The Smarter Accountant Podcast

Have you ever noticed how often you catch yourself complaining throughout the day? Maybe it's about the traffic during your morning commute, the mountain of paperwork on your desk, or perhaps even the occasional issue with the weather. 

Are you aware that your brain is wired to find faults, to identify potential threats, and to, in a way, complain? 

It's a natural survival mechanism, but what happens when this tendency seeps into your daily conversations, especially at work?

If you can relate, this episode is for you!

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Why we complain.
• Why it's a problem.
• How to stop or become more purposeful.
• The Smarter Accountant Way: How to not let complaining affect your intelligence.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the surprising way complaining affects your intelligence.

You can read the full show notes HERE

You can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

Have you ever wondered what it takes to have a sustainable accounting career?

Are there things you’re currently struggling with as a CPA?

Have you thought that there’s got to be an easier way but not sure what that is?

Reflecting on my 30+ year career in public accounting, there are three pivotal aspects that, if I had known about them earlier, could have made my journey as a CPA easier.

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• #1 - Stress is optional.
• #2 - Effective time management is essential.
• #3 - Work-life balance is attainable.
• Bonus - Brain management is the secret to an easier, more sustainable career.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the top 3 things I wish I knew before becoming a CPA.

If you haven't taken The Smarter Accountant Quiz yet, you can take it HERE.

You can find the full show notes HERE.

Have you ever felt like you're racing against the clock? Like you're trying to do a million things, but there just isn't enough time? It happens to most of us.

Think about the last time you had a loooong list of things to do. Did you ever wonder why it felt so overwhelming even before you got started? Is there more to it than just having lots of things to do?

Sometimes, we try to make everything absolutely perfect, spending tons of time on tiny details. Or on the other hand, we might procrastinate and then beat ourselves up afterward.  Do any of those sound familiar?

And how about this: your schedule is jam-packed with things to do, but you still can't get it all done in a day. Ever felt that way?

If you can relate, this episode is for you!

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Hidden Truth #1 - The Power of Simplification.
• Hidden Truth #2 - Managing Perfectionism.
• Hidden Truth #3 - Embracing Realistic Time Management.
• The Smarter Accountant Way: Managing Your Brain For Better Time Management.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion unlocking the hidden truths of better time management.

You can read the full show notes HERE.

If you're ready to become a Smarter Accountant, you can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE.

We've all been there, right? Faced with a choice, a chance, a path unknown, and then that nagging voice of doubt creeps in. It's that skeptical inner critic whispering, "What if it doesn't work out?" or "Is it really worth the risk?"

But here's the thing – some of the most remarkable achievements in life come from taking those leaps of faith, embracing the unknown, and saying, "Yes" to the possibilities.

Think about it. That new job opportunity you hesitated on? That business idea you kept on the back burner? Those adventures you postponed for later? Skepticism may have held you back from seizing those moments when they were right in front of you.

Sure, it's human nature to be cautious. We want to protect ourselves from potential failure or disappointment. But what if, just what if, those moments of skepticism are actually opportunities dressed in uncertainty?

If you can relate, this episode is for you!

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Understanding healthy skepticism.
• The belief that skepticism always reveals truth.
• The brain’s role in skepticism.
• The cons of skepticism.
• Overcoming limiting beliefs.
• The Smarter Accountant approach: Striking the balance.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the pros and cons of healthy skepticism.

You can read the full show notes HERE.

Have you taken The Smarter Accountant Quiz yet?  You can take it HERE.

Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about a happier work life while stuck in a meeting or at your desk?

Have you ever felt like you're on the verge of quitting your job due to unhappiness?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with your current job? What would it take to move that number closer to a 10 without leaving your job?

If you can relate, this episode is for you

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Common reasons for discontentment in accounting jobs.
• Understanding the role of your brain in job satisfaction.
• Why we feel the way we feel.
• The Smarter Accountant way: How to feel better at work.
• Additional tips to create a happier work life
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about how to be happier at work without quitting.

If you haven't taken The Smarter Accountant Quiz yet to see if you are underutilizing your accountant brain, you can take it HERE.

How often do distractions, be it emails, notifications, or constant interruptions, impact your work as an accountant? 

Can you recall a recent instance where you lost valuable time due to these distractions?

Imagine a workday where you accomplish more in a few focused hours than you usually do in an entire day. How would that feel? 

What could you achieve with that kind of productivity?

If you can relate, this episode is for you!

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Understanding deep work.
• The impact of distractions.
• Overcoming distractions and embracing deep work.
• Deep work and skill development.
• Your brain’s role in making deep work possible.
• The Smarter Accountant: Building a deep work culture in accounting firms.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the skill of mastering deep work and boosting your productivity.

You can read the full show notes HERE

You can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

Do you struggle with stress and overwhelm, especially during deadlines?

