The Sharon Francisco Show

Michelle Hume spent years telling people she was “just a bookkeeper”… even while quietly carrying big responsibility, serving clients she genuinely loves, and running at full capacity. Then something shifted. After 12 months working together, Michelle has hired (and is hiring) team members, is systemising her business, and is stepping into a bigger identity — one where she isn’t the bottleneck, an...

We all say we want change. More money. More time. More freedom. Better health. Holidays that actually happen. A business that doesn’t rely on us being “on” all the time. And yet… year after year, nothing really shifts. In this episode, we unpack why — and it has nothing to do with laziness, lack of discipline, or motivation. Instead, we dive into a simple but powerful framework that has shaped cha...

Planning can feel like the same yearly ritual: you get excited for five minutes… then life happens… and suddenly 2026 becomes a photocopy of 2025. In this episode, we flip that. This isn’t “set goals and hope for the best.” It’s a practical way to stack the odds in your favour so your planning actually turns into action — and action turns into outcomes, in business and in life. We start with a pow...

So many bookkeepers and accountants say they’re “taking a break”… but the laptop comes with them. The emails still get checked. Payroll still gets done. And that’s not a holiday. In this episode, we unpack why stepping away feels so hard — even when you’re exhausted — and why this isn’t a discipline or mindset problem at all. It’s biology, psychology, and identity quietly running the show. We expl...

The profession is evolving — fast. In this episode, Sharon is joined by Ron Baker to unpack why value pricing had its moment, why subscription pricing is the natural next step, and how bookkeepers and accountants can step into a future built on transformation, not tasks. In this episode we cover: How firms move from compliance into deeper, higher-value work How subscription pricing removes scope t...

Most of us never learnt how to have a healthy relationship with money — especially women who built their business alongside raising families. For many bookkeepers, the partner became the “financial safety net,” and without realising it, the business was built on the idea of supporting , not leading . This episode explores the identity shift required to step into financial independence, confidence,...

We all hit seasons where things feel heavy — the business feels hard, energy is low, decisions stall, and everything starts to blur. Most people respond by blaming themselves or going into avoidance. But you’re not broken — you’re just at a point where something needs to shift. In this episode, we explore how to move from self-judgement to curiosity, so you can find your next step instead of stayi...

Ever wondered why some clients want every detail and others just want the quick version? Or why some team members thrive under pressure while others quietly shut down? In this episode, we break down the DISC framework as a practical way to understand behaviour, communicate with more ease, and reduce friction in your bookkeeping business and life. In this episode we cover: The four DISC styles — Do...

If you’re tired, foggy, overwhelmed and feel like “something’s off” — but every GP visit says you’re fine — this episode will feel like a breath out. Dr Adrian Clegg joins us to unpack why so many women in midlife aren’t getting the answers they need, and what’s actually going on underneath the fatigue, dizziness and brain fog. In this episode we cover: The real reasons midlife women feel exhauste...

Some business problems just keep showing up — tricky clients, cashflow issues, team turnover. When that happens, there’s one question worth asking: what’s mine to own? In this solo episode, we explore what it means to lead above the line — with ownership, accountability, and responsibility — and why our business results are often just a mirror of how we show up. I share the story of a high-D leade...

What if midlife isn’t the slowdown everyone talks about — but the decade where your power truly expands? In this solo episode, we explore The 100-Year Life by Professor Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott — a powerful reframe on ageing, wisdom, and work in a world where we’re living longer than ever before. This conversation is for every woman who’s ever whispered, “Am I still relevant?” — and for anyo...

What if the best parts of your life are sitting quietly on the other side of fear? In this solo episode, we dive into what it really means to stay sassy and stay curious — to challenge the predictable path, to question “is this it?”, and to rediscover the spark that makes life feel expansive again. From 92-year-old marathon runner Mathea Allansmith and 102-year-old social media star Ivy Bean, to t...

