Episode 18 - Adam Lean - Sales expert teaching accountants how to value themselves

Meet Adam!

Adam Lean, founder of the CFO Project, shares his journey from being an accountant to starting his own e-commerce business and eventually offering CFO advisory services. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the future and helping business owners improve their cash flow.

Adam believes that accountants should shift their focus from compliance work to providing valuable advisory services that help businesses grow. He created the CFO Project to teach accountants how to attract clients, sell high-ticket CFO services, and deliver results. Adam Lean shares his journey from architecture to accounting and entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of gaining practical experience and the power of peer groups in achieving success. He emphasizes the need for hard work, the ability to identify problems, and the importance of protecting and leveraging influence as a leader.

Takeaways

- Accountants should shift their focus from compliance work to providing valuable advisory services that help businesses grow.

- Business owners care more about the future and improving their cash flow than the historical records.

- The CFO Project teaches accountants how to attract clients, sell high-ticket CFO services, and deliver results through a mentorship program.

- Joining peer groups and engaging with others who are going through similar experiences can provide valuable support and insights.

- Challenges are inevitable in business, and it's important to persevere and learn from them. - Identifying problems and finding solutions is essential for success as an accountant and entrepreneur.

- Leadership is about having influence and responsibly protecting and supporting others.

- Being an introvert doesn't hinder success in sales; caring for others and making them feel valued is key.

- Hard work, problem-solving, and protecting influence are essential for achieving success in business and leadership.

- Personal insights include being an introvert and the value of caring for others in sales.

Sound Bites

"Business owners care way more about having a better future than they do about ensuring that the past is recorded correctly."

"Everything that you do in business impacts cash flow. Cash flow is the only thing required to stay in business and to have a better business."

"Having those people that are living the same experiences as you right now is such a powerful tool towards your own success."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Adam Lean and the CFO Project

02:43 Adam's Journey from Accountant to Entrepreneur

07:15 The Importance of Understanding Numbers in Business

10:46 The Shift from Historical to Future-Focused Accounting

20:08 The Birth of the CFO Project and the Mentorship Program

27:30 The Value of Practical Mentorship in Accounting

38:35 The Power of Peer Groups in Achieving Success

43:17 Lessons Learned from Business Challenges

51:36 Protecting and Leveraging Influence as a Leader

56:23 Success in Sales as an Introvert

59:48 The Value of Hard Work and Problem-Solving

LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlean/

LinkedIn business - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecfoproject/

The CFO Project - https://thecfoproject.com/start-a-cfo-service?utm_campaign=3NF57QJ&utm_source=Protea-Financial&utm_medium=partners