Firms that work with Renew Group have found that our five mindset principles sit at the core of an approach that enables accountants to take back control. You CAN run a successful accounting firm and have a life…the two are not mutually exclusive. Let’s dig into the principles so that you can access how they might relate to you and your firm:
Making the Firm the Number 1 Client: Treat your firm as you would your most valued client. This means you must dictate the terms of the client relationship. You decide when you do the work; how clients submit their information; when you need their information by; and indeed, if you will say yes every time they ask for something else from you. Renew firms literally put their own firms first, with some even going as far as giving their firm a reference number so that it sits on the top of the client list whenever they open their practice management system. And then they block out time EVERY WEEK to work on the firm at the exclusion of everything but absolute, genuine client emergencies.
Focus on Success, Not Just Survival: It’s not just about getting through tax season. It's about succeeding with flying colors. This means that you can no longer be all things to all people. To be at your best, you need to be very selective with the clients you take on and the sort of work that you do. If you want to be a trusted advisor, rather than a service provider, you need clarity on your target client. Remember Michelangelo’s answer when he was asked how on Earth he was able to create the David. “I just chiseled away at everything that was NOT the David.” What changes do you infer from that for your firm?
Playing to Win: Move away from the defensive, 'just-get-through-it' mentality. Adopt a proactive strategy that positions your firm as a leader, not just a participant. If you follow sports, no doubt you’ll have seen countless examples of teams ‘choking’…snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. That’s a ‘playing to not lose’ mindset. Renew firms play to win, plain and simple.
Embracing Abundance: There’s enough business for everyone. We very rarely come across firms who do not have enough work! Much more often, they have work coming out of their ears and have no idea how they are going to get it done. This means you should be saying NO much more than you currently are. Shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, opening doors to new opportunities and growth. Create the time to do more advisory work with the clients you really enjoy, who are profitable for your firm and value the work that you do.
Accountability is Key: Accountability is about being an adult. Doing what you said you were going to do. Sometimes it’s lonely out there, so having a group of your peers and an unreasonable friend who will get on your back when you fail to implement can make all the difference.
Tax season is often a mess because firms are simply not organized. That’s why we create the Renew Tax Season Kick-Off Checklist. It’s designed around the mindset principles, and it isn’t just a tool; it’s your lifeline this tax season. It provides clear, actionable steps to take control of your tax season workflow, ensure you have the right people doing the right things and enhance the client experience. If you’d like a copy, just let us know and we’ll email it to you.
If the thought of another tax season fills you with dread, it’s time for a change. The same old methods will yield the same old results – overwhelming workloads, unsatisfied clients, and a personal life on hold.
So, this tax season, don’t just brace for impact. Embrace the Renew Mindset and our checklist to transform your approach. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and finding success without sacrificing your well-being. It's time to change the narrative. Your firm, your team, and most importantly, you and your family, deserve this shift.
Shannon Vincent and Colin Dunn created Renew Group to create a better model and better lives for accounting firms. Our Firm Transformation Framework is the blueprint to a better model and a better life. Through education and training, templates, tools, and resources, coaching and community, our framework delivers life-changing results.
To learn more about transforming your firm, subscribe to Renewsletter. We offer practical tips to transform your accounting firm with Less Hours, More Profit, and Better Clients.
