doer and a go, go, go. And I'm just like, not my energy just needs to be like, I know that your energy needs to be protected as well. But what I mean is like, I definitely need to recharge myself almost every day. Like I literally, you saw me this morning. I did one hour on my computer. It's like my first day back from three weeks. One hour and I'm sitting there like I'm done. And Serena was like, what? And I was like, I literally am. I'm just over it, but you weren't, you did end up doing more. I did, because you were like, just do it Alyssa, like just put the thing together. And I was like, no, but then there's this. Cause I was making all these excuses trying to overcomplicate it. And you were like here's templates that you can find that from this person that you can purchase. Which goes to show. That's why we build what we build is like, yeah. It's because. Why would you try to like build all these things from scratch? Just today, I was able to do something that I haven't done in a while that just made me money. Yeah. Just from like, just using templates that already exist from someone who's been there. Done that. Yeah. Like. Like, why wouldn't you just do that? You know what I mean? Yeah. So the motivation that helps with like, when you have other resources or people to lean on

Serena:

yeah.

Alyssa:

Community. Yeah. People that can

Serena:

direct you to the right resource because. Yeah. In your mind. A lot of times we will over-complicate things because we don't know what's available to us. We don't know that that resource exists. And so you feel like you have to recreate the wheel, not recreate the wheel, but like create. Like from the wheel, like

Alyssa:

when all the answers are probably somewhere. Probably out there. And I think that that just is like the motivation factor. I mean, I know that you go through moments, but I feel like what I have seen from you, which is funny how we just operate differently. Just as humans, we were talking about this today, about how we can have the same firm. And she was, I was like, let me see your notion. Like I want to see what you're doing in notion. And I, because sometimes you just want to see how other people are doing stuff. It's like, it's so crazy that we can run the same business. But yet have things set up so differently. Yeah. I don't know where I was going with that. I told him a little bit like. Oh, we

Serena:

were talking about like our energy levels and like I've definitely been through.

Alyssa:

So you went, I noticed that when you go through life, pretty like hefty **** in your life. I noticed that like, You're just like, I don't care about them. Not that I don't care about the business. That's not the right word. What I mean.

Serena:

Relinquish control.

Alyssa:

Like you're just like, yeah, that's what I mean by I don't care. So your, I don't care. Turns into, I just trust the universe. Like that's what I've seen from you is like, you just lean in and you're like, if whatever's going to happen is going to happen and I'm going to let other people take over. And like, that's also sometimes when, like we disappear for us, but I'm there for you. You always feel like you can always call me, but there are times like that, but I've noticed that about you in your business. Like, for me, I'll just fucking spin in quarter. It's like circles and circles and not. And I need someone like so bad just to like, get me out of my hole that I'm digging for. you spiral. Yeah, but you're different. Like, it's just funny that we both just do things a little bit different.

Serena:

I think there was definitely a time in my business where I did act that way.

Alyssa:

Yeah.

Serena:

Especially if I felt like I didn't have control in my life, that was when I was really bad about that. And then to be a hundred percent honest, my outlook and the way that I run my business completely changed whenever I went to your breakthrough retreat. Oh. Because I escaped that's when I figured out like what I really wanted my culture to be like, like I've always had the first one

Alyssa:

Nashville.

Serena:

Yeah,

Alyssa:

I like that. Yeah. Like I always have the time. You're really, you're just like gatekeep information for me. I feel really offended right now. I should have given you the feedback form. As I thought you were a speaker and I don't need to give it to you. Apparently

Serena:

I should

Alyssa:

have given

Serena:

you one. Well, I, did a testimonial video cause they had the videographer or whatever. But yeah, I did, I really did feel like, because I did, I've always had that vision. I always knew I wanted a team and all this kind of stuff, but the missing piece for me really was, and I knew that before that retreat that I was like, I need to figure out What my culture is going to be like, like what values I really hold. Strongly for you. Yeah, for myself and for my team. When I left it on

Alyssa:

them. And

Serena:

so once I nailed that down, like, The things really changed. And I'm not saying that I've had every, every hire I've made is perfect, but I'm able to identify when people aren't right. Yeah. A lot faster. That's another question

Alyssa:

that too. But I think that at the end of the day, it's all about, sorry. If you guys hear a loud ass stinging, it's totally the church bell. So it's going to keep going for a good hot minute. So I'm going to find.