What keeps bookkeepers grounded when life and lodgements pile up? In this uplifting conversation with Rob Marshall — professional bookkeeper, General Manager at ICB, and a proud advocate for small business communities — we unpack the habits, boundaries, and mindset that help us build businesses we actually want to live in. In this episode we cover: Lessons from the community: how genuine connectio...

What if the moment you stopped hiding was the moment everything changed? In this uplifting conversation with Personal Brand expert and 14x author Jane Anderson, we explore how personal brand, integrity, and courage can open doors — not just in business, but in life. Jane was one of the first mentors who helped me see that being myself wasn’t too much — it was my greatest advantage. We talk about c...

Tired, foggy, cranky — and told it’s “just menopause”? In this episode, I share how brain fog nearly derailed me, the turning point I found in functional medicine, and why you should never settle for “this is just how it is.” Mentioned in this episode: Why it’s not always menopause Coping strategies that keep us stuck My eight-month transformation with functional medicine The lesson: never stop se...

If you’re not getting the response you want — from clients, team, or even loved ones — it’s not them, it’s how you’re communicating. In this episode, I unpack one of my favourite NLP principles: communication is the response you get. You’ll hear why “they should just know” is a myth, how silence often gives permission, and why tricky conversations are where growth happens. With stories from busine...

Scaling isn’t just about numbers — it’s about balancing growth, systems, and self-care. For bookkeepers, accountants, and business owners, that often means pricing struggles, letting go of control, and creating boundaries that stick. In this episode, I share how Dr Carol Dweck’s research on fixed vs growth mindset applies directly to business. A fixed mindset keeps us stuck in fear, while a growth...

Most of us didn’t start our businesses thinking about marketing and sales. Our client base often grew organically — through referrals, word of mouth, or just showing up. But here’s the truth: relying solely on referrals can be risky. If they dry up, or the wrong types of clients come through, we’re left building a business by default rather than design. In this episode, I share why marketing and s...

Sometimes the thing that keeps us going isn’t stamina, skills, or even sheer grit — it’s belief. In this episode, I share a story about rats (yes, real ones) that completely changed how I think about endurance, business, and why so many of us keep “swimming” even when we’re exhausted. You’ll hear how a 1950s experiment revealed the hidden power of belief, and how it shows up in the way we run our...

Even the smartest, most capable bookkeepers and accountants sometimes avoid their own numbers. Not because they’re lazy or bad with money — but because it feels uncomfortable to face the truth. In this episode, we uncover the hidden habits that sabotage profit, from not tracking client profitability to skipping superannuation for ourselves. We’ll explore the money beliefs that keep us stuck, why o...

What makes someone walk away from a secure corporate career just before a global pandemic — and end up building a thriving bookkeeping firm almost by accident? In this episode, I sit down with my very first guest, Mark Moore, to uncover the real story behind his leap from burnout in the hotel industry to building a bookkeeping business that not only survived COVID but grew because of it. From the...

“I’m just a bookkeeper.” It sounds harmless, but that one little word — just — can shape your entire business identity. In this episode, I dig into how your self-image affects everything: your prices, your boundaries, your time freedom, and the calibre of clients you attract. We’ll look at how quietly self-worth shows up in business — and how it holds you back without you even realising. I also sh...

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with — it’s something you build. In this episode, I dive into the real roots of confidence, including the powerful moment in my childhood that shaped how I show up today… and why so many women still feel like outsiders in business and life. We’ll unpack what confidence actually is (and isn’t), the role of failure, imposter syndrome, and why confidence grows n...

Our deeply ingrained beliefs and inner dialogue shape how we show up in business — often without us even realising it. In this episode, I talk about how impostor syndrome, procrastination, and outdated identity stories sabotage our success… and what to do about it. You’ll hear real-life examples, including how I grew up on a remote sheep station and what sheep walking to dry tanks has to do with y...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Sharon Francisco Show! In this episode, I share why I created this podcast, what you can expect in future episodes, and how mindset has shaped everything in my life — from backing myself through failure and reinvention, to finding love (in a very French way). You’ll hear what this show is really about — honest stories, bold mindset shifts, practical busines...