Vlog: Starting my accounting firm :)

  It’s New Year’s Eve. The kind where most offices are closed, and the world feels like it’s collectively exhaling before midnight. And today — of all days — NLB Professional Services landed its second client . Not just a small engagement, but a contract for three years of back bookkeeping , with a 1/3 retainer on $7,500 e-transferred today — no questions asked . I sat with that for a moment. Because just months ago, this business began at my kitchen table. With an initial personal investment of $2,000 , a clear vision, and a lot of belief. To move from that starting point to an agreement like this — calmly, professionally, and with mutual trust — feels deeply personal. What meant just as much was the feedback. After reviewing the welcome package, they shared that it felt clear, standard, and reassuring . They appreciated the defined next steps and even mentioned interest in becoming monthly members once the catch-up work is complete . That matters to me. A lot. Because th...

  Merry Christmas 🤍 In my family, Christmas has always come a little early. With my Mennonite heritage, we celebrate on the 24th — gathering, sharing a meal, and holding close the traditions that have been passed down through generations. This year, though, I stayed up past midnight too. Not out of obligation or expectation, but because I wanted to — to let the day stretch just a little longer. To sit quietly with gratitude. To honour both where I come from and where I’m going. As NLB Professional Services continues to grow, it means a lot to me to say this out loud: ambition hasn’t replaced what matters. It’s simply walking alongside it. Family. Faith. Reflection. These things still shape my days, even as I build something new. This season has been full — of work, of learning, of possibility — and also of deep stillness. I’m grateful for both. However you celebrate, and whenever you do, I hope your Christmas holds what matters most to you.

  I hit the button to end the Zoom call… and just sat there for a moment. Because the last thing my marketing coach said before we signed off was this: “You are well on your way to being a handful of the most wildly successful entrepreneurs I have ever worked with.” I wasn’t expecting that. This coach works with a non-profit that sponsors business owners — meaning she sees a lot of entrepreneurs. Different industries. Different stages. Different personalities. So hearing those words landed deeply. I felt shocked, beyond happy, and honestly a little still. And then, almost immediately, I knew I wanted to capture the moment on film — exactly as it was. This wasn’t just encouragement. From the very first time we worked together, she didn’t only see my strength in accounting. She saw something else too: my ability — and genuine joy — in teaching . That insight has shaped the work we’re now doing together. Yes, we’re building NLB Professional Services as a bookkeeping and acc...

  Some decisions in business require spreadsheets, pros-and-cons lists, and a good night’s sleep before committing. This was not one of those decisions. I was sick. The rain was still coming down in sheets. Flood warnings were ongoing. The world outside felt heavy, grey, and relentless. And yet — my heart was so full. Because that was the day I received an invitation to apply to the Lifestyle Business Academy , run by Ali Abdaal. If you know, you know. This isn’t just any academy. It’s one built by someone I genuinely consider a friend — someone whose generosity with knowledge, transparency, and encouragement has shaped how I think about building a business that actually supports your life. We’re talking about an environment where the goal is clear: build something sustainable, joyful, and capable of reaching six figures — without burning yourself out to get there. And then came the part that made me nod my head slightly (and maybe tear up a little): Unlimited Slack conve...

  It was one of those days where the rain doesn’t just fall — it arrives . The kind of rain that turns into flood warnings, closed highways, and that low hum of uncertainty you feel in your chest. The highway closed, and suddenly my family was split on either side of it. My father was on one side, recovering in a specialized heart hospital. The rest of us were on the other, watching the weather, the alerts, and the clock. Life has a way of reminding you that some things are completely out of your control. And yet — in the middle of all of this — something quietly meaningful happened. I received my first completed feedback form. Not just from anyone, but from someone I deeply respect. I remember sitting there, rain tapping the windows, emotions stretched thin, opening that email and reading thoughtful, considered words about my work. It didn’t fix the weather. It didn’t reopen the highway. But it did something just as important in that moment: it reminded me why I started this...

If you had told me a few weeks ago that I’d be writing this from my very own office — not the kitchen table, not the corner of the counter, not squeezed between a frying pan and a stack of notebooks — I’m not sure I would have believed you. But here we are. Day 64 , and I’ve officially moved into my first dedicated workspace… in only nine days . Nine days. That’s all it took for something in my business to shift from “someday” to “right now.” When I recorded my first YouTube video on Day 55, I publicly set a goal: 45 days to get out of the kitchen and into an office. It felt like a fair, generous timeline — especially with everything else happening behind the scenes: creating my business plan, mapping my cash flow, shaping my long-term strategy, and stepping into content creation for the very first time. But then something small — and powerful — happened. My accountability buddy, who is currently in medical school learning how to assist with organ transplants (yes… actual trans...

Today feels like a milestone worth pausing for, because on Day 55 of my year-long business journey, I filmed  my very first YouTube video  outlining my adventures from broke, to hard mode, to financially free. It’s funny how momentum sneaks up on you. One day, you’re planning, thinking, dreaming, forecasting… and the next, you suddenly realize you’re doing it. The wheels are actually turning. And today, they turned in a whole new direction: I officially stepped into the world of content creation. This year has already unfolded in ways I couldn’t have predicted. I was accepted into a self-employment program here in my hometown, and with it came something priceless: a full year of coaching, structure, accountability, and support. It’s the kind of program that hands you both tools and belief — and it’s been fueling every next step I’ve taken. At this point, the early building blocks of NLB Professional Services are beautifully in place: My business plan is written and groun...