Issue #30 - "My Focus Has Left the Chat"
What ADHD, approval anxiety, and a $1,000 accounting game show have in common
Welcome to "Get Work Done," where we discuss the complexities of efficiently running accounting and bookkeeping firms. Brought to you by Financial Cents and delivered to your inbox every 2 weeks.
Small Change, Big Results
Let’s start with the obvious: accounting doesn’t exactly scream “ideal environment for an ADHD brain.”
You’re expected to sit still, think linearly, and stay inside the lines all day. But what if your brain doesn’t work that way? What if attention shows up in bursts, deadlines trigger paralysis, and focus is a moving target?
The trick isn’t to force neurodivergent brains into neurotypical molds but to design workflows around how you function.
Sabrina Parris, CPA, for example, swears by analog planners and low-stimulation mornings. Linda Lee Hahn uses music and visual structures to anchor her day. Blake Oliver, CPA, built an entire business model that feeds his need for novelty and speed. None of them beat their ADHD into submission, but successfully built systems that let them work with it.
If you’ve ever struggled to keep your focus inside the lines, here’s what might actually help:
Externalize everything: Don’t rely on memory. Use visual tools, lists, reminders, whatever helps get it out of your head.
Design for dopamine: Make work more rewarding by building novelty, urgency, or immediate feedback loops.
Work in waves: Break tasks into sprints. Don’t fight hyperfocus; use it strategically.
Use accountability anchors: Co-working, peer check-ins, and routine can keep momentum alive when motivation fades.
Customize your workflow tools: You don’t need a perfect system. You need one that reflects how your brain works, on your best and worst days.
Managing ADHD in a field that loves precision is about design. Maybe it’s time to create space for neurodivergent creativity, intuition, and energy.
Community 🫶
Introducing Mentors Count Community by Yuri Kapilovich, #ThefunCPA
Mentors Count is a peer-led community for accounting staff, seniors, and firm owners who believe in the power of practical, non-biased mentorship. Founded by Yuri Kapilovich, CPA, this is a space to ask questions, share hard-won lessons, and support each other’s growth, whether you're navigating your first busy season or scaling a firm.
Master Your Practice with Dawn Brolin's Coaching Course
If you're tired of spinning your wheels, chasing deadlines, and watching your passion fade under piles of client files, there’s a better way, and Dawn Brolin is here to show it to you. Dawn offers a range of coaching programs to ensure that every professional, whether they’re just starting out or looking to take their practice to the next level, has the right level of support.
In this course, you'll learn how to build a bulletproof business model, price with confidence, streamline with the right tech, and so much more.
Join the Financial Cents Customer Meetup at Scaling New Heights
We’re hosting a casual, come-as-you-are meetup at Scaling New Heights, and you're invited! This is a chance to connect with fellow FC customers and get a special thank you from our team.
Date: Monday, June 23rd 2025
Booth number: #184/185
Time: 10:40 am - 11:20 am EST
See ya!
H🔥t today
Who Wants to Be an Accounting Millionaire
What happens when accountants go head-to-head in a high-stakes quiz show?
Who Wants to Be an Accounting Millionaire is where accountants battle brains, nerves, and the clock for a shot at $1,000.
The premiere episode is live, and Nick Boscia, Owner of Boscia & Boscia P.C., is the first brave soul to take the hot seat. Armed with sharp instincts and years of accounting know-how, he’s up against 10 rapid-fire questions and a ticking clock.
Does he walk away with $1,000? Or does the pressure of the spotlight prove too much?
There’s only one way to find out.
P.S.: If you’d like to be a contestant on the show, send an email to marketing@financial-cents.com.
Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC Prepare to Audit AI Systems at Scale
As AI takes over more decisions, one question is starting to matter more: Can we trust what it’s doing?
This is where the Big Four are stepping in.
Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG are preparing to launch dedicated AI audit services, designed to independently assess whether AI systems are performing as they are supposed to without bias or hidden risks.
This isn’t just about ethics; it’s about accountability. AI models are complex and constantly evolving, and unlike a financial statement, they don’t come with built-in transparency. That makes external audits not just helpful but necessary.
The goal is to give businesses, regulators, and the public greater confidence in how AI is built and used. Think risk reviews, transparency checks, and governance controls aimed at keeping AI systems aligned with human intent.
