Attention: This is a machine-generated transcript. As such, there may be spelling, grammar, and accuracy errors throughout. Thank you for your understanding!
Nancy McClelland: Welcome to She Counts the Real Talk podcast for Women in Accounting. I'm your host, Nancy McClelland. And every episode we're digging into the real experiences, challenges, and unspoken truths of life in this profession.
Dena Martin: Because if you've ever felt like you're the only one, you're not, and you shouldn't have to figure it all out alone. Special thanks to our [00:00:30] season three.
Al-Nesha Jones: Sponsors Bill, Relay and Karbon. We're so grateful to them for helping us bring these conversations to life, enabling us to share out loud what everyone's thinking, but no one's saying. Learn more about them on our sponsors page@accounts.io.
Jennifer Dymond: And remember, you can go to earmark.app to earn CPE credit. And please follow the She Counts podcast on LinkedIn to join the conversation.
Nancy McClelland: I am currently at my all time favorite conference, Bridging the Gap. And [00:01:00] in case you couldn't tell, today we are live and in person, not only with our amazing audience, but also with three incredible guests Anisha Jones, Deena Martin, and Jennifer Diamond. We're going to be sharing lessons about the importance of mental health and accounting, and how to run a sustainable accounting firm that we all shared on stage as speakers and learned in sessions and in the hallways for our listeners who couldn't be here with us. We're also going to be taking [00:01:30] audience Q&A. If you are here live, go to Participation town.com and enter the code THECA5. Many thanks to Chad Davis of Automation Town, who served with me on the BTG Advisory Board for creating this awesome free polling app. And we love watching each episode with a story. And this time we have a story from somebody who is an extra special extra guest. Come on up, Erin.
Erin Pohan: I'm [00:02:00] Erin Bohan. Two years ago, I stepped into bridging the gap for the first time and did not know anyone apart from their LinkedIn profile pictures. And I've shared this story several times on this very podcast. But today, I want to share more of an intentional, um, process that I've went through over the last two years because of bridging the gap. One [00:02:30] of the very first conversations that I had actually with both of you, Diamond and Nancy, was how in awe I was of all of the speakers who take the stage and share their knowledge with this community. And I wanted to do that. And two years later, I got to take the stage not only once, but twice and share my knowledge and start really important conversations that we all get to continue, um, and hopefully bring people together [00:03:00] that didn't know each other before this event. And I think that's really the spirit of bridging the gap. So thank you for letting me share that and let's go. Bridging the gap 20 2027 in Chicago.
Nancy McClelland: In Chicago.
Nancy McClelland: Thank you so much. Erin. Erin has the very special honor of having been a guest on the She Counts podcast or a moderator on the She Counts podcast the most times of anyone. And so I figured we'd just keep it running and like, get her way [00:03:30] up there on the leaderboard. All right, so we've got these incredible guests. Would you each just take a moment to introduce yourself to our audience?
Dena Martin: I am Deena Martin, the accounting navigator. I own smooth sailing business solutions in the beautiful Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge, Georgia. And I've been helping micro businesses for almost 22 years now.
Al-Nesha Jones: I'm Alisha, I'm a CPA and the founder of ace Group. I am based in new Jersey. There's only North and south new Jersey, and I'm in north New Jersey. I [00:04:00] run my firm for ten years. We are a full service accounting, tax and advisory firm. And our most recent claim to fame is that we have mastered the four day work week.
Nancy McClelland: Wow. Nice. And I'm actually going to interrupt for a second to say that at my very first Bridging the Gap, I attended a session by Anisha that really, really changed the way that we run our firm. I learned something every single year at bridging the gap that I end up immediately [00:04:30] implementing, sometimes before I even leave. I remember there was one year I was texting my admin and I was like, oh my God, we're going to do all these things right now. Like during this session. Um, Al Nicias was one of those sessions that just really made a difference in my life. So thank you very much. Thank you diamond. Thank you.
Jennifer Dymond: I'm Jennifer Diamond of Aspire Consulting Services based out of Portland, Oregon. I've been a CPA for 20 years and an improviser for 14 years, and I blended those two things that did not belong together. [00:05:00] Together about ten years ago to start an improv communications workshop for accountants specifically to be able to transition from compliance work into advisory work, because it's very different muscles. So, and I love bridging the gap. This is my second year presenting at Bridging the Gap. And it's, it's amazing just the heartwarming connection that we feel.
Nancy McClelland: Absolutely. It's definitely a feel good conference. Um, so we've got all these fantastic questions that have been submitted [00:05:30] by audience members and, um, upvoted. And there's one that has an overwhelming number of upvotes on just going to start with that one. What's one idea from bridging the gap that's going to change something you do next week? Mm.
Al-Nesha Jones: Who upvoted this?
Jennifer Dymond: Why?
Al-Nesha Jones: Why would you upvote such a hard question? I want my notes.
Jennifer Dymond: We would like to upvote accountability on the spot during a live podcast, please. We would love to see that. Let's [00:06:00] see.
Al-Nesha Jones: Here's what I will say. I did learn that because I am a ChatGPT girl, and I have learned that I am not using it to its full capabilities, and I need to circle the wagon on Claude and give it a second try for sure.
Nancy McClelland: That's fantastic. I actually have one that I can share. Um, Kelly Parks has given a session. Um, I've seen it actually a couple of times. I think I've seen Kelly do [00:06:30] this session twice and I've seen diamond. You do a similar session twice. So it's taken me four times to finally get to the point where I'm saying I am going to create a plan in my firm for what happens if something happens to me. I know a lot of y'all in the room were in that session. Was that a big takeaway? Yep, yep. So that that is something I know next week I'm going to be like, okay, it's time to finally do this good.
Jennifer Dymond: And on this podcast live, I will commit to holding you accountable [00:07:00] to that.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.Thank you. Nice. I love it. Nice.
Nancy McClelland: Dina, did you have any particular takeaway where you're like, no, I'm definitely implementing this in my firm.
