This year marks 20 years of Kinder Accountants: two decades of learning, adapting, and doing business differently. And the icing on the cake is being awarded Business Leader of the Year for Herefordshire!
When I started, I could never have imagined the journey this business would take, the highs, the hurdles, the laughter, and the lessons. But looking back, each chapter has taught me something valuable about leadership, people, and life.
So, in the spirit of being human, here are 20 things I’ve learned along the way: the honest truth.
1. Be Human: Always
People remember how you make them feel, not what you invoice. Kindness, empathy, and connection are at the heart of lasting success.
2. Lead with Trust: Not Control
Great teams don’t need micromanagers; they need belief. When you trust your people, they grow, and so does your business.
3. Rest Isn’t Lazy: It’s Leadership
You can’t lead well from empty. Resting is how you rebuild your energy, creativity, and compassion.
4. Be Curious
Curiosity keeps you relevant. Keep asking questions, exploring ideas, and challenging the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset.
5. Keep It Simple
Clarity is powerful. Simplicity in systems, processes, and communication makes space for better thinking.
6. Do the Right Thing
Integrity doesn’t need a policy. Even when it’s hard, doing what’s right builds trust that lasts far longer than any short-term win.
7. Share Knowledge
Generosity in business creates ripple effects. Helping others understand and grow builds stronger relationships and communities.
8. Celebrate Small Wins
It’s easy to chase the next goal and forget to look back. Take time to celebrate progress, it fuels everything else.
9. Invest in Yourself
Personal growth isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. You can’t pour into others if your own cup is empty.
10. Listen More Than You Talk
People don’t need instant answers; they need to be heard. Listening changes everything.
11. You Can’t Please Everyone
And that’s okay. Stand by your values and your boundaries, they’re what make your business yours.
12. Innovation Starts with People
The best ideas don’t always come from the top, they come from collaboration and curiosity.
13. Ask for Help
There’s strength in admitting you don’t have all the answers. Growth is a team effort, and you can’t do it on your own.
14. Imposter Syndrome Never Really Goes Away
It just gets quieter the more you keep showing up anyway.
15. Lead with Calm
Leadership doesn’t have to be loud. A steady, kind approach often inspires far more than a shout ever could.
16. Your Team Is Everything
Hire people who care: about the work, each other, and your values. Then give them the space to shine.
17. Community Matters
No business succeeds in isolation. Support others, connect genuinely, and celebrate your local business family.
18. Define Success on Your Own Terms
You don’t have to follow someone else’s version of success. Build a business that fits your life, not the other way around.
19. It’s Okay to Slow Down
Growth doesn’t always mean faster or bigger. Sometimes it means being more intentional.
20. Enjoy It
Business should be fulfilling, not just profitable. Remember why you started, and take joy in the journey.
After 20 years, the biggest truth I’ve learned is this:
You don’t have to do business like everyone else.
Lead with heart. Stay curious. Be kind.
And never stop learning.
Sharon
PS If you’d like a chat about how we could be working together, head over to our Start Page and we’ll do the rest!
