In this episode, Keila delves into the inevitable challenges faced by entrepreneurs on their journey to success. Through insightful examples and personal experiences, she explores practical strategies for navigating financial hurdles, achieving work-life balance, fostering resilience, and embracing pivots. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode offers invaluable lessons on overcoming setbacks and building a thriving business.(00:00) - This is Build to Enough (01:24) - Tackling Financial Challenges in Small Business (04:26) - Work-Life Balance and Avoiding Burnout (07:11) - Resilience and Perseverance: Overcoming Setbacks (09:23) - Navigating Unexpected Pivots and Market Trends (11:44) - Conclusion: Embracing Challenges and Fostering InnovationConnect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

In this episode, Keila dives into the concept of "enough" for small business owners and strategies for intentional, sustainable growth. She discusses the importance of defining what enough means for you personally and professionally, and setting goals aligned with that vision. Keila shares tips on mindful planning, efficient resource allocation through outsourcing non-core tasks, staying adaptable, and continuously investing in your own learning. The key is pursuing growth at an intentional pace that allows you to scale without sacrificing your core mission or work-life balance.(00:00) - This is Build to Enough (00:58) - Defining 'Enough': A Personalized Approach to Business Growth (03:02) - Mindful Planning and Goal Setting for Entrepreneurs (03:53) - Balancing Ambition with Practicality in Micro Businesses (05:02) - Maximizing Resources for Efficient Business Operations (07:50) - Embracing Adaptability for Continuous Business Evolution (09:01) - The Importance of Continuous Learning in Achieving Intentional GrowthConnect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

In this episode, Keila dives into the concept of "unreasonable hospitality" inspired by Will Guderia's book of the same name. She explores how going above and beyond to create exceptional customer experiences can be a game-changer for businesses of all kinds, not just restaurants. Keila shares practical strategies for infusing warmth, surprise, and authenticity into every client interaction.(00:00) - This is Build to Enough (01:15) - Unreasonable Hospitality (03:13) - Applying Hospitality in Accounting: The Littlefish Approach (05:01) - Surprising and Delighting Customers: The 95 5 Rule (07:32) - Continuous Improvement and Client Feedback (09:08) - Finding Inspiration in Unlikely Places (11:05) - Final Thoughts: Hospitality Isn't Just for the EliteConnect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Automating routine tasks can significantly improve efficiency, but it's important not to lose sight of the human element in business. In this episode, Keila talk's about smart ways small business owners can implement automation to increase productivity, while still prioritizing human connections with customers and staff. Discover how automating certain processes can enhance scalability and empower your team to focus on the work they really want to be doing.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction to Business Automation(01:26) - Understanding Automation and Its Impact on Small Businesses(02:47) - The Balance Between Human Touch and Automation(03:44) - Examples of Automation in Business Processes(05:03) - The Financial Benefits of Automation(06:55) - The Role of Automation in Reducing Errors and Improving Accuracy(08:48) - Leveraging Automation for Data Collection and Analysis(10:12) - The Importance of Automation in Business Growth(11:19) - Conclusion: Embracing Automation for a Superior Customer Experience(12:32) - Thanks for listening, and Send Us an EmailConnect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

In today's episode, Keila explore's the importance of sustainable growth and how it contrasts with rapid, uncontrolled expansion.Learn why well-planned, steady gains are better for your business's long-term success than rocketing to the top as fast as possible.  Discover how to grow with intention, not acceleration, to achieve success on your own terms while maintaining brand integrity. Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

On this episode of Build to Enough, Keila discusses strategies for small business owners to navigate uncertainty, including having financial reserves, adapting business strategies, and seeking expert guidance. Keila offers practical tips on how entrepreneurs can prepare for unpredictable changes in the economy or their industries.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Outsourcing can provide significant benefits for small businesses, allowing you to access expertise and resources without high overhead costs.  Keila explains how outsourcing core business functions like accounting, HR, IT, and more can help free up mental bandwidth, alleviate stress, and empower you to focus on your zone of genius and accelerate strategic growth.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Keila discusses why business owners should be selective about which clients they take on, warning against accepting money from anyone willing to pay without considering whether they are a good fit. She advises setting boundaries and expectations upfront to avoid problematic relationships down the line, arguing that while some compromise may occasionally be necessary, integrity and team wellbeing should be prioritized over chasing every dollar.Keila encourages entrepreneurs to assess fit, watch for red flags, and feel empowered saying no when needed to create space for ideal clients aligned with their vision and values.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Keila talks about recognizing, preventing, and dealing with burnout, especially for small business owners and CEOs who feel pressure to always be "on." She shares tips for identifying signs of burnout in yourself and your team, taking time off preventatively, checking in with employees, delegating appropriately, and being empathetic when burnout still occurs. Keila emphasizes we all need to make space to be human even when the work still needs to get done.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Determining the right number of clients to take on without compromising quality or burning out is essential. On this episode, Keila talks about how to set ideal revenue goals, assess your bandwidth across life and work, and strike the perfect balance between earning target income and maintaining sanity. Going beyond "work-life balance" into intentionally designing your business around your desired lifestyle.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Having a lean team requires making strategic and intentional hiring decisions. Learn how to build a mighty small team that can help your business thrive. When your staff is small, every team member has an amplified impact, so it's crucial to hire all-star players. We'll discuss how to use your financials strategically to hire critical roles first and find candidates that fit your culture and empower your team.Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawickWebsite - http://www.hellokeila.comRESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Growth shouldn't be the only marker of success. In this episode, Keila discusses moving away from the pressure of constant expansion and exploring what it means to build a business that's sustainable, aligns with your lifestyle, and brings you fulfillment. Welcome to Build To Enough!Connect with Keila!LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilahilltrawick Website - http://www.hellokeila.com RESOURCES:Learn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and sign up for our newsletter at www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting

