Don’t get lost in your own business

Richard Brewin • April 30, 2019

It’s sad just how many caring, hard-working accountants (and their clients) end up lost within the frustrations of their own firms. The vision and energy of start-up have been replaced by the stress and compromise of “too much to do and not enough time to do it”. A common thread through many of these is […]

It’s sad just how many caring, hard-working accountants (and their clients) end up lost within the frustrations of their own firms. The vision and energy of start-up have been replaced by the stress and compromise of “too much to do and not enough time to do it”.

A common thread through many of these is a blurring of the firm’s true identity brought about by a dimming, or even loss of the owner’s vision, values and beliefs.

Without clarity of vision and values, an entrepreneurial business becomes just a job, and few people set up their own firm simply because they want to do a job. Instead of being driven by purpose, the business becomes a reaction to workload.

Failing to share your vision, your values, what matters to you, with your team, client and network, only feeds a lack of understanding about your business and makes it harder to work with and attract the right people and clients.

Such things are, of course, personal to each and every one of us. The only vision that is right to you is the one that you believe in.

So, purely in a spirit of collaboration, and in the hope that it may encourage some of you to give more thought to your own approach, here is our vision and the 5 rules that we live by and share at ProgressBB:-

Our vision is to help caring, hard-working accountants in practice to re-discover their mojo and, through that, to help their clients re-discover theirs. We want accountants to be seen, respected and valued in their true light. The rules that drive us are then these:

  1. Show your passion
  2. Be true to your beliefs
  3. Be consistent with your actions
  4. Be decisive with your thoughts
  5. Always have time

These are shared with every client, at every Mastermind Day and with all those who work with us. Those who ‘get it’ are great people to work with. Those who don’t, well it’s not meant to be, and that’s fine.

The Art of Saying No Without Losing Clients

By Richard Brewin • December 5, 2025
In the Accountant/client relationship, “yes” often feels like the default. Yes to urgent requests. Yes to timeline shifts. Yes to “just one more thing” added to the scope. We want to say yes to our clients. We want to support them, be helpful and build more work, but every unqualified additional yes becomes an invisible cost; on your time, your margins, and your wellbeing.  Bold accountants think differently. They know that “no” isn’t rejection. It’s honest and professional. It’s a strategic decision that protects quality, strengthens relationships, and reinforces your value.

From compliance filer to trusted coach: The role waiting for accountants willing to start the client conversation

By Richard Brewin • November 28, 2025
Let’s be honest, most business owners have a perception of an accountant that probably falls far short of our ambitions. They want someone who helps them make sense of the chaos, plan for growth, and sleep better at night knowing someone’s got their back, but their accountant doesn’t usually spring to mind as this person. What they dream of is a coach, not an accountant, but, weirdly, they often don’t trust coaches but do trust their accountant. Their accountant can be both, so the client gets the trust and the coaching

AI in Accounting Firms: Key Considerations for Leaders Today

By Richard Brewin • November 17, 2025
Artificial Intelligence isn’t the future of accounting — it’s here now. From automating repetitive tasks to delivering deeper insights, AI is transforming the way we work, serve clients, and lead teams. But for firm leaders, success isn’t just about implementing technology; it’s about doing it strategically, responsibly, and humanely .  Before diving into the ‘how’ and making piecemeal decisions, accounting firm leaders need to consider the ‘why’…and its not as simple as “because everyone else is”.