3 Steps to a Happier practice

3 Steps to a Happier practice

Didn't find your answer?

No, I'm not a consultant or writing a blog or anything like that.  Just a small general practitioner like some (most?) of you, who's heading down towards Christmas and thinking 'how can I make things better next year?'  Not just to grow the practice further, but to have less of those getting out of bed and thinking 'not this again' days.

So, limiting yourself to 3 short bullet points, what 3 realistic and practical steps could you take to make yourself happier in your work life in 2016?

Away you go.

WS.

Replies (23)

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By Manchester_man
07th Dec 2015 18:46

1. Stop, pause and think before automatically accepting new clients. Are they the type of client you will be able to work with or are they likely to be more of a pain in the rear!

2. Systems.

3. Get systems / better systems in place.

Thanks (2)
By Tim Vane
07th Dec 2015 19:18

1. Buy a small-holding, build some pigsties, buy some pigs. Obtain a shotgun licence. Buy a shotgun.

2. Invite all my D and E clients in for one-to-one chats.

3. Feed the pigs.

Thanks (10)
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By wilcoskip
07th Dec 2015 20:05

Suppose I'd better add my own

Ok, mind would be:

1) Step back from lower-level compliance.  A part-timer to do payroll, bookkeeping and VAT returns would be a lifesaver.

2) Get organised.  Need a one-day-a-week admin person to keep my digital filing system up to date.

3) More face to face time with clients.  Improves relationships and often gets more work in the door.

Thanks (0)
paddle steamer
By DJKL
07th Dec 2015 20:29

My three:

1. Move to working part time in the day job (say three day a week) so I can spend the other two days running my part time practice and stop having to work all the evenings/weekends to manage both.

2.Have time to actively seek new clients to fill the two days.

3.Develop a website 

On the plus side the above is in progress and I hope to have transitioned by circa April.

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Replying to williams lester accountants:
By petersaxton
08th Dec 2015 08:37

Transitioned?

DJKL wrote:

My three:

1. Move to working part time in the day job (say three day a week) so I can spend the other two days running my part time practice and stop having to work all the evenings/weekends to manage both.

2.Have time to actively seek new clients to fill the two days.

3.Develop a website 

On the plus side the above is in progress and I hope to have transitioned by circa April.

I have heard that a lot lately. Are you sure?

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Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
07th Dec 2015 20:48

1, 2, 3

1. Do less work.

2. Do less work.

3. Do less...

Thanks (2)
FT
By FirstTab
07th Dec 2015 21:44

2016 happiness

Love Tim Vane's response.

1. Get to the office at 7:30 am  so I can relax and think. Then ease myself into work. Also, finish work earlier. 

2. Increase some of the existing clients fees.

3. Love my business a little less so I can have a balanced life.   

 

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Replying to Wanderer:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
07th Dec 2015 21:49

change

Do more stuff that isn't work. 1,2 and 3.

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By marks
08th Dec 2015 01:04

2016

1. Get IRIS fully up and running with automail, time and fees and openspace working.

2. Sytemise job process so staff can do all the closure work.

3. Start using AVN times up with new prospectives and possibly move to AVN full package as already have a number of existing clients who are interested in it.

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blue sheep
By NH
08th Dec 2015 07:22

as Eddie would say

1. Find a girl to love

2. She falls in love with you

3. you kiss and hold her tightly

Follow steps 1,2 and 3 and that sure feels like heaven to me

Thanks (3)
Replying to Duggimon:
By petersaxton
08th Dec 2015 08:42

But what about?

NH wrote:

1. Find a girl to love

2. She falls in love with you

3. you kiss and hold her tightly

Follow steps 1,2 and 3 and that sure feels like heaven to me

Every time I call my baby, and try to get a date

My boss says, "No dice son, you gotta work late"

Thanks (1)
Replying to accountingdude:
By SteveHa
08th Dec 2015 09:49

On with the theme....

petersaxton wrote:

NH wrote:

1. Find a girl to love

2. She falls in love with you

3. you kiss and hold her tightly

Follow steps 1,2 and 3 and that sure feels like heaven to me

Every time I call my baby, and try to get a date

My boss says, "No dice son, you gotta work late"

When my boss asked me to work late:

Friday night, and everything's right for the weekend...