Dena Martin: Well, the one thing that kind of stuck with me, the in the very beginning, Randi on stage was talking about who are you? And you aren't what you do. And just separating those things. And, and, you know, you talk about Nancy, about how hyper local you are. And I and you're always talking about that. And that has been something [00:07:30] I'm passionate about as well, but not as vocal about. And then listening to Randi talking about who really are you? And I'm starting to wonder, can I start marketing myself being much more hyper local as you do? Because that's part of your this is who I am, and that isn't part of my story, but I think I might start doing that because that is what I'm doing.
Nancy McClelland: Surrounding that and actually getting that out in the community. Yeah, absolutely. That's fantastic. Diamond.
Jennifer Dymond: My, [00:08:00] my commitment to accountability beyond holding you to your accountability. Um, I have, I have some follow up conversations next week that started this week that I'm looking forward to continuing next week. Uh, including, uh, collaborating on a new improv workshop that is blended with another, uh, professionals take. So I don't know if you were in John Josh's profession.
Nancy McClelland: To go to.
Jennifer Dymond: That one. Okay. He, he did a session on psychology of conversations [00:08:30] and there was so much overlap and connection between some of the things that I teach in the communications improv workshops. I'm really excited to collaborate with him on doing a blended workshop where he gets to talk about the neuroscience and the psychology, and then I get to come in with exercises that support that.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.That's fantastic. I was in the very beginning of this session because I just wanted to come in and support him and take a few pictures for him, because I know it was his first time speaking at Bridging the Gap. And, [00:09:00] um, one of the things I complimented him on is, you know, he starts with this whole story about, um, a, a psychiatric client, like who had gone off their meds and was really agitated. And he did a really good job of making the whole audience feel really agitated, you know, kind of like on, on that person's behalf and how he talked that person off of the ledge and how he got that person. And then he goes and everybody claps at the end. Everybody's like, yay, great. You saved the saved the patient. And [00:09:30] then he goes, all right. So you're probably wondering, what does this have to do with accounting? And everybody got a big laugh. And at that point I had to leave. So I missed the rest of the conversation. And so I am actually going to give a big shout out to Ping Assistant because they are actually the official note taker at this conference. And I am going to go back through if they will let me share the link with listeners for the podcast. I will share it with everybody, not just attendees at the conference, but I'm really looking forward to going back and figuring out [00:10:00] what the heck I missed for the rest of that story. Yeah.
Dena Martin: I've got one more thing that popped in my mind. And I attended a session yesterday, um, from Tory for the human operating system. And I, I'm really bad about keeping in touch with people. And I loved that there was so much conversation around who is in your circle? Who should be in your circle? How can you open up your circle to others? And it was really interesting, Shirley, cos cos she said that she [00:10:30] actually keeps a spreadsheet of people. And when was the last time she contacted them and like a.
Nancy McClelland: Personal CRM.
Dena Martin: That. Yes, exactly. And because I'm so bad about reaching out to people, you know, my ADHD kind of rules my life. And part of that has to do with, um, if I haven't talked to you in a couple of months. I feel bad about that. And now I feel like if I contact you, I need to fill that full of excuses as to why I haven't. So then I feel guilty and then I won't contact them because I don't [00:11:00] want to go through that. But I love the idea. And you put that in my brain. And I think it's so extremely important for all of us to keep contact with everybody. You never know when you need that person, or you never know when that person needs you. Yes. And so I'm definitely going to be much more intentional about that. So thank you, Tori. That was an excellent.
Nancy McClelland: That was an absolute. And I was very honored that she invited, um, Shirley and Randy and me to participate in it. Um, one of the things that Shirley also talks about is only taking on one thing at a time. Don't [00:11:30] be like, oh my God, I have to implement everything that I learned at the conference. Right? Pick one thing. Um, so if that's your one thing, I really, really love that. I also want to add that years ago, I used to have that same guilt. If I didn't reach out to people regularly and lots of excuses, it would actually make me like, well, I can't reach out to them now because it's been like a year. Um, and somebody was like, you know, there's no time limit, there's no deadline on like reaching out to somebody and saying, hey, thinking of you. Yeah. You know, there's [00:12:00] no, that's not a thing that we should carry guilt or shame over. It's just a beautiful thing when you do do it. So I'm going to encourage you that even if you don't end up implementing the actual spreadsheet, just the I'm thinking of that person right now. I'm just going to write and be like, hi, thinking of you.
Al-Nesha Jones: Mhm.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Time. And you had something else you wanted to add?
Jennifer Dymond: Did I?
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. You did. Well, you were looking at me like you did, but.
Dena Martin: I think you should.
Nancy McClelland: I can move on to the next question, but if you come up with whatever it was, just interrupt me. Um, okay. If you could add one session [00:12:30] to next year's Bridging the Gap agenda, what would it be? Oh, I can give you guys definitely a moment to think about. Oh, you already know what.
Dena Martin: So this is my first time at bridging the gap. And I was really tickled to see that there.
Nancy McClelland: Was anybody else here. First timers. Yeah.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Oh my gosh. This is great. That's awesome.
Dena Martin: I was so tickled to see that there was meditation and yoga at the same time as other sessions. [00:13:00] So you had that option. And I would love for there to be, um, chair massages.
Nancy McClelland: Chair massages.
Dena Martin: So we're throwing that out there.
Nancy McClelland: I'm on the advisory board, so I'm putting chair massages on the list. I woke up with it's still in here, but we're writing that down. I had a vendor booth. They had it this year. All right.
Al-Nesha Jones: Last year. Last year.
Nancy McClelland: Okay. Um, what about either one of you? A session that you would add? I mean, I know [00:13:30] you both submit every year to speak, and so it might even be one that you want to add because you want to give it. That's an idea. Like you and John may be doing your session together. That could be something you would add to next year.
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah, I would.
Al-Nesha Jones: Um, I don't know if it really would be a session, but I feel like I was definitely in some sessions, and I feel like this year was the first year I got to attend a lot of sessions. Um, but there I'm thinking of two in particular. Um, the last one I went to [00:14:00] was the burnout session. You know what? I wish that could have been maybe a little longer and maybe like a little support group. Oh, that's like, I feel like we needed a little bit more like audience participation because there were so many things that resonated that I wish we had a longer time to be like, come, come get a hug.
