De-stress Your Business

  Alexis Kingsbury interviews Ron Baker, author and founder of VeraSage Institute, about why tracking time and billing by the hour harms professional services firms by distorting behavior, reducing margins, and undermining innovation. Ron explains the “transformation economy” as a shift beyond services and experiences toward guiding clients from a current state to a desired future identity. He arg...

Six months ago, Alexis built a 100% AI accountancy practice called Accrual Intentions. He called it an experiment. What he didn't say at the time: he was hoping it wouldn't work. In this honest follow-up to Episode 164, Alexis shares what he's processed since — the board meeting that ran in eight minutes, the failures that turned out to be management errors rather than AI errors, and the data that...

Alexis shares the full behind-the-scenes story of building Accrual Intentions — a 100% AI-powered accountancy firm with 11 AI team members. The AI team completed a 7-month roadmap of 91 tasks and 107 deliverables in just 4 hours, with only 7 requiring human decisions. But the experiment also revealed serious dangers: a £43,000 profit-and-loss error stated with total confidence, terms of business t...

Mergers and acquisitions can spark exciting growth — but they also bring chaos, uncertainty, and a lot of stress.   In this episode of De-stress Your Business, we’re joined by Alex Black, Director of Client Services and Innovation at Ad Valorem, a fast-growing accountancy firm now part of the ETL Group.   Alex shares how he’s helped teams navigate the stress of change — from integrating cultures a...

In this episode of De-Stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury delves into the often unexpected and challenging people problems every business leader faces.    From marital disputes to sudden resignations, Alexis emphasizes the importance of strong line management in navigating these issues.    He shares practical advice on building trustful, open relationships between managers and their teams, and...

Catherine Morgan was a financial adviser with all the right credentials. She had the qualifications, the clients, and years of experience helping others manage their money.   But in her own life, money felt unsafe. She was stuck in cycles of overspending, shame, and fear. Not because she didn’t know how to manage money, but because her nervous system was reacting to something deeper.   That’s when...

What separates good managers from truly great leaders?    In this episode, Alexis Kingsbury sits down with leadership expert William C. Davis, who brings over 38 years of experience across corporate America, the military, and government. Together, they dive deep into the mindset shifts that transform leadership—from focusing on tasks to building genuine relationships and trust.   William shares po...

In Episode 159 of De-Stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury shares simple yet impactful ways to enhance your employee onboarding process.    He emphasizes the significance of first impressions, providing actionable advice on how to make new hires feel excited, valued, and ready to contribute. From pre-start communication to thoughtful touches on the first day, Alexis highlights the importance of m...

In this episode of De-Stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury explores how professional services firms can easily create compelling case studies using AI.    Despite the value of case studies, firms often avoid them due to the time and effort required. Alexis introduces a streamlined approach using a simple checklist and AI prompts to convert rough notes into polished case studies.    Learn the ste...

In this episode of De-Stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury explores why great technology often fails in businesses despite its potential for significant impact.    He breaks down common myths and excuses for tech adoption failures and introduces a seven-step tech adoption process designed to ensure your team not only has the tools but uses them effectively to solve real business problems.    Ale...

In this episode of the De-stress Your Business podcast, Alexis Kingsbury shares insights from his ACCA Roadshow presentation on how to build scalable systems, delegate work, and enhance client experiences in accountancy practices.    Using real-life examples, Alexis discusses the necessity of processes, common pitfalls, and strategies for improvement.    Learn how to effectively onboard new client...

Are you overwhelmed by the thought of selling your business?   It’s a lot—confusing valuations, succession plans, and tax pitfalls may be keeping you up at night.    Maybe you feel trapped by the legal and financial headaches that turn what should be a smooth transition into a nerve-wracking ordeal.    Or maybe the mere idea of letting go leaves you anxious about your future and the legacy you’ve...

