This week’s episode is all about how less talking and more listening can transform you into a powerful, sought-after advisor. I shared how impactful advisory isn’t about dazzling clients with insights—it’s about creating space for them to hear themselves think. I reflected on my work with advisors who believed their value came from being the smartest in the room. But the truth is, real connection comes from deep listening, not non-stop advice. When advisors shift from expert mode to guide mode, ...
Jun 22, 2025•12 min
Welcome back to the Business Advisor podcast— this week we’re diving into a game-changer for advisors: understanding client behaviour through the lens of the six human needs. This is part four of our soft skills series, and it’s all about going beneath the surface to uncover what really drives your clients. I share how recognising these core needs—certainty, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution—can transform the way you lead conversations and build trust. I walk through ea...
Jun 15, 2025•9 min
On this week episode, I explored one of the most essential soft skills for advisors – building real rapport with clients. Rapport isn’t about impressing someone or pushing them forward; it’s about walking beside them, understanding their world, and supporting them at their pace. When you build that trust, conversations flow more naturally, decisions become clearer, and results happen faster. I shared how easy it is to accidentally break rapport, especially when we fall into the trap of unconscio...
Jun 08, 2025•12 min
Welcome back to the Business Advisor Podcast. This week we’re kicking off a brand-new series: The Soft Skills of Advisory . This series is all about the skills that go beyond technical expertise—the ones that help you build trust, deepen relationships, and truly impact your clients' lives. In this episode, I dive into one of the most foundational soft skills for advisors: knowing when to coach and when to mentor. These two approaches are often confused, but understanding the difference gives you...
Jun 01, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 88
In this episode, we kick off a six-week series on the often-overlooked power of soft skills in the accounting and advisory world. This isn’t just fluff — it’s foundational to how you deliver value. As advisors, many of us have been trained to be technicians, but now it’s time to step into leadership, build trust, and create transformation for our clients. Without strong soft skills, your advice can fall flat, no matter how accurate it is. I introduce the CORE framework — Connection, Ownership, R...
May 25, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 87
This week's episode dives into how vanity metrics—likes, follows, and views—can mislead business owners into feeling successful while draining their energy and stalling growth. As someone who’s coached countless advisors, I’ve seen how chasing these empty metrics leads to burnout, not revenue. The truth? Real success isn’t about viral content; it’s about building trust with silent lurkers—the high-value clients who consume your content quietly before converting. In this episode, I share the WATC...
May 18, 2025•14 min
In this week's episode of the Business Advisor Podcast, I dive deep into one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of building a thriving business—mindset. I share how transforming your thinking can lead to exponential growth in ways no strategy or tool ever could. Drawing from my own experiences and those of others, I explore how shifting attitudes and rewiring limiting beliefs can unlock untapped potential. When it comes to levelling up your business, mindset is everything. It’s no...
May 11, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 85
In this episode of the Business Advisor Podcast, I delve into the challenges of delegation faced by many accounting and bookkeeping business owners. As someone who has been there, I understand the struggle to let go while maintaining high standards. In this episode, I explore why it's so hard to delegate and provide actionable solutions to overcome these barriers. From the perfectionist trap to documentation deficiencies, knowledge transfer breakdowns, quality control woes, and systemising perso...
May 04, 2025•16 min
Welcome to another episode of the Business Advisor podcast! today we’re diving into the 14 biggest mistakes accountants make when transitioning from compliance work to business advisory. This shift can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also fraught with challenges. Many accountants struggle because they’re still thinking like a compliance firm, not as advisors. I’ve worked with hundreds of accountants making this move, and I’ll share common pitfalls so you can avoid them. We’ll cover issues like...
Apr 27, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 83
In this week episode, I discuss the silent killer of profits—money leakage—and how it affects businesses, including accountants and bookkeepers. Leakage isn't just about small expenses or unnecessary subscriptions; it’s about hidden inefficiencies, poor systems, and a lack of financial clarity that drains profits monthly. Many business owners think they need more clients, but fixing leaks is crucial before pursuing growth. I’ll break down common money leaks in sales, productivity, margins, and d...
