I Almost Punched Her…

I am not a violent person. I have literally sung Kumbaya around a campfire. I would typically say I am a pretty loving person. However, I had one guest in my house that if my son and husband hadn’t been in the room, probably would have filed charges against me. I am a little nervous to share this story- because it isn’t what you would call a flattering story.

I thought I was doing everything right. I have always been good at math (I liked calculus and physics). So as I started my business, I keep track of how much money I had to begin with and how much I had spent and how. The year was drawing to a close, so I figured I should probably have an accountant check my work. I carefully reviewed my beautiful Excel document before the doorbell rang. Waiting for her to tell me I was a genius and did a great job (I was a little high on my Q4 successful sales which had more than doubled what I made in a whole year at the church).

The doorbell rang, and Toni walked into the house for the first and last time. Toni was about as close to a stereotype of a bookkeeper as possible. She seemed relatively quiet, and she wore a Christmas sweater and button up shirt that was clearly buttoned way higher than it was designed to be. She had those thick glasses with the librarian chain on them.

I showed her my magical spreadsheet and waited for the praise to come rolling in. She looked at the spreadsheet, pushed her glasses up her nose, looked at me and said, “Where are the dual entries?”
“Dual entries? I don’t know what you mean?” I stammered.

“Dual entries, you have the expenses but they where do you have the dual entries, for your balance sheet?” She snarked.

“It balances, I checked the numbers.” I started to reply back. Thinking it was like balancing a checkbook.

“No, you need a dual entry system. This isn’t sufficient.” She said in a matter of fact tone.

So this is when I share one of my flaws- I like to be right. There is no way I would have given her that sheet if I didn’t think I had done it right. My mind started to swirl. What the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks is dual entry?!? It is one spreadsheet what is she talking about! I felt a little dizzy as I got more and more frustrated (which is not a good look for me).

“I am sorry. I thought I had everything. I don’t know what dual entry means.” I stammered back.

“You can’t have your books without a dual entry system.” She snorted back.

I felt hot. I felt my fists at my side curling up. I felt my usually fairly mild husband’s arms on my shoulders tightly holding my arms down while he smiled at this monster I had let into my house.

“You keep saying that. If I knew what you wanted I would give it to you. You aren’t making sense. Can you use another word?”

“Dual entry, you have to have dual entry.” was all she gave me.

I was so angry I couldn’t hold it in much more. I slide my hands under my bottom, because if she said “dual entry” one more #^&*(%&* time I was going to lose my ordinarily rational mind.

I took a deep breath, before I could say anything else she added, “Do you not know what you are doing?”

My husband clamped down on my arms pulling me back in my seat. I don’t remember how she got out of my house.

I remember Nate apologizing saying we are new to the business and we would get back with her.

Here is the idiotic part. I ACTUALLY HIRED HER! Now obviously she didn’t last very long. I also might have been a little passive aggressive. I may have set her password on my sub-login to my Amazon account to “ID10TNMBrLdy”.

Why did I tell you this long, reasonably embarrassing story? When we start our business, no one gives us a manual. I wasted a lot of money and paid way too much in taxes just because I didn’t know the right questions to ask.

That is why I am so excited about our webinar tonight. If you are seasoned pro- bring some questions. If you are brand new- let us save you from the embarrassment and genuine financial consequences of just not knowing how the system works.

You can even ask what terms mean- like dual entry.

I hope you can join us  tonight at 5pm PST/8PM PST with Anna Hill and Jason T. Smith. You can register here. If not, register and we will send you the replay!