Are you exhausted right now?

Most folks we know are, right?!

Together, we are all coming off a couple of tough years, and collaborating in an entirely (or mostly) virtual model requires us all to work differently. The old ways don't work as well anymore - we can't just pop our heads over the cubicle walls and ask co-workers “what’s up"?”. Instead, we have to peck things out in an email/Slack/Teams/WhatsApp… or schedule* a Zoom/call them to ask questions. It takes more work. And confusion can often reign supreme.

In the days of old, as in less than a decade ago, the technology was far different than today. And the mundane task load was heavy. Opening mail, entering transactions, cutting cheques, printing invoices, mailing stuff…and then filing, filing, filing!

Not anymore more. Cloud technology has changed all that.

I recently realized that not everyone knows about app-generated, copy/paste 2FA back up codes.

I was posting about sharing 2FA codes with team members in my FBGroup and an inquiry came up asking what these wee bits of magical security are (the inquirer didn’t call them “wee bits of magical security”, that’s all me). I couldn’t find a good article to reply with about them that wasn’t app-specific.

So I decided a quick overview - right here, right now - was in order.

Using tech to create 5 Star Client Experiences

We have had many renovations done over the years. Some went better than others.

The one thing that was consistent with the great experiences were great processes that were clearly communicated.

We have another one coming up in January and we are using a contractor that we used previously. We loved our experience with them and are happy to be having them do the work again.

What is the definition of an accountant?

Someone who solves a problem you did not know you had in a way you don’t understand.

Now back to the real purpose of this note…

Next week I am leading a session on branding and marketing for accounting professionals with the Dext Academy.

Last week I suggested some homework for it - visualizing your best you and what you want your business to look like.

Start to visualize - really, really visualize - the 5 Star Business, the 5 Star Client and the 5 Star You that you desire.

Make some quiet time just for you, create stillness in your mind. Close your eyes, picture what kind of business you want to run, what kind of accounting professional you want to be and what your rewarding life-work would look like.

"It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price"- Warren Buffet

It's also far better to adopt a wonderful app at a fair price than a fair app at a wonderful price.

Or a free app that sucks the time and efficiency out of your business rather than enhancing it.

"If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?"- Joe Nameth

I have chatted before about back-ups, data location redundancy and internet security. Some of you may have listened to me go on about the need to adopt a cloud security policy and communicating it - some of you have done my workshop on it.

Before I launch into my favourite systems and automation that have changed the way I work and live I need to preface with three key things you must do before you create any automation.

And I want to emphasize that systems, routines and processes are as powerful as automation.

Not everything needs to be automated - in fact automation can wreak havoc if not thought through properly.

I can’t stress enough the importance of backing up your cloud data and implementing 3 location redundancy

“Redundancy for the sake of redundancy was my salvation.”

In 2005 my business was in a building that suffered a fire, and it burned to the ground.

I was already on my way to internet-based file management but more importantly, I was practicing 3 location data redundancy.

It was my saving grace for having my business up and running the next day, and client files intact.

Often a simple solution can solve a big problem.

The internet has been getting a workout; lately, that’s for sure.

::Understatement Alert::

Many of us are struggling with inconsistent internet service.

Sometimes it is the provider or where you live - there are many things we simply can’t fix about our broken internet.

But there are three best practices to keep your internet and computer running as smoothly as possible.

We’ve all become acquainted with Zoom.

Or Facetime, Go To Meeting, Google Hangouts, Skype (does this still exist?) - pick one - they are all of the same ilks.

Love them or hate them, the virtual meeting platforms will continue to be a prominent communication tool in our business lives.

It doesn’t take much to move your day from the monotony of mundane tasks and manual systems to the magic of efficiency.

By changing up your tech stack with three simple adoptions, you will find yourself thinking of your day as rewarding rather than busy!

“Stop overthinking. Just do three things.”

I had a good bookkeeping life before cloud accounting technology rolled around. In fact, it was great.

I meet a friend from University for a couple of beer a few times a year. We catch up on kids, business, spouses and then we always wind up in a discussion about ailments.

Well then just try living without it once you have started to implement it. In life and in business.