Issue #37 - Diagnosed at 30+: Blake Oliver Shares His ADHD Journey
From ADHD clarity to team burnout and fixing your messy tech stack, we’re diving into what’s really happening behind the scenes in today’s firms.
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
If you run an accounting firm, there’s a good chance you’ve found yourself thinking, “It’ll be faster if I just do it myself.”
The truth is, most firm owners don’t struggle with delegation because they don’t want help. They struggle because it feels risky. Letting go of control, even just a little, can bring up fear: fear of mistakes, of slowing things down, of clients noticing. But the alternative? A practice where every task stops with you. Where your team can’t grow, and you can’t step away.
Delegation is about creating clarity for yourself and team. When you delegate well, you’re not just handing something off. You’re explaining why it matters, what success looks like, and what resources are available to get it done. You’re building confidence, not just in them, but in yourself as a leader.
Letting go is hard, but it’s also the doorway to growth.
Also, the biggest difference you can make in your firm isn’t adding more tools, hiring more people, or working more hours; it’s simply learning to share the load with intention.
That’s the small change.
And it makes all the difference.
Community 🫶
Accelerate 2 Advisor Community By Lisa Campbell
This is a breakthrough community for bookkeepers and accountants who are still deep in the day-to-day work, but ready to step out of the technician role and start building a business that runs like a system, not a scramble.
Inside, they focus on helping you clarify your true value, tap into where your real power comes from, and learn how to call in what you actually want: more time, money, and freedom. It’s about setting intentional goals, taking aligned action, and also learning how to show up and get your business seen in a way that feels right for you.
The Bookkeeping Buds By Cindy Schroeder
This community is where women running bookkeeping firms come together to realize their dreams. In this lively and supportive community, you'll find a wealth of knowledge, inspiring ideas, and a sisterhood of like-minded women all working towards building the businesses they’ve always envisioned.
Bookkeeping Buds blends the best of both worlds: a dynamic online forum and monthly Zoom meetups, creating a space where you can connect, learn, and grow. Every quarter, they help you stay focused on both your business and personal goals, ensuring you achieve balance and success.
Their private Slack channel is like your own little clubhouse, perfect for getting advice, sharing wins, and asking questions. Plus, their member directory is a great way to connect with small business owners looking for your expertise.
Thrive 2025—ATAP’s premier Practice Management Seminar
Come connect with accounting, bookkeeping, and advisory professionals from across Canada for two days of learning, networking, and real strategies to help you grow and future-proof your practice.
Thrive 2025 is happening September 25–26, 2025, at the Ottawa Conference and Events Centre, and it’s the perfect chance to step out of the day-to-day and focus on what’s next for your firm.
Not a member yet? The Affiliate Membership is a great way to get access to Thrive 2025 and other exclusive perks throughout the year.
If you’re looking for fresh insights, powerful connections, and tools to take your firm to the next level, this is where you’ll find them.
You’re One Step Away From a Better Tech Stack (and a shot at $1,000 to build it)
We’re wrapping up The Flavor Stack campaign with a bang!
Just in case you missed it, we're hosting a live raffle draw on September 30 at 1 PM EST, and four lucky firm owners will each walk away with $1,000 to upgrade their tech stack.
Yup. Real cash. Real tools. Real transformation.
Here’s how to enter:
✅ Take the Flavor Stack Quiz here (if you haven’t already)
✅ Discover your firm’s tech flavor
✅ You’re automatically entered to participate in the raffle.
Winners will be selected at random during the live draw on YouTube (turn on notifications).
H🔥t today
Stalled Career Paths Are Causing Top Talent to Leave
Workday’s 2025 Global Workforce Report is sounding the alarm on a triple threat business leaders can’t afford to brush off: top performers are leaving, career growth has hit a wall, and employees are losing trust as AI shakes up the workplace without clear communication.
The report points out something many firms overlook, while leaders are busy recruiting outside talent, their best people are slipping away because they can’t see a future for themselves internally. Add to that the uncertainty around AI reshaping roles, and you’ve got a workforce that feels anxious, disconnected, and left out of the bigger picture.
How can firm owners and business leaders reverse this trend?
This article from CPA Practice Advisor expands more on it.
NASBA, AICPA release proposed revisions to CPE standards
The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the AICPA issued an exposure draft of proposed changes to the Statements on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs, Journal of Accountancy reports.
