EXPERIENCE 60 | Becky Ezzel, Founder of Smart Book Business Solutions
Becky Ezzel is the founder of Smart Book Business Solutions, it is a bookkeeping service for small business owners, especially those under 20 employees or so.
She's grown her team to be 10 employees strong and they have 170 clients thereabouts in Northern Colorado. She found herself a single mom of a two-and-a-half-year-old and a five-year-old with a job that was awesome and satisfying, but didn't really allow her time to be a mom as much as she wished.
She was encouraged to launch her business properly. And she's grown ever since, mostly through referrals from her very happy clients. We talked about her growth plan, and how she developed her team and values.
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Today. I had a really great conversation with Becky Ezzel and Becky is the founder of smart book business solutions, and she has a bookkeeping service for small business owners, especially. Under 20 employees or so, um, she's grown her team to be 10 employees strong and they have 170 clients thereabouts in Northern Colorado and Becky shared kind of some of her journey. Um, she found herself a single mom of a two and a half year old and a five-year-old with a job. Uh, was awesome and satisfying, but didn't really allow her time to be a mom as much as she wished. And so, um, her now husband encouraged her at the time when they were friends to launch her business properly. And that's what she did. And she's grown ever since, mostly through referrals from her very happy clients. So, um, we talked to Becky about her growth plan, how she. Developed her team and values and things like that. We also talked about her passion for non-profit causes. Um, we talked about her inspiration to really make an impact through helping stronger financial understanding. And we even talked about her dream of opening, opening, a book, keeping training school to help others that might be in her shoes to get, uh, uh, sustained. Job that allows them to make an impact as well as to be a part of their family and be a mom. And so Becky, thank you for being on the show. I hope that you enjoy listening back to this, and I hope that everybody else listens to it and enjoys it as well. So thanks.
Curt:Welcome back to the local experience podcast. This is your host Curt bear, and I'm here today with Becky Ezzel and Becky is the founder of SmartBook business solutions. She, the wife of Teddy mom of two, and look a think tank member. And so Becky, thanks for being here today. And, uh, can you just start by describing smart book business solutions?
Becky:You bet. Thanks for having me here today. SmartBook business solutions was founded back in 2013 after I had been in business a few years already. So low had a partnership for a short time, and then SmartBook business solutions was created. We have grown from just myself and one employee. We now have 10 employees and three,
Curt:since the last time we talked,
Becky:yes, it's, it's fast moving. And I have, uh, a job ad out right now as well. So things are hopping, which is great for our local community and the economy. Shows that things are going the right direction. So we help small businesses, mostly local in Northern Colorado with their bookkeeping, accounting and payroll needs. So we are an outsourced, um, service-based business and really an extension of those businesses team to just make sure that they have sound financials. Uh, we just step in where, um, maybe an internal person left off and help. Sometimes we get to do some as you can
Curt:work because somebody left and they're like, nobody knows how to do anything without Bobby here.
Becky:Yes, exactly. So every situation from that to, uh, the, the folks who are thinking about starting a business and they call and say, we want to do things right from the beginning.
Curt:Yeah. So is it strictly bookkeeping? You don't do any tax prep. The things like,
Becky:Nope. We do everything up until handing it out to the CPA for tax prep. We do, uh, assist with payroll taxes and sales tax. So, um,
Curt:so, um, let, let's talk about who. Is, uh, where did you come from? Where did you grow up? I want to hear the founding story, but we're going to take our time to get there
Becky:today. Okay. Okay. I was, when I was driving over here today, I was thinking, I feel like I've had a thousand lifetimes in this one little lifetime I've had, so, which, yeah. Which story do you want to talk about? Let's do
Curt:the, let's do the fly over a little bit. Like where you army brat or something or, well,
Becky:when did you have so many lifetimes? Yeah, I usually get that question. Um, but actually my dad worked for, uh, the Woolworths store. So if you remember the old world word shop and dime, uh, so he used to be transferred to different locations to help fix those failing stores, broken rollers. Yup. Yup, exactly. So we did, we moved from, uh, Fort Collins, Colorado up to Sheridan, Wyoming to Kennewick Washington, which is in the Southeast corner. Tri cities.
Curt:Where you from Fort Collins. That's where your
Becky:groin born at? Pooter valley hospital. Didn't yeah, not raised here, but definitely can say I'm from here. Yeah. Uh, let's see from Kennewick, we went to Fremont, California. He ran a store near Palo Alto. And how old are you by this time? That age would have been middle school.
Curt:And so let's talk about Becky. Like, was she loving this start a new life every four years kind of thing? Or is she not super impressed with dad's career
Becky:choice? No. Yeah, it was tough. I had to move in some formative years, my sixth grade year. And then again, in my junior year of high school, I moved to new location, which was tough. Although I do say that I, I know people from all over the country and it's kind of nice to have those roots and not that we're super close these days, but still, you know, knowing people from all
Curt:over is shared and you're gonna call somebody, you know?
Becky:Exactly. Yeah. That's kind of fun. It was good. I got to see a lot of the country and. Yeah.
Curt:And what was middle-school Becky involved in where you athlete, where you as a nerd? Yeah, a little bit
Becky:of both. Definitely a little bit of both. Um, I did get involved in competition cheerleading when I was in middle school. So that's what I did all the way up through that move. And junior year, I couldn't get reengaged in the new school. The competition
Curt:means that you like throw each other up in the air and stuff a lot more and
Becky:just. Yeah, we had to do some sideline cheering because that was part of the duties. But the main objective was to train, to go to competition.
Curt:Yeah. Were you successful with your team?
Becky:Yeah, we were pretty good. Not, not like, you know, 12 championships now. I wish I had that in my back pocket, but I don't.
Curt:Yeah. And so where did you tell me? It was a Palo
Becky:Alto. My dad's store was in Palo Alto, but we lived in Fremont, which was on the other side of the
Curt:bay. Okay. I see. And I was California in those days. Was that better than some of those other places or was it Wurster in some way?
Becky:You know, I think looking back what was beautiful about living in California was there was an enormous amount of diversity. So I grew up, uh, with a range of people in different backgrounds and different ethnicities. And it was, it was a wonderful thing. Um, maybe not from my parents' perspective, but for me they're
Curt:a little more old school like mine, maybe. Yep.
Becky:Yep. So when I, when I did eventually there was one more move in between, and that was up to Sacramento.
Curt:And that's a little more, that's like state government, but also agriculture and stuff too.
Becky:Both. Yep. So we were a little bit more rural at that point, but still, you know, really in depth into the city life as well. So stayed there. Then my folks decided to move back to Colorado. I decided to stay in California for a few years and didn't transition back out here until 1995.
Curt:Just like chasing boys, going to school pretty
Becky:much. Yeah. Yep. I did start school out there. Had a career actually, just to back up into here I am in high school. This is high school Becky now. And, um, Had some really incredible mentors that stepped up into my life right away. I used to hold when their parents moved. Well, they, they moved as soon as I graduated from high school. So I was 18 at that point. Yeah. But at 16 I had an opportunity to start working at an insurance agency. And so I would go to school part-time and then half the day of high school, I would run over to this insurance agency and, you know, started out as a file clerk, you know, didn't did the menial little jobs, but learned the basics of business. Yeah. So
Curt:that's interesting. Yeah. Was that like something that you were just intrigued by, right from the start and by the way, did you have siblings as
Becky:well? Yeah. Yeah. I have a brother. Is he? His real name is Robert that he, I T I call him Toby.
Curt:And we can talk about your family a little bit more. So one brother younger, older, he is older. Okay. So, uh, and did he come back to Colorado too? Or
Becky:was there as well? He's up in red
Curt:feather. Okay. So tell me about young Becky. Uh, Who's graduated high school now and looking for a place and, and parents remove away. Yeah.
Becky:Parents move away. I'm still at the same insurance agency. That, that place was a godsend for me. Um, I got ingrained and used to get promoted. It seemed like every year or so. It was a growing business. Um,
Curt:are they still around, you're going give him a shout out.
Becky:Actually, that's an interesting story. That's one of those little lifetime stories. I'm not sure we'll have time for that today. I think they are still around, um, the original owner, uh, disappeared. They can't find him. Yes. Like cartel style, something it's been crazy. I don't know. Yeah. So, so yeah, that, those formative years were awesome for me in business. Um, you know, you don't learn that kind of stuff in high school. So I had the opportunity to really see how a business functioned and, um, uh, yeah, so by the time I left. We were, I think like 55 strong when I started, we were about six drunk and I left 55 strong. I was running a little department of that insurance agency and I'm going to school the other part of the day. And yeah. And then decided I actually came out to Colorado. I remember, uh, specifically standing in my mom and dad's backyard on the phone on one of those enormous, like handheld phones, you know, in tennis. And I was, I was chatting with my girlfriend and, uh, Jill and was looking at the mountains and I paused and she was like, Hey, are you still there? Are you still there? And I said, I think I'm moving to Colorado. And it just hit me just like that. And I was out here two months later.