So No!

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By Moonbeam
08th Dec 2015 12:04

Back to the topic

I spent the last 18 months working evenings and weekends. Yes I earned a lot, but not enough on reflection, considering the health consequences. I don't want my gravestone to just say "worked hard".

Since April I have given 3 months notice to 2 clients who needed even more time than I could give them.

From the beginning of this month, I've been free of both of them. I'm now twiddling my thumbs and feeling slightly nervous of not having enough work, and have too much free time.

Apart from doing a bit more marketing for higher value work, I am going to next try to force myself to take time off during the week. That will be very difficult to "enforce", but that's my resolution going forward.

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By petersaxton
08th Dec 2015 12:56

Two clients?

They must have been a big part of your practice if you are twiddling your thumbs when you get rid of them.

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By Rachael-SimplifiedAccounting
08th Dec 2015 13:09

Balance

My aim for 2016 is balance .. not the standing on one leg type but life ... so my three are:

1) Me time .. I've booked into my diary my runs and Pilates classes .. they are now booked and immoveable events ... started this in Mid Nov and am now a month in and so far I've only missed one run as my charming daughter had given me her bugs! I feel more relaxed and ready to face the day when I have exercised.

2) Business time .. as in the admin and filing side of things that always gets delayed until it gets urgent and then I have to take time to do it when I need to be working on clients instead.

3) Think twice .. just because a potential client wants to become a client, is that the right thing for me, saying no is a valid option!

 

Thanks (3)
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By colinstewart
09th Dec 2015 11:50

Tim Vane is right!!

Tim Vane has the answer - anyone want to buy a practice with a smallholding and pigs? Oh, and the firearms/shotgun licence doesn't go with it, but the Tractor is included :)

A) Learn butchery, FOR THE PIGS!!!

B) get rid of Windows and get your software in the cloud - Taxfiler/Xero/Group Office

C) Feed the pigs - Saddlebacks x Large White can dispose of a whole client in around 4 hours... get rid of those annoying clients.

 

Thanks (1)
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By Expat24
09th Dec 2015 16:19

Three things..

1. Work on a fixed fee basis

2. so, no timesheets needed

3. 14 day payment for fees.

 

Simples........

Thanks (0)
Replying to snickersinatwix:
By petersaxton
09th Dec 2015 22:07

What's profit

Expat24 wrote:

1. Work on a fixed fee basis

2. so, no timesheets needed

Simples........

And you can make losses on jobs without even knowing!

Thanks (2)
Replying to I'msorryIhaven'taclue:
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By Expat24
10th Dec 2015 19:13

Wrong Peter Saxton

petersaxton wrote:

Expat24 wrote:

1. Work on a fixed fee basis

2. so, no timesheets needed

Simples........

And you can make losses on jobs without even knowing!

....  not if you are good at it and know your client type!  It's all part of the expertise!

Thanks (1)
Replying to Tax Dragon:
By petersaxton
11th Dec 2015 10:16

Why keep records?

Expat24 wrote:

petersaxton wrote:

Expat24 wrote:

1. Work on a fixed fee basis

2. so, no timesheets needed

Simples........

And you can make losses on jobs without even knowing!

....  not if you are good at it and know your client type!  It's all part of the expertise!

I love your confidence. Keeping all your information in your head needs a big head.

Thanks (1)
Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
09th Dec 2015 16:53

My Three

 

Don't take on new tax return jobs in December or January (regardless of sob story) there is a reason that they are with no one else.Learn to say "no" to people a lot more (unless they have a large cheque).Enjoy what I am doing, if not don't do it.

 

I suppose I also need to consider buying some pigs.

Thanks (3)
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By North East Accountant
10th Dec 2015 11:33

Work Smarter

1. Total review and streamlining of all systems and procedures.

2. Be better at saying No.

3. Implement every other Friday off for Fun Fridays to do stuff I want to do. (Planned for 2014 but didn't happen)

Thanks (0)
By petersaxton
10th Dec 2015 11:43

Friday v Wednesday

By all means take Friday off if you want to do something for a long weekend but taking Wednesday off to do something breaks up the week nicely.

Thanks (1)