The Power of Planning – How a Simple Calendar Hack Can Transform Your Year
I know we’re already a few weeks into the new calendar year, but I was reminded again recently of just how powerful planning things in advance can be.
I was chatting with Roze, our marketing manager about how helpful it is to have all our webinars planned out well in advance – literally three or four months ahead – with the topic, the copy, and even the emails ready to go. It just makes everything so much smoother.
That conversation got me thinking about my own approach to planning – not just for business but for family life too. Over the holidays, I had this urge to map out our entire year as a family. Now, growing up, my dad used to plan out his catering business on a big Sasco wall planner, and I thought, “That’s exactly what I need.” So I told Stevie, my wife, “I reckon we need to go to Officeworks and grab one of those big planners.”
She had a different idea. “Why don’t you do it online?” she suggested.
Now, I love technology. I love the assistance it gives us. But I’ve never really liked how Outlook or Gmail lay out your calendar – it just doesn’t give me that proper visual representation of the year ahead. But Stevie’s suggestion made me have a look around at what’s out there.
And I found one.
The best part? It’s free. And it’s literally like having a Sasco wall planner online.
Introducing TeamUp – My New Favourite Calendar App
https://www.teamup.com/
Let me break it down. TeamUp lets you see all 12 months at a glance, and you can create multiple layers to organise different parts of your life.
First thing I did? Book in holidays.
Last year, we didn’t take enough. We had baby Vera – our fourth child – and it was a bit of a hard slog. This year, I wanted to make sure we had regular breaks. They don’t need to be massive, but just enough to reset.
To do that, I needed to know when my daughter’s school holidays were. I grabbed the school calendar, marked out all the term breaks, pupil-free days, and long weekends, then layered in our family holidays. The goal? To take a break every month or at least every second month, and spread them out so they don’t clash with peak times in the business – like tax planning or end of financial year madness.
Then I added in the important family stuff – birthdays, anniversaries, and some fun trips like a camping trip with my two older kids.
Next, I planned out key business milestones.
Every month, we have a Partners Forum where Riz, Sakshi, and I catch up. We also have our Thinking & Thanking Day – our team’s quarterly retreat. Then there are my key delivery dates for High Performance Accountants. Everything went into the planner.
What’s great about this tool is that you can toggle different layers on and off. So when I’m booking venues or holiday spots, I can easily see which times of the year are better – whether it’s heading down the coast in summer or going up north in winter.
Why You Should Plan Your Year Now
If you haven’t mapped out your year yet – do it now. We’re already in February, so the sooner you get things locked in, the better.
Having your year planned means you’re not constantly scrambling. You’ve already booked in the important things – holidays, key business dates, webinars – so all you have to do is take the steps.
The year will flow so much more smoothly because you’ve done the work upfront.
So if you’re looking for a simple but powerful way to stay on top of everything, check out TeamUp. It’s been an absolute game-changer for me.
Hope that helps – and happy planning!
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In 2020, Inspire faced a pivotal moment. With seven team members reporting directly to me, it was clear we needed a better structure. After some soul searching (and navigating COVID), we introduced the Diamond Team Structure.
This approach not only improved my capacity and mindset but also created clear reporting lines, enabling sustainable growth for Inspire. From 2020 to 2024, we scaled by simply duplicating these teams
Weve just found an incredible tool thats completely streamlined how we create SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
Using AI, it transforms Loom videos into ready-to-go SOPs in seconds!
Weve used it to build playbooks for roles across the team, and its been a huge time-saver as we onboard new team members.
An accounting firm owner asked, Whens the right time to have a leadership team?
We started ours when our team had nine team, with seven out of nine joining the leadership meetings.
Using the EOS methodology, we held weekly sessions to tackle challenges, improve, and grow.
Even if youre a small firm, start now.
Gather your core teamwhether its just you and a few othersand carve out weekly time to focus on the business.
Trust me, its a game-changer.
I often hear accounting firm owners say, I just need more clients. The solution they usually jump to is hiring a marketing consultant to drive traffic and boost sales. But heres the thing: before you spend money on consultants, you need to make sure your business is set up for success.