Curt:1995. Okay. Yeah. So in your mid twenties,
Becky:early, very early twenties, I think I was 21.
Curt:Okay. What an experience to be with that insurance agency that is the crew and that was like a five-year thing or something. Right.
Becky:And it was amazing. Yeah, it was amazing. And the, the one disadvantage I think is, um, looking back, I made more of a commitment because I had had such an opportunity in the business world that I never finished my education. So I did, I did a couple of years of community college there moved here, uh, got involved back in front range, but never ended up finishing
Curt:some of the smartest people. I know don't have any degrees at all. And,
Becky:you know, I used to not be able to tell that story cause there was a lot of shame behind that. Um, but now it's just a part of who I am and I'm really proud of, um, what I've accomplished and where we're at, what I've done.
Curt:Can we stay there for a minute? Like what helped, like what helped you. I guess uncover that
Becky:truth. Well, that's a really good question. I've had to do a lot of soul searching the last couple of years. This has been, um, probably I would say probably in the last two or three years, just doing a lot of internal soul searching, saying, who am I? And does does not have any degree make me or break me? Who is it? Am I, who am I? And, and what have I done? And, um, am I smarter those as those people have gone to school and, um, and the answer is hell yes.
Curt:For sure. They don't have 10
Becky:employees. Right, right, right. And that's, you know, again, I think it came to a point where, um, I just had to go, you know, Uh, great education just in my own business and now in the real business world. Yeah. Yep.
Curt:So tell me about coming back to Colorado. Did you like jump right back into the business world, then you supposed to go back to school? You said you went to front range a little bit, but didn't kick it to the finish. I didn't
Becky:kick it to the finish. Actually. I remember leaving California and telling my boss and they were, they were so upset. I was leaving and I said, you know, I'm too young and I've, I've gotten off track and I need to go back to school. So I, the funniest part of this story is I came back to Colorado and actually started working at the olive garden. I'd never served a day in my life. And I thought, well, maybe, maybe I should be a kid again and go learn how to be a server, which again, work with Andrea
Curt:Lucas. Yes, I should. Oh, she was one of my best friends and she worked at the olive garden before she worked at the bank that I, uh, worked at. She was in my, she was my wife's bridesmaid for our wedding. I was thinking I had to be right around days seven or six or whatever. So all of. The tips are good at the breadsticks or
Becky:free tips or good bread, bread, bread, Franks, Colbert,
Curt:Fricks, if you want to, that's kind of what they are. They're free, especially.
Becky:So yeah, I had a great time there. I met a lot of fun. People got in, you know, ingrained in the community a little bit at that age. And, um, that didn't last long. I think I was there less than a year, still going to school. And then, uh, I think I just missed the business world. So I got back involved. Um, I think I probably signed up at some employment agency, uh, and Monfort picked me up. Oh, if you remember. No, I've
Curt:heard of them. I know the JPS now owners of the Rockies, as you know, that name is familiar for school of business at UNC.
Becky:Yep. So that was fun. I used to tell people I was head butcher at the, uh, at the, uh, uh, kill floor. It was named big. I didn't know. No, I'm just kidding. I was in risk management.
Curt:So risk management is like making sure all the insurance policies up to speed and walking around with the inspectors and being like, see, we put that shield up, like you said, we were supposed to. Yeah, exactly.
Becky:Cool. Yeah. It was cool. It was, it was fun. It was a fun one. Yep. So that
Curt:was paid probably quite a bit more than the olive garden. Oh, yes. Yeah. Yes. And you were still a single gal at
Becky:this point. It's still single engaged to my first husband. So. Yeah, that was a, it was a good time in life. Yeah. Yeah.
Curt:Um, take me to the next, yeah, let's
Becky:see. Where do we go from there? So, uh, was that Monfort for a couple of years and, uh, I can't actually remember exactly why, but came, um, out of my, oh, they downsized that's right. So, um, my position was taken out of the loop. Um, that must have been before the JBS whole thing when they pulled him in and they already had my position filled. So, um, then yeah, life kind of switched a little bit and, uh, got married, uh, and became a. No, I wouldn't say a paralegal, but definitely doing some legal work. So I got it. Got it. That's what I
Curt:was thinking was paralegal, not quite,
Becky:not quite yet. So we did a lot
Curt:of he's a paralegal work, but you didn't have a degree in law. A hundred paralegal can officially call yourself that, which means they can't pay you as much as they would a paralegal. Bingo, sorry. Law firms. I'm calling you out in your she's,
Becky:right? Yeah. So we did, yeah, we had some fun. I worked for a couple, um, attorneys in Loveland. They were both incredible. And again, just, I kind of got to run the show over there, which was perfect for me because of what I had grown up with and seen, and experienced and learned along the way. So I got to take those skills and use them at both of those offices.
Curt:Yeah. Uh, you basically became like an office manager, he person for them largely. Yeah. Yeah. Lawyers are pretty cool. Like, uh, for the most part, like a lot of them are sleazebags, but they're still pretty interesting, even when they're sleazebags, but there's also a lot of really smart ones
Becky:and good ones, really good ones. Actually the, um, the two that I worked for were incredible, one of them, um, the one I eventually, uh, left his office to start my bookkeeping career. Um, we are still great friends and I will be absolutely devastated when he passes. So he's become a, almost like a granddad. You want to give him a shout out? Lynn Hammond love you,
Curt:Lynn. I like it too, just because of the impact that you've made on Becky's life. So, um, so you kind of flow through your career a little bit, making an impact, um, Yeah. Children come into the picture here
Becky:along the way. I did have two children and, um, they are, do you want me to talk a little bit about them now? Or is that like to, well,
Curt:we're going to get into the family proper, but I think it's part of the journey. Like you're balancing momming and careering right. Like that's. Yeah, it
Becky:was not. Yeah. And you know, you're doing all the LifeSTEPS, you're buying your house, you're buying your cars, you full time, this whole time working, working full-time I did stay home for about six months when my first was born, which was lovely. Um, but
Curt:you know, and childcare wasn't quite, as I've seen at that time, it was still pretty bad. It's still pretty bad for your paycheck almost.
Becky:Yeah. Thank goodness from my mom, because she helped a lot in that that did, um, yeah. Between her and some, uh, some other, uh, moms that stayed home from work, they would help watch the kids while I work. That's awesome.
Curt:Yeah. It's nice to have that community of support, you know, you can't do it without it. So many people like try to pull the sled just by themselves and sleds aren't really made to be
Becky:pulled by them. So no, it's impossible. Yeah. And then let's see. So, um, So Joel, my, my youngest was about two and a half when my ex-husband and I split up and I, you know, got the opportunity to be a single mom. And they are some of my biggest heroes and that pulled this led by yourself thing that, that happens everyday for single moms. And they are absolute heroes.
Curt:Uh, I'm a member of the women give organization. And our local think tank is technically, I got it for Rory when she was on the team and would go to those events. And now I'm like the awkward boy standing there with 26 women and one other dude. Perfect. Yeah. Well, it's, it, it really is because like, to me, women are so integral to our business communities and they're like vital obviously. And when you're like a single mom, there's only, only one person pulling the sleigh, you know? And so it's, it's a tricky thing, you know, if you get more, if you work harder and make more money. Yeah. Then your kids get to like far away. Yes,
Becky:exactly. Yeah. They pay the price a lot. Um, when moms are trying to make it work because it's not easy. So how did you make it work? Like, you know, God, that's the only thing I can bring it back to. It's a miracle. I, I kept my home, I owned my home and had a mortgage and car payment and all the things and wasn't
Curt:divorce, but you got all the assets and all the debts kinda. And he was like, yeah,
Becky:mostly. Yeah. Mostly. Yep. Yep. So, uh, you know, that's, that's all I can bring it back to is, um, somehow it worked there, there was no child support there. Um, there wasn't any, any special circumstances that, um, were miraculous except that the bills were always paid when the girls were always fed and we were doing fine.