According to a news release, the proposed revisions to the CPE standards are designed to “address emerging learning methods, further clarify credit-awarding mechanisms, and ensure continuing professional education remains relevant and responsive to evolving professional practice needs.”
The CPE standards, published jointly by NASBA and the AICPA, provide the framework for developing, presenting, measuring, and reporting CPE programs.
“These proposed revisions reflect the hard work and collaboration of the CPE Standards Working Group, NASBA’s CPE Committee, and the Joint AICPA/NASBA CPE Standards Committee, as well as input from stakeholders across the profession,” Erin Scruggs, associate director of NASBA’s National Registry, said. “As learning technologies and delivery methods evolve, it is essential that the standards adapt to maintain the quality and integrity of CPE.”
Swipe this workflow template
Swipe this Business License Renewal Checklist Template by Amanda Starkey.
Get more templates from firm owners like you in our community template library.
Meme
Relatable?😀
Events
📍Master the Intuit Bookkeeper Certification: Your Complete Guide to Passing Fast and Building Credibility (September 25, 2025)
Join the FREE workshop that reveals everything you need to know, including how to pass quickly and whether it's actually worth your time.
Your instructor for this session is Margie Remmers-Davis, who is transforming accounting education by making learning hands-on, practical, engaging, and fun!
With a background in software training, she realized that traditional methods focus too much on theory and not enough on real-world application. This led to Akadian Accounting Education, which has since trained over 20,000 bookkeepers, equipping them with the confidence, clarity, and practical skills they need to thrive in an evolving industry.
📍 The 10X Virtual Bookkeeper’s Bootcamp - October 15th (Virtual)
Join hundreds of bookkeepers for the 10X Bookkeeper’s Bootcamp, a one-day, virtual event where six industry thought leaders will share their proven 10X strategies to help you:
Earn more without working longer hours
Streamline your systems and workflows
Attract higher-quality clients
Grow your revenue and profit with confidence
This is your chance to learn directly from experts who’ve scaled their own firms and helped countless bookkeepers do the same.
Registration is free.
📍 Find Your Calm at Workflowcon 2025 – November 12 - 13, 2025 (Virtual)
If your days feel like a tug-of-war between deadlines, client pings, and a team that needs answers five minutes ago, WorkflowCon is built for you. Two focused days to step out of the noise, reset your systems, and come back to the work with more clarity, more control, and a lot less stress. It’s 100% virtual, free to attend, and open to every accounting and bookkeeping professional, not just Financial Cents users.
You’ll hear from industry leaders, connect with peers who understand, and discover new ways to create a practice that runs more easily, with less stress and better results.
It’s your chance to reset, refocus, and finally create the space your firm and your life deserve.
NoteWorthy
Discovering ADHD After 30 Years: Blake Oliver’s Journey and How It Has Shaped His Career
Picture this: you’re sitting down with your family for a relaxed dinner when, out of nowhere, your mother casually reveals a piece of your history that changes everything—"Oh, by the way, you’ve had ADHD since you were 10.” That’s exactly what happened to Blake Oliver.
After 30 years, the founder of Earmark and a successful CPA discovered that the key to many of his life’s challenges and victories had been hidden in plain sight.
Diagnosed with ADHD as a child but unaware of it until adulthood, Blake’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and adapting to a neurodivergent way of thinking that has shaped both his personal life and his career in public accounting.
For many neurodivergent individuals, being confined to a rigid office environment can be stifling and counterproductive. Blake struggled immensely with this during his brief stint working at a traditional accounting firm.
Why Executives Should Focus On Energy Management Over Time Management
Time management, long considered the cornerstone of productivity, assumes every hour is equal. Yet research and experience show the opposite. A strategy session at 9 a.m. sparks more clarity than the same discussion at 4 p.m. after several meetings. One energized hour can create more impact than three unfocused ones.
For most of the 20th century, productivity was measured in hours. The industrial model valued time on the clock and visible activity. In today’s knowledge economy, hours don’t tell the whole story. What matters is the energy people bring to those hours.
This begs a new question for leaders: Instead of asking, “How can I fit more into my schedule?” Start asking, “When do I have the energy to do my best work?”
That small shift changes the way leaders design their days, their teams, and ultimately their organizations. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right things at the right time, with the energy they deserve.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Share your POV in the comments.
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Until Next Time,
