Steve Browne describes himself as a music freak. Right when he gets to his office, he turns on some music and leaves it on throughout the day. He has an iPod classic with 11,000 songs on it and he goes to live concerts as often as possible – including U2 at Soldier Field and Paul McCartney and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with Joe Walsh. He has a very personal connection with music that translates into a personal connection with the people around him.
In this episode, Steve and I talk about how, like music, people have a vibe, so it’s important for leaders to understand where people are instead of where you think they should be. As a human resources executive, it’s important for Steve to have the courage to be himself while also encouraging others to do the same. But it’s the company’s culture that has to not only allow for it but also value each individual’s passions. In order to get to know others around you, make time in your calendar to get out and meet others where they are at. As Steve says, "Your desk is your enemy. You need to get out of your office and go visit people."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "The Case for Investing More in People" by Eric Garton.
Tony Nitti has been pursuing passions outside of work since before he even started his first job out of college. Having graduated a semester early, he had extra time before needing to report to the Arthur Andersen office, so he moved to Vermont to ski nearly every day. This lead to him pursuing other passions over the years, including racing mountain bikes, back country skiing, and climbing – all reasons he moved to Colorado. After narrowly surviving a brain aneurism several years ago, he’s now more committed than ever to these passions and maximizing his time here.
In this episode, Tony and I talk about how important it was for him to realize that he was completely removed from the things that made him happy by working longer hours and being stuck in a never-ending race to get the most billable hours. He says, "If I let the passions part of me die then everything in my life is going to suffer." Professionalism preaches a false hope that grinding out more hours is the path to success. It’s much better to feel satisfied in all areas of your life, realizing that your hobbies and passions are much more a part of you than your job is. These are also the ways that we’re able to connect with others in a stronger way. “The real skill I have isn’t my understanding of tax law but that I have the ability to communicate it with people because I am an actual person.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "7 Traits That Will Help You Build Great Teams that Deliver Amazing Results" by Gordon Tredgold.
Jaime Rein knows what working under pressure is like, having been a trained chef for many years prior to getting into bookkeeping. When she made the move, she thought she was leaving that world behind but quickly realized how much her training benefited her bookkeeping career. Being flexible to pivot at any moment, working through stressful times, being confident in your skills, having grace under fire, and “presenting the plate” to the customer are all very similar in both worlds – and things Jaime does very well. While training to be a chef, she learned the phrase “mise en place”, which is French or everything has it’s place, which just so happens to be exactly the same as bookkeeping.
In this episode, Jaime and I talk about how she was reluctant to share her past with clients for fear they wouldn’t take her seriously. The only downside she’s found is now people are nervous inviting her over for dinner thinking that she’ll be judging their cooking. She has realized how much she’s able to relate to her clients because most of them are also small business owners who have big dreams but could be at a point where they might need to walk away, which she proves is completely okay. Most importantly, by sharing passions you begin to realize that no one really conforms because we all have a story that is both unique and brilliant. In Jaime’s words, "It makes life a little bit brighter when you’re not talking just numbers."
Jaime Rein is the owner of Rein Business Services in Prince George, British Columbia.
She graduated from the College of New Caledonia with a Bookkeeping degree and later earned her CPB designation.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel talk about their highlights from the Accountex Conference in Boston last week. From Rachel's breakout session and panel discussion, to John being on The Key Accounts Facebook Live video, to the Sage VIP Event, and then the TSheets private tour of Fenway Park, they both had a great time and appreciated meeting so many of their listeners!
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of professionals who have interests outside of work including coaching ladies kickball, taking part in triathlons, connecting and sharing resources on social media, and traveling.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of Australians who like gardening, traveling, underwater photography, and playing jazz trumpet.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of Australians who like gardening, traveling, underwater photography, and playing jazz trumpet.
Jonathan Ankney became an avid cyclist after starting his accounting career, using it as a way to clear his mind from work. In his words, “creative people need to think,” so this is where he’s able to process a lot that he can’t while he’s in the office. On top of regularly riding to and from his off in New York City, Jonathan has also taken his bike to ride all over Korea.
In this episode, Jonathan and I talk about how his cycling has given him many skills that help in his business as a solopreneur: endurance, pacing, and planning. Prior to his accounting career, he was a professional musician, so he’s able to be more creative and mentally nimble at work. All of these traits make him a much better accountant. We also discuss how he was reluctant to share with coworkers at first because he didn’t feel like it mattered to his career. No he connects with other cyclists when he’s wearing his bicycle tie or they see pictures in his office.