Curt:And w but, and you're working at this law firm for most of
Becky:that time. Enter the, the kind of paradigm shift in my life, which was, uh, Lynn brought up that he was thinking about retiring and I had a gut check to say, oh man, do I, do I really want to continue working for another attorney? Hm. I don't think so. Well, let's, let's think about what Becky wants to do then. And what it did was it gave me an opportunity to, again, do some soul searching and reach inside of me and think, what am I enjoy doing? What can I do as a single mom that will help me pay the bills, but still not, um, take me away from the girls too much. Right. So that's exactly what I did. I, um, had been actually bookkeeping already for about 12 to 15 years
Curt:to make an extra 500 bucks a
Becky:month up. And it was from the different, um, attorney that I had worked for previously, uh, the HOA, the, his, his books, and a couple other ones along the way that, um, they needed help. And I said, sure. So, uh, really self-taught and, um, So at that point, I thought, well, you know, I'm actually, I have a knack for that. Maybe. Hmm. Maybe I can do a little side hustle on that. Yep. So I picked up the phone and called a couple of my friends who own businesses and said, Hey, what do you think about doing a trade with me? Just so I can get some more experience. Um, you helped me in the yard, do something here. I don't know. We'll figure out something and I'll do your books. And they were all like, sure. Sign me up. You know? Cause nobody really likes doing their books.
Curt:Right. Just be honest. Right. Do you like
Becky:doing books? Yes. Oh my gosh. Yes. That's
Curt:awesome. And that's why the world is so great when it's diverse, right? Like it's a beautiful thing that you love. I love cooking. And so my wife never cooks like pretty much. She warms things up that I cooked the night before, but she doesn't really know how to cook much cause I love it. And so why shouldn't I pull it slid, you know? And I don't, you know what I think something needs clean is when you can visibly see that it really, really needs cleaning that doesn't cut it for everybody. Nope. For Jill it's different, you know? So anyway, I digress, but it's such a blessing that
Becky:we have
Curt:for sure. Definitely. So, so one of yours is you love,
Becky:I love bookkeeping. Yeah. I love it. Oh man. It just it's like a puzzle that has to be put together. And when that puzzle fits, right. You know, you want to kind of do some jumping jacks and jump up and down
Curt:and say, woo. So did your income like change a lot or were you able to find enough new clients rapidly that you could almost replace your
Becky:income or yeah, one of the beautiful things. Again, I give a shout out to Lynn Hammond because, um, he was a business attorney and when I went and sat down with him and said, you know, I'm thinking about doing some bookkeeping on the side to make some extra money. And he said, that's a great idea. And he made a couple phone calls for me. And so he had business clients that knew me and said, yeah, we would totally trust Becky let's let's do that. And it literally, I've not had to market a day in my life on this journey. He's been a difference
Curt:maker for you and not just a mentor, but also a path, the door opener and path provider.
Becky:Yes. He has been crucial in. Yeah. Yeah.
Curt:How can you circle me and tell me about like, how old are your kids
Becky:at this point? Um, let's see. Joy when, when we split up we'll enjoy was two and a half-ish and Brianna would have been five. Okay. Yeah. Just babies. Babies.
Curt:Yep. And, but did you go right into the bookkeeping
Becky:thing? Um, it was, you know,
Curt:get us adept confer a
Becky:tissue. Yes. Okay. I can I keep talking, so, okay. Kurt's grabbing us some tissues because we, there is a good chance that we might cry a little bit in this session. Yeah. So, so, um, yeah, so I'm, uh, what I would do is I would take the opportunity after the girls went to. And work. And then when they were with their dad on the weekends, I would work. Yeah. And so there wasn't a whole lot of time for Becky. I'll tell you that
Curt:and to have this vibrant dating life, now that you're a single
Becky:mother. I did. Yeah. I did date a little bit.
Curt:I had to do something to like, be not working or watching kids in diapers. Yes,
Becky:exactly. And I didn't really love being by myself. That's another, you know, you go back and look in life and say, Mmm, maybe I should've spent some time alone, but I didn't like being alone. I'm not
Curt:good at it either. Jill likes it. So like sometimes I have to leave her alone just for her good. But thankfully I have all kinds of people like podcasts and members to talk to and stuff. So yeah, we both get fed that way. Um, so tell me about. Early like six months, 12 months, like, would you plan to like Pyre people right away and stuff, or you just want it to be kind of a mom with a bookkeeping hustle that paid the bills? Yeah, that's
Becky:all I had envisioned was I think, you know, as long as I can make enough money to support me and my girls, I really had no dream or vision for the future. Um, definitely not. Employees had not even crossed my mind. Um, and thankfully Lynn, you know, allowed me to still work part time and I have to entrance Teddy at some point in this. Cause he's so critical to this part of the story. Uh, Teddy and I had been dating at this point for, uh,
Curt:but then
Becky:Teddy stuck. Oh yeah. Yeah. They all were compared to Teddy. It was one of those situations. And so at the end of the day, I was like, yep, it's Teddy.
Curt:I don't want to be, I don't want to be single that much longer. And he's pretty awesome. And so I'm going to grab him. I have this theory that generally the woman is the decider. Um, in the relationship, the relate, not the decider, like of all the life decisions and stuff. And actually, I would even say that a wife's role is sometimes so submit when they're at loggerheads. Um, but like the, woman's the decider of if you're good enough for me or not. Oh, for sure. And, uh, you know, if the guy's not interested, like he's just not going to be interested, but the girl's going to be like deciding
Becky:interesting. I've never heard that perspective, but I can see that.
Curt:Well, you saw Teddy and you're like, I'm going to grab him before he's off the market.
Becky:Yup. Yup. Exactly.
Curt:Anyway, so tell me about Teddy. Yeah.
Becky:So, um, so, you know, he was always really super encouraging to me and, uh, as I'm burning the candle at both ends, is that, that same? Yeah. He's, he's going to laugh when he hears that because he knows I'm absolutely horrible at saying so yeah, those are not my thing. I'll mix too. So. So I'm working for Lynn, I'm doing the bookkeeping on the side and still trying to have a personal life at some point. And he came to me one day and said, what are you doing? Like, why are you continuing to work so hard? I said, what do you mean? He said, you need to. Quit Linz and you need to go full-time and bookkeeping. And I, I said, no, there's no way I have a mortgage. I have two kids. That's steady income. I can't do that. And he said, yes, you can. And Teddy is absolutely the number one reason why I had the strength and courage to actually step out and do it. Where are
Curt:you guys already officially dating by then? Or was he just. You were kind of dating and was a friend or whatever, whatever.
Becky:Yeah. We were really great friends and we would hang out and go to concerts and go to dinner and do fun things like that, but not officially dating or engaged or anything
Curt:yet. Right, right. Interesting. That's a, well that could sure make you fall in love with somebody is for them to believe that you like that.
Becky:Oh my goodness. Yeah. So, um, so I did, and at that same point, I had a CPA in town who knew what I was also, um, doing, and we shared a couple mutual clients and he knew another couple of good books. Yeah. Yeah. He knew that at least, you know, have come a long way from then since then, but. He knew that I, what I was doing and there's not enough enough of us in town and we'll get to that a little bit later. But, um, so, uh, he knew another gal who had a business already operating a bookkeeping business and she needed some help. And so, um, he got me in contact with her and she and I partnered for a few years and it was awesome. And, um, we grew a lot together and at some point decided, you know, we're going to separate and go our separate ways,
Curt:but no, no. Julie
Becky:monarchs, lovey Julie,
Curt:is she doing the bookkeeping things still as well. Okay. Yep. Um, and so now, like what's your firm look like at this point, at that point it
Becky:was Julia and I, what did you split your employees? Oh, well we only had one employee at time. Yep. So, um, yeah, so yeah, I'm, I'm trying to remember. We had, I think she stayed with me. The one employee stayed with me and, um, Yeah. And then off we went then born SmartBook business solutions.
Curt:Boom, boom. Here we are. Before it wasn't like marks and mark kava. Kava was your game before. Okay. I like it. It doesn't mean anything. It's just
Becky:our two last names. It was my old last name and her last name? Fava,
Curt:fava. Well, I got fava beans. Interesting.
Unusual
Becky:from Italy.
Curt:Yeah. Okay. Is that like a lot of your heritage? No,
Becky:that was my ex-husband's.
Curt:You look more Irish or something?
