Fifteen
The original team in 2008. Jacquie Howard, Kay Rudd and myself in the middle. Looking much younger then and celebrating the opening of Jigsaw Tax.
On 1 July 2023 Jigsaw Tax turned 15. For 15 years it has demanded my attention more than anything else. It has bought me highs, lows, challenges and achievements, but most importantly it has helped to define the person I have become. I find it difficult to celebrate my own accomplishments, but as this last financial year has drawn to a close, the most difficult year of my life so far, I think it is time to reflect.
When I purchased the Hadley Jones accounting practice in Goulburn in 2008 I had a vision of how easy it would be to run a successful business. Like most small business owners, I totally underestimated the effort and stress that would be needed to succeed. Looking back over the past 15 years I sometimes wonder how I did it.
Surviving
Many small businesses do not survive the first few years. I found the first couple of years relatively easy as I gained experience as a business owner. However, as the business matured new challenges were thrown my way. Challenges include key staff members needing to take extended sick leave, bringing in a business partner, breaking up with my business partner, financing challenges (no bank wants to lend to a female business owner) and COVID.
A noticeable change between now and 15 years ago is the pace of business and connectivity. I am writing this on my laptop, sitting on a plane on my way to Bali. I first went to Bali not long after buying the business. It was almost impossible to work from there. Internet was dreadful, no programs were in the cloud, and I didn’t even bother to take a laptop. Now I can be contacted anywhere and work from anywhere. There are definite benefits to this but it does make it difficult to totally switch off from work.
When I think about surviving, it is not just financially but mentally as well. I work hard to maintain some balance between work and non-work life but I do think I am working harder now than I ever have. I am sure I am not alone with this thought. I believe most small business owners are now working longer hours than they would have a few years ago.
Deanne
I don’t normally single staff members out but this time I will. Deanne Baronoff is my longest serving team member and I want to thank her for the support she has given me over almost 15 years.
Deanne and I have known each other since kindergarten. We were in a tight circle of best friends in high school. Being good at maths, we sat next to each other in our high school maths classes the whole way through. We still sit next to each other doing maths (or accounting) many years later.
I am grateful that Deanne tells it like it is. Only a true lifelong friend has the confidence to call you out when you need it, but also have your back when you need it too. I love that we not only work together but are starting a business together in Opal Plan Management. Thank you Dee for sticking by me for so long.
Professional Relationships
Over 15 years there have been many staff and many clients. My staff treat the business as if it were their own and I thank all staff, past and present for helping Jigsaw to make this milestone. I try my best to be a good employer. I don’t always get it right, but I am willing to learn and improve. There is a sense of achievement when I consider how many livelihoods I have supported over the years.
What is a business without clients, and I have some amazing clients. When Rod passed away in December I was overwhelmed by the messages, cards, gifts, people who travelled to attend his funeral, phone calls and thoughts from so many of my clients. I always want to do the best for my clients, providing a high quality of advice and great customer service. It was humbling to see the care returned when I needed it most.
My Family
Even though I am the owner of the business, all small businesses are family businesses. When I bought the business I was a newly single mum of two boys, aged 12 and 8. Over the past 15 years I have become a wife again, a step mum, and a widow. I have supported my family, and my family have supported me. They allowed me to travel to Goulburn on a weekly basis, requiring everyone to be organised and adaptive to allow this to happen.
Mum & Dad provided so much support that I can never find a way to thank them enough. I know they are proud of what I have achieved so far and I hope I continue to make you proud.
My boys, Joel, Jordan and Jarrod. You have always supported me even when it may have been a bit tough. I am really proud of the young men you are now and the business acumen that you seem to have gained by osmosis.
Rod really didn’t understand much about accounting, but he was my sounding board and had some wise words to offer about my stress management, forcing me to take breaks and stop and smell the flowers. He also was a great monitor around how much free advice I was giving – pointing this out in his humorous way that “the timer is on” when advice was sought at social events.
And finally me. I don’t often feel pride in anything much that I do, but as I write this I can’t help feel a little proud. Here’s to another 15 years.