Step one is simple: sort out your calendar. Too many of us are running on fumes, stuck in the business, and not working on it. Free up time, get your systems in order, and create space for strategic thinking.
Next, lets talk about pricing. Have you adjusted your prices in line with CPI? When you look at the compounding effect of CPI over the last few years, youll see just how important this is.
And dont overlook your sales process! If youre still using hourly rates or outdated methods, its time to move towards monthly recurring revenue. Develop a product or package thats great for your clients and your business.
Once youve nailed down your calendar, pricing, and sales, THEN its time to think about marketing. And Id start with your existing clients. Often, referrals and repeat business can be much more valuable than cold leads.
The key takeaway? Build your foundation before reaching for that marketing consultant. Once you do, the results will speak for themselves.
A $23 salad is the best value
I’ve been ordering the same $23 salad for lunch almost every day for over a year, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made! 
At first, my dad, whos a former chef, thought I was getting ripped off, but this simple habit has actually helped me lose a lot of weight and gain more energy. It takes the decision-making out of my day and saves me time, which is so valuable.
Sure, $23 for a salad might seem expensive, but for me, the benefits have been priceless. It’s helped improve my health and productivity, which has had a huge positive impact on my work and family life.
Sometimes the best investments are the ones that pay off in ways you didn’t expect.
What’s a small daily expense in your life that might be worth a closer look?
Hey there, let’s chat about something you might be overlooking on your website. It’s not the homepage, and it’s not the contact page. Nope, it’s the team page. Surprised? I was too when I found out. So, let’s get into why this often neglected page deserves a bit more love.
First off, make sure you even have a team page! You’d be shocked at how many accounting firms hide theirs away in the About Us section, or worsethey don’t have one at all. But here’s the kicker: this page is super important. It’s not just for show. It’s the second most visited page after the homepage on our site.
Why is that? Because people wanna know who they’re dealing with. Whether it’s a potential client or a future team member, they all wanna see the faces behind the name. It’s about relationships, right?
Here are a few things to consider for your team page:
- Make it easy to findput it in the main menu.
- Invest in good quality photos. Seriously, it doesn’t cost much to get a pro to take some headshots and a group photo.
- Avoid stock photos. They’re often misleading and don’t reflect your real team.
Let’s talk photos for a sec. A good headshot can make a world of difference. You don’t need anything fancy, just a clear and professional picture. And make sure to include a group photo, even if your team is small. It shows unity and gives a personal touch.
Now, on to those stock photos. Please, just don’t. They can be super misleading. You don’t want someone expecting to meet a team that looks like it stepped out of a stock photo shoot only to find something completely different. Authenticity matters.
To wrap it up, your team page is a key player on your site. It’s where relationships start and where potential clients and future employees get to know who they’re dealing with. Keep it front and center, make it authentic, and don’t skimp on the photos. Trust me, it’s worth the effort.
Cheers!
One of the most significant advantages of a phone call is the opportunity it provides to establish a personal connection with your client. Unlike emails or text messages, a phone call allows you to convey your enthusiasm, passion, and sincerity directly. Your tone of voice and the ability to engage in real-time conversation can go a long way in building trust.
When you send a proposal via email, you miss the chance to address any questions or concerns your client may have immediately. A phone call allows you to discuss the proposal in detail, clarify any doubts, and provide immediate response to queries.
This is not only enhances the client’s understanding but also demonstrates your commitment to their needs.
📣 Join our vibrant Facebook Community and explore strategies to enhance the success of your accounting firm. Let’s grow together!
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Managing your client meetings and strategy calls can be a juggling act. Coordinating schedules, sending emails back and forth, and playing phone tag can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Calendly simplifies scheduling. It sets your availability and syncs with your calendar to ensure you’re never double-booked. 👍
📣 Join our vibrant Facebook Community and explore strategies to enhance the success of your accounting firm. Let’s grow together!
For more tips and trick around creating a High Performance Firm, follow us on our socials:
Grow a fun, super rewarding accounting firm that runs like clockwork. We help accountants go from feeling burnt out, working way too many hours, making an average profit and struggling to grow.
