Accountants are creative too (no, not the illegal kind)

Accountants are creative too (no, not the illegal kind)

Accountants are creative too (no, not the illegal kind)

I’ve been thinking for a long time about the creativity of accountants (the good kind). 

In the past, i would say most accountants wouldn’t consider themselves creative. That word is for artists, photographers, writers, graphic designers. People who do creative-y things. 

But where does that impression come from? Why is it we think some people are creative, and some aren’t? 

I love the quote attributed to Picasso: 

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

(It’s not completely clear whether he said it or not, but it looks like he held to the spirit of the quote, if not the letter.)

Every human being is creative, and has creativity within them: and that includes accountants. 

But for accountants, the creative spirit does get quashed a bit – with laws and checklists and penalties and double entry systems, right numbers and wrong numbers. The “getting it right” approach (which is absolutely correct for an accountant doing good work for their clients) lets you down a bit when it comes to marketing, and creativity, and curiosity. 

Because in marketing, there’s no right answer. There are good guidelines, and other people (or firms’) experiences, and suggestions, and best practice….but what works for one accounting firm might not work for you. What works for one person might not work for you. 

So you have to get creative. Try things. Explore. Be curious. 

And you can. 

The more I work with accountants, the more I discover that when they accept their (and their team’s) creativity as a fact, their marketing is better. It appeals to the right kind of clients, and instead of finding marketing to be difficult or even scary, they get excited and enthusiastic. 

Because this issue is so important (and can have such a massive impact on your firm’s marketing, and on your own enthusiasm for it), I’ve decided to run two events on this topic within the UK

(If you’re not in the UK, feel free to fly over here. Or request we come to your city in the States!!) 

I don’t usually use these Notes to promote events, but these are free, and I believe they have the power to change your life, your firm, and the loyalty of your team members. They’ll love your firm better because of what you learn here.

The events are for accountants only (or those who serve them), because that’s our target market and that’s who we know best. 

Join us in Edinburgh or Manchester (or both!). I was going to say “if you’re nearby”, but we already have accountants from way down south booking on these events, booking hotels and trains, and making a real effort to come. We’re capping it at 100 so book now or forever hold your peace! Ha! 

Here’s all the info.

 

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ON THE GRAM

Popped into a fave local coffee shop in York this week and this was the mug they gave me. ❤️✨

Wasn’t feeling so superwomanny when I got it - this week was very full, plus period cramps and multiple migraines and my ankle being wonky and more travel than I’ve done in a while. I had intended to get coffee but the cramps were so bad I had to go for mint tea and just sit until they faded enough for me to walk again. 

At the same time, I also had an amazing time during this week with the @weare_pf Board meeting in person for the first time. Getting to know each other better as humans and sharing ideas and making plans and most of all appreciating that the weight of all the business decisions doesn’t rest solely on my shoulders. 

This is just one of your reminders that being a superwoman looks different at different times, and whether you’re striding along strongly or sitting weakly with mint tea, your superwoman status still applies. 

#justkeepgoing #superwoman #muglife #wegotthis #onedayatatime
Every single time I go sailing past this lighthouse on the mull-to-Oban ferry I think “this time I’ll just watch it and not take any pictures” 

And then something wild happens like A SAILBOAT GOES BY and of course I have to capture that, surely I haven’t taken that photo before (spoiler: I have), and then I have about seventeen lighthouse photos to add to my collection of seven thousand lighthouse photos from the last twenty years. 

But, I figure, what’s the harm anyway. It’s my photos and my memories and it brings me joy. I love the lighthouse as a visual of my journey from the mainland to the island (or a reminder I’ll be back soon). 

So, see you soon lighthouse. Thanks for standing there. 

#lismorelighthouse #eileanmusdile #lighthouse #lighthousesofinstagram #oban #ferry #calmac #isleofmull #sailaway #sailboat #scotland #travelscotland
I read. A lot. My list of “books to read” has over 100 titles listed, and every time I mention a book I’ve appreciated, I get another recommendation of a new one and the list gets longer. 

One of the books recommended to me years ago was “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”. She mentioned it had some helpful principles about how we navigate life - and whether you’re a buddhist or not, there are principles you can learn from and apply in life.

I wrote it down, forgot about it, and moved on with life. Read lots of other books.

And then when I broke my ankle, and was sitting and resting a LOT, with loads of time for reading, I went back to my list and started reconsidering some of the titles on it.

When I looked up “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”, the subtitle was “A Handbook for Happiness”, and that struck me.

Dealing with an injury is difficult. Sad. Wearying. It can be hard to find happiness and every day feels about the same. (Very Groundhog Day.)

So I bought the book, and put it by my bed. I started getting into a pattern of reading a chapter every morning with my coffee.

I thought I’d share some of the principles I appreciated and which are already helping me as I continue to navigate my life right now: 

[the full post on these is too long for an Insta post so click the link in bio or story if u want to read more!]

Thank the spoon - a spoon stirs up the mud in what had appeared to be clear water. Same with life: hard things stir up what you haven’t dealt with yet. So you thank them. “Thank you, spoon”

The Fundamental darkness (FD) - the “Survival Obsessed Self” who responds in a way based on survival but not growth

There’s a gift in the struggle - He describes it visually as “the lotus flower in the muddy pond”. You can focus on the mud, or on the flower, but they’re both there.

Nam - myo - ho - renge - kyo : The happiness soundtrack - I pulled out the core concepts of each of these words as they applied to me, and they are: 

Purpose
Mystery
Potential 
Bloom in the struggle
Flow of life

#karensnotes #buddhainmebuddhainyou #books #reading #happysaturday 

[full note link in bio!]
The snow is swirling the wind is howling IT’S FROZEN OUT THERE 
#snowing #happyspringeveryone #inlikealion