Ep. 57 DIY Strategic Planning: What Worked, What Didn’t. Lessons Learnt with Dianna Larkin.
Facilitating your own firm’s strategic planning retreat can present some unique challenges & opportunities. In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason interviews Dianna Larkin, a partner at McCay Duff, about her journey in strategic planning and advisory services. Dianna shares her entrepreneurial background, the culture at McCay Duff, and her experience transitioning to a DIY approach for strategic planning retreats. She discusses the challenges and successes of facilitating her own firm’s retreat, the importance of a structured framework, and offers valuable advice for other advisors looking to enhance their strategic planning skills.
Six Steps to Accelerating Your Business Advisory Strategy
Six Steps to Accelerating Your Business Advisory Strategy
Ep. 56 Talent Trends: Rethinking Attraction & Retention Strategies with Andrew Thoseby
Taking a deep dive into the evolving landscape of talent acquisition and retention, James Mason is joined by Andrew Thoseby, CEO at 1st Executive to discuss emerging trends, innovative technologies, and the importance of engagement in leadership roles. They explore how organisations can adapt to the changing expectations of candidates, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, and provide insights into effective strategies for retaining top talent.
Ep. 55 The future of family business – how advisors can help family businesses thrive with Catherine Sayer
Family businesses play a vital role in the economy, in this episode of The Authentic Advisor, James Mason speaks with Catherine Sayer, CEO of the Family Business Association, about the challenges they face, and how advisors can effectively support them. Catherine shares her journey, the importance of communication and trust in family businesses, and the critical need for succession planning. The conversation highlights the unique dynamics of family businesses and the essential skills advisors must possess to navigate these complexities successfully.
Ep. 54 Building a second brain for increased productivity & innovation as an advisor with James Mason, Mindshop
In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, Lindsay Thomas and James Mason discuss the concept of building a ‘Second Brain’ and its importance for business advisors. They explore how this framework can enhance productivity and innovation by capturing and organising ideas effectively. The conversation delves into the practical implementation, including the CODE method (Capture, Organise, Distill, Express) from the book ‘Building a Second Brain’ by Tiago Forte and offers actionable tips for advisors to integrate this approach into their daily routines. The discussion also touches on the impact of technology and AI on personal branding and the necessity of maintaining authenticity in a cluttered information landscape.
Ep. 53 How business advisors can harness AI to drive success with Andrew Cooke, Growth & Profit Solutions
In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason and Andrew Cooke discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in business advisory services. Andrew shares his journey from technology to business advisory, emphasising the importance of understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations. The conversation covers practical applications of AI, common misconceptions, necessary skills for advisors, ethical considerations, and the evolving role of advisors in an AI-driven landscape. Andrew also recommends various AI tools and resources for advisors to enhance their practice and stay relevant in a rapidly changing environment.
Ep. 52 Scaling business advisory services in your firm with Stephen Grant, Azets
Host James Mason interviews Stephen Grant, partner at Azets, UK about his journey in business advisory and the launch of the Boost Business Advisory Initiative, which aims to enhance client performance through tailored advisory services. He discusses the challenges of balancing existing responsibilities with new initiatives, the importance of internal training and mindset transformation, and the future of advisory services in the accounting industry. Stephen emphasises the need for accountants to evolve into true advisors, focusing on delivering value and solving client issues rather than just compliance. Timecodes 00:10 Introduction to Business Advisory Services 04:46 Stephen Grant’s Business Advisory Journey 08:07 Launching the Boost Business Advisory Initiative 12:51 Balancing Advisory with Existing Responsibilities 16:55 Transforming Internal Mindsets 25:28 The Future of Advisory Services 28:02 Key Takeaways for Success in Advisory