Are you working more hours than you want to?  

Do you have issues with self-confidence and imposter syndrome?

Do you struggle with difficult people, professionally or personally?

If you can relate to struggling as an accountant, this episode is for you!

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• The Motivational Triad - Why your brain does what it does.
• Self-Coaching basics - What you need to know.
• The tool every accountant needs to learn - The Model.
• The top benefits of self-coaching for accountant employees and entrepreneurs.
• Top benefits to accounting firms for their employees to learn the skill of self-coaching.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant: How I now have stress-free tax seasons.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the skill of self-coaching for accountants.

You can read the full show notes HERE

As mentioned on the podcast, you can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

Have you ever found yourself working late into the night, sacrificing weekends for your job, or feeling the weight of burnout?

Are you struggling to strike a balance between your professional ambitions and your personal well-being?

Do you feel like work constantly spills over into your personal life through emails, notifications, and never-ending to-do lists?

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Gina's struggle with boundaries and detachment.
• The truth about setting boundaries and work martyrdom.
• Setting time boundaries.
• Our brain’s role in setting boundaries and detaching from work.
• Overcoming boundary challenges.
• The Smarter Accountant way: Setting better boundaries.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about mastering boundaries and detaching from work.

You can also read the full show notes HERE

As mentioned on the podcast, you can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

Have you ever experienced moments of doubt about your abilities, even when your track record suggests otherwise?

Have you ever felt like you're just waiting for someone to realize that you don't truly belong or deserve your achievements?

If this resonates with you, just know that you're not alone. 

Research has shown that many accountants and finance professionals grapple with imposter syndrome, often driven by the analytical and perfectionistic nature of our work.

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Adam's Story: Issues with self-doubt.
• The truth about self-confidence, self-doubt, and Imposter Syndrome.
• Why you need to understand cognitive dissonance.
• Understanding Imposter Syndrome.
• Our brain’s role in self-doubt and a lack of self-confidence.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about tackling Imposter Syndrome and self doubt.

You can read the full show notes HERE

As accountants, we're often praised for our attention to detail, our analytical skills, and our ability to navigate complex financial landscapes. We pride ourselves on our dedication and commitment to delivering accurate and precise work.

Yet, beneath the surface, there can be a hidden cost to our professional success – our health.

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Heather's story: Health issues.
• The truth about your health as an accountant.
• Your accountant brain's role.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant.
• Accountants and burnout.
   

Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about when work is affecting your health.

You can read the full show notes HERE

You can take The Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

As accountants, we are often hyper-focused on numbers, deadlines, and deliverables.  But have you ever stopped to consider how your relationships affect your ability to perform at your best?

The truth is, relationships play a crucial role in our professional lives.  The state of our relationships impact our stress levels, productivity, and even our health.

In this episode, I discuss: 

• Rob's Story: Relationship issues.
• The truth about relationships.
• The impact on your time management.
• Your brain's role in transforming your relationships.
• The concept of "The Manual".
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant - Improving your relationships. 

So, are you ready to learn about the hidden impact of relationships on accountants?  Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

You can also read the full show notes HERE

We all know that criticism is an unavoidable part of life, especially in professional fields like accounting.  

But, whether you're on the receiving end of a formal review or providing feedback to others, the process can often be uncomfortable and awkward. 

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Mark's Story: Struggling with criticism.
• The brain's response to criticism.
• Subjectivity and past experiences.
• Retraining your brain's response
• Distinguishing criticism from feedback.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant - the art of handling criticism.
   

So, are you ready to learn about the secret to dealing with criticism?  Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

You can also read the full show notes HERE

As an accountant, you most likely believe you know how to handle other people’s money and finances. But let me ask you a few questions:

• How do you feel about money? 
• What is your relationship with your money?
• Do you know how to money (yes as a verb)?
   

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Your relationship with money.
• Your brain's role in making money.
• The "time plus effort" perception.
• Making a shift with brain management.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant - money mindset mastery.
   

So, are you ready to learn about money mindset mastery?  Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

You can read the full show notes HERE

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, comparing your life to the seemingly perfect lives of others? 

Or maybe you’ve compared your achievements, relationships, or appearance to those of your peers, feeling like you don't measure up? You're not alone.

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• The psychology of comparison.
• The negative effects of social comparions.
• Healthy versus unhealthy comparison.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant.
• What you can do.
• Harnessing the power of the brain-productivity connection.
   

So, are you ready to escape the compare and despair trap? Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

You can also read the full show notes HERE

Are you someone who often finds themselves struggling with productivity, despite putting in long hours and working hard? 

You know how they’re always saying work smarter, not harder? What does that even mean?
 

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Jeff's Story - Unraveling the Challenges of Productivity.
• Scheduling results, not actions.
• The problem with to-do lists.
• Becoming a Smarter Accountant.
• Signs of cognitive overload.
• Harnessing the power of the brain-productivity connection.
   