Apr 20, 2025•21 min
Welcome back to another episode of the Business Advisor Podcast!, and today we’re diving deep into a topic that many of you might be overlooking—finding your tone of voice in content marketing. We all know content marketing is essential. You understand the importance of writing blog posts, posting on LinkedIn, and even creating videos. But when it’s time to sit down and create, do you ever wonder, how should I sound? Should you be formal or conversational? Playful or authoritative? And with AI m...
Apr 13, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 81
In this episode of The Business Advisor Podcast, I dive into transforming your website into an authority site that positions you as the go-to business advisor. I discuss how to move beyond a mere list of services and focus on addressing client pain points directly. Your website should guide visitors through a journey that makes them feel understood and confident in choosing you. Key elements include crafting a compelling headline, offering a strong value proposition, utilising lead magnets, show...
Apr 06, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Welcome back to another episode of the Business Advisor Podcast! This week we’re diving into something I’ve been noticing a lot lately, why so many advisors and consultants aren’t making the money they should be. It’s not because they lack skills, experience, or education. Nope. The real issue? They’re running their advisory business like service providers instead of solution providers. Let me break it down for you. Service providers focus on tasks and basic advice, often missing the bigger pict...
Mar 31, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 79
In this episode of the Business Advisor Podcast, I dive into a topic that challenges many business owners: how big should your team be when scaling a business? I share my personal journey and explain why a small, mighty team of two can outperform larger teams. Many assume that growth requires adding more staff, but I argue that focusing on fewer, high-value clients allows you to scale deeper, not wider. I break down the roles in this two-person dynamic: as the lead advisor, you focus on deliveri...
Mar 24, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 78
In today’s episode, I dive into the power of a well-structured brochure and how it can completely change the way you market and sell your services. Many service-based businesses either don’t have a brochure or have one that doesn’t work effectively because it’s just a list of services and prices. A brochure should guide potential clients toward making a decision by clearly outlining the problem you solve, how you solve it, and the results they can expect. I also explain how a brochure allows you...
Mar 17, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Today we explore how productising your advisory services can turn your expertise into a "commercially smart" asset. I share the success story of Elise, an accountant who transformed her firm by productizing her advisory services with fixed-fee packages. This led to predictable income, stronger client relationships, and easier sales. You can eliminate price competition, shorten sales cycles, and position yourself as an expert when you productize your services. I also explain how productisation sh...
Mar 10, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Most advisors, accountants, and consultants are stuck in the time-for-money trap, limiting their income and impact. The solution? Productising your expertise. In this episode, I break down how to turn your knowledge into a structured, scalable offer that creates leverage, generates more revenue, and gives you back control of your time. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by customisation or feared losing value by streamlining, this episode will shift your mindset and show you how productisation lead...
Mar 03, 2025•12 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Ever feel like your business is stuck? The truth is, success isn’t about external factors. It’s about how we show up. In this episode, we explore the mindset shifts that separate struggling advisors from thriving ones. If you’re ready to take control and start seeing real results, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Take Ownership, Take Control: The most successful people don’t blame circumstances; they focus on what they can change. Ask Yourself: How Have I Contributed?: This single questio...
Feb 24, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Think social media is the only way to grow your business? Think again. In this episode, Amanda C. Watts shares how she built her business using offline strategies; networking, speaking, writing, and personal outreach. Learn how to establish authority, gain high-value clients, and create long-term business growth without relying solely on social media. Key Takeaways: Direct Outreach Builds Trust : A well-crafted email or personal phone call can open doors that no amount of social media engagement...
Feb 17, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Today, Amanda C. Watts sits down with Business Advisor Academy client Cindy Vindasius, founder of Vindasius Advisory, to discuss her transformative journey from high-level consulting to creating a scalable advisory business. Cindy shares how she struggled with articulating her expertise in a way that resonated with her ideal clients and how Amanda’s Business Advisor Academy helped her gain clarity, structure her knowledge into a signature system, and confidently price her high-value advisory off...
