If you think you’ve seen me hobbling around the Sunny Coast this week, you may be correct.
I’ve upped my workouts and running distances after a very enthusiastic holiday season - enthusiastic in the “slowing down, eating too much, and pretending cake is a food group” kind of way. I started the year feeling a bit guilty, a bit sluggish, and very aware that my sneakers had seen more beach walks than actual cardio.
So, I’ve been working on my fitness. And somewhere between gasping for air and trying not to fall off a foam roller, I realised something: body fitness and business fitness have a lot in common.
From mid‑December to Australia Day, Australian workplaces go into that magical summer lull. Clients are on leave, decisions move slower than a toddler putting on shoes, and advisors like us can actually take a breath. It’s the perfect time to rest because most of our clients are in hiatus.
But then… January 27th hits.
And suddenly everyone wants everything yesterday. Inbox chaos. Lodgements. Questions. Urgent requests that definitely weren’t urgent six
weeks ago. It’s business cardio at its finest.
This time of year always gets me thinking about goals - the real, practical ones that actually move the needle.
My personal New Year’s resolution?
Brace yourself.
It’s to complete one sit‑up.
Just one. A single, proper, respectable sit‑up.
For reasons unknown to science, I can run, lift, plank, and do all sorts of things… but a sit‑up? Absolutely not. My body treats it like an optional extra. So, I’ve outsourced the problem to my personal trainer, who is now responsible for making this miracle happen by the end of the quarter.
And honestly, business owners could take a leaf out of that book.
Annual goals are lovely, but quarterly goals and KPIs are where the magic happens. Smaller chunks. Shorter time frames. Clear focus. You know exactly what needs attention right now.
Bookkeeping practices are a bit different to other small businesses. I’m always telling clients to watch their gross profit margin, but for advisors and professional services, our direct costs are mostly subscriptions and wages - and there’s only so much trimming you can do before you’re cutting into bone.
I’ve been thinking about the KPIs that actually matter for a little practice like mine - the ones with a bit more spice than your standard “gross profit margin” chat. You know, the KPIs that actually tell you whether your business is humming along or quietly wheezing in the corner. Things like:
1. How much revenue each client brings in (because some clients are a delight… and some are a full‑time job).
2. How much it costs to win a new client (because “free” networking coffees are never actually free).
3. How many hours each job actually takes (hello, scope creep).
4. How quickly we respond to clients (bonus points if it’s before they send the dreaded follow‑up email).
5. How many lodgements we get out the door on time (the BAS gods are always watching).
6. And my personal favourite - how many networking opportunities I squeeze into a month.
And honestly, that last one is the secret sauce. The more I get out there, chat to people, show my face, and just be a human in the wild… the more my client numbers and revenue climb. It’s almost suspiciously simple. Like, “surely it can’t be this easy?” simple. But it works. Every. Single. Time.
So, as I’m over here trying to achieve my heroic single sit‑up, I’m curious…
What’s your favourite KPI for your business?
What are you focusing on this quarter to build your business fitness?
And can you do a sit-up?
Stay cool and hit the gym!