Becky:Something German. Yeah. Who knows where
Curt:I'm from? Yeah. So, but we're not talking about that yet. We might go back there. Gosh. Okay. If you like, could describe. Smart book business solutions. Was that like, like you named it a real thing and stuff and you, and by this time, uh, Teddy's like, you know, you need to hire some people and like grow this because there's demand out there, your et cetera. Yeah. Still
Becky:not quite that, you know, Virginia, but I did have a real office in a, in a bank here in town and, um, you know, word was getting out and I did actually hire somebody to create my, my logo and the name was, um, exactly. So things were like, okay, I'm gonna, I'm definitely gonna put on the real business and try and make it look like a real business. I think it's a real business. It was one of those like, am I in impossible for
Curt:sure? Well, we all feel that even like people that have 50 employees or 500, they feel like imposters too. So get used to it a little bit and get over
Becky:it too. Yeah.
Curt:Yeah. Seems like it seems like it. So. Like circa me. You said 2013 was when smart books started. And then like when did you start like adding Legos to the team and, yeah, just little bit every time. And talk to me about like, Like it's a service business. Right. So like most of the employees keep books. Right. And then, but then is there, you've got customers that need to be communicated with, you've got different things. Like what's the spectrum of duties, I guess. And how did you build that? Assemble that team?
Becky:Yeah. So there, you know, I think it takes a careful watch to make sure you don't grow before you're ready to. And, um, there was, there's been a couple of times in the last decade that I have grown a little bit too fast and you know, there's good things.
Curt:You learn, you had enough revenues
Becky:that, or too many clients and not enough people to do the work. Right. Which then there's unhappy clients. So, um, you know, it, you have to be real careful and watch really closely. My, my objective is always to have the business before I start spending money and hiring people. So we tend to stretch a little wide and then we'll, you know, gain some employee strength. Well,
Curt:it's kind of easier once you're in. Right. Because when you grow from two to three is like, boom, I have a third more salaries to pay that I had before almost. And then, you know, but going from 10 to 11 is like, oh, it's 10% more.
Becky:Right, right. That is so true. So yeah, it's gotten a little easier every time I hire somebody and, um, you know, of course wages have gone up, especially in the last year, which is
Curt:good. Like. What you look for in people and things like that. Yeah.
Becky:I'm probably a little bit different. I definitely am looking for skill, of course. Um, but I also base it a lot on how are you going to integrate with my, with my team, because. We are so close and, uh, even at 10 you would think, oh, there's probably a few, you know, maybe outliers or problems. Right. We are such a tight knit group. Everybody's
Curt:got everybody's back and you're mostly remote. Is that
Becky:we've done it through COVID we had to come up with your hybrid model. We do have an office. Yep. So we're up, we're just down on south college. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't
Curt:notice where's your case.
Becky:Uh, do you know where the discount tire is off of fossil Creek? Sure. Yeah.
Curt:I used to live right down there actually with Andrea and Shelly before I married Joe.
Becky:Okay. So you know, you from discount, you just go west into that fossil Creek office park.
Curt:Yeah. I was on Greenview court, which is just right around the corner there anyway. Yeah. We had a huge Halloween party there one time, but that's another story for another podcast. Yeah, it was right in your neighborhood property could have heard the music plan anyway. So, uh, So I guess, yeah. Tell me about those major junctures. Oh, and I ask questions. I didn't let you answer, which was about like the different spectrum of duties and stuff. Not just bookkeepers. Yeah. So you do it for skill, but it's mostly for goodbye. Good vibes,
Becky:good fit. Um, and then skill absolutely is so important because, um, you know, at this point in, in the business's life, uh, we're becoming experts. People are looking to us, we are not an entry level bookkeeping service. Maybe I was that a decade ago. It is not that anymore. They're looking for quality work and, um, that's what it's become, which we can talk about later. But, um, it's incredible. So yeah, so once I have the fit that I know they're going to fit in with my team, and then I check their skills and we're golden, then it's a go. And so, yeah, we have, we have six, uh, bookkeepers and two support staff. I'm missing somebody seven bookkeepers. Anyhow. Yeah. Yeah. There's a, basically there's
Curt:two, two helpers that do a lot of the coordination and scheduling and kind of
Becky:have the, keep the show running for sure. Yeah. And then I've had to outsource my HR, um, and I'm ready to outsource some other things for sure too. Yeah. Your
Curt:bookkeeping probably.
Becky:No, never.
Curt:So, um, and everybody's an employee, you haven't used the subcontractor thing as you grew along. One of the things I was going to observe just now and you hinted toward it because you're a numbers girl, but like to be a high quality, non entry level bookkeeping service that costs a lot more money expense wise than to be an entry level, you know? And so you have to charge more for that. Did you. Like resist that or is it just kind of your neck, like as far as, because it's so scary to raise prices as you're also increasing the quality of your service,
Becky:right? Yeah. Yeah. It is. It is. And I think, you know, again, it's fold where I had to have the confidence to know that we're worth it. And on the other side, um, I needed to explain to our clients why we were worth it. So we've done a good, I think we've done a good job of, of mixing those and letting people know why, why we charge what we do. And I, and I'm honest with everybody, you know, there are definitely people out there that, um, are a lot less expensive than us. Yeah. They probably don't have the platform and the subscriptions and the backing that we do, we
Curt:have the intention to make things more efficient and things like that. And so is it like a monthly thing based on how busy you are, it's hourly rate, like what's your business model in that regard? Are they almost like members?
Becky:Well, there are definitely team members. Oh, you are for them anyway. I am for them, for sure. Yeah. So, um, we do a mix of things. So if it works better for a client that they get an hourly rate, then that's what we do. If, um, other people would like a standard rate, then we do our best to, um, uh, have a monthly flat rate price that they get charged. And as long as there's no, you know, outliers of projects and
Curt:stuff like that,
Becky:there's always curve balls, especially when COVID came. Let me just tell you, we did a lot of free work in 2020, just trying to save our community and save our businesses. I want
Curt:to hear about that. We can go there, uh, pretty soon. Okay. So what I'm wondering about right now, though, is. They're they're all billing. Like all your team is working on different people's books. Every day, somebody might touch six files or 10 files. And so they're really tracking their time very intentionally. So if somebody is on a monthly subscription, you can be like, oh, we're charging Bob a thousand bucks a month, but really we should only be charging them 800. I mean, you wouldn't say that. You'd say we should charge them
Becky:1200, but yep. I do actually do a check every couple of months to make sure that we're not overcharging or undercharging our claims. No, that's
Curt:fair. I would just look for the undercharging mostly. So anyway, we're not talking about me. We're talking about you. So. Like, are there any like major milestones? Oh, by the way, what's like what's Teddy up to at this time, is he just a, uh, a trophy husband at home and stuff and raising the girls
Becky:or he's no, but he did step in I'm on a personal note he's he stepped in and, um, has really raised my girls. Their dad was still involved in their life, but Teddy, um, took an important role with the girls and, um, they call him dad and yeah. And he's been a part of their life for a long time. So yeah, he is, he's a financial advisor. Um, uh, so yeah, no, he's
Curt:yeah, he's doing his thing. So doing his thing. Oh
Becky:yes. He was my biggest cheerleader.
Curt:Yeah. Awesome. So I guess, should we jump to COVID seasons? Talk about that craziness. Um, so tell me, why were you doing so much free work? Everybody had like PPP loans and stuff to pay their accountants. How do you
Becky:think they got those PPP? That's we honest to God, my team, um, you know, cause things were changing on a daily basis and I have the most incredible staff and team and I give them a shout out as well. Um, The businesses, you know, I re I specifically remember that week when, before the PPP and idle loans had been announced and the shutdown had happened. And I, I went and thinking about even my own business going, oh my God, you know, how are you going to survive this? I called the banker that I know in town and just weeping on the phone and saying, all, all I see are all these dreams. That are going to be washed up, you know, how are these, how are these businesses going to survive? Are they going to continue to pay their people? And, um, anyways, it was devastating. And I honestly, at that point, I didn't know what was going to happen. Yeah. Um,
Curt:I had a, we had a, a webinar and I was the speaker of this first one because as a former banker and stuff, and I was basically like, then we had a whole bunch, like, it was actually an idea that that Rory had. And I was like, eh, I dunno. And then she was like, come on, I think we should do it. And we got like 60 people on this webinar. And, and basically my advice was, you know, you're a steward of your business and you have to lay off like mad so that you can keep your business alive so that you can like hire people back when whatever this bull bony is, is over. And I'm thinking you're probably kind of in the same kind of brain space there. Right. Just
Becky:suffering. Right. Exactly. And just thinking, you know, how are these, how are these people gonna make it? How do they pay their rent? Bailey employees and yeah, it was, it was devastating. So who are your
Curt:clients? Like? I'm sure it's a huge mix of retailers and manufacturers and wholesalers, whatever. Right. But service businesses.