So, are you ready to reduce learn about the brain-productivity connection? Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

And if you don’t yet know your productivity score, you’re going to want to check out  the “Get Sh*t Done Quiz for Accountants.”  You can take it at https://thesmarteraccountant.com/productivity-quiz/.

You can find out your productivity score and get tips and information on how to get more done in less time, save yourself 5 hours a week, and learn what does and doesn’t work.

You can also find the full show notes HERE

Do you ever wonder why some accountants are good at managing their time while others struggle? 

Do you find yourself delaying tasks even when they're important?  

As the Get Sh*t Done Coach for Accountants, I'm proud to say that time management is one of my specialties. 

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• Time drama.
• Your brain's role in time management.
• The power of the prefrontal cortex.
• The effect of stress on time management.
• The brain's reward system.
• Resolving cognitive dissonance.
• The benefits of becoming a Smarter Accountant.
   

So, are you ready to reduce learn about your brain's role in time management? Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion.

You can also read the full show notes HERE

As mentioned on the podcast, you can take the Smarter Accountant Quiz HERE

Whether you’re in public or private accounting, why is it that we tend to overwork?  Why are there so many memes and jokes about accountants being tied to our desks?  

More importantly, is it worth it?.
 

After decades in public accounting, I have witnessed firsthand the culture of overworking that has become normalized in our profession and its effects. 

In this episode, I discuss:
 

• The culture of overworking in accounting firms.
• Factors contributing to overworking.
• The impact on our well-being.
• Interesting statistics about accountants and overworking.
• The concept of "work martyrdom."
• Seeking work-life balance.
• The benefits of becoming a Smarter Accountant.
   

So, are you ready to reduce some address overworking? Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and join the discussion about the overworked accountant.


You can read the full show notes HERE


As mentioned on the podcast, if you want to see how your accountant brain currently measures up, I suggest you take The Smarter Accountant Quiz.  It’s the starting point to see if and how you are underutilizing your accountant brain.

It only takes 5 minutes and you can check it out at www.thesmarteraccountant.com

As a CPA in public accounting for over 30 years, I know first hand about stress and stressful busy seasons. But, while stress and overwhelm have become normal in the accounting profession, it doesn't mean it's necessary. 

When you understand the cause, you have the power to change the effect.  First, you need to understand your brain's role in stress and some secrets to having a stress-free busy season.

In this episode, you'll discover: 

• The intriguing root causes of stress.
• The unique role of our lower, primitive brain in perceiving threats (even in non-life-threatening situations like work emails and deadlines).
• Why understanding how your brain works is crucial for your success as an accountant.
• My 3 secrets for having a stress-free day or a stress-free tax season.
   

I promise you, no other podcast, webinar, or continuing education course is teaching accountants what I teach on the podcast: the truth behind stress and how to reduce it.  

You can read the full show notes HERE

In this episode, you'll discover why understanding how your brain works is crucial for your success as an accountant, both professionally and personally.
 

You may be wondering, what does brain science have to do with accounting? As I explain in this episode, it has everything to do with it. 

By gaining insights into how our brains function and learning effective strategies to manage them, we can make better decisions, recognize cognitive biases, improve communication, manage stress and workload, and master the art of time management (to name just a few).

The best part is that I break down complex topics into simple, easy-to-understand concepts. Whether you're a seasoned accountant or just starting your career, this episode will provide you with practical insights that can transform your approach to accounting.

I also share powerful testimonials from my coaching clients who have experienced remarkable transformations by learning to manage their brains. Their stories highlight the immense potential that lies within each of us when we harness the true power of our minds.

So, are you ready to become a Smarter Accountant? Tune in to The Smarter Accountant Podcast today and unlock the place where brain science meets accounting.

If you want to see how your accountant brain currently measures up, I suggest you take The Smarter Accountant Quiz.  It’s the starting point to see if and how you are underutilizing your accountant brain.

It only takes 5 minutes and you can check it out at www.thesmarteraccountant.com

So, what does it mean to be a Smarter Accountant?

The reason I chose this as the first episode is that when you become a Smarter Accountant, you’ll see through the lies you’ve been telling yourself about what is “normal” for accountants. You’ll be able to have the accounting career, business and life you want.

Once you learn what I’m going to teach you each week on this podcast, you’ll gradually be able to see how much control you have over things in your work and personal life and how to achieve any goals you’ve set.

Time and time again, my coaching clients tell me, “You do know that this is life-changing, right?”. To which I answer time and time again, “I know! That’s why more accountants need to know this”.  And it’s why I believe this podcast will be so helpful for you.

The truth is that no one is teaching you how your brain works and how you are underutilizing it.

Listen in as I explain what you need to know to become a Smarter Accountant.

You can also read the full show notes HERE