Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hillary Kunzi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Hillary , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Before meeting my initial client, I was sitting nervously in the waiting area, trying to keep myself from running out the door, and then I spotted a poster across the room that stated:
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease to forever to be able to do it.” – Peter Pan
This resonated so much with me. Considering I launched my business less than a year ago, I definitely still have moments of self-doubt and fear. Being responsible for the accuracy of other businesses financial records is an enormous undertaking, as I was brand new to handling any other books, other than for my husband’s private practice. I overcome distressing moments by focusing on the facts. I invested in an academy that provides around the clock support from expert bookkeepers, CPAs, and mentors that specialize in every industry. If I do have questions about how to categorize or handle any transactions, I can consult with them for guidance, and find answers to any questions I may have concerning my clients. I also work with a local CPA on several of his accounts, and have a direct source of knowledge from his expertise that I can rely on. When you have determination, discipline, and put in the hard work, the imposter syndrome slowly creeps away.
I’ve realized I am going to consider myself a lifelong learner on this career journey. Isn’t that the point? I’ll accomplish many things, but there will always be more to learn to keep on growing and help others in the process. I tell myself I don’t need to have it all figured out right now. I can take this one day at a time, one step at a time, and the puzzle will slowly come together. In the moments when I feel uncomfortable or discouraged, I have to check myself, to make myself realize how far I’ve come in just a few months, how much knowledge I have gained, and how many short-term goals I am reaching. Having that mental confidence is a game changer, as well as having success with my first few clients’ books. As far as that Peter Pan quote goes, I’m now not only ready to fly, but to soar!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was born and raised in Michigan for 40 years! Taking a big leap of faith, in August 2022, my husband and I moved our two small children and golden retriever to Florida to start a new adventure and follow new ambitions. I watched my husband successfully build his own mental health private practice when we were still dating in 2017, and together we learned how to operate a small business and sustain it. I always admired his work, his strong dedication to helping others heal, and how he worked tirelessly day and night without complaint. I wanted to find a way to help him, and so I started taking over his billing and books shortly after his business started growing. Although he was a master at his craft in therapy, he was not an expert in recording his income and expenses properly. He just didn’t have the time! This gave me the idea to start my own bookkeeping business, because I love working with numbers, am super detail oriented and organized, and driven to help others. I joined a bookkeeping program that continually teaches me the ins and outs of the job, became a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, and had the hopes I would find clients who are in need of help recording their business financial records from a friendly, trustworthy, competent businesswoman.
I feel that what is most special about my business is that I genuinely want to help other business owners by giving them peace of mind, so that they have less to worry about. The tedious, day to day bookkeeping tasks are now covered. By taking care of those details, my clients can be confident their financials are properly being handled, and will enable them to focus on growing their own businesses.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’m going to have to steal this from Nana Noodleman. If you have small children, you’ve probably seen the movie Sing 1 and/or 2 at least a couple hundred times. A part of the movie that has always struck me is when Nana states “you must fight for what you believe in. Guts, stamina, faith, these are the things that you need now.” I couldn’t agree more!
Guts: I believe anyone who starts their own business needs to have some guts, possess the courage to go after their dreams, no matter the risk. You need the desire to change and improve your circumstances. I wanted a job that offers the flexibility and freedom to make my own schedule, so I can always be available for my kids. My advice to people early on in the journey (same place I’m in) is not to let fear stop you! Be more afraid of not changing, not challenging yourself, and not growing.
Stamina: Just keep going! I’ve been learning the idiosyncrasies of bookkeeping and QuickBooks Online obsessively over the last year. At this point in my journey, marketing is essential. My advice is consistency, each and every day, putting yourself out there, whether it’s sending out 5 or 50 emails, or cold calling potential clients, or showing up in person with a business card. Company growth is directly related to the number of people you talk to. The more you talk to, the more your business grows. There are so many different ways to get out there, so find what fits your personality style the best, and just do it, and do it consistently. I’m still working on this, as I’ve always been a behind the scenes kind of girl, who has had a boss tell me what to do. Now I’m in charge of my own success, and although it can be uncomfortable and scary, getting your name out there, and especially putting a friendly face to your business and establishing trust, is the best way to reach potential clients.
Faith: Having faith in myself and God to help me reach my goals is an absolute necessity. My husband has also been entirely supportive of my business initiatives, and when I get fearful or anxious, he is always giving me the unwavering motivation I need to keep pushing forward. I also have a built-in support group in the bookkeeping academy I am a part of, which offers constant reassurance that I’m on the right path, while holding me accountable for the job I need to do to excel for my clients. As far as keeping the faith in oneself, I think it is so important to create healthy routines when it comes to your work- set realistic goals and give yourself timelines and incentives to attain them in. Finally, and most importantly, acknowledge your victories and celebrate them!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is a small business owner that is a service provider in the healthcare industry, from therapists, to chiropractors, to psychiatrists, etc. I want to help those who help others for a living!
I would also love to work with any brand-new business owners, so we can start from scratch, from the very beginning of their success, and build upon that.
As far as personality, my ideal client is someone who is cooperative and knows how to communicate their expectations, as well as addressing inquiries I may have. Transparency is key. My priority as a bookkeeper is to free up my client’s time so they can focus on running their own businesses, but I am looking for clients who are responsive and timely when questions do arise. I provide personalized services based on the needs of my clients, and they know they can reach me 24/7 with a guaranteed response. I’m hoping to find clients who can also respond to me when needed to ensure their books are in excellent financial order. I want us to be teammates, supporting each other thru the ups and downs of the extraordinary business journey.
A final quote that has also resonated with me. “Good things come to those who wait.”
(No, no, no! Please scratch that out!)
It should say, “Good things come to those who work their asses off!” 😊
Using the life skills of perseverance, integrity, problem solving, and resourcefulness- those are key to accomplishing goals. I think if you mix in some courage and a little bit of humor, you will possess the main ingredients to become a successful small business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hilltopbooks.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089823584968
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-kunzi-88ba69262/