Nancy McClelland: You know,
Jennifer Dymond: Like a whole track, a whole burnout track,
Nancy McClelland: The whole burnout track. Yeah. Yes, I agree. And I'm so glad you said that because, um, one of the ideas that I had. So one of the sessions that I did was a co-presentation with Nicole [00:14:30] Davis on imposter voice, imposter ism, imposter phenomenon. We refuse to call it syndrome as regular listeners on the podcast already know. Um, and a few people said, hey, we loved that group exercise that we did at the end. And, um, we actually wanted to get together in little groups during the next break and keep that conversation going. And I was thinking, well, what if we made some sessions? The session itself, like the presentation materials, your 55 minute session, and then there's an optional [00:15:00] additional 30 minutes to actually work on this stuff. And it's something that's very similar. Ooh, I think that should be like a thing for next year. I really, really love that. Um. All right. Fantastic. Let's see. Um, what are the best ways to hold each other accountable for the actions we want to take after Vtg. I'm going to start with diamond over here. One way to hold me accountable.
Jennifer Dymond: One way to do it is to call them out on a live podcast when they're sitting.
Nancy McClelland: Next to [00:15:30] you.
Jennifer Dymond: One way.
Dena Martin: So good. Now you've got a whole community keeping you accountable. Smart.
Jennifer Dymond: Smart, right? Because if it if it is a commitment that you make out loud, it has a 42% higher chance of, of being achieved. And if you say it in writing publicly like this is it.
Nancy McClelland: Was an additional 77.
Jennifer Dymond: 78% chance.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. I think if you add those two together and you get close. I'm not very good at math. Um.
Dena Martin: Accountants.
Nancy McClelland: You [00:16:00] were the one who taught me that, which is one of the reasons that oftentimes when I will go into doing a presentation, I will schedule a LinkedIn post to go live right when I'm starting my session, and then I will have a QR code up on the screen where people can, can find that LinkedIn post and actually put their commitment that they're making in the comments there. That was totally a diamond. Um, so there's, there's one way of doing it. Yeah. So make a LinkedIn post.
Jennifer Dymond: Make a LinkedIn post and invite folks to [00:16:30] make their commitment publicly in that conversation, chat in that, in that comment thread.
Nancy McClelland: Is there anybody else that's thinking they might do that? Make a LinkedIn post about what you learned and what you're implementing and asking other people to hold you accountable. Yeah.
Jennifer Dymond: So now we're all going to hold you accountable to all of your LinkedIn posts.
Nancy McClelland: That is so.
Jennifer Dymond: Meta.
Nancy McClelland: That is so meta. What about what about y'all? Do you have any ideas of ways to hold each other accountable for the actions that we want [00:17:00] to take? Because, I mean, we all often will go to conferences, and I was not as lucky as Anisha this year. I was so frustrated that I did not have enough time to attend all the sessions that I wanted. I only got to do, I think, three full sessions, and the rest of them were popping in and out of the rooms. But when you when you go to a conference and especially like bridging the gap where you get so many ideas, but also very practical implementation suggestions, you are so excited. And then you get back home and you're like, oh great, I [00:17:30] also have a full time job. Mhm. How, how do I actually make these things happen? Any ideas?
Dena Martin: So, um, I have an accountability buddy and Adina and we have standing who.
Jennifer Dymond: Is.
Dena Martin: Sitting in who is sitting right here? Yeah.
Jennifer Dymond: That's how accountable she is.
Nancy McClelland: Og conference buddy. She was the one where I could pretty much be assured that she was going to. I would know one person at a conference because we kept seeing each other over and over.
Dena Martin: Yeah. No, we became accountability buddies. We had standing up [00:18:00] Zoom meetings on Mondays and Fridays, and there would be long stretches where we're like, can't meet, can't meet, can't meet, I can't meet. But, um, we definitely held each other accountable. We had our goals and when we could meet, we would either it would either be, um, like a body doubling session where we're like, hey, I'm glad you're here. Turn off your mic, your microphone, and then come back afterwards and say, all right, how far did you get? Or it would be, let's talk about what we've been doing or what's holding us back and helping support each other. Um, but so I think in [00:18:30] your sessions, you probably had some fantastic discussions with other people in your session and maybe somebody asked an amazing question and you're like, okay, they kind of know what they're, what they're talking about or they, it seems like we're on the same track. Find that person and see if, hey, you're interested in this. I'm interested in this. Let's hold each other accountable. And I think the key is to set up that recurring appointment. Because if you don't, if you're just like, all right, check in in a couple of months and see how you're doing, it's not going [00:19:00] to happen. And weekly is critical because you've got to be in that constant cycle of reminder.
Nancy McClelland: That was actually a thing that I talked about in, um, one of the panels that I was in about working with my team internally, um, I am often a bottleneck. And so, uh, they can't move forward with their work if I'm bottlenecking them. Right. And so we do that, we'll just, it'll be a co-working session if we don't have anything to talk about.
Dena Martin: I love that that was in the operations, wasn't it? Yeah, I absolutely love that. You've [00:19:30] got a co-working session set up with each of your people at different regular intervals at different levels they're at, and maybe you're just working quietly during that session, but maybe something pops up in their brain during that session that they can ask about or, hey, I forgot, I wanted to ask you about this thing. I thought that was brilliant.
Nancy McClelland: That panel was great. That was Liz Farr, who was sharing her discoveries about themes that she's. Is she right here in the room? Liz. Yay! Liz. That was a fantastic panel. And [00:20:00] she shared, um, these pillars, you know, she interviews so many people for her disruptors podcast, um, including, uh, Nicole Davis, Terrell Turner, Randy Crabtree and me. And so she invited us to be panelists because she's got this, this theory that I totally buy into, that there are certain pillars of success. And the more of these pillars that you have going on in your, um, in your company, the more likely your company is to succeed. And a lot of them are disruptive. Like they're, they're unusual, [00:20:30] they're creative thoughts. And some of them are very basic, like SOPs and things like that. And since that's something I am terrible at, that is a pillar that has just fallen over and cracked open and made a mess on the floor. That's why I do it, because I've got people who are good at that in my team. And so we do the regular meetings. So thank you again for that panel, Liz. It was absolutely wonderful. Did you have any accountability suggestions?
