by cstrauss | Nov 9, 2024 | Business, How to
I got the opportunity to create a brand new keynote specifically for accountants called “The P&L of Communication,” where I encouraged accountants to see P&L as “People and Language” – the real assets in client relationships. Accounting today is about more than numbers; it’s about understanding clients’ needs, communicating effectively, and bringing real value beyond the balance sheet.
I shared a Future Fit Framework to help attendees assess and elevate their approach moving into this rapidly changing business climate, along with a mindset called “Meliorism”—the belief that we can each make a positive impact through compassion, creativity, and kindness. This shift is crucial as accountants evolve into trusted advisors, connecting with clients on a deeper level and helping them navigate both their financial and personal worlds.
Ultimately, it’s about reframing the role. By embracing “peopling” skills, leveraging technology like video emails, and setting clear expectations in all interactions, “Expert Financial Accounting Professionals”, the rebranded language I suggested, create meaningful and lasting client relationships. It’s time to level up the accounting profession, redefine what it means to serve clients, and Reframe the accounting profession.
And to Carlos M. Garcia and Hector Garcia CPA who imagined and delivered the REFRAME2024 event, your BDA (Before, During and After) of this event was exceptional.
by cstrauss | Jun 5, 2023 | Business
I’ve spent the past 4 weeks on the road working with CEOs and teams all around the US and Canada, and I’ve found one thing that everyone is asking: “What can I do to support my team in being great at what they do, and help them see how individually and as a team they bring value and feel valued?”
I believe the answer to this question is based in our ability to access and embrace our humanity. Of course there are skills that leaders and managers need to know and apply, but mostly, it’s the human connection that will keep team members working up to thier potential. So how does all of this new AI affect our work and ability to connect with our mission, vision and values so that everyone feels a part of something bigger than themselves? Here’s my take…
AI has its merits for research, idea generation and process enhancement. But AI can’t replicate the depth, complexity, and emotional connection that come from genuine human-to-human interactions. Building meaningful relationships and a heart based human connection that brings people together requires the nuances of emotional intelligence, social context, and personal engagement, which AI currently cannot replicate. And I suspect it never will.
So, while it is important to embrace AI as a tool that can enhance certain aspects of our work and can increase productivity when used wisely, it is crucial to remember the irreplaceable value of human connection and the need for authentic relationships both in our professional and personal lives. Hopefully we are spending time paying attention to our humanity in both.
by cstrauss | Dec 30, 2022 | Business, Current Events, Life
To Complete: Definition: 1. To bring to a finish or an end:
2. To make whole, with all necessary elements or parts
It’s the end of 2022. For some of us, 2022 was a great year filled with growth, excitement and forward movement. For others of us, it was a year of challenges, obstacles and we are looking forward to putting it behind us.
Whichever of these you relate to, here are some strategies for powerful completion and for intentionally creating and attracting that which will make your 2023 your best year yet!
1. Review your year and assess what you learned. There is never nothing going on, and you are always learning. What did you learn and how can you use it to make your next year smooth and easy?
2. Look at the people in your world. Review whom you spent the most time with. How did that work for you? Are these people who bring you inspiration and energy? Or do they drain you? Choose where to put your time in the upcoming year. Be kind to others, but more kind to yourself. There is only so much time in a year, who do you want to spend it with?
3. Finances, did you meet your financial obligations? Is there some rearranging you need to do to make money more manageable? If it was all managed successfully, did your allocate your resources to make your world better?
4. Your environment, are your home and your work environment supporting you? Look around. Is there unfinished business taking up space in your environment? Those “unclosed loops” are taking up space and energy in your brain. Spend some time cleaning out unfinished business, or at least filing it away so it is not in view and put it where you can get it done later. Put a tickler in your calendar to get it done. Also, this is the time of year where retailers have sales on storage solutions. Get what you need to start your year free of physical/ mental clutter.
5. How are you? A simple question with a complicated answer. Take stock of your health, and make what ever appointments or arrangements you need to get to “as good as you can”, as 2023 begins. Nothing affects our experience as drastically as our physical well being.