It’s still in the early days, and standards are developing. However, one thing is clear: AI isn’t going to be unmonitored for much longer.
Swipe this workflow template
Swipe Tonya Schulte's Efficient Month-End Close Checklist Template.
Get more templates from firm owners like you in our community template library.
Meme
Relatable?
Events
📍 Scaling New Heights – June 22-25 (Orlando)
If you’re planning to be in Orlando, make sure we’re on your agenda. Catch the Financial Cents’ team at booth 184 & 185 to chat, answer questions, and show you what’s new inside the platform.
Here’s also something fun while you’re at it:
We’re hosting a $500 raffle at the Financial Cents booth! Just stop by to grab a free shirt and raffle ticket, then join us at the scheduled time for the live draw.
📍 Workflow Live with Steven Moos - June 24th (Virtual)
The 1040 might be one of the most common tax returns, but that doesn’t mean it has to be time-consuming or stressful. Whether you’re managing a high volume of individual returns or just looking to refine your process, this session is designed to help you simplify, standardize, and, most importantly, save time.
On June 24th, Steven Moos will demonstrate a simplified 1040 workflow, step-by-step, from document collection to review and submission. This includes tools and templates to help reduce back-and-forth.
BONUS: Attendees will get Steven's 1040 Tax Return Workflow template – an efficient checklist for simplifying the return process.
📍 NATP Taxposium 2025 – July 21-23 (Las Vegas)
The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) coordinates TAXPOSIUM. The conference educates tax professionals about industry hot topics, practice management strategies, and evolving technology. It also helps accountants connect with tax law experts and IRS representatives. This year’s event is your chance to refine your expertise, gain future-focused insights, and build a network of forward-thinking professionals ready to lead the way.
📍 Bridging The Gap Conference – July 22-24 (Denver)
Organized by Tri-Merit, Bridging the Gap is an annual accounting conference for accounting, tax, and finance firms. The event provides a blend of innovation, networking, and professional growth, bringing together leaders and experts from across the industry.
The theme for 2025 is “Expedition Innovation: Charting New Paths in People, Technology, and Practice,” and it promises to deliver inspiring keynotes, hands-on workshops, and unmatched networking opportunities
Noteworthy
You Know FOMO But FOPO Might Be Holding You Back
You know that feeling after a meeting or social event where your brain suddenly turns into a highlight reel of everything you think you messed up.
“Did I talk too much?”
“Why did I laugh like that?”
“Should I have said something smarter?”
That’s not just nerves. It’s something called FOPO: Fear of Other People’s Opinions, a concept named by psychologist Michael Gervais in this HuffPost article.
FOPO is sneaky, and it doesn’t always scream insecurity. Sometimes it looks like perfectionism, people-pleasing, playing small, delaying sending that email, choosing silence in a room full of noise, because you’re afraid it won’t land well.
This can be draining because constantly monitoring how you come across can make you feel like you’re working overtime to exist.
Most people aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are. They’re too busy replaying their own highlight reel of awkward moments.
So, how do you quiet FOPO when it starts creeping in?
Name it. Recognizing when you’re spiraling into FOPO helps you pause before you react to it.
Anchor to your own values. Ask: “What matters more, being liked or being aligned with who I want to be?”
Let go of mind-reading. You can’t control what others think, but you can control how much space their imaginary opinions occupy in your head.
Practice showing up anyway. The more often you speak up, even when you feel shaky, the easier it gets to trust yourself over the noise.
You’re allowed to take up space without needing everyone to approve of your actions.
Firm Spotlight: How Fiscally Professional Corporation Scaled a 30-Person Remote Team
Fiscally Professional Corporation's firm had quickly grown from just a handful of individuals into a thriving remote team of 30 professionals serving creative businesses across the U.S. and Canada.
But behind the excitement of that growth was a challenge the team was determined to overcome: They needed better workflows, clearly defined processes, and a single tool for managing tasks, projects, and client deliverables seamlessly, no matter where each team member was located.
It wasn’t for lack of effort or skill. Jessica’s team was talented, organized, and motivated. The real problem was simpler: they relied on general project management tools rather than software built specifically for accounting firms.
To sustain their momentum and continue delivering the high-quality service their clients expected, Jessica and her team knew they had to make a change.
Until Next Time,
