As I settled down, earphones nestled snugly, I was ready for another empowering episode of the Diana Prince Podcast. This week, Melissa Armstrong, the wiz behind Steady Hand Accounting and Advisory, joined us. Her story resonated with me deeply; as a certified public accountant and a third-generation legacy, Melissa had so much to share about financial confidence and empowerment.
Steady Hand isn’t just a name; it’s a promise Melissa extends to solopreneurs and small business owners like us who sometimes find ourselves in a flurry over financials. Melissa believes in making accounting work for you, not vice versa—a mantra that immediately clicked with me. As a female professional managing my own business, Angela Atelier, the idea of transforming my accounting challenges into successes felt as if someone had finally given me the key to unlocking a complex puzzle.
During our chat, I shared my own apprehensions about accounting from my days in the corporate world. Reconciliation tasks were a source of dread for me, akin to swallowing a spoonful of castor oil! Now that I am managing my business, I no longer have the luxury of putting off tasks. This discussion with Melissa was not just timely but transformative for my journey.
What truly struck me was Melissa’s perspective on separating personal and business finances. It’s not just about organization but protecting your assets—a concept known as maintaining the “corporate veil.” Now, who would have thought that successfully establishing this boundary could shield my home and personal finances from potential business risks? This concept was a game-changer for me.
Our conversation naturally flowed into the world of solopreneurs, where Melissa emphasized the balance between DIY’ing certain tasks when starting out and knowing when to call in the cavalry, i.e., a professional accountant. Her advice on prioritizing revenue-generating investments resonated hard with me. We need to nurture our ventures before outsourcing those non-revenue-generating functions. It might mean keeping the numbers in view ourselves for a while longer until the revenue stream supports additional help.
In a humorous twist, Melissa shared how, even as a CPA, she manages her own books, understanding their flow and harnessing that insight for better business decisions. This resonated deeply with me, as I often sift through my data, attempting to make sense and plan my next steps. And maybe, just maybe, the thought of accounting won’t feel like such a monstrous task moving forward.
Before I sign off, here’s a gem of wisdom from our guest—Melissa shared that “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien played a pivotal role in shaping her fondness for fantasy fiction. The book ignited her imagination and provided an escape to explore new worlds beyond our reality. It’s amazing how a book can whisk us away and inspire new perspectives, echoing Anne Rice’s “Queen of the Damned,” her other favorite, which moved her with its sensorial writing.
So, here’s to unlocking financial clarity and building the confidence to nurture our passions into thriving businesses. If you’re a solopreneur or an aspiring entrepreneur, there’s a pathway to making accounting less daunting, anchored by the wisdom shared in today’s episode with Melissa. Own your numbers, and you’ll own your story.