Serena:

Ms. Daljit for me since. The town I grew up in. How's this same thing. Every quarter hour, actually. It'll be like,

Alyssa:

oh my God, that's too much. This went off one time and Ian lovely. And who's, a Serenas brother plus also the one who edits our podcasts. Yeah. He once I was flagged to me and he was like, there's like background noise or background music. So I had to go check the podcast. And it was the bell. And I was like, dude, I'm not, I'm rerecording. Like it's just life. Like I can't it's every hour.

Serena:

Yeah, and it will deem it dings the number of

Alyssa:

did, you know, I didn't know that my mom came to visit me. And she was like, did you know that it dings a number of hours of the hour it's at? And I was like, no way. So if anybody wants to test that, It's really annoying. Yeah. 12 and I'm like, Kate, we're still here. We're still going. I'm so sorry. I don't even know where we were going with our conversation. Cause we got interjected by this lovely church bell.

Serena:

Um, yeah, it's nostalgic for me. Cause the town I grew up in had the same thing. Yeah. But it wasn't the church. It was actually a university. I think actually I don't really know. I'll have to fact check myself on that.

Alyssa:

Yeah. Again, we can just Google your city and just look it up.

Serena:

Uh, um, but yeah, we were talking about like relinquishing control and just kind of like letting go, but I would not have been able to. React that way or respond. Really. It's not a reaction. It's a response in that way. Without having gone through the work of building my team culture. And what I really like the type of people I really needed on my team to execute because I was able to step back from my business for almost an entire year, while I dealt with some really heavy personal stuff.

Alyssa:

Yeah.

Serena:

And my team ran the business, which is great for the most part. Like. I feel for

Alyssa:

that,

Serena:

they would still like check in with me. Like I wasn't completely Mia. I still showed up to meetings and stuff, but like, we.

Alyssa:

They didn't need you if it wasn't necessary.

Serena:

Yeah. There was a lot of time where they just, you know, figured it out, figured it out. We surprise.

Alyssa:

It's a good message for anyone who's listening. Like you think that everyone needs you all the time and it's because you give them the opportunity to always need you. Yeah. And if you remove yourself, I bet you. Your bottom dollar. You bet your bottom dollar. That literally they will figure it out. I can't tell you how many times I've been gone on like my month trips and I'm like, Nope, I'm not answering any of your questions because I'm not one. I don't have the apps on my phone. I delete all of them. Yeah. But two, I don't want to like, Don't ask me questions. I, I'm not gonna answer. And by the time they'll, they'll slack, there's so many times where I'll see messages that were deleted or it'll say deleted. And I swear to you and I'm like, because they will figure it out. Like your team will naturally like figure it out unless they really need your answers.

Serena:

Yeah. Which if they do,

Alyssa:

then you've created that diameters. Also that says only reach out to me if which is on my vacation, debrief that we gave at the retreat actually. And we give them breakthrough. And it says pretty much. It's our emergencies. If our ads fail or we get hacked or payroll doesn't get ran, like, then you can reach out to me. Yeah. If it's not on that list. No. Yeah. Yeah, I'll get ignored. I will not answer. It sounds really crazy because people think I'm crazy.

Serena:

Yeah. But like What's happening for the people that are like, well, I can't do that because my team still has all these questions while you've, you've actually created that. The question. So the question monster back or whatever. Yeah. Because you've allowed people to come to you and ask you every little thing, and you've given them an answer without, asking them to come up with a solution.