In this episode of De-stress Your Business, host Alexis Kingsbury discusses how to effectively manage conversations about employee performance issues.    He outlines a three-step framework to address underperformance without causing stress, awkwardness, or defensive reactions. Through specific feedback, clarifying the impact of mistakes, and setting clear expectations for improvement, Alexis provi...

In this episode of De-stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury dives into assessing and resolving employee underperformance.    He discusses the importance of using performance data over gut instinct, signs that indicate potential improvement, and when to consider firing an employee.    Alexis also covers the significant costs of keeping underperformers, creating structured improvement plans, and th...

For many business owners, dealing with HMRC and tax compliance is one of the most stressful parts of running a business. The fear of making mistakes, the pressure of deadlines, and the complexity of the system can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Aplin OBE, a trailblazer in tax and business strategy. With decades of experience and a leading role in the Making Tax Digital in...

Customer feedback can be a gift—or a challenge. For service businesses, mastering how to handle it is key to improving your offering and keeping clients happy. But what’s the best way to respond to tough criticism without defensiveness or ensure glowing praise doesn’t go unnoticed?   In this episode of De-stress Your Business, Rachel Harris, aka “accountant_she,” shares her proven process for hand...

Mergers can tear teams apart… when they are trying to bring teams together!   Uncertainty spreads like wildfire, leaving employees anxious about their jobs and leaders scrambling to restore focus. Productivity plummets as confusion and fear take hold.    The best talent starts eyeing the exit, while the rest are stuck wondering if their contributions even matter. For leaders, it’s a nightmare—mora...

Worried about your business running out of money?   This common fear among entrepreneurs goes beyond mere inconvenience; it strikes at the heart of your ability to operate and grow. Imagine the stress of looking at your financial statements, realizing there isn’t enough to cover next month’s bills, let alone unexpected expenses.    Whether it’s missing payroll, delaying crucial inventory purchases...

What do you do when everything is falling apart?    Your entire team walks out, leaving you with no one to lean on and years of expertise wiped out overnight. Clients are questioning your ability to deliver, peers are skeptical of your vision, and the sheer weight of rebuilding feels impossible.    Worse yet, you can’t help but wonder—was it all your fault? Did you push too hard, fail to communica...

In this episode of De-stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury tackles the often stressful end-of-year annual planning process.    He provides practical tips for simplifying the process, aligning your team around shared goals, and creating an actionable plan for 2025.    Alexis highlights the importance of using quarterly reviews, effective tools like SWOT analysis and OKRs, and obtaining structured...

In this special rhyming episode of De-Stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury reflects on a whirlwind year, expressing gratitude for listeners and guests.    He gives you a whistle stop tour through ALL the interviews in 2024, grouped into topics like pricing models, marketing, sales strategies, and tech automation.    The episode also teases a comedy song, 'Be Kind to Your Accountant This Christma...

Are your outdated accounting practices costing you clients and damaging your business reputation?  In a world where speed, efficiency, and precision drive client decisions, clinging to traditional methods is not just inefficient—it’s business suicide. Clients today expect real-time insights and seamless service; failing to provide these can lead them straight to your savvier competitors.  The gap...

Many people use LinkedIn hoping it will help their career or business grow, but often it just feels like a waste of time.  This is especially true for professional services providers like accountants and bookkeepers who spend hours trying to connect with others and make their profile stand out, only to see little to no results.  The platform is crowded, it’s hard to get noticed, and all that effor...

Are you tired of sifting through candidate profiles only to find that they don’t live up to their resumes?  Do traditional hiring methods seem to deliver professionals who lack creativity and the ability to drive real innovation in your business?  If this sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone. Many leaders are discovering that standard recruitment processes often fail to uncover the transfor...

Is every potential client hitting you with, “Let me think about it,” and never closing the deal? 🧐 You’ve crunched the numbers, presented the data, and crafted the perfect logical argument — but your prospects still aren’t buying. They’re dragging their feet, avoiding decisions, and your sales are grinding to a halt.  Sound familiar?  You’re frustrated, exhausted, and wondering why all the facts...