change

The Cloud Is Your Starting Point

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Man typing into cloudYour customers’ expectations have changed, so you might as well embrace them.

By Jody Padar

Let me clear this up now: The cloud is not an actual cloud.

MORE ON RADICALISM: You’re Already a Consultant | Why Transparency Matters in the ‘New Firm’ | 10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change | Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | Radical or Complacent? You Choose | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare

It’s your software in a computer room, miles away from your physical location. I’ve been to the cloud and it’s a funny and interesting place to visit.

It’s just a warehouse; they take your driver’s license, they scan you in, inspect your eyeballs and make sure that you’re not some bad person. There’s a large area full of servers and wires and it’s unbelievably hot. But what was especially endearing about my experience was that my cloud provider, Byron Patrick from Simplified Innovations, couldn’t contain his excitement about taking me. He was like a kid in a candy shop. It must be a techie thing.
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5 Ways to Capitalize on Trends

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Number5-AdobeStock_58123020The market is moving. Can you keep up?

By Jody Padar

A CCH white paper, “Charting a Course for the Future: A Report on Firm Preparedness,” defines some of the trends that will have the most significant impact on accounting firms and their customers over the next five years.

MORE ON RADICALISM: You’re Already a Consultant | Why Transparency Matters in the ‘New Firm’ | Embrace Disruption | New Thinking Brings New Results | 10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change | Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | How the ‘New Firm’ Was Born | Radical Firms Embrace 4 Values | Radical or Complacent? You Choose | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare

The study also notes how well-prepared accountants are to take advantage of these trends. By putting the “very prepared” firm under the magnifying glass, the report examines what makes firm owners confident about the future.
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You’re Already a Consultant

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Two businesswomen shaking hands in modern officeChances are you offer clients more than you realize.

By Jody Padar

To me, the most trusted business advisor is the small busi­ness advisor. That’s what my customers see. My firm serves small businesses from the ground up to $10 million. Yes, we look at their numbers, but, practically speaking, one gains a lot when you’re in their financial underwear drawer.

MORE ON RADICALISM: Why Transparency Matters in the ‘New Firm’ | Embrace Disruption | 10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change | Radical Firms Embrace 4 Values | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare

Most of our conversations are around their questions. It’s a natural extension of the work we already do – financials, taxes, payroll, cash flow and forecasting.
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Why Transparency Matters in the ‘New Firm’

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Clear glass marble on a beachIt’s time to move from number cruncher to advisor. Here are 4 questions to ask.

By Jody Padar
The Radical CPA

Aside from creating a new way to do compensation and work, the “New Firm” model brings upon a whole new level of trans­parency for both the customers you work with and your employ­ees…

MORE ON RADICALISM:Embrace Disruption | New Thinking Brings New Results | 10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change | Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | How the ‘New Firm’ Was Born | Radical Firms Embrace 4 Values | Radical or Complacent? You Choose | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare

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…In at least four ways:

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New Thinking Brings New Results

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Illustration of old thinking leading to old resultsBeing radical is all about your customer.

By Jody Padar
The Radical CPA

Once you begin brainstorming about overhauling your internal processes, you need to think about it from as many different viewpoints as possible, with an emphasis on design thinking. The easiest way to define design thinking is to look at it from your customer’s perspective instead of yours.

MORE ON RADICALISM: 10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change | Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | How the ‘New Firm’ Was Born | Radical Firms Embrace 4 Values | Radical or Complacent? You Choose | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare

It’s not all about you. I know, I know. But hear me out. It’s hard to look at your firm from a customer’s perspective. That’s why we gravitate to a firm-centric point of view. This point of view asks questions like:
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10 Questions to Prepare for Radical Change

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Chalkboard illustration of "Change is now"Be the change you want to see.

By Jody Padar
The Radical CPA

“Say it with me now: I am a change agent.”

MORE ON RADICALISM: Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | Who, Me A Consultant? | Target Prospects for Best Fit | Keep Scope Creep and Seep from Hurting Bottom Line | Each Social Channel Has a Language | Six Competitive Advantages for The Radical CPA

Before you consider adopting the cloud or any of the “New Firm” mindset, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to be the change.
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Want Change? Lead It

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Chalkboard saying indicating that time to change is nowBONUS CHECKLIST: 5 questions you need to ask.

By Jody Padar
The Radical CPA

“Say it with me now: I am a change agent.”

MORE RADICAL CPA for PRO Members (Go PRO here): Who’s Your Competition? EVERYONE | How the ‘New Firm’ Was Born | Radical Firms Embrace 4 Values | Radical or Complacent? You Choose | 3 Questions to Ask If You Dare | Who, Me A Consultant? | Target Prospects for Best Fit | Radical Pricing Fixes Cash Flow Problems | Keep Scope Creep and Seep from Hurting Bottom Line | The Radical Approach to Bundling Services | Get Radical About Pricing  |  More…

Before you consider adopting the cloud or any of the “New Firm” mindset, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to be the change.
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