Alyssa:

Well, that has

Serena:

now they're afraid, or they have come up with a solution. You shot it down

Alyssa:

that, or like you haven't given them the confidence to trust themselves. Or the other thing that I always see too, is that like, It's easier. I know for myself, I would wave either, especially now at this point in my journey, like way rather have someone else answer the question. Like it's so much, I would not want to think through anything anymore. I'm just like at that place where I'm like, everyone else come up with the strategy, everyone else come up with the solutions. I no longer want it to be me. It's the same. So imagine like the team as well, the team typically gets to a point to where it's like, it's much easier to ask Serena. It's much easier to ask Alyssa. Than it is for me to solve it on my own, because I know I have to do the research and I don't want to, but like you have to force them. So one thing that we do that's. I say is N sounds annoying, but it kind of is annoying, but it works really well. Is when a team member asks a question, what do you think? Yeah, Brooke does it too. So Brooks Von does it all the time. And she's like, yeah. I just tell, I throw it right back at him and say, what do you think. And then they'll usually say, and usually it's right. Yeah. Usually they always have this. They just

Serena:

Weren't like, like really trusting their own instincts. Did you check Google drive? Did you check notion?

Alyssa:

Yeah. Did you check that text message? Yeah. Did we did we do everything that we could to get the answer to this. Or like the best part is, is like I have a team member and she always asks me like random questions sometimes about the bookkeeping she's new. So like, I give her some grace on like asking me questions, but she has strict rules and she always had to come up with a solution. And she always will reach out and she'll be like, what's this? And I'm like, well, what do you think. And she'll tell me. And I'm like, exactly. So. Uh, like what's the problem. Like you're, you're fine. Like you and she's like, I know I'm just like, I'm new and I'm just trying to figure it out and I'm like, I totally get it. Like it's totally fine, but just know that like, did you check the places? And then not only that, but one time I remember she asked me a question about like, was like some sort of expense or transaction or do you know this? And I'm like, honestly, you probably know more than I do. I don't even touch that client's books because we have our account manager. I'm like, I don't touch it. I wouldn't know the answer to that. I'm like the last person that you want to ask the question to. And there's that too. So I sometimes pretend like, I don't know the answer sometimes I actually don't, but sometimes I like. Literally I'm like, I have no idea, but really I do. And sometimes I just want to see what they say and be like, surprise. You're wrong. And you're

Serena:

freakin

Alyssa:

wrong. Just kidding.

Serena:

People are going to listen to this and be like, what is wrong with you guys? This is not allowed anymore. Okay. Do we have other questions? No, I didn't. I feel like we should do a part two because. I thought

Alyssa:

the people are going to want the part two. Okay.

Serena:

So let's conclude. Let's conclude. Did we learn today? But Serena and Lissa and Alyssa are crazy. Yeah. Yeah, it's okay. They're great. Great. Uh, and there were also human I'm like talking about us in third person. They're

Alyssa:

also human and we're human, very human, the really the big messages. Well, the questions were about how do we meet. Yeah, all the things, everything just ties back to like, just getting support, whether it's support from your team, whether it's support from like people. I like find your people, your motivation sometimes. Like you need to look outside yourself. Because if you can't find motivation, I've learned this about myself. You've got to lean on other people. It could be like reading for whatever your energy boost is to get you re motivated and re excited about your business. Like. Just know, like it never goes away. You won't always be excited. You should have ups and downs. So it's like, The major message here.

Serena:

Yeah. And like I was, I remember giving you like a couple different ideas here and there. I was like, well, I know what helped me last year. Cause I went through kind of the same thing where I was just like, Went through a lot of life stuff. I had taken a step back from, you know, front-facing stuff. And I was like, you S you started to get used to that. When you're in that phase, right? Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, I don't know if I want to keep doing this. It's like, I don't know if I can and I don't know if I want to, but I know that like, The passion is still there. I needed a boost. Right. And one thing that did help me was like, I went to a, an in-person event. So the other theme is like connecting with other humans

Alyssa:

in real life. And people like sometimes not in the same industry. Yeah. Because that's another thing too. A lot of accountants and bookkeepers, just go to the same. In the very specific stuff. The other things you find other marketing ideas like me and, you know, some crazy marketing ideas that nobody's ever done in this space. Yeah, because we look at other industries like that's how you get reinspired.

