Meet Kelli Lewis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelli Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelli, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience, for me, wasn’t learned from a book. It was baked into my survival.

I grew up as the daughter of two heroin addicts. That meant figuring out a lot of life on my own. I’ll never forget being a child with an aching tooth and not knowing what a cavity was. But I discovered that if I tore pieces of bread and pressed them into the hole, it numbed the pain. I didn’t know I was self-medicating I just knew I had to solve the problem myself. Years later, the dentist told me he was amazed I figured that out on my own. That story stuck with me because honestly, it’s the story of my life: improvise, adapt, and move forward.

That instinct has served me well in business. I don’t see obstacles as endings I see them as invitations to figure it out. If I don’t know the answer, I ask better questions. And I’ve learned that the right questions, asked to the right people, can unlock powerful doors.

My mother, despite her addiction, was the epitome of grace and grit. She showed up beautifully dressed, executed her job flawlessly, and fooled the world with her strength even while quietly fighting her own battles. From her, I learned resilience, code-switching, and the subtle art of surviving while performing. That duality shaped me deeply.

As a single mother, resilience became non-negotiable. I didn’t have the luxury of crumbling. There was always a next thing, a new challenge, another mouth to feed, another step forward. I became intentional about protecting my son’s innocence about shielding them from the same chaos I grew up in. That mission kept me moving even on the days I didn’t feel strong.

There were moments, especially in business, where I should have broken. Like the time my bank account was frozen during a bankruptcy while client funds sat in limbo with my merchant processor. I had payroll to run and kids to feed. Yet no one ever knew not my clients, not my kids. I found a way, because I had to.

What I’ve come to understand now is that resilience isn’t a badge of honor or a mindset trick. It’s a trait. A rooted decision that says, “There is no other option.” I will win. I will rise. And I’m going to enjoy the journey while I do it. There’s no going back only building forward

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

At KelliWorks, we specialize in more than just accounting we bring clarity, structure, and peace of mind to the small business owner who’s tired of running on fumes. With over 16 years in the accounting and business operations space, I’ve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs break out of chaos and step into streamlined systems that support growth without the overwhelm.

Right now, I’m focused on elevating our client experience delivering world-class accounting support with a human-first approach. While technology is transforming the financial world, I believe exceptional service is what truly sets a firm apart. That’s where we’re choosing to shine.

This year is also a personal milestone for me. I’m releasing my first book, “Entrepreneurs Anonymous,” a deeply personal and practical guide that peels back the curtain on the silent struggles entrepreneurs face behind the highlight reels. It’s a movement I’m building not just a book to create community, connection, and real conversations around what it means to build a business and a life at the same time.

In addition to our core services, I’m expanding our reach to support international businesses seeking U.S. accounting compliance and growth strategy. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, KelliWorks is built to help entrepreneurs reclaim their time, understand their numbers, and lead with confidence.

If you’re looking for a partner who understands both the technical side of business and the emotional journey behind it, I’m here. Let’s build something that truly works not just on paper, but in real life.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, these are the three things that helped me the most in my journey:

1. Being Open to Learning
Things change fast—new tools, new rules, new ways of working. I didn’t know everything at the start, but I stayed curious and kept learning a little every day.

Tip: Don’t wait to be an expert. Ask questions, try new things, and take small steps to grow your skills.

2. Good Communication
I learned that being clear and kind in how I talk to people makes a huge difference—especially when dealing with money or business decisions.

Tip: Listen first. Then speak simply. People appreciate it when you help them understand things without using confusing words.

3. Understanding the Bigger Picture
I didn’t just look at numbers—I looked at how the whole business worked. That helped me solve problems and give better advice.

Tip: Try to see how your work connects to everything else. Ask “why does this matter?” and “how does this help?”

My advice for anyone starting out:
You don’t have to know it all. Just stay curious, be kind, and keep showing up. Growth happens one step at a time.

You’ve got this.
— Kelli 💼✨

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One book that really shaped my journey is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.

It’s not just about productivity—it helped me understand how small, consistent actions can lead to big change. That really clicked with me, especially as I was building systems, growing my business, and trying to stay on track.

Here are a few nuggets from the book that stuck with me:

1. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
This reminded me that good results don’t just come from dreaming big—they come from setting up solid routines and workflows. That mindset helped me create systems that support my clients and my own work-life balance.

2. Small habits = big results over time
Whether it’s staying on top of client emails or learning a new tool, I saw how tiny daily efforts stacked up. It took the pressure off needing to “do it all” and helped me focus on progress, not perfection.

3. “Every action you take is a vote for the person you want to become.”
That one hit home. It made me realize that every choice—how I spend my time, how I show up—shapes who I’m becoming as a leader and as a person.

Final thought:
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this book gives a roadmap for getting back to the basics. It helped me build habits that stick—and feel good doing it.

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