Meet Justin!

In this episode of Protea Conversations, Zane Stevens interviews Justin Stephens, the second-generation owner of Stephens Tax Services. Justin shares his journey from initially avoiding the family business to taking over after his father's passing. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of running a tax service, the importance of maintaining personal values, and his commitment to client-first service. The conversation also touches on Justin's personal health journey and the future of his business.

Takeaways

- Justin initially avoided the family business, pursuing a career in sales.

- His father's illness prompted Justin to take over the tax service.

- Justin emphasizes a client-first approach, valuing personal connections.

- He successfully expanded the business, doubling the client base.

- Justin's personal health journey involved losing 70 pounds.

- He stresses the importance of aligning business with personal values.

- Justin plans to continue growing the business while maintaining its core values.

- Technology plays a key role in adapting to client needs.

- Justin values making tax services accessible and affordable.

- He believes in the importance of hard work and perseverance.

Sound bites

"I'm giving you the football, you take it, you run with it."

"The life you want is on the other side of the work you're avoiding."

"I can't imagine doing anything else."

"It's about seeing that it's not shying away from it."

"It's the people first. Need to remember that."

"You can't take care of anybody else if you don't take care of yourself."

"There's no shortcuts. And when I stopped looking for shortcuts, my life gets better."

Connect with Justin:

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-stephens-5bb114b/

Meet Mike!

In this conversation, Mike Roe shares his journey from a 28-year career in policing to becoming the CEO of tensense.ai, a platform that helps organizations make sense of their data. He discusses the importance of leadership, change management, and the role of coaching in empowering teams.

Mike emphasizes the need for transparency, communication, and a coaching mindset in leadership, as well as the significance of understanding the truth of the many rather than the opinion of the few.

He also highlights the evolution of sense-making in organizations and the development of a software solution to aid leaders in decision-making.

Takeaways

- Leadership is defined by experiences and insights gained.

- Change management is crucial in any organization.

- Values should be truly embedded in an organization.

- Communication is key during times of change.

- Leaders must be curious and vulnerable.

- Coaching conversations can empower teams.

- Transparency builds trust within organizations.

- Data-driven insights can predict future outcomes.

- A compelling vision unifies teams towards a common goal.

- Self-care is essential for effective leadership.

Sound bites

"You can't do it all yourself."

"People don't like change."

"You have to look after yourself."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Insights

01:32 Early Career in Policing

04:05 Leadership Challenges in Bristol

08:59 Navigating Change Management

12:15 The Importance of Communication

18:27 Transitioning to Coaching Leaders

23:58 Developing a Software Solution for Organizations

29:30 Disrupting the Consulting Market

31:42 The Science of Sense Making

34:06 The Importance of Checking In

36:17 Building Insights Through Questions

37:55 Navigating Complexity in Leadership

41:00 Blind Spots in Leadership

41:51 The Power of Coaching Conversations

44:33 Kindness in Leadership

51:24 The Importance of Renewal

54:57 Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with Mike

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-j-roe/

Discover Tensense.ai - https://tensense.ai/

Meet Ryan!

In this conversation, Ryan Brinkman discusses the importance of being bold in client relationships, particularly when advising on financial decisions. He emphasizes the need for transparency and honesty, even when it may not be what clients want to hear. The discussion also touches on the financial risks associated with certain decisions, highlighting the CPA's role in guiding clients through these complexities.

Takeaways

- It's important to be bold with clients.

- Transparency is key in client relationships.

- Advising clients can sometimes mean delivering hard truths.

- Financial risks must be clearly communicated to clients.

- Not all financial decisions are straightforward or beneficial.

- CPAs have a responsibility to guide clients wisely.

- Clients may not always understand the implications of their choices.

- Being honest can strengthen client trust.

- It's crucial to navigate financial complexities carefully.

- The role of a CPA includes risk management and client education.

Sound bites

"This is dumb. And they look at me like..."

"You could lose a lot of money."

"We can't just write off a motor home."

Connect with Ryan Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brinkman-cpa/