Al-Nesha Jones: Um, I feel like these are great, but if these don't motivate you start betting [00:21:00] money really? Or, or, uh, because who wants to lose money? Or if someone's got something you like, like, hey, if you don't do that work, come up off the dress.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.
Al-Nesha Jones: The polka dot dress.
Nancy McClelland: You know, my dress.
Al-Nesha Jones: So I bet you get it done. Yeah. Yeah. You're talking.
Dena Martin: About. You're explaining their room.
Al-Nesha Jones: Oh, please don't bring them up.
Dena Martin: Okay.
Al-Nesha Jones: I, I.
Jennifer Dymond: Love, I love the treating yourself and giving yourself some sort of reward for doing the thing. But [00:21:30] something that I have, um, have struggled with is I've used things like massage or other wellness activities as my treats. And then if I don't deserve them, then I delay that wellness.
Nancy McClelland: So who else has done this? I totally know what she's talking about. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Like, oh, I get to go out dancing. Well, if I don't go out dancing, I lose my freaking mind. Like that is not a that's not a treat. That's something [00:22:00] you're supposed to be building into the fabric.
Jennifer Dymond: Exactly. That's core.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.
Dena Martin: Good point.
Jennifer Dymond: So don't don't save your wellness as treats.
Nancy McClelland: But my.
Jennifer Dymond: Main dish.
Al-Nesha Jones: Exactly.
Nancy McClelland: Definitely. Yeah, I love that. I love how you were just like, show me the money.
Al-Nesha Jones: That's it. No one wants to lose that.
Nancy McClelland: That's great.
Al-Nesha Jones: That's fantastic.
Nancy McClelland: All right. Here's another really, really good one that we got. What's one task you hope you're not doing five years from now?
Al-Nesha Jones: Working.
Jennifer Dymond: Working.
Al-Nesha Jones: I'm [00:22:30] serious though. All right.
Nancy McClelland: Go ahead. Tell us about it. What's your plan to get there?
Al-Nesha Jones: You know, I'm still working on it. And maybe Claude will help me figure it out, but I'm not. I'm not even gonna lie. If I weren't working in five years, I wouldn't be sad about it.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. That's fantastic. Now you're already at a four day work week.
Al-Nesha Jones: Yeah. And that's a lot for it's still the majority.
Nancy McClelland: So. So what about maybe next year you're at [00:23:00] three days.
Jennifer Dymond: Perhaps five year countdown.
Al-Nesha Jones: Yeah, I like it. I like it a lot.
Nancy McClelland: He's holding me accountable. She's retiring in five years. Yeah. All right.
Speaker 7: Back there.
Nancy McClelland: Of course.
Jennifer Dymond: That is a great accountability partner.
Al-Nesha Jones: Right there. Don't remind me.
Jennifer Dymond: Husband in the audience.
Nancy McClelland: I love it. Okay, Dina, what do you got? Something that you really hope you're not doing five years from now? Maybe something that this conference is helping is terrible.
Dena Martin: And I hope my clients don't listen to this, but, um, [00:23:30] no, I, I hope I'm not the person that has to communicate with clients.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.
Dena Martin: I'm terrible with email. I'm terrible about replying and I'm just I don't want that on my plate.
Nancy McClelland: In the first session that I ever heard of yours, which was at my first Bridging the gap, you said something about email. You said, uh.
Al-Nesha Jones: I'm still behind.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah, yeah. How many how many years behind at this?
Al-Nesha Jones: Um, I think I'm only like 18 months behind right now. All right, well, that's pretty good. That's good. [00:24:00] But if we consider this week, um, I'm probably 400 emails behind. Yeah. I'll get back to them in 6 to 8 business months.
Jennifer Dymond: 6 to 8 business months.
Nancy McClelland: I remember that those exact words.
Speaker 7: I was hoping.
Nancy McClelland: I was throwing you the little softball there, hoping that you were gonna open, that you were gonna do that. Um, yeah. So, diamond, what is one task that you hope you're not doing five years from now?
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah. [00:24:30] So, um, currently the cinderblocks in my backpack, the two heaviest cinderblocks in my backpack that I am offloading. Uh, is my own tax work. Okay, really, I am done doing my own tax work. I do not, I, I gave up everyone else's taxes. I keep trying to give up my mom's taxes and I want to get rid of my own.
Nancy McClelland: I heard Wu in the back. Who was that? Who was wooing? All right. Fantastic. Yeah. Is there anybody in this room who would like to do diamonds? [00:25:00]
Jennifer Dymond: I it puts me in such a bad mood to do my taxes. And if I have to give $199 to intuit again.
Nancy McClelland: Just to.
Speaker 7: Get.
Nancy McClelland: Proconnect.
Jennifer Dymond: Tax, I. It makes me bitter.
Nancy McClelland: All right, all right. Fantastic. I know a lot of good tax accountants in the room. So if anybody over here is accepting.
Jennifer Dymond: I'm lovely to work with.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah, lovely. She's a real pleasure.
Al-Nesha Jones: I will be the judge of that. Uh.
Nancy McClelland: So there are a lot of sessions [00:25:30] this year on, um, AI that I appreciated were not theory some of the conferences that I've gone to there. It's like every session is about AI right now, and I didn't see that many that were like, okay, but how do I do the thing? There were some sessions here that were very, you know, tips and tricks. Um, best hacks, $30 tools, like lots of really good stuff. What's one thing that AI has made you better at [00:26:00] as a leader, and not just faster as an accountant? I thought that was a really insightful question. Any one of you want to take that?
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah. Um, so I, I have had some success using, um, using AI to analyze emails and analyze conversations from meeting transcripts. And so I'll have it, I'll have it analyze, um, not just the conversation back and forth, but I'll [00:26:30] have it analyze what was on the surface and evaluate what was in subtext as well. And I'll have it review my responses so that I can make sure I'm connecting with not only the surface level of, of the conversation, but also the subtext.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. I do remember one time in particular where you sent me, um, something that felt very insightful from your otter AI being like this, this person was legit passive aggressive with [00:27:00] you. They just called it out.
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was helpful to see because I was, I was, I was having a conflict with someone. And I kept thinking, I kept thinking that I was missing something that that I said something wrong. And, and running the analysis through ChatGPT, it, it called out some patterns that I had been excusing or overlooking or minimizing.
