Packed with practical ideas and some frank observations, Mindshop’s ‘The Authentic Advisor’ Podcast is a series of monthly interviews discussing what works (and what does not) when delivering high performance as a business advisor. Watch out for new episodes on the first of each month.
Subscribe to Mindshop’s ‘The Authentic Advisor’ Podcast series on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
EPISODE 21: Top global accounting trends and future opportunities for firms
As President and CEO of the 2nd largest association of independent accounting firms across the globe, Mark Koziel is in a unique position to provide insights into future trends and opportunities for accounting firms.
In this wide-ranging discussion with James Mason, Mark shares his thoughts on how firms can address increasing client demands, strategies for growth in the face of capacity issues, and his thoughts on the ‘compliance is dead’ narrative. Touching on the keys to a successful merger, blockchain, and even the future of hybrid events, this is not to be missed podcast from someone with a worldwide view in touch with hundreds of industry leaders.
EPISODE 20: Driving performance, a Managng Partner’s perspective
Helen’s story is an unusual one and what sets her apart from other accountancy practice leaders is her background of more than 30 years in Human Resources. With a belief that culture is what sets apart great professional service firms she’s gone about guiding WR Partners through a time of intense change. Generously sharing her approach to driving strategy implementation across the business, Helen talks about how to tap into discretionary effort to boost business and personal performance and tips on how to tackle ‘cave dwellers’. A not to be missed episode for senior leaders looking for a playbook on how to drive firmwide performance.
EPISODE 19: Systematising a high performing advisory business
What’s the secret to creating leverage in an advisory business?
Mindshop’s James Mason talks to Sean Martyn about the approach he’s taking with Business by Design, taking a ‘done for you’ approach based on great systems and processes, why systemisation ‘kills waste’ and the importance of not ‘winging it’ when selling. Listen in to hear a wealth of insights from somebody with 25 years’ experience.
EPISODE 18: Advisor to entrepreneur – a story of rapid growth
As an established business owner and entrepreneur, Adrian Romero has been on a rapid growth trajectory, now employing over 500 employees across a range of businesses. In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason sits down with Adrian to discuss the secrets to his growth success and how a focus on return on time is crucial to allowing him to stay productive and juggle his many commitments. A must listen for advisors wanting to get an entrepreneur’s perspective on achieving business success and helping clients.
EPISODE 17: Recruiting right – how to find the ideal candidate
for your business.
Attracting great staff is more challenging than ever and employers are finding they’re no longer in the box seat. With less people in the market expecting more money, plus work from home flexibility, wellbeing support, career progression and great social activities, how can employers hope to get it right? James Mason talks to Suzanne Whitmarsh, Managing Director at 1st Executive about the importance of ‘getting your house in order’ before starting the recruitment process and why just writing up a position description is no longer going to cut it. Listen in to learn about employee expectations in today’s market, workforce planning for a robust business and why people really leave a role.
EPISODE 16: Family business succession planning, an advisors’ guide to having challenging conversations.
Often for the head of a family business, work is intrinsic to their sense of self, the foundation of their relationships, status and position in the community and the question of succession planning is one that’s avoided until too late. Harry Kras has been facilitating in the challenging but rewarding family business niche for over 25 years and he shares his story, approach and insights with Mindshop’s James Mason in this fascinating podcast. Listen to Harry’s thoughts on what it takes to be a great family business facilitator, why trust and communication are key and what a great opportunity advisors have to make a difference in this space.
EPISODE 15: Attraction and retention of the best talent
Duration: 24 minutes
Attraction and retention of good staff is already a challenge. Then add an alleged post-pandemic ‘great resignation’ and it’s looking insurmountable. One firm going against the tide is US firm Herbein + Co, Inc enjoying low turnover rates and high levels of unsolicited employment applications in contrast to many in the accounting world. In this podcast, Herbein’s Managing Partner David Stonesifer shares the strategies and culture making a difference in their firm with Mindshop Founder and Chairman Dr Chris Mason. Dave talks about the importance of mutual respect, having an understanding that sometimes life gets in the way and why being a ‘destination employer’ is about giving employees a voice, getting professional accountants to do the talking and handing out a swag or two.
EPISODE 14: Purpose beyod profit – connecting with your local community
Duration: 21 minutes
EPISODE 13: Virtual productivity insights for independent advisors
Duration: 25 minutes
Paul Hopwood hasn’t had a face to face meeting in 18 months and that’s the way he (and his clients) like it. Mindshop Expert, chartered accountant, and independent advisor of over 20 years, Paul talks to Mindshop’s James Mason about the lack of downsides to working virtually, (apart from the toll on your eyesight). Working with over 60 retainer-based clients, Paul reveals how he has increased his productivity 400% and suggests virtual training and coaching are actually better than face to face. Learn what technology, tools and processes Paul uses and what he’s going to revert to (or not) when we get back to ‘normality’ in this thought-provoking podcast.
EPISODE 12: Beyond the numbers, bringing your team on a business advisory journey
Duration: 24 minutes
Business advisory conversations come naturally to some. But bringing a wider accounting team with differing levels of interest and aptitude on an advisory journey requires structure, tenacity and planning to successfully turn informal chats into commercialised services. Wendy Davies, Director of Business Advisory at Nexia Perth, Australia talks to Mindshop’s Managing Director James Mason about busy accountants, why ‘taking your own medicine’ is key to confidence and how to enthuse and educate your team. Sharing tips on building problem solving skills, Wendy talks about blending advisory into compliance delivery at the individual level to accelerate referrals, ensure authenticity and client engagement on a deeper level.