Becky:Yeah. We have a, we have a range, so. Honestly, anywhere from, uh, hair salons. Uh, we have lots of non-profits. I have a huge heart for nonprofits. We can talk about that later too. No, but they're so wonderful. Um, and we have a great niche in the real estate, anything to do with, um, Um, building construction, real estate agents flips. Okay.
Curt:Most bookkeepers can't handle that kind of stuff. Very good.
Becky:I'm just saying, yeah, we have our hands in a lot of that and I'm actually really enjoyed that work a lot.
Curt:Yeah. Cool. Okay. Well I'll know who specifically, especially to refer to you now. Exactly. So we were talking about COVID and so you guys rolled up your sleeves and you're like, we're going to get you some money, I guess, at least once these support programs started coming out, what are you telling people to abandon their Wells Fargo, bankers, chase bankers and stuff too, right?
Becky:Well, no, because yet
Curt:haven't proved themselves to be worthless yet.
Becky:I still am. Right, exactly. They still had to use the banks to process the applications, but. Where we were involved with providing them the information to put on those at loan applications. Right. So if you think about the businesses who maybe don't have a great bookkeeper or a bookkeeper at all, right. I can't even imagine they were probably scrambling.
Curt:Oh, so not only were you trying to serve your clients, but like the business community at large, that normally brings a shoe box full of receipts to their accountant and that's how they do their books.
Becky:Yeah. Can you imagine they were not prepared? So we had a couple of those people call and of course my first intention was to help our current clients, but we did help a few, uh, that came in and just said, please, dear, God, help me. I need some help. So yeah, we just, me and my team used to say, okay, let's, let's put on our capes again, because I know it's early morning, late nights. Um, but we got to help these businesses survive. So that's what we did.
Curt:And I mean, do you want to talk more about that scene? Like how are you doing emotionally and stuff? How is it like now that we've kind of like, we've been like all of a sudden. It kind of went away, like stayed away for like a couple of weeks now or, you know, whatever it was like holding our breath and wondering what next fall is going to look like around here. Um, but is there any like thing? Yeah,
Becky:no. I mean, I'm, I'm so grateful, you know, that we could help people get, get the loans and, um, and help them understand how they had used them properly. That was another big side of it was, um, you know, that's just not free money, right? If you want to forgive and we got to, we
Curt:got to show you how to
Becky:write and then the forgiveness process and then the idol loan process. And so we've, we've really tackled a lot of difficult, um, you know, very helpful things for our clinic and willingly
Curt:became it. So you're not just a bookkeeping service, you're a bookkeeping advisory. Do you do things like trend reports and like CFO light kind of hat kind of stuff for a lot of your
Becky:clients? Yeah, I wear it. That's a good term. I have a light hat in CFO work, right? Yeah. I do love it. And I don't personally do a whole lot of bookkeeping anymore. Um, just because, you know, running the show takes a lot of time, you can imagine.
Curt:Well, and you're like eating Bon bons and hanging out mostly. That's what the employees mostly think about business owners, right. Or the general public more usually not
Becky:your in place. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I hope, gosh, I hope not. So not good
Curt:for you. So
Becky:the bond bonds? No, definitely not eating Bon bons too much.
Curt:Okay. So like where do you want to go from here? Like what's what's next chapters for SmartBook
Becky:yeah. Well, I got some exciting stuff coming up, so sure. Okay. So, um, I'll yeah, I'll share. I'll share. Um, Let me go back a minute. Sure. So a couple of years ago. Yeah, it was my story, huh? Yeah. Thanks for the platform. Thanks. So, um, uh, I've always been, you know, a go getter. I would say I'm type a, I don't sit around a whole lot and, um, You're
Curt:an orange and the hellos relational intelligence.
Becky:I don't know that one, then we'll talk about it another. Okay, cool. I like all that stuff though. And the three on the Enneagram, if that, whatever that relates to orange. Oh yeah. Same thing. Okay. Yeah. Like to a T. Yeah. So, um, you know, I'm plugging along with this business, just, you know, it's just kind of grown on its own. I'm not really doing much to you. Haven't
Curt:taken out a magazine ad or a Facebook post or hardly nothing.
Becky:Yeah. None, nothing. I mean, it's all word of mouth. Um, the CPAs in town absolutely love working with us because they know they're going to get a set of golden books handed over to them to do a tax return. So, um, referrals have never been a problem. It's, it's a beautiful thing. I'm very thankful. Um, but a couple of years, I went, I came home, Teddy was watching football and I thought, you know, I've been wanting to do some like goal planning. I should probably do something like that. It started reading a couple books, you know, that, all right. That's how I grabbed a yellow pad of paper and a glass of wine and went and sat out in my backyard. And I, um, I had the most incredible, uh, vision dropped on me from God. And, um, I sat outside for about two hours writing down what he was sharing with me and showing me and just balling. Um, it was the most incredible moment nobody could ever tell me that it didn't happen because it was so vivid. Like, I can't even explain it.
Curt:Well, you have to explain more now because you've introduced it and we can't just like move on. That would be super,
Becky:it would be awkward. Okay. It was amazing. He, he basically told me and, and sorry for any of you out there in. Um, radio podcast land who are like, what the hell is she talking about? Um, I'm talking about my real life, God, who, who talks to me and shares with me and I listen and, and that's an important piece for me. Um, and I'm open to it. Yeah. So I'm sitting there and I'm, you know, writing things like, Ooh, here's my revenue goal for whatever year it was. And you know, those silly little things that we do. And it was like a bomb dropped. And what he did was shared with me that, um, the hard work that we had been putting in on some processes and logistics internally were really the foundation of what was going to set us up for what was coming. And it, when he said what was coming, I was like, what do you mean what's coming? And that's when he showed me. The impact that this business was going to have on the community. And it, that day literally changed my life because I knew what I was doing was important, but I didn't know how important it was. And since that day, I've, it's been my mission to share with my staff and my clients that, you know, this, we aren't just transactional bookkeepers. We really do have an integral part in your success and not just your success, but the success of your employees and the success of, um, um, the community at Olin. And you know, when businesses are thriving, guess what else thrives
Curt:the whole community. I'm sure you've read the richest man in Babylon. It's been a long time, but yes, it's basically that, like, it's basically Babylon wasn't rich because the Babylon king of Babylon was rich. Babylon was rich because they had all these merchants that saved up and like built wealth and cashflow from multiple diverse investments. Right? Like if we can make the people in the small business community of Fort Collins, And Loveland and Greely and whatever, right? Like that's prosperity. And then those people can write checks to these nonprofits and things like that and leave legacies. And, you know, it'd be the Kurt Richardson's and the whatevers of the world.
Becky:Exactly. And that's the, those are the people that I want to connect with because I'm not after doing business with the people that are going to be hoarding, their wealth, you want to be working with the people that are going to impact our community and our kids and single moms. And you know, all the things that we're talking about. Um, those are the people that line up with me and what I believe in.
Curt:So, so you only want nice people through your clients. Have you had to kick anybody out? Yes. How many.
Becky:I'd say probably, um, probably 20 or less over. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Curt:That's not too bad. Really? No, it's not too bad. Yeah. Well, you'd probably have a pretty good sniffer on the front end and got rid of some of those, those early ones you took because you needed the business, even though you kinda, your better judgment said no
Becky:effect.
Curt:Right? Do you need bookkeeping service ID you're breathing right. And you could
Becky:write a check.
Curt:We're good. Fair enough. Well, and we're blessed to be in a community where there are a lot more, um, I guess. Give reminded people that I think a lot of regions of the country. Would you agree with
Becky:that? We agreed the amount of non-profits in this community. It's incredible. Yeah.
Curt:Yeah. I moved and even just graciousness from one to another, uh I'm I'm from North Dakota. So I moved here in 99 and like was immediately like, oh, welcome to Fort Collins. I think you're gonna like it here. You know, what can I do to help you succeed in your life almost, you know, it wasn't quite those words, but it's the vibe that you feel
Becky:almost. Yeah, it is a good vibe. I love this place.
Curt:So, um, You wrote down a whole page of yellow pad, like tell me more about what God told you to do specifically, if you can share or to the extent that you feel like you'd like to share. Yeah. And
Becky:it wasn't, it wasn't as much as like, here's what I want you to do. It was more like you better get ready because this is what's coming. And since that day I'm telling you that it has been like exponential growth in the business. There's nothing that could stop it like a flood. Um, and, uh, and, and I really had to prepare myself and my team and my family because, um, once I know once I knew that, okay, whew. I know what I saw and I believe what I heard. So in that case, I needed to warn everybody.