Nancy McClelland: So it was really validating.
Jennifer Dymond: It was very validating. I was like, oh, okay, that's [00:27:30] why I'm having such problems. Okay.
Nancy McClelland: What about you guys? How are you using AI? In in I mean, the automation and the the shortcuts and all that stuff is really great to if you want to share one of those.
Al-Nesha Jones: Uh, for me, I still struggle with delegation. Always have even at home, I struggle with delegation is very. Just give it to me, I'll do it faster and AI helps me to parse out tasks to figure out what can be delegated and what would I need to do to, um, [00:28:00] have the most success with delegating the task. So as opposed to me saying like, I'll just do the whole thing myself, AI will help me to figure out you could give this part of the process out.
Nancy McClelland: I've never thought of using it. Is there anybody else here who struggles with the whole, I'll just do it myself because it's faster. Yeah, okay. A lot of us in the room are like that. Has anybody tried this? Is everybody going to go home and try this? Is this going to be your thing that you do next week?
Jennifer Dymond: I've done something. I've done something similar where I will brain dump into.
Al-Nesha Jones: Every day.
Jennifer Dymond: Into, [00:28:30] you know, I'll just.
Al-Nesha Jones: Transcribe.
Jennifer Dymond: It and.
Al-Nesha Jones: Brain dump. If y'all don't have water in two years, I apologize. It was me. Okay.
Dena Martin: I feel.
Al-Nesha Jones: So.
Dena Martin: Guilty sometimes. That's so funny.
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah. No, I'll. I'll ask, I'll ask ChatGPT to to sort, prioritize and give me estimated timelines to complete each task. And I will ask it. Please make this ADHD friendly so I don't get overwhelmed.
Dena Martin: Absolutely.
Nancy McClelland: You talk about that a lot. I [00:29:00] do theater public speaking, sisters chat.
Dena Martin: Yeah, I do. Um, because it's such a roadblock for me, the ADHD and, and so if I get overwhelmed with a task, I've got my head in the sand and I don't do it. And I, it's weird. And it's, it's a struggle internally that a lot of neurotypical people don't understand. But, you know, I want to walk across the room, but I can't take that first step and I want my foot to move, but I can't. And that comes to [00:29:30] doing tasks as well. So I have gone into Claude and said, I need to have this done tomorrow, and I should have started working on it months ago and. But I'm at an ADHD block. I need you to help me get through this. And I, I remember this very clearly because it said, all right, let's step back. Let's take this piece by piece. And it said, here's the first thing I want you to do. And this is only going to take you two minutes. Let me know when you're done. And I'm like, okay, cool. I did that. And it's like, awesome, great job. Now the second thing [00:30:00] I want you to do is this, and this one's going to take you five minutes. Let me know when you're done. And for an hour I was doing that and now it had me in a focus. It had me in a.
Nancy McClelland: Hyper focus.
Dena Martin: And now I was able to get past that block and actually take those steps. And I got it done in time.
Nancy McClelland: Janelle Etienne came on to the She Counts podcast to talk about ADHD. And she she talked a lot. I do love her. She's an amazing human. She's also one of the CPAs in our Asca CPA group. Yeah. Um, and she talked about that, that hyper focus [00:30:30] that, um, and it turned out that that's something that is extremely prevalent for people with ADHD, but that it is a thing that a lot of people actually can benefit from. So I love that. That is a really good tip for all of us.
Dena Martin: The high growth focus also can be a bad thing. What I notice, and you know, I'm very open about the fact that I've got ADHD and I'm medicated. So I'll get into client meetings and going, forgive me, my pills are kicking in. I'm talking a little fast right now, but, um, the [00:31:00] sometimes I'll find that if I don't time my medication just right, I will get hyper focused on things at the house before I leave and go into the office. And now I'm pruning plants and watering them and oh, I need to repot that plant. Meanwhile, I should have been at the office an hour ago. So yeah, sometimes hyperfocus can be your enemy.
Nancy McClelland: That is fascinating. I only ever thought about. I've always just been like, I wish I had ADHD so that I could have hyper focus too, you know, which is makes no sense [00:31:30] whatsoever. Um, but okay, this is fantastic. And I love the questions that are coming in and, and getting upvoted here. And I love your answers even more. Um, this conference talked a lot about partnerships. What's one relationship you've invested in that's had an outsized impact on your career? This actually harkens back to, um, Tori's session where we did the panel on, um, the human OS and all, and the web [00:32:00] and the different nodes and the different functions that, that people, um, fulfill in your life and your career. Um, so what's one relationship you've invested in that's had an outsized impact on your career? And I, whoever wrote outsized on this, I, it makes me think either positively or negatively. Um, right. Because you're not just saying huge positive impact.
Dena Martin: Um, so not a particular individual, but I will call out the [00:32:30] theater. Theater of public speaking. Mhm. Um, I was hesitant in signing up and going through the program. Um, I at that point in time, I wasn't sure how much of an impact it would have on me. I didn't know I was at the place I needed to be to, to invest in that. But, um, that has been tremendous. Not only would I learn through the program about, um, being an effective speaker preparing for speaking, um, but the people I've met through the program and the continual conversations [00:33:00] that we're having and the support and, you know, I'm struggling with this or, you know, hey, speaker, submissions are open for this particular conference. Um, and I, my goal in the track I'm on right now is all about education, whether it's to my local community in webinars and in-person training, but also teaching at conferences. So it has really been huge for me in helping me build my confidence and knowing that I've got a bunch of sisters I can rely on [00:33:30] that each have their own strength. Yeah. And I know I can go to certain people to get help with different things. It's been amazing. Yeah. Yeah.
Al-Nesha Jones: I'm gonna say two people I know that breaks the rules. Uh, but there.
Speaker 7: Are no rules. Oh, perfect. Breaking the rules.
Al-Nesha Jones: Okay. Perfect. But they're kind of related, and it's bridging the gap. Related. Uh, so I spent four years on, uh, Intuit tax counsel. And whatever your thoughts or feelings are on into it, neither here nor there. I feel like the tax [00:34:00] counsel put me with a really fantastic group of people, people I'll be forever grateful.