EPISODE 11: Overcoming mindset barriers
Duration: 21 minutes
This compelling episode charts Angela Grogan’s successful journey from taking shorthand as a receptionist to becoming partner of an accounting firm and then making a leap of faith to go out on her own as an independent business advisor. Angela reveals how having a great mindset helped her overcome challenges of juggling family and the risks of setting up on her own to achieve her goal of becoming an integral part of her clients’ businesses.
Touching on practical ways advisors can overcome typical mindset barriers of being ‘too busy’ and ‘lacking capacity’ so they can break the habits holding them back, Angela talks about the importance of energy, overcoming the ‘imposter syndrome’ and how to surround yourself with the ‘right’ people for success. A great listen for anyone wanting to be inspired with some entrepreneurial spirit.
EPISODE 10: A master class in coaching leaders
Duration: 22 minutes
Dr Chris Mason
Chairman and Founder
Mindshop
EPISODE 9: Packaging and pricing advisory services
Duration: 22 minutes
Pricing and packaging high value advisory services is challenging. Should you offer monthly retainers or hourly rates? What do you do when your prospect goes pale when you tell them the price? How do you avoid scope creep? Mindshop Expert Russell Cummings answers these questions and more drawing on his 35 years of experience as an independent business advisor talking to Mindshop’s Managing Director James Mason in the upcoming episode of ‘The Authentic Advisor’ podcast series.
Russell Cummings
Director
SHIFFT
www.shifft.com.au
EPISODE 8: Scaling up advisory services in professional service firms
Duration: 25 minutes
In episode 8 of ‘The Authentic Advisor’ podcast, James Mason Managing Director of Mindshop is joined by David Smith, Managing Partner of MHA Henderson Loggie, Chartered Accountants, Tax and Business Advisors a 110 year old firm with four offices across Scotland. David shares his journey in growing MHA Henderson Loggie’s advisory businesses, exploring how the development of four Growth Hubs supported by one to one coaching became a conduit for further advisory work and firm-wide referrals.
If you or your firm are looking to create or scale up your business advisory offering then this is the podcast for you!
David Smith
MHA Henderson Loggie
hlca.co.uk
EPISODE 7: Evolutions in delivering strategic planning services for advisors
Duration: 23 minutes
In a rapidly changing world, the need for a strategic plan to be a guide rather than set in concrete is imperative. As Dwight Eisenhower said, ‘planning is everything, the plan is nothing’. Michael Burke shares his key tips for helping clients implement plans successfully, looking at risk, using forward thinking tools like strategic SWOT and how to help clients prepare for ‘black swan’ events. He shares his ideas on how to get the best out of a client’s strategic planning session, setting pre-work, how to navigate planning session pitfalls and the importance of avoiding the ‘cookie cutter’ approach. A ‘must listen’ podcast for any advisor offering strategic planning services.
Michael Burke
Burke Corporate Advisory Group
www.bcag.net.au
EPISODE 6: Shifts in selling advisory services
Duration: 20 minutes
Discussing what selling advisory actually means in the current environment and how the market has changed over recent years, Mike Boyle, Director, Sales Shift, touches on the critical shift advisors need to make from ‘being right’, with a focus on technical capabilities to being a facilitator with the attributes needed to problem solve for clients, all summed up in the mantra “fall in love with customers’ problems not your solutions”. Mike talks about the power of asking questions to connect the dots based on data and insights and the continuing importance of building the fundamentals – sales processes, strong referrals and demonstrating proof of capability whilst being authentic to yourself.
Mike Boyle
Sales Shift
www.sales-shift.com
EPISODE 5: Profiling tools for advisors
Duration: 20 minutes
Profiling is a key tool for gathering data and starting meaningful client conversations for an advisor. Susannah Brade-Waring shares her insights into the different types and uses of profiling tools and how they can be integrated into their wider business model to deliver the most value for the client and advisor alike.
Susannah Brade-Waring
Aspirin Business Solutions
www.aspirinbusiness.com
EPISODE 4: Building resilience
Duration: 17 minutes
How can advisors and their clients adapt well in the face of adversity? Dr Darryl Cross, psychologist, coach, author and speaker discusses how advisors and leaders can gain the mental toughness, energy and attributes to build the resilience needed to support their teams, clients and themselves.
Dr Darryl Cross
Institute for Leadership Coaching, SA, Australia
www.leadershipcoaching.com.au
EPISODE 3: Advisory technology for professional service firms
Duration: 17 minutes
In this ‘must listen’ podcast for those in accounting firms who want to provide exceptional advisory services through the effective use of technology, James Mason is joined by Dixie McCurley, Co-Founder and President of Trusted CFO Solutions, based in Atlanta, GA, United States.
Dixie McCurley
Co-Founder and President
Trusted CFO Solutions, GA, United States
www.trustedcfosolutions.com
EPISODE 2: Leverage in Advisory Firms
Duration: 16 minutes
In this episode, James Mason is joined by Craig Stanmore, CEO of Enspira Financial an advisory and accounting firm in Sydney, Australia. Discussion focuses on the different ways business advisors can improve efficiency and capacity, and how various technologies can assist in ‘unlocking the numbers’ to problem solve for clients.
Craig Stanmore, CEO
Enspira Financial, Sydney, Australia
www.enspira.com.au
EPISODE 1: Marketing for Business Advisors
Duration: 16 minutes
In this inaugural episode of ‘The Authentic Advisor’ podcast series, Mindshop Managing Director James Mason interviews James Atkins who shares his experience and ideas on how to create cut through in a cluttered business advisory market.
James Atkins, Director
Vantage Strategy, Melbourne, Australia
www.vantagestrategy.com.au
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