And finally, what do you want to manifest for yourself in 2023? Take a moment to pause as we collectively step into this new year and get clear as to what your 2023 will be for you. You get one chance to live in 2023. Enjoy the moments as they happen! Wishing you a Happy, Healthy New Year!!
by cstrauss | Jul 15, 2022 | Business, How to, Life
What if competition was all in your head? What if it was only about you? Instead of comparing yourself against someone else’s current state of being, what if you only looked at yourself and where you are in comparison to where YOU’VE been. That is the Pursuit of Better.
I just spent a week in my professional association (
NSAspeaker.org) learning from, and networking with some of the people who are the best professional speakers, consultants, thought leaders and influencers in the country.
Here are a few of the prime take-aways, that apply to any business.
1. There is nothing more important than staying relevant. One of the best ways to stay relevant is to continue in the pursuit of better. We can all get better. We can update our knowledge, our training and learn what is applicable NOW, in 2022. We can see how the past informs the present, but learn from others as to how the present will inform the future.
2. Your personal and professional image need an update as everything has changed over the past few years. Is your image, personal and corporate as up to date as it could be? While at the convention in Nashville, TN, my friend,
Dr. Mary Kelly and I hired a professional photographer to update our headshots and generate some brand new images to use on social media and correspondence with our clients. What are you doing to update your image and to stay relevant? (See the above image as an example of updated as of this week!)
3. Set goals for the future. Are there people in your industry with distinctions, accolades and credentials that you admire? Is it time to aspire to achieving those for yourself? My dad always said, if you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. That’s all you can do. Is there somewhere you would like to be by this time next year? Take care of yourself, and for your own well being, work into the pursuit of better. – Carolyn
by cstrauss | Jun 7, 2022 | Business
Would your company benefit from a 4 day work week? In the UK, as they deal with massive labor shortages, they are spending the next 6 months experimenting with giving workers and companies the 4 day work week experience. If you are thinking of trying this (several of the companies I work with have this policy currently successfully in place), here are 3 things to watch for.
1. Be clear what a productive week looks like to each employee and department. Have metrics in place to ensure productivity stays at the level needed.
2. Let your team know that as a company/ CEO you care about them and are doing this to provide them with the quality of work/ life balance they crave.
3. To create company loyalty and bonding… every once in a while partner with a local charity on that extra day, and give your team members the opportunity to volunteer to support your community as a group.
by cstrauss | Nov 17, 2021 | Business, Comedy, Life
It’s November. Conversations, advertisers and in store displays have the Holidays front and center … already. However this year, before we make our holiday plans, I want to invite you to consider that you’re probably different now than you were pre-holiday 2019. (I’m skipping over the holidays 2020 as that was such an anomoly… and much of the reason for the premise of this post).
Here’s the thing. Everyone I’ve encountered, spoken for and consulted with over the past months have noticed that they are different. Are you changed in some way from this recent globally shared pandemic experience? The whole point of the human experience is to evolve and change. Can you identify how you have shifted since November of 2019?
These 3 questions might help:
1. Is there something I enjoy now that I didn’t know I enjoyed 2 years ago?
2. Are there people I’d rather be around now and others maybe not so much?
3. Are there aspects of my work I’d rather be focusing on, and others I’d rather delegate or spend less time doing within or outside of my current work situation?
As we move into the holiday season of 2021, just be aware, that everyone you will encounter is different in some way. Having compassion for them is the kindest thing you can do. Also, the only way for the people in your world to know how you are different is for you to share what is true for you now.
Here are a few things that are true for me moving into the holiday season 2021.
1. I love working with organizations to create teams that function better and are able to do more with less through my certification as a Working Genius Facilitator.
2. I love and appreciate the opportunities I have to Emcee conferences with “wicked smart” attendees, (people in the fields of Medicine, Business and Government, so far for 2022).
3. I’m looking for more laughter every single day. If you’re funny reach out and say “hi”. I also aspire to create laughter in every conversation I have, and through my podcast Another Day Above Ground.
Wishing you a joyous and evolved holiday season! –Carolyn