Nancy McClelland: For, people. I don't know if they're still here in the room. Nick Bhatia and Katie Healey are both on tax counsel right now and, uh, are having a great experience with it.
Al-Nesha Jones: And one time they let this, like, kooky guy join and he was like, can I buy you all drinks at the bar? And we were like, why are you buying us drinks? And, um, for whatever reason, like he saw something in me that maybe I didn't even see in myself. And he was like, yeah, I'm gonna put this conference together. You want [00:34:30] to come speak at my conference? And I was like, who? Who you want who you want to speak at your conference?
Speaker 7: I know what you're talking about. Now, I did not pick up on that.
Al-Nesha Jones: Before anyone else put me on anybody's stage. Right. A few invites here and there. But before anyone put me anywhere else, it was Randy.
Speaker 7: Randy.
Al-Nesha Jones: That said, I think you have a really unique story to tell, and I want you to, uh, share it. So super fortunate for that relationship. And Randy is one of my, I consider Randy [00:35:00] to be a friend because beyond the work stuff, um, I that's my friend. Yeah. Like I want nothing but the best for him. Uh, and then at Bridget. Hi, friend.
Speaker 7: Oh, he's right there. He's here. You get to hear all.
Nancy McClelland: These nice things said.
Speaker 7: About you.
Al-Nesha Jones: I don't know who said that.
Speaker 7: Beginning part behind your back. I'm sure. Here.
Al-Nesha Jones: I'm sure they can edit that out. And we almost died together.
Speaker 7: Oh. Oh. Trauma bonding.
Al-Nesha Jones: Trauma bonded. It's like, I know we were meant to cross [00:35:30] paths because we had to keep our Uber driver awake so that we could sleep. Yeah, yeah. So we are bonded for, for life. Um, yeah.
Nancy McClelland: And the other bridging.
Speaker 7: The gap.
Al-Nesha Jones: And the other bridging the gap. I met, uh, although I had seen Shirley at a few events, um, we ended up speaking like for the first real time at bridging the gap and we really didn't know each other, but she was like, you want to put your stuff in my room? Because I was checking out early and I was like, I don't know your name, but sure. [00:36:00] Uh, and.
Speaker 7: She was like, do you.
Al-Nesha Jones: Go to the.
Speaker 7: Mall?
Al-Nesha Jones: And I was like, You're Shirley, right? Sure. And then she's also someone she, um, she has such a unique story and such a great personality. And they're both relationships that I feel like, um, I'm on the winning side.
Speaker 7: Yeah.
Al-Nesha Jones: Of investing time and energy.
Nancy McClelland: Oh my God. That's fantastic. You know, Shirley really, really, really wanted to participate in the panel today, but had to leave too early and was unable [00:36:30] to do that. And so the fact that she's come up twice already in our stories is absolutely wonderful. You just reminded me of something that happened this week. Okay. Um, that, uh, it was, it was similar, similarly wonderful. Um, and I see her right here. Liz. Scott. Liz Scott shows up a couple nights ago and she, I see her in the lobby, and she looks kind of like she's wandering aimlessly. I'm like, hey, girl, it's so good to see you. I'm so excited. You know, big hugs. Whatever. [00:37:00] How are you doing? She's like, they lost my bags and I don't have anything with me. And I'm like, oh, no, you poor thing. You know, we're the same size. I have an extra dress. I might have a, you know, jacket, but why don't you come on upstairs? And she came up. She looks better in that dress than I do. I'm like, I was a little bit. She looked pretty good. Maybe I should just give it to her. She can't have it. But I'll lend it to you anytime. And she put on. And she also she took my theater public speaking, advanced, um, [00:37:30] top speaker jacket, which I had never even thought of wearing with that dress. And it looks great together. And then she came back later on, she used my makeup and she put on her makeup and then her bag. It was so great. And it was it goes back to that human operating system panel that we were, that we were having yesterday with Tory, where that opportunity to, to open that circle and to be there for someone is such a it was such a gift for me. And then now we're [00:38:00] bonded forever. And also. And so when she was returning the dress earlier today, we were like, we need to go shopping together because we clearly have the same style and are the same size. So, um, that's gonna, that's another one of those, those surely cost kind of stories.
Al-Nesha Jones: Yeah.
Nancy McClelland: Diamond outsized impact, outsized impact.
Jennifer Dymond: I mean, I kind of have to agree with Dina on this one. The, the most impactful partnerships that, that I've had recently have really come from my involvement with the Theater of Public speaking group. Wow. The [00:38:30] people that I've met through that group and the work that we've been able to collaborate on.
Nancy McClelland: Can I get a show of hands? Who here is is a theater public speaking sister. Oh my gosh. Wow. So many of us in the room. So how many? 34567. Eight of us. This is amazing.
Dena Martin: How many did we have in our group picture yesterday? I mean, in our in our group.
Nancy McClelland: Picture.
Dena Martin: 12, we had 12 speakers here at the conference.
Jennifer Dymond: No, we had 12 people in the picture.
Dena Martin: Okay. I meant to ask how many we had at the conference.
Jennifer Dymond: We had 14 at the conference. [00:39:00] Yeah. Attending, I think 11 speaking.
Dena Martin: I love that.
Nancy McClelland: I love that, you know all these stats.
Jennifer Dymond: I have a spreadsheet.
Dena Martin: A spreadsheet.
Nancy McClelland: You're not looking at your spreadsheet right now though. Amazing. Yes. In your in your spreadsheet. In your head. I love that. That's fantastic.
Jennifer Dymond: So but to name, to name a few. Yeah. Right. Um, my burnout coach, Lynette O'Connell, who spoke earlier today.
Nancy McClelland: And I think she spoke yesterday as well. And she had two sessions.
Jennifer Dymond: Tuesday and Thursday. [00:39:30] Yeah. Um, she's been really, really impactful for me.
Nancy McClelland: She's an amazing speaker.
Jennifer Dymond: She's an amazing speaker. She's also just an amazing human being. She's an amazing coach.