Many of us have heard horror stories from accountants about their experience working in the industry - the long hours, being under-compensated, the high costs of completing accounting accreditations ... It’s no wonder the pipleline of accounting professions is dwindling and experienced accountants are leaving the profession altogether. Or is it?In this episode, Liz Kolar brings more than 35 years of accounting and professional education experience to the table as she joins Keila to provide her perspective on the shortage of accountants and what firms are doing to address it. Tune in to learn why Liz thinks the best time to become a CPA is NOW! KEY POINTS:Liz Kolar’s unique industry perspective When did the decline of accountant candidates begin?Why are candidates NOT choosing accounting Is there a CPA pipeline crisis?What are firms doing to make accounting more desirable? QUOTABLES:“The feedback we're getting, it’s a very complex issue. It's not one issue we can resolve, and everybody will come back. There are multiple factors. And they're all quite concerning.” - Liz Kolar GUEST RESOURCES:Liz Kolarsurgent.comLinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/lizkolar RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comLearn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and get access to new goodies by signing up for our newsletter: mailchi.mp/littlefishaccounting/socialFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting   The Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

You landed a million dollar project, but the money will only come later. So how much do you have right now to cover expenses incurred before that check clears? Because it’s not just about how much you’re bringing in but the amount of money coming in on time for the amount that has to go out.  So in this episode, Keila talks cash flow - why it’s important, what you need to pay attention to, and the pitfalls she sees many entrepreneurs fall into. An episode not to be missed for all small businesses with ebbs and flows working on a project or launch basis. KEY POINTS:Why your small business needs a cushion Double counting sales and outstanding invoices How Little Fish strategizes cash flow QUOTABLES:“So what does all of this mean? Well, cash is king.” - Keila    RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comLearn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and get access to new goodies by signing up for our newsletter: mailchi.mp/littlefishaccounting/socialFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccountingThe Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

Inclusion strategist, certified coach, speaker, and author Amber Cabral is back to discuss what it means to build a business that not only feels successful to you but also feels like a business you actually want to run.  Tune in as Amber shares her journey from solopreneur to realizing she couldn’t do it all on her own and had to grow, all while keeping the heart of her business alive. And how she decided that the impact, culture, and legacy of her small business was worth more than the “big dollars.” KEY POINTS:The journey from solopreneur to business ownerIdentifying your “enough” number The impact and culture of intentionally small businesses “How much is the money worth?”Why you need to get clear about what you love doing in your businessQUOTABLES: “The bigger you get, the harder it is to translate the heart of the mission.” “Figure out early if you're building a business and want to work in your field or building a business you want to sell.”  GUEST RESOURCES: Amber Cabral Ambercabral.com www.cabralconsultingllc.com IG | instagram.com/bamcabral LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/ambercabral  RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comLearn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and get access to new goodies by signing up for our newsletter: mailchi.mp/littlefishaccounting/socialFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccountingThe Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

The more offers you have, the more money you will make, right? WRONG! While it may sound counterintuitive, in this episode, Keila discusses why reducing the number of offerings you provide can amplify and exceed your previous profit and revenue targets. Take Little Fish for example, who doubled their revenue in just two years after eliminating their buffet of services! So tune in and find out if narrowing your service offerings is right for you and how you can get paid more to do less.  KEY POINTS:Why you may want to offer fewer servicesHow narrowing down can save on costsWhat to consider when cutting your list of services“All money ain’t good money.”QUOTABLES:“When you slow down how many services you offer, or actually just streamline down to a lower number of services, you really have the opportunity to make those better.” - Keila Hill-Trawick “It's hard to be an expert in your field that can provide value to clients when your hands are in a bunch of different buckets. So start looking at your suite of services and ask yourself, could we do less for more?” - Keila Hill-Trawick  RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comLearn more about Little Fish’s suite of services and get access to new goodies by signing up for our newsletter: mailchi.mp/littlefishaccounting/socialFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccountingThe Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