Serena:

Yep. So I did that. I went to an in-person event in December and I didn't even actually. That's a very loud truck. I know. I didn't even actually like attend every day of the event. and I knew I wasn't going to be able to cause I couldn't be there for the whole thing. But I went in with the mindset of like, I know I can't be here for the full thing. I'm not going to get FOMO, but I'm going to be a hundred percent present and participate in every activity that is during this day that I can be there. And there was some literal, like life-changing emotional stuff that happened in that event. And. And it wasn't an accounting event.

Alyssa:

Yeah. I would pretend like this is so stupid. I think, I don't know if it was you that I was just talking to about this. I always pretend like I'm going to die the next day was. Was that in the morning where I was like, Here's my philosophy. Well, I'm just going to die. Maybe it would, if I died tomorrow, then I'm not going to want to work. So I closed the laptop. That's like defeats the whole point of what I'm trying to say. I was

Serena:

on my death bed tomorrow when I really want to be working today. If someone

Alyssa:

asks you what you wish you would've done. And then I told Serita, well, that's probably my problem of why I never want to work every day because like, whatever. So anyways, we're

Serena:

afraid of dying. At one moment.

Alyssa:

Remember that one moment last year, like I had a good, like three months where I thought I was going to like die. This is some deep, but we're not going to get that deep people. But yeah, I had a whole good hot. Like legitimately thought, like something's freaking me out. Remember I got my will done and like was freaking out. I was like, that's just kept coming up. Yeah. That's it's too dark for everyone here. Anyway, that's like my life. But I'm no longer feeling like that, which is weird. It just went away like out of nowhere. But the reason what I've tried to say is like, sometimes I go to these types of events and always say like, if I wasn't here in two days and I wasn't alive. W like you would put yourself and talk to people. You're not going to go and like, say I'm only here on this earth for two more days. I'm not going to talk to anybody. That's not really how it goes. So like, if you just go into those events, as scared as you are, that you don't want to have conversations with people, you don't know, it's just like get in and just pretend like you're not going to be here in two days and that you can make all these friends and that you would have your last lasting memories, then you would go all in. Yeah, that's my secret sauce.

Serena:

I agree. I mean, that's, how I've kind of been. Living my life, the past couple of years of like, and pursuing things that I did not pursue previously in my life, because. I mean, you get to this realization at a certain point in your life. For me, I told you I was almost 40. The other day and you're like, you're not almost 40. I'm like, I will be in three years. I'm like that's three years from now. Like you're so crazy. But it's like, Because of the life experiences that I've had. And you also shared your mom. Yeah. So like around an age that you're almost, yeah. My mom passed away when she was 39. And so like things get real, real. Good fast when you get into your late thirties and you start re-evaluating everything. And I think everyone kind of has since COVID, but like, it's like on another level for me right now. And so I constantly am like, It's like my litmus test of like, should I kind of like your whole, should I be working out or doing something fun? I try to balance it, but I am kind of doing the same thing where I'm like, when I'm on my death bed, am I going to regret not trying this thing? And that's part of why, like, I didn't even know there was a road right there because my neighbor too. We're going to get mad at them later.

Alyssa:

That's the church where.

Serena:

But yeah, that's My litmus test is like, when I'm on my death bed, am I going to look back at this moment and wish that I had not, or had pursued this opportunity and that's why I've been pouring so much time, energy into my music because I'm like, that's your passion. Yeah. you're in a different school. Always wanted it. Great. Yeah.

Alyssa:

Seasons of life of seasons of life. All right, so that's part two. And what else are we talking about? So we get the people excited.

Serena:

Oh, , some other tactical stuff. Yeah. We're going to probably

Alyssa:

swear. We'll talk about tactical

Serena:

things. We are going to talk about, because I have had people in my community asking about like setting up SOPs for your firm and yeah. and proactively delegating, which I think is a really great topic. Yeah. so stay tuned for part two.

Alyssa:

Yeah. We'll talk about all the things. All right. And probably get distracted. Yeah. And be prepared for church bells.

Serena:

Yeah, and cars and birds and. Squirrels squirrel. Bears, maybe. I don't know, fish. Fish bites. All right. We'll see you on the next episode.

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