Nancy McClelland: You know, she was the first guest on the podcast and you want to know how that happened. I was in the middle of a sudden, unexpected crisis where, uh, my mother, all of a sudden her Alzheimer's, she had a vascular episode, ended up in the hospital, never ended up getting to come back home. And I have to clear out her apartment for her. And it was just terrible. And I was like, I [00:40:00] do not know how I'm going to record the She Counts podcast this week. I who do I know in my network who is ready to go immediately to like, lend me that dress when my baggage doesn't show up and to go back, I'm going to go back to this panel, the human operating system panel again, because when you build these kinds of relationships, it makes it so much easier to ask for help as well. And I was just like, I got to find somebody who can like show up like that. [00:40:30] And I thought, Lynette, she's already got a topic. She's an amazing speaker question. And I both have a great relationship with her. Um, and she was there the next morning like, it was absolutely fantastic. So yeah, she's a great yes example of an outsized impact.
Jennifer Dymond: And another outsized impact is also another sister that I met in the theater of public speaking. I don't know if anybody has heard of Nancy McClelland. She's also the host of the She Counts podcast. She also runs the ask a CPA community. [00:41:00]
Nancy McClelland: But we stop, stop.
Jennifer Dymond: We've we've been able to we've been able to collaborate not just in preparing for our. We've not not only been able to connect and collaborate on helping each other with our individual workshops and presentations and initiatives, but we've also collaborated together on presentations At the same time. So. And it's so much fun.
Nancy McClelland: It's so much fun. As a matter of fact, I, I know you didn't sign your name to it, but I think that you [00:41:30] left a, um, a survey. Dina left a note in a survey at Scaling New Heights about a class that we did together that called us. What was the.
Jennifer Dymond: Something like the, the prior brothers or something like that. The Schuyler brothers. Schuyler brothers.
Nancy McClelland: Was that.
Jennifer Dymond: You?
Dena Martin: Yes, that was me. Your name.
Nancy McClelland: Was not on there, but.
Jennifer Dymond: I was it was Martin.
Nancy McClelland: Left.
Jennifer Dymond: That is it a 1099 class, or is it a stand up set? Who knows? It was fantastic.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah, I always think about that. It is. It was really, really fun collaborating with you. Um, [00:42:00] and speaking of top sisters, I got to collaborate with Nicole Davis this year on our session, which was also just absolutely wonderful.
Jennifer Dymond: I got to collaborate with Nicole, uh, two years ago at AICPA engaged. She wanted me to bring my improv workshop, my communications workshop to engage, thinking that the folks at engage could use some communication skills. And, um, and she wasn't able to get it through the committee. So she gave me 20 minutes in her session to add improv workshops to support the, the presentation [00:42:30] that she was delivering. And so, so I was able to find exercises that supported the conversations that she was having in that session.
Nancy McClelland: And then about sponsorship, right? That's a great example of sponsorship. Yeah. Um, when we have allies who, uh, have access to stages and spaces that we don't have access to, and they give us space on their stage. Yeah. And then.
Jennifer Dymond: And then it went so well that, uh, engage invited [00:43:00] me to come back and do a full session on my own. Yeah.
Nancy McClelland: And it went.
Jennifer Dymond: Really, really.
Nancy McClelland: Well. It was absolutely fantastic. All right, we'll do just two more questions here. Let's see. Um, this is fun. What was your favorite session and why? And you're not allowed to call this one right here because it wasn't officially on the app. So even though I know all three of you would say this was clearly your favorite session.
Jennifer Dymond: So second favorite, second favorite.
Al-Nesha Jones: Okay.
Jennifer Dymond: I'll [00:43:30] go first. And okay, since it's a competition, um, I really, I really, I didn't know what to expect from John Yauch's psychotherapy session. I really didn't, but it was so profound. And some of the things that he shared, you know, it involved neuroscience, it involved biological science. It involved, um, how to recognize when you're having conversations with other [00:44:00] people, how they're reacting in real time, how to notice how they're breathing, how to notice their facial expressions, how to notice if their lips are pursed. And he shared that when humans are in space, in a space together, even if they're on a Zoom call, they will co-regulate their nervous systems Together since they're in the same space. Wow. So if if you are having a conversation and you stay absolutely calm and you keep your voice very measured and very, uh, very quiet, [00:44:30] then you are calming the nervous system of the people around you.
Nancy McClelland: And a lot of us probably instinctively do that and don't realize that that's what we're up to.
Jennifer Dymond: Yeah. So when he called it out and he gave a lot of scientific background to it, I was like, oh, that makes a lot of sense. Totally.
Nancy McClelland: I absolutely love that. What about you?
Dena Martin: I am going to go back to the human operating system.
Nancy McClelland: Wow.
Dena Martin: For sure.
Nancy McClelland: Tory, you got upvoted big time.
Al-Nesha Jones: Tory. Knocks it out the park. [00:45:00]
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.
Al-Nesha Jones: Single time.
Nancy McClelland: Amazing. That is fantastic. Elisha.
Al-Nesha Jones: Uh, I'm a mom of three, so my memory is terrible, so I have to go with the session from today without referencing my notes. So I'm going to go to the last one I went to, which was.
Nancy McClelland: It's the one that is most, which is the one.
Al-Nesha Jones: That is freshest in my mind, which was the burnout session. I thought they did a really fantastic job. Like three phenomenal. So that was very impressed.
Nancy McClelland: Saas was moderating. Seth Weinberg was moderating that one. It was Corey Jankowski.
Al-Nesha Jones: Uh.
Nancy McClelland: Jeanette [00:45:30] O'Connell.
Al-Nesha Jones: Correct. And Brian and Brian Hill. Yep.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic. I was able to pop in right at the beginning of that one just to take a picture. I have to do the ping. The ping notes for that one as well. Um, so this is, uh, something for planning for next year. Is there a conversation that you wish had happened at this conference that didn't. Is there anything we're not yet talking about that you feel still needs a stage or [00:46:00] is bridging the gap just like filling in all the gaps?
Al-Nesha Jones: Um, I'm going to go back to the part that says after these sessions, we get the ability to like as audience members sort of share and collaborate. Yeah, I feel like the sessions where the leadership loneliness one was pretty good too.
Nancy McClelland: Yeah.
