People ask me all the time why I made the leap to start a virtual bookkeeping business. The answer is pretty simple: it fills a need in my community AND serves my own needs. For as long as I can remember, I have given 150% of my time and energy into my work. My jobs have always defined me in some way and I suppose they continue to do so. It just looks- and more importantly, feels- a lot different lately.
When I was a restauranteur, I often worked 80-90 hour work weeks, I missed more family functions and opportunities to connect with friends than I care to count, and often opted out of sleep in order to “get more done.” I loved my work, I was good at my work, but my soul was screaming for more.
In 2020, I left the restaurant business behind and followed my dreams of working full time in the Wellness field. I taught in-person and online wellness classes, trained new Yoga teachers, coached dozens of clients through tough life transitions, and eventually landed a position in leadership at one of the world’s top luxury resorts where I was able to combine my passion for hospitality, wellness, and organization to elevate an already amazing group of Wellness Professionals. Dream job, right? Except my soul was still screaming for more.
More flexibility. More engagement. More specificity. More adventure. More freedom. More wellness. (and let’s be real) More money. More love.
More Flexibility
Want to go to a concert this weekend? Yes. Want to fly to New Mexico for the Hot Air Balloon Festival? Yes. Want to spend next month in Portugal? Absolutely.
The world is too big and there are too many amazing adventures to be had for me to be working a traditional job with 2 weeks vacation (9 days actually) and no weekends off.
I got tired of saying No to myself in favor of Yes to a corporation.
More Engagement
Through my work in Wellness, I have realized that I genuinely love building meaningful relationships with the people I serve. While the Hospitality Industry allows for tons of interaction, it is often brief and only once. I prefer relationships that last a while.
More Specificity
I know you’re thinking- “Caitlin, what does that even mean?” I love detail. I love precision. I love Excel and Quickbooks and Keepful. I love black and white numbers that don’t lie. I love analyzing the data and creating a plan. I love getting really freaking specific. It feeds my analytical side.
More Adventure
Self-explanatory. I’d rather be climbing mountains or finding the best street food in South America than running ragged on someone else’s payroll.With virtual bookkeeping, I can take my business anywhere in the world without having to “take time off.” I can support my adventurous spirit and my family simultaneously. My hope is that by me taking care of your books, you will also have the time and energy to seek more adventure!
More Wellness
I wanted more time for my personal wellness practice. Time for long runs and longer convos with my besties. Time for coffee for Mom or wine with my sister. Time for meditation, for isolation when needed, for rest, for reflection.
More Money
More money for me, more money for you…playing with money is fun! Yes, I take your books (and mine!) incredibly seriously, but it’s also fun! I love to see assets go up because that means possibilities go up. There’s literally no limit to the ways we can grow our accounts and our character.
More Love
I love gentle mornings, not rushing to get out the door. I love sharing meals with my husband and snuggles with my dogs. I love helping other business owners. I love getting excited about the future…and helping other people get excited about it too. I love saying YES when my nieces and nephews want to hang out. I love climbing mountains in the winter and drinking margaritas on the beach literally any time of year. I love that I took a chance on myself to create a life I love, while still providing a service to my community and stability to my family.
It’s early still. This business is just a baby with infinite possibilities for growth and development and that makes me so excited to wake up every day and do what I do. I get to chart and graph and serve and create and organize and connect and adventure and plan and dine and laugh and love. What more could I ask for?
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