Curt:Yeah. You're not really, we're kind of jumping into the religion thing a little bit. You're not talking like prosperity gospel kind of thing
Becky:you were talking about.
Curt:Yeah. Fair enough. You're just talking like, Hey,
Becky:just get ready. No, just get ready. It was just like, and it remember it's all about the impact. So for me, it's never about the money. Um, I'm not money motivated.
Curt:Financially capable. Um, there are a lot of skilled craftsmen and business people that really want no part of their books. Right. Sadly, uh, including myself in some respects. Right. I, I'm not a detailed kind of guy. I don't want to mess around with reconciled agents and this and that. I can barely review my expense reports. Right.
Becky:Exactly. Exactly. So it's nice to have a person like us and anybody at SmartBooks in your
Curt:pocket. And then it is like, on your team is somebody like if ABC company as a client, then Susie is their person and they get to know that business and they can see last year's reports and understand it easier and all that kind of stuff too. Yeah.
Becky:Yeah. We have a real team community, so we all make sure we know each other's clients. So if something happens to Susie or I get hit by a bus or, you know, all those things you think about, um, somebody else could step right in and start working for that client.
Curt:So my impression is. Like this employee, number 11, you're not going to stop here and have a boutique, a bookkeeping service. So you're gonna like, be talking about employee number 20 and three years or something like that. You don't know, but was that scare you or? Yeah, a
Becky:little bit. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. I, as long as, as long as I get some help, you know, with the managing and the, and the taking care of the business, I think that'll be fun and fine. Um, it's, it's really nice where it is right now, but we can segue into the next big piece if you'd like to.
Curt:Yes, but I wanted to ask a question. Um, what are you best at as the business owner, hats kind of thing. And what are the things that you're currently doing that you either shouldn't be or think at the most or whatever?
Becky:Well, um, you're going to laugh at this one, but I'll tell you what I'm worst at first. I am. At running my own payroll. I mess it up all the time.
Curt:Cobbler's kids, man. They never have any issues
Becky:so bad. My, my employees, if they listen to this will laugh. They'll go. Yep. She's right. So yeah, it's just, I'm so busy worrying about everything else that when I have to do my job, I just don't do it in time.
Curt:Let's get a thing, right. Like you're not messing it up necessarily. Well sometimes. Okay. But if you're listening out there and thinking about smart books, like they'll do your payroll just fine. Other people
Becky:do the payroll. It's perfect. Yes. So, and I think what I'm best at is really, you know, um, I tell my team this all the time. I care more about them as individuals than I do about them. Uh, what they're working for me at SmartBooks, um, uh, what they want in life and their dreams and goals are more important. So whatever I can do to support them. And I truly believe that. I mean, they're incredible people and, um, they're on this path with me. I want to create a space where they want to come to work. Um, I want to come to work. That's what I tell them. I want to enjoy being here as much as you all do. So let's figure out how to make this a fun, productive, incredible place to work. And we have, it's been an awesome,
Curt:I have had a similar conversation with Alma just the other day. And I was like, you know, maybe it's a year from now. Maybe it's three, but you know, if I can open doors for you that allow you to. Transitioned to the life that you're really trying to cultivate. And that's probably not a career at local think tank for 20 years, you know, I'll do that. Right. And in return, you know, give me a nice two months, window of training your replacement because I rely on you for a lot.
Becky:Yeah, exactly.
Curt:So, yeah. So true. Fair enough. Do you want it to go to the next chapter a little bit and talk about what's the big, next thing or whatever.
Becky:Yeah. So, you know, don't,
Curt:let me forget to ask you about the nonprofit kind of passion as well. And we can do both of those. Okay.
Becky:Yeah. So, you know, it's been a few years since I call it my backyard, God moment. And, and
Curt:what you said, you see saw something, you heard something, and I heard that the first time, but then when you just repeated it, you said I saw,
Becky:um, so, so what I saw was our community and I saw the like different businesses,
Curt:profit. Just saying me too, but I don't see it as clearly,
Becky:usually. Yeah. It's, it's incredible. I, I I'm grateful for the gift for sure. Um, so yeah, it was just like this and I drew it out on a piece of paper, but it was like this round circle, uh, um, coming outside of Fort Collins, you know, just like growing, um, and including all of these businesses within it. And it, what, what he said was the word impact. And that has been my word for a few years now. And so I'm going to live and die by that impact this community. That's my
Curt:goal. Yeah. Well, you already are obviously with a, how many customers do you have with? We have
Becky:about 175. Wow.
Curt:You've got twice as many customers as I do. You're probably pulling away from me rather. I was going to say, I'm coming for you, but probably you're going to pull away from me. We'll see. Anyway, I digress. So this so sorry to digress from the digression of this next big thing.
Becky:Yeah. So, so the next big thing last about last June and, you know, things are just hopping we're, we're doing great. And, um, I had a literal vivid dream. Um, again, of course I think it it's definitely was from God or else it would not have stuck with me. So I have this dream that literally it shocked my world and I sat up in bed and was in a sweat and jaw dropped going, oh my gosh, you are not going to bleed. I turned to Teddy and said, you're not going to believe what I just saw. And he was like, oh boy, he actually bought me a little plate last week that said, um, everything great starts with a great dream. Yes. So, um, so what I saw in this dream is, um, Uh, bookkeeping school. Oh, and
Curt:oh, whoa. Yeah. Right. Like
Becky:necessary, necessary, further impact. And, um, you know, again, I I've giggled about this a few times, but I'm going to bring it back up, but you know, it's a little bit funny that the girl who didn't finish school is going to create a school and, um, I'm excited about it. I'm so excited about it. Yep. It's going to be called keep SmartBooks academy and we are deep in the process of getting that set up. Um, curriculum built a space to rent, um, logo. We're working on logo today. So it's, it's, it's coming and it's going to happen.
Curt:One of the cool things. I don't want to be stereotyping, but probably most of your bookkeepers are ladies. Some of them are moms like you were when you started this for you. And that's the kind of role that a single mom especially can have and still have dignity and space, you know, waitresses like. Alternative sometimes for some people, and that's not that great. Right. Even though it, it gets you by, and at least the per hour, isn't too crappy, but doing something where they have a real trade in, in, I dunno, like, can I be nosy and ask how much you can pay a bookkeeper?
Becky:Yeah. And you're right. So you're right about the female dominance in this industry, it is actually dominated by about 80%. Um, and we do need more males in this field just for the record, um, because they would bring a vital role and, and they, and we do have, I have, um, Steven at my office who, uh, I grabbed him right out of college. He moved here from Alabama and he isn't. Yeah. So anyway, oh yeah, they're both
Curt:useful, frankly. It's like, women are less powerful when you put them into two large of concentrations. You have to stir it a little bit and start up just a little bit, you know, like anyway, I digress. I
Becky:probably I'm ready for another male. I'm just going to put that out there right now. We need some more male counterparts. Yeah. If
Curt:you can get up to 30% or something like that, that'd be great.
Becky:It would be awesome. Yeah. So, um, so yeah, and the living wage for a bookkeeper, um, they can start out anywhere like 40,000 a year and a really great Booker bookkeeper should be up above 50, you know, 50, top 60 in there in that range. So
Curt:yeah, that's like a regular job and they can probably do it if they, if they needed to work after their daughter goes to bed, they can do
Becky:that too. Right. And that's the beauty of what's happened during COVID and even prior to that, but the opportunity to do remote work is QuickBooks online. I mean, everything's online
Curt:now. Once a month full team meetings in person. So we can give each other hugs and eat ice cream or whatever, but we don't have to always do that because we burned a lot of fuel drive into the office and back and stuff like that. It costs property taxes in Fort Collins are stupid, even if you owned a building kind of. Right. And so there's a lot more opportunities available to, with less resources expense.
Becky:Right? Exactly. Yeah. Well,
Curt:that's exciting. Like what, like, is there more that you can share or not yet kind of thing because there are, do you have the website, keep smart books, academy.com. I'm going to go lock it up.