Al-Nesha Jones: Um, but I feel like we need the chance to say, wow, I really resonated with that. And I'd love to know more about what you said. And can [00:46:30] I just share what my thoughts were? Um, because we get a lot of things covered here. And I feel like this conference, unlike most conferences, speaks to the, the person, not just the processes, not just the efficiencies, but like none of it works if the person is, is off. And I would love the opportunity to have those like extended sessions where we get to like, hey, I just wanted to share with you what my thoughts were. And then and then we get to say like, you know, I was feeling the exact same thing or I've been struggling with the exact same thing or, [00:47:00] you know what? Can you just show me? Can you come plug up to the computer and show us really quick what you're doing to solve that problem?
Nancy McClelland: You know.
Al-Nesha Jones: A little.
Nancy McClelland: Workshop further. And each of those groups could submit into like using participation town or something like that could submit what their takeaways from that, that discussion were. And those could go into a word cloud or a resource that plays to the main stage so that everybody gets to find out what the takeaways from each of the sessions were. Yeah, I love that conversations [00:47:30] that aren't happening that you'd love to see happening or.
Dena Martin: I don't know, I don't really come.
Nancy McClelland: Especially as a first time attendee.
Dena Martin: Yeah, I don't really come with expectations where I would be sitting here saying, I wish this had happened. I just come as an open book and just absorb everything and see where I can add things in. So I don't necessarily have anything that and diamond.
Nancy McClelland: Any thoughts?
Jennifer Dymond: Uh, so I don't necessarily wish that this conversation would have happened because it's a difficult conversation, [00:48:00] but I think that a lot of positive impact comes from having these conversations, but being honest and vulnerable, sharing with other people something you are carrying shame about.
Nancy McClelland: I love that.
Jennifer Dymond: It is very difficult.
Nancy McClelland: It is very difficult.
Jennifer Dymond: But when you name it, it shrinks. And when you share it, you're able to connect with other people.
Nancy McClelland: Oh my God, that's so good. Anybody else getting [00:48:30] chills? Because that just really spoke to me.
Jennifer Dymond: So I think it's, it's a shortcut into talking about some of the things that really, really matter to folks in, in real time. Yeah, it's a very, very difficult first step.
Nancy McClelland: And it addresses what they were talking about in Gail Perry's session on loneliness.
Al-Nesha Jones: Yeah.
Nancy McClelland: It addresses that. Yeah, yeah. We're looking for you to submit [00:49:00] that Diamond the.
Jennifer Dymond: Shame game.
Nancy McClelland: And.
Al-Nesha Jones: Name that shame.
Jennifer Dymond: Name that shame.
Al-Nesha Jones: Shame, that.
Nancy McClelland: Shame.
Jennifer Dymond: Name that game.
Dena Martin: I love that.
Nancy McClelland: I'm writing this down right now. Oh, I think that's.
Jennifer Dymond: A great description. Tbd.
Dena Martin: I think that's a great topic for this conference because it's so small and because it talks about it's so much about wellness that you don't feel overwhelmed with a group of 500 people where you're like, this is my thing that I'm ashamed about. [00:49:30] Um, it's so much more intimate and people I feel are less guarded, much more relaxed here. Um, yeah, absolutely. That would be perfect.
Nancy McClelland: Absolutely. All right. Last one. In one word. One word to describe this year's conference. One word.
Al-Nesha Jones: Me first. Oh.
Jennifer Dymond: I'll go. Whoever wants to go first.
Al-Nesha Jones: First.
Jennifer Dymond: You want me to go slow? I'll give you a second.
Al-Nesha Jones: I like that.
Jennifer Dymond: So my one word for this conference would [00:50:00] be connected.
Nancy McClelland: Are connected. I'm writing that one down.
Al-Nesha Jones: Is she still your word?
Dena Martin: Yeah, that was what I was gonna say.
Al-Nesha Jones: Okay.
Jennifer Dymond: Are you making that up? Are you sorry.
Dena Martin: For.
Jennifer Dymond: Taking your word?
Dena Martin: You remind me of the sloth.
Al-Nesha Jones: I appreciate that piece.Yeah,
Nancy McClelland: Totally.
Al-Nesha Jones: Oh, God.
Nancy McClelland: One Word?
Al-Nesha Jones: Um. Um. My my one [00:50:30] word to describe this year's conference is. Emotional.
Nancy McClelland: Emotional. Connected. Emotional. All right, Dina, you've spoken slowly as is humanly possible.
Dena Martin: Um, I'm going to say impactful. Impactful not only from the things I learned [00:51:00] in the sessions, but the amazing conversations I've had with people, whether it was at the bar or at the lunch table or, you know, standing in the hallway. Um, yeah, a lot of lot of impact in a lot of different ways.
Nancy McClelland: Absolutely. Thank you so much. That I love these words. I love these words. I wrote them down, connected, emotional and impactful. As we wrap up, we'd like to ask listeners to follow our She Counts Podcast LinkedIn page and to join in on the conversation [00:51:30] by sharing under the episode designing what's next for accountants?
Jennifer Dymond: Do you feel like you're at the point in your life where you're designing your career intentionally? Give us an example so we all can learn.
Nancy McClelland: And before we sign off, we want to leave you with a quote by Maya Angelou, which I love to use when I am talking about feeling like an imposter, but I think it also highlights how much we've heard about intentionally building a life, career, or firm.
Al-Nesha Jones: I am [00:52:00] always doing what I cannot do yet in order to learn how to do it. Isn't that a great quote?
Nancy McClelland: I love that one so much.
Dena Martin: So thanks for being us here today on She Counts the Real Talk podcast for women in accounting.
Jennifer Dymond: If something in today's episode hit home for you, well, that's exactly why we're doing this.
Al-Nesha Jones: So you feel seen, heard, and never alone.
Dena Martin: Remember that you can get CPE credit for listening@earmark.app. Links to that, as well as how to learn more about [00:52:30] our sponsor solutions. And any other resource will be in the show notes.
Al-Nesha Jones: And please subscribe and leave a review and share this with another woman in accounting who needs to hear it too.
Nancy McClelland: Thanks again to our amazing guests, Alisha, Diamond and Dina. Yeah. And to our incredible live audience. We will see you again in two weeks, everyone. Take care. [00:53:00]