Bookkeeping for Small Businesses – My Journey Part ii

By the time I was 16 and leaving school, I found myself in the unique position of managing a business and even overseeing staff who had watched me grow up. It was a challenge, but I quickly realised that earning their respect meant being fair and consistent. I formed great relationships with my colleagues, showing them that I genuinely cared.

During that time, I was knee-deep in accounts and payroll. Working with ledger books and pencils wasn’t exactly my idea of fun. But luckily, my passion for computing kicked in. Implementing software made everything so much easier, and to this day, I find joy in creating systems and shortcuts. Who knew bookkeeping could be exciting?

As a young adult, I had a flair for business. I transformed the fairgrounds into a winter rollerblade park, bought flats for rental, opened a Christmas shop (despite enduring four weeks of non-stop holiday music torture), and even dabbled in beauty salons. What fun I had!

And then, love and destiny led me to Glasgow, where I decided to take a leap of faith.

I bid farewell to my shop, passing it on to my sisters. Fear crept in. How would anyone employ a someone with no degree or college education?

Having witnessed my flair for numbers, my Dad’s accountant suggested bookkeeping, so I eagerly took up the opportunity. Traditional courses didn’t appeal to me, so I embarked on a self-guided journey, devouring textbooks and taking exams from Ideal Schools.

My first client was a talented landscape gardener. I would leave his house armed with paperwork and tackled the mess head-on. Weeks of meticulous work at a modest rate paid off. Looking back, I marvel at my progress—knowing shortcuts, efficient clean-ups, and the importance of details.

Stay tuned for more chapters of my journey. And if you’re curious about where my sisters and I inherited our entrepreneurial spirit, brace yourself for the inspirational story of our grandma. Trust me, it’s a tale (tail) worth hearing!