Becky:I was supposed to get that done last week. So I'm needing to make sure it's right. Thanks. There's a lot. Yeah. And, um, so we're going to have a couple courses. We'll have a beginning intro. You don't have to have any skill, knowledge base, anything to come in and actually we'll teach them basics and won't get you too far in the bookkeeping world. But like,
Curt:even if you're a solo preneur or something that wants to keep your own books, right. You can take this course. I take
Becky:the course. And then, um, if somebody wants to move on, if they're really interested and they want to get a deeper dive, then we'll do a, um, level two. Um, and at that point they should be able to go out into the workforce and really get a great job. Um, especially, you know, my intention again, would be to be community-based and open where the community knows what we're doing and people will specifically know to come to the school, to. Um, higher. You wouldn't believe the amount of little keepers that are
Curt:needed right now. It's unreal.
Becky:Yeah. Yeah. So in a lot of people, you know, they,
Curt:their businesses, if you could fog a mirror, no, just kidding. But you have to actually be able to keep good books. Like that's the thing is we're just under resourced. And especially here, we've had such growth in the business community and all that kind of thing. So
Becky:exactly. Yeah. The pipeline is dry. Um, you know, when I used to place an ad, I would get 60, 70 resumes and I place an ad now and I'm lucky to get 15, right. So we need to increase the pipeline of people. Um, there are businesses out there that need, uh, to hire full-time, which is great. So I want to be able to help provide those. So hire
Curt:somebody that went to keep SmartBooks academy, you know, it gives them an, you probably are not only ready to pay them more appropriate. But you trust them more right from the start.
Yup.
Becky:And they have the resource right here in the community. If they have questions, the one I'm the course I'm most excited about, um, is I'm gonna open it up to the community where if a business already has an internal bookkeeper, let's say an office manager or an admin assistant who they have actually running the books, which happens a lot or a wife that happens a lot to me. Um, and you know, those people are in stressful jobs because they really don't know what they're doing. And they're all of a sudden,
Curt:what do you find any the joy of like having a chore that they don't know how to do? Yeah. They don't
Becky:know. And you know, so I imagine they're overwhelmed and going to bed stressed out and all those things
Curt:and go home and beat their wife or kick their kids or whatever. Right? Like those stresses of not being in a good space. In your life career, where you spend most of your time has real impacts on mental health relationships. Obviously go and beat your wife because you don't like your job. Sorry. I'm not that, but, but it's real.
Becky:Yeah. That stuff is real and it's sad. And yeah. So my intention with that course is that these business owners will be able to, they would actually do the funding of sending their employee to the academy. And, um, I'm going to figure this out, but we are gonna get to a space where they can actually bring their books from their company limb. And imagine 10 people sitting in this classroom, we'll have some instruction time, uh, going over some basics and then we'll have a couple instructors there and we're going to help all of those people get their books straightened out in a mass form. And that's the, that's the one I'm really, really excited about.
Curt:Oh, that's such a cool vision. Yeah. I think your perception is. Oh, yeah. Like, you know, not just because God said, but also because there's real demand for that real need. Yeah. The need.
Becky:Yep. And on a, on a fun note, um, the I've been working with the Larimer county workforce innovation grant folks, and we're in the final stages and it does look like I'll be, um, hopefully, you know, receiving a part of that funding.
Curt:Oh, that's so cool. Do you want a high five? Yes. Okay. Let's do it. Boom. It was two weeks to the microwave phone, but yeah, it was a big table. Um, I like kind of inquired about that innovation grant actually about the Hallows thing that I've just mentioned to you. Do you want a quick primer on hellos? I think it might be fun actually, because I know you're a fan already. Okay. So I am a white, green there's five colors. So it's a little bit like disk, um, but simpler and easier to act, to act on. You don't need like a disc consultant to be with you for $10,000 a year, right. Um, to, to actually get lasting value. So I'm a white green, the white is the idea, the thinker principles, values, but can get, uh, seem to be aloof and dreamer kind of thing. And then the green is the social relational. Oh wow. And so like local think tank is basically thinker and community guy. Right. And so those are my two essences. They're not personality. It's like who I was created to be. And they contend almost like a yin and yang over my. Dominant like the way I respond to the world and react. Um, I've got a third type. That's the orange, that's the achiever entrepreneur that I called you the get the thing done, Ronald rollover people, if you have to, but prefer not to, but don't really care that much. Uh, and so that's the orange and that's my developed trait. My dad was an entrepreneur. I've been working with entrepreneurs in my life. And so that's part of that development. And imagine it like a shock absorber between those two, uh, dominant traits and also a strengthener of the foundation. And anybody can kind of activate all of these, but hopefully by more understanding of them. So I'm going to back up a little bit. Now the white is like the, in the clouds, the white type above you, a dreamer kind of type. The blue, which is what Alma is. She's a blue brown. So the blue is the organizer, the logic, the planner, you might be an orange blue that wouldn't shock me. Um, and so that's the logic. And then the green is the heart. Um, the orange is the gut or the drive or whatever. And then the brown is the integrator and that's the person that's really understanding of processes and systems and mapping it out in an unintended consequences and all those things. And, uh, then there's a polarity, even within the colors where like for the white type, uh, when you read news of mandates and lockdowns and you think of those sufferings, like those ideas get kind of wrapped around you and whatever. Or if you get rejected by people, if you're a green type, then you get all butt hurt. Like when you say, oh, we should have more Liberty, less mandates, then they're like, ah, you know that nobody likes you. And so, like, I had some. Mental struggle, frankly, because of even, almost my types. And so anyway, those are the five colors that's kind of the general, like no type is worth more than another there, like almost every organization needs a brown to get to a really awesome place. Um, and so anyway, that's, and like almost young, she's like just turned 19 last month. Wow. Yeah. But she's smart as a whip and she's just opposite me, which is just what I need. Yeah. And so, um, and she's very reserved kind of shy, but through going through this big training, she's come to realize that her perspective and what she can bring is not only different it's necessary. So she's not only open to sharing what she has to share about a hard problem that we're facing as an organization, but she's almost competing. 'cause she knows now that she sees things differently than we do. Wow. So there, that's incredible.
Becky:Is there a book or a website?
Curt:Um, I'll share more. I might be coming to your chapter actually in April or may. I need to check back in with Brandon, but I went through it with Brandon and Brandon was all into the disc stuff and he was like, oh, this is great. Actually, can you test my wife? And so I'm trying to get it integrated as part of how we mix chapters and make sure that they're actually are diverse and things like that. So, um, but, um, I'm like that very pushy. So I'm like here, check out this house thing. It's like really cool. I promise that people are like, well, we're already doing desk or we got Myers-Briggs. And so, anyway, that's a longer story than I meant to share, but I can snip that out and like use it as a video clip for our YouTube channel or
Becky:something. I can't wait to find out more. I love
Curt:that stuff. Cool. Well, actually, that's one of the gifts I give to my podcast guests. So I will, I'm starting, like I should actually do it beforehand so we can talk about it for sure. Live and learn. Well. So that's a tweezer teaser, a tweezer, a teaser for you folks listening out there is, uh, we're going to do that in the future. It's already like almost four 30. Isn't it crazy. It's crazy. So, uh, but we still have, uh, like, is there more business related things you want to share? Congrats on the workspace innovation grant, because I think you're dead on, right? Like that's something that's more needed and like the good companies make strong communities, you know? And we're both in that business. I think strong
Becky:businesses. Yeah. That's the man. I love entrepreneurs. So if I can help them in one little piece of their puzzle with their financials, well,
Curt:year one to now you see a need, fill a need. Um, so we always touch on faith, family politics. Uh, you, your choice on what you want to share and where you want to start. Oh
Becky:gosh. Okay. Let's talk about family. Okay.
Curt:Um, let's talk about them. Do you want to talk about your even go back to your folks and stuff before we jumped? Yeah, I
love
Becky:my folks. Yeah, no, my folks are here in Fort Collins and, um, uh, great grandparents and meaning they're not great grandparents yet. My babies don't have those yet, but they are great.
Curt:Great. And they supported you a lot, obviously your mom, especially through your
Becky:mixing hub, yours, especially. Yeah, for sure. They're both been really great. A great parents. Um, brothers in red feather lakes has been here for a few years with his sister-in-law. We've been
Curt:spending a lot of time up there, uh, that beaver Meadows and different things and what not. So we got run into him sometime. What's his name?
Becky:Toby. Well, oh yeah. He goes by
Curt:Rob. Yeah. I'll call him Toby.
Becky:Well, he looks like me, but with less hair on top and more hair on his face. Okay. Fair
Curt:enough. I'll look for it. I'll look for it. There's a lot of people at red that look kind of like you
Becky:described and ball cap, you know, the hiker hiker gear on.
Curt:Yeah. So, uh, let's talk about, talk about your family. I like to do a one word descriptions for your children, a joy in what was it? Join Brianna
Becky:Brianna. So Brianna's 19. She's in her first year at school of mines. Oh wow.