In this special episode, Keila invites her first guest of the season - Natasha Pierre! A social media manager turned video marketing coach, speaker, podcaster, and creator, Natasha helps clients who struggle with strategy and confidence when it comes to content creation. Through her signature group programs and educational content, she helps clients build their brand with a confident video marketing strategy that ultimately grows their business, community, and impact simultaneously.  Tune in as Natasha shares her own entrepreneurial journey, from the loneliness that comes with growth to walking away from a lucrative business in order to protect her peace.  So lean in and don’t miss this conversation on burnout, boundaries, and fitting your business into your life rather than fitting your life into your business. KEY POINTS:Natasha’s journey from entrepreneur to coach and creator The struggle to find balance while growing Staying intentionally and experimentally small What does “enough” feel like for you?Trusting your gut and learning to say noSetting the foundation for the life you want to live  QUOTABLES: “It's this place where we can still innovate, still have ideas, and still say yes to things. Where I feel really excited, but not compromise well-being and stress and overwhelm.” - Natasha Pierre “Be honest with yourself when something needs to go or when something's no longer a good fit. Even when that was what you thought was going to be it. It's hard, but it's worth trusting that instinct or that nudge.” - Natasha Pierre  GUEST RESOURCES: Natasha Pierreshinewithnatasha.comIG | instagram.com/shinewithnatashaListen to The Shine Online Podcast on all major streaming platforms!link.chtbl.com/shineonline  RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccountingThe Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

Today is a special day in our little corner of the world as it is the 100th episode of Fish Food! And what better time to honor this labor of love than Little Fish’s 5-year anniversary!Tune in as Keila shares some insight on Little Fish’s growth, where they started, where they are now, and what we can expect in the future. Plus, a little bonus from members of the Little Fish team that you don’t typically hear from!So lean in and join Keila and Little Fish’s journey of pivots, changes, and figuring out how they can best serve you and their clients! KEY POINTS:- Why entrepreneurship is not what Keila thought it was!- How Little Fish was born - What brought Kelia success in the beginning? And now?- “Nobody can make it out here alone.”- Growing, niching down, and rebranding - Building company culture and training your management muscles QUOTABLES:“Entrepreneurship is not what I thought it was going to be, in good ways and challenging ways. Everyone talks about the freedom, and the space, and the money. But there's also the fear, and the management, and the constant changes of being a startup.” - Keila Hill-Trawick“I wanted to be more than an accounting firm. We are a safe space. I want to be an advisory firm that gives support, that allows you to take a deep breath and know that everything is going to be okay.” - Keila Hill-Trawick RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting   The Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

Today Keila brings you the last in her “Beyond the Numbers” series, a deeper look into why numbers themselves aren’t necessarily good or bad. And how the story behind the numbers is what we really need in order to make decisions for our business that not only make the most sense but also build a life and business that we can be proud of. Taxes seem to be every entrepreneur's favorite topic, from the fear around them to how to do them right to ways they affect our business. So today, Keila goes beyond the flat monetary amount and explores what taxes reveal about your business, what they don't tell you, and how you can use them to make strategic decisions about your future.   KEY POINTS:Why the real tax work is done throughout the year How do taxes work?Preparing your taxes and getting a refund QUOTABLES:“You want to make decisions based not just on taxes but at least taking into account that all of the money that you make won't actually belong to you.” RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccountingThe Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)

In this episode, Keila continues her “Beyond the Numbers” series, a deeper look into why numbers themselves aren’t necessarily good or bad. And how the story behind the numbers is what we really need in order to make decisions for our business that not only make the most sense but also build a life and business that we can be proud of.Tune in today as Keila talks budgets and forecasts and how they can help you make some quick decisions about the direction you want to go with your business and whether to make any changes to what you’re offering or how you’re offering it.  KEY POINTS:- What is a budget and how do we make one?- Why a zero-based budget may work for you- Forecast - where are you trending to end up?- How to use your budget and forecast to “mind the gap” QUOTABLES:“It does nobody any good to set goals that are too high for what you're actually able to achieve and then just feel like you're missing them every time. Remember, a budget is less of a goal and more of a plan.” RESOURCES:Like what you’re hearing? Check out Little Fish Accounting at: www.littlefishaccounting.comFollow Little Fish Accounting on social media!IG | instagram.com/littlefishaccounting    The Fish Food Podcast is edited by Instapodcasts (visit at instapodcasts.com)