The Wize Way

Most firm owners think leadership is about driving harder, fixing problems faster, and holding everything together themselves. But real freedom doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from lifting others to lead. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Jane Pollard shares an honest reflection on leadership, legacy, and what changes when a firm owner stops centering the business around themselves...

Most firm owners think pricing is a “numbers problem”… so they copy what the last accountant charged, slap on a fixed fee, and hope it works out. The result? Scope creep, shrinking margins, and a team that’s flat-out busy while the profit quietly disappears. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Bren Ward sits down with Jamie Johns to break down the Wize approach to pricing, including: ✅ Why C...

Most firm owners try to improve performance by pushing harder, hiring more, or firefighting their way through the week. But the real bottleneck isn’t effort - it’s the lack of structure. Without clear systems and consistent meetings, your team is left guessing, and you end up carrying the weight alone. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , we break down how effective meetings become the backbo...

Most firm owners try to “scale the business” by working harder or hiring faster - but never fix the structural ceiling that keeps them stuck.  The result? Constant firefighting, team bottlenecks, unpredictable results, and a firm that can’t run without them. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , we break down the real blueprint behind building a scalable, self-running firm - the same principle...

Most firm owners hear the noise about AI and panic. They’re told their jobs are disappearing and the industry is on borrowed time. But the reality is simpler: AI isn’t replacing accountants,  it’s reshaping how firms think, make decisions, and deliver value. In this episode, Brenton Ward and Thomas Phabmixay break down what AI actually does in a firm, why it’s more “translation engine” than threat...

 Most firm owners don’t realise they’re the most expensive employee in their own business. They jump into client work thinking they’re helping — but every time they do, the firm’s most valuable time is spent on the least leveraged task. In this episode, Ed Chan breaks down why firm owners should never be billable. He explains how doing client work turns your time into the most expensive cost in th...

Firm owners don’t realise they’re building a business that depends on them because they never truly delegate. They hand off tasks thinking they’re freeing themselves but without training, clarity, and follow-up, the work boomerangs right back, and the cycle of overwhelm continues. In this episode, Ed Chan breaks down the difference between delegation and abdication. He explains why doing 100 perce...

Most firm owners don’t realize they’ve built habits that keep them trapped inside their own business. They’re working harder, staying later, and solving every problem themselves - but every time they step in, they take the job back. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Ed Chan breaks down the #1 habit that’s holding firm owners back - bypassing their team. He explains why every time you answer...

Most firm owners try to “fix the business” by working harder, staying later, and holding everything together with sheer willpower. But if you’re the bottleneck … no amount of effort will set you free. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , we are joined by Megan Sexton, owner of MJO Bookkeeping, and she shares a raw and powerful journey from burnout to freedom through hiring and building a trus...

Most firm owners try to “fix the business” without ever fixing the real ceiling that’s holding them back. The result? Burnout, endless busyness, and a business that feels more like a cage than freedom. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Gay Hendricks, best-selling author of The Big Leap, shares powerful insights on: ✅ The Upper Limit Problem that keeps even successful people stuck ✅ How st...

Most firm owners think SOPs are about writing endless manuals. The result? Overwhelm, wasted effort, and documents no one reads. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Thomas unpacks: ✅ Why SOPs should solve problems, not just document processes  ✅ The large/medium/small framework that keeps your team out of “SOP hell”  ✅ How policies like “No Triangles” and “No Bypass” protect culture and ac...

Onboarding That Boosts Retention Most firm owners treat onboarding as a checklist. The result? Confused hires, wasted training, and early staff turnover. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Dani Bray unpacks: ✅ Why onboarding starts before day one (and how pre-boarding builds trust)  ✅ The 30/60/90-day structure that sets hires up for success  ✅ How daily huddles and end-of-week check-ins...

Marketing That Actually Works for Accountants Most firm owners treat marketing like an expense, not an investment. The result? Stop-start campaigns, wasted dollars, and no real flow of quality leads. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Jamie Johns breaks down how to: ✅ Keep your marketing consistent so momentum builds  ✅ Use niche positioning to attract clients who value expertise  ✅ Defi...