Curt:She's
Becky:pretty damn smart. She's very smart. Her word. I would say is steadfast.
Curt:If that's a pretty complimentary
Becky:word as well. She's amazing. Yeah, just to an angel on earth, um, never had mood swings, uh, just positive all the time. Always has a bright smile. Um, she's just a cool, cool kid. Yeah.
Curt:Do you want to hear one of my most inappropriate jokes? It's PC when people are like, when they complain about their girlfriends or their wives or things like that? Uh, my joke is, well, you can be, uh, you have two choices. You can, um, be married to a crazy woman, or you can be single. Anyway. So it sounds like Brianna might be one of the outliers on that, perhaps. So anyway, I digress. It's a pretty funny joke. Right?
Becky:I like that one.
Curt:I think it's mine. Like, I don't think anybody made that up or that repeated it. I think I made it up pretty good. So anyway, I digress. So she's at school of mine. She's studying to be
Becky:yeah. She's nerd. Um, she studied mathematics. Oh, well, yeah. Yeah. Numbers are in the brains in our family, for sure. So, and then joy is 16. She's a sophomore in high school. And I think a word to describe her would be glitter,
Curt:glitter
Becky:more. She is. Her name just fits her perfectly. It, she walks in the room and the atmosphere changes. She's she's just funny sparkles, sparkles. Yeah. I used to call her spunky, but because she just was spunky all the time and she's super witty. Um, she makes great jokes. Some of them fall flat and she knows that, but for the most part, she makes everybody laugh. She has to swing. Right. She dances like nobody I've known, but she won't do any form of organized dance. Um, she dislikes the jam. Um, yeah, just both really super
Curt:cool kids. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, um, like, did you and Teddy like, think about having some more, you were together for awhile now? That's a
Becky:deep question.
Curt:I mean, did you run out of time? Probably.
Becky:Yeah, I was, I was getting a little bit too old and, um, yeah. And Teddy was raising my girls and he didn't, he, Teddy didn't have any of his own, um, which was actually on my wishlist when I, when I was dreaming of a new husband. And so yeah, he, he filled that box and the reason why was because I, I just, I wanted my girls to have a strong foundation. Right, exactly. So a little selfish on my part, but, and we did talk about it and, you know, thought about the opportunity and just both decided, nah, this, Nope, we're gonna focus on these two girls and keep moving forward. Like that
Curt:willingness of that you've shown a little bit over at least hints have to confess when you haven't done things fully. Right. Oh. Do you want a CA would you care to share anything like where you were like, oh, I learned this lesson the hard way in my family journey. It's a deep question. I shouldn't ask everybody that.
Becky:No, I wouldn't. I am literally an open book and I tell people that most times, if, if you get me talking, um, I'll share whatever you want. Um, plus
Curt:you've had a glass of whiskey now, so it's easier. Yes. But obviously, like, I bet your mom, your, your kids are probably like raving fans of their mom too.
Becky:Where's that tissue it's right there. The girls are incredible. Um, they've, they've been my biggest supporter for sure. Next to Teddy. And, um, they've watched me work hard. Um, but I've also been, um, very present in their life and it, all their
Curt:events, it's one of the blessings of a business owner, right? Like you can be there, you might work until nine o'clock at night on the couch. Right. But it can be there when the lacrosse game is happening or the dance recital
Becky:or whatever. Yep. That's exactly right. So they are just as much a priority in my life as this businesses and my, um, my marriages and. All of those things. So yeah, there, whew. You want
Curt:to tell us some cool things about Teddy? We're pretty big fan of is how many years marriage now we
Becky:just had our ten-year anniversary last year. Yep. And a lot of fun. So I'm Teddy and I have had an incredible 10 years. Uh, we both love to travel. Um, there's a couple of things on that list. I was telling you about the other things on the list where doesn't watch a lot of TV check. Nice. Uh, loves to read, check, loves coffee check, uh, loves God check, um, loves to travel check. So the travel stuff has been so fun. We, we have had some amazing trips over the years and, um, we've gone to places like Peru. We did a 55 mile track, um, to Manchu Picchu. Uh, we've sailed in the BVIs with our best friends. Um, been to the Bama was,
Curt:um, yeah, you're kind of living the life that my wife and I kind of imagined. Almost fully remote. We could still make money while we're traveling someday before too long. Yes, absolutely. And yeah, I feel that
Becky:there's so much world to see, you know,
Curt:after we don't have any children, but, uh, after your kids are kind of out of the nest, we can do some double date traveling or something I'm game. Cool. And Teddy's successful at his financial planning practice as well as the independent. Is he part of a, yep.
Becky:He's independent. It's backed by LPL out of California, um, broker dealer. Um, but he is independent just himself and, um, loves it that way. Uh, he, he keeps his clientele pretty tight-knit because he is service-based. He wants to make sure he can serve everybody. And, um, so yeah, he's a fantastic,
Curt:you're supposed to just keep adding clients do less work for each one. That's what some
Becky:people think that's not the way he operates. He left one of the bigger banks because that's what they wanted him to do.
Curt:Yeah, I can make this income and reach my financial goals and serve my clients very well. And
Becky:so he's very
Curt:good at what he does. Well, you've, uh, you've mentioned God quite a few times already. I feel like we might as well talk about faith a little bit. Is that something that was like imprinted upon you from early? Or when did that come
Becky:about? Yeah. You know what I mean? We weren't really churchgoers, um, growing up, my mom and dad were both believers, but, um, you know, yeah. Maybe Easter and Christmas. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But there was always this just, um, Gut feeling I had, you know, that there was something out there bigger than me and it never let go. And so, um, I got pretty curious when I was in my early twenties and started checking out some churches and learning some things and ended up at a church that, you know, did a lot of really great teaching. And, um, that's what I needed. I needed to actually learn and be taught. It's hard to
Curt:believe until you observe enough of it to learn. Like in my own journey, I signed up for Bible study fellowship soon after, and it like validated what my emotions had led me to believe it's a good way to put it, but until I read really some of that minor prophets and the different things and saw all the interconnectedness between the old and new testaments and all that. So, do you want a shout out this church? You still there?
Becky:No, no. We changed, um, we switched churches. Teddy has a different background than I do, so we, um, compromise. We compromise. Yeah. Yeah. So in the girls have, so w
Curt:tell me where you, where you came to real, real faith. I guess if you don't mind. No, not at all.
Becky:Nope. It was called message of life, or it is message of life ministries in Loveland, Colorado, and the pastor there, and his wife and his family are still extremely close and, um, we love each other dearly, so they were a huge part of my life. Teddy has a Baptist background.
Curt:So, so like, those are like message of life is kind of like the message Bible, like easygoing, like easy grace. Yeah. Fair enough. And then Baptists are, yeah, a little, a little more stick up their butt kind of thing. And so what's the compromise from my eyes
Becky:as good shepherd church in Loveland. And it's a wonderful place. Um, yeah, so it's, it's been fun. And the girls, you know, uh, again, I wasn't, um, real steady and, and going to church for a while while they were young. And, um, it was the two of them that actually came to me and said, we have some friends that keep asking us where we go to church and we don't have an answer. And so we want to go check out a church and I was like, perfect. So, um, you know, I wasn't dragging them by their ears. They were pulling me in with my
Curt:first. So it happens more than you think. And that's, I think one of the neat things about allowing children to eat meat instead of just bread a little bit, cause they'll talk to their friends and stuff and those friends might drag their parents to church. Right?
Becky:Yeah. It's true. It's true. So, yeah, so it's been a good run and we enjoy it. And the girls were both on the praise and worship team and an integral part of their youth group. And um, so yeah, it's been really good.
Curt:So let's imagine there's a person there, like. Twenty-five year old Curt frankly. That's like, yeah, the whole Jesus thing sounds pretty good, but like, that sounds so dumb and too easy to be true or whatever. And there's all these hypocrites that just want to have donations and live off the Dole or whatever. Like there's all these different objections, right? Like what what's like, what's the most direct thing that you would want to say to somebody that gave you that? Objection? I would
Becky:say, I would say probably go pick up the book, the case for Christ concrete answers in there. Um, I would say, uh, look up some prophecies from the old Testament and see how, you know, three, 4,000 years prior to Christ being born, he was being prophesied about and, um, rewritten in the new Testament and you can connect the dots. Um, and, uh, then you know, it comes down to just the feeling, you know, do you realize what a piece of sand you are on this planet and in this lifetime? And, um, We all make a difference one way and