It’s Story Time: A Search for Balance
It’s July in Arizona. The days are hot. The nights are hot. We are all just a little bit, or maybe a lot, miserable and cranky. Rather than stuffing our brains with more accounting knowledge, let’s have story time. You may enjoy this story of how EverythingCounts came to be in my journey to find work-life balance. And, it would be so uplifting for you to share your dreams and journey in reply!
The Beginning
In the early 2000’s I was working as the bookkeeper and operations manager for a group of insurance offices while going to school. In 2005 I had the opportunity to join the accounting services department of a large CPA firm. I was eager to expand my knowledge and loved having the opportunity to also learn about income taxes and audit processes in addition to my role in accounting services. Moving from private to public industry fed my desire for knowledge and was a great move for me. While I loved my experiences and the folks I worked with, the long hours and never-ending deadlines began to take their toll. I reached full burnout and needed a change.
That Entrepreneurial Spirit
I always knew that I would own my own business someday. It’s in my blood. My parents had been entrepreneurs for as long as I could remember. So in 2018 I took the plunge and said good-bye to the firm. After some time off to recover, I began thinking about what I wanted my future to look like. I still loved accounting. I just needed to do it on my own terms; to be in charge of my own destiny. After all, isn’t that what being an entrepreneur is really about? I also needed to put my passion for helping small businesses succeed to good use. I turned my attention towards creating a life that I would enjoy. I began the process with the name of my business. I didn’t want a run of the mill name. I wanted something that embraced my passion as well as my point of view.
Creativity and Passion
I love creative titles that are a play on words and knew that I wanted this for my own business name. I began the process by considering words and phrases that signify numbers but also coincided with my personal business approach. Small business owners put a lot on the line. They invest money, oodles of time, and make many personal sacrifices along the way. I want them to know that it isn’t only their work that matters but how they feel about their personal lives as well. This full picture should be considered as business goals are set and reached in order to maintain a proper balance with their personal life. I desire to inspire them to find that balance for success in both their personal and work lives. I narrowed the name choice down to “All That Counts” and “Everything Counts”. Being an avid Depeche Mode fan, EverythingCounts won out as that is also the title of one of their songs.
The image at the end of the name was inspired by fanning the ledger pages during the not-so-long ago days of doing hand entry onto green column ledger paper. I actually remember my Mom doing this as she kept the books for the family business. The line of dots underneath the name are a throwback to an abacus, also known as a counting frame, which was a calculating tool used in the ancient world. The logo colors are some of my favorite colors which are also reflected in my naturally silver hair that I often highlight with purple. It was inspiring to pay tribute to things so personal to always remind me to stay balanced.
The Journey Continues
As I continue this journey, I enjoy the life that I’ve created for myself. I love my clients and working with them in ways that help them to achieve their own desired balance. While there are still long days and the occasional last-minute deadlines, I find equilibrium in cuddling with my furry “kids”, reading a book or hanging with family and friends. As I look to the future, my goal is not to let any particular part of my life overpower another. I build my business as carefully as I build my personal life. When it comes to work-life balance, truly, everything does count. What’s your story?