Stop Talking Tactics. Start Leading Strategy. Most firm owners turn board meetings into long tactical checklists. The result? Burnout, disengaged leaders, and no real progress toward growth. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Thomas breaks down how to: ✅ Keep board meetings purely strategic (not firefighting)  ✅ Use a 90-day plan to drive clarity and action  ✅ Track the Fab 5 KPIs that g...

Struggling to keep your best people? In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Dani and Kristy reveal how to: ✅ Build career pathways that retain A-players ✅ Spot the red flags driving staff away ✅ Create a culture where top talent thrives If you want to protect your investment in people and keep them engaged long term, don’t miss this one. ________________   PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are...

Thinking about acquiring another firm? In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Jamie Johns unpacks the 10 critical things to look for in a potential acquisition  and the red flags that should make you walk away. Joined by Tim and Kristy & Dani, Jamie shares: ✅ The four ways to grow your firm (and why M&A is the fastest one) ✅ The biggest mistakes first-time acquirers make ✅ Why cultura...

Is your firm stuck because every client wants to talk to you? That’s not loyalty, that's a business bottleneck.  In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Ed Chan unpacks:  ✅ Why owners become the bottleneck in client relationships ✅ The hidden cost of flat teams (where one person does everything) ✅ How to build a Client Minding Team that frees you to scale ✅ Transitioning client trust wit...

Most firms think growth means chasing new clients. But your next big revenue leap is already sitting in your existing client base. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Ed Chan unpacks how to: ✅ Monetise existing clients without feeling “salesy” ✅ Use a Monetisation Sheet to uncover hidden revenue ✅ Build a referral system that brings in A-class clients ✅ Avoid scaling chaos by fixing your...

The problem with most firm owners is that they work harder than their business. If your profit margins aren’t hitting 25%, there’s a reason — and it starts with your team structure and capacity planning. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Brenton Ward, Ed Chan, and Jamie Johns reveal: ✅ How to separate your effort from the business’s performance ✅ The ideal team productivity % by role (Fin...

Most firm owners think growth means more ads, more hires, or more hustle. But what if you could grow without any of that? In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast for Accountants and Bookkeepers , Ed Chan breaks down the 4 smartest (and often overlooked) levers you can pull to grow your firm, starting with what you already have. From turning happy clients into referral machines, to selling more ser...

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast for Accountants and Bookkeepers , Brenton Ward and Jamie Johns unpack the rising trend of private equity firms targeting accounting practices.  Discover the five key factors every firm owner should consider before selling. Also, explore the mindset shifts required to lead through growth and why the ability to pause before reacting is a game-changer.  So, if...

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Brenton Ward is joined by Jamie Johns and Ed Chan unpack how top firms use workflow scheduling and capacity planning to stay efficient and scale.  From recurring bookkeeping tasks to locking in advisory work and filling calendars with purpose, this episode shows how smart planning drives real growth. ________________   PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are t...

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast for Accountants and Bookkeepers , Brenton Ward sits down with Jamie Johns to unpack one of the most pivotal roles in any accounting or bookkeeping firm: the Senior Client Manager (SCM). Jamie reveals why the SCM is often the hardest role to hire—and the most powerful when done right. They explore how the right SCM can free up the owner’s time, create team le...

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast for Accountants and Bookkeepers , Kristy Fairbairn sits down with Jamie Johns to unpack the real secret behind his 7-hour workweek: delegation done right .  Jamie shares how true delegation goes beyond assigning tasks — it's about micro-training, documenting, and playing your team to their strengths. He explains why systems, checklists, and policies are...

"You don’t create success. You attract success by the person you become." – Jamie Johns In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast , Brenton Ward sits down with Jamie Johns—CEO of Sky Accountants and Co-Founder of Wize Mentoring—to unpack the three golden traits every successful client manager must have. Jamie shares:  ✅ Why these soft skills matter more than technical expertise  ✅ How to...