Feb 07, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Think your biggest competition is the accountant down the road? Think again. In today’s episode of the Business Advisor Podcast , Amanda C. Watts introduces The Competitive Ladder™ - a game-changing framework that reveals the hidden competitors stealing your high-value clients. From business coaches to AI software, marketers, and beyond, we uncover why business owners choose them over you - and how you can position yourself as the only logical choice. Key Takeaways Your Competition is Bigger Tha...
Feb 03, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Amanda C. Watts explores how good advisors and consultants can transform into great ones and significantly increase their income and impact. Whether you're facing a growth plateau, hesitant to invest strategically, or struggling with the fear of the unknown, Amanda provides 27 actionable strategies to break through barriers and take your business to the next level. She covers essential steps such as reassessing your business model, enhancing marketing techniques, and cultivating a growth mindset...
Jan 27, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Let’s unpack the secrets to selling advisory and consulting services like a premium brand. Advisors and consultants often struggle with landing high-value clients, avoiding price wars, and standing out in a crowded market. Amanda reveals the core problems - selling advice instead of outcomes, blending in rather than standing out, and failing to position as premium - and offers actionable strategies to package, position, and price services effectively. Amanda illustrates how perception is reality...
Jan 20, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 69
If you’re struggling to land high-value clients, this episode is your roadmap to success. Amanda C. Watts breaks down the 5 reasons why premium clients might not be choosing your firm and offers actionable strategies to transform your business. From refining your messaging to mastering enrollment conversations, discover how to attract the clients who value your expertise and are eager to invest. Key Takeaways: The importance of articulating your value How to refine your messaging to resonate wit...
Jan 13, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In 2025's first episode of the Business Advisor Podcast , Amanda C. Watts dives into the psychology of high-end sales. Learn why business owners are willing to invest $1K–$5K+ per month in advisory services and how you can position yourself as their vital partner and essential to their success. Key Takeaways: Understand the "Why" Behind High-End Sales: Business owners don't buy services; they buy outcomes that transform their business. Transformation Over Transactions: High-value clients seek ga...
Jan 06, 2025•18 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In the final episode of 2024, Amanda C. Watts reflects on a transformative year for accountants and service professionals. She discusses the journey from overworked practitioners to empowered, confident business advisors who are creating both financial success and personal freedom. Sharing highlights and achievements, Amanda celebrates the community’s accomplishments. Looking forward, she sets the stage for 2025 by focusing on building "Freedom Practices," empowering accountants to generate sign...
Dec 23, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In this episode of The Business Advisor Podcast, Amanda C. Watts dives into the transformative power of audacity in business. Audacity - often described as guts, spunk, or boldness - is the secret ingredient that sets top business advisors apart from the rest. Drawing on personal experiences, client success stories, and her VITAL Operating System framework, Amanda reveals how embracing audacity can help business advisors face adversity, challenge the status quo, and create meaningful impact. By ...
Dec 16, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked aspect of business success: your own internal transformation. By focusing on personal growth and development, you can unlock your full potential, and create a thriving practice and lasting impact. Key Takeaways: The Importance of Self-Awareness: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and limiting beliefs. The Power of Leadership: Develop your leadership skills and inspire your team. The Impact of Mindset: Shift your mindset from scarcity to abunda...
Dec 09, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 64
It is all too easy to feel invisible in the world, even when you're an expert in your field. In this episode, we'll explore the Value Visibility Framework, a proven approach to break through the noise, be seen, and attract your ideal clients and team members. Key Takeaways The Importance of Visibility: Your business advisory expertise and value need to be visible to attract ideal clients and team members. The Value Visibility Framework™ : This unique framework from Amanda C. Watts helps you cons...
Dec 02, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In today's fragile and competitive business landscape, trust is more important than ever. In this episode, we explore the three pillars of trust: Personal Trust, Product Trust, and Company Trust. By building trust in these areas, you can establish strong relationships with your clients, increase customer loyalty, and drive business growth. Key Takeaways: The Importance of Trust: Trust is the ultimate currency. It is the foundation of strong business relationships, and will significantly impact y...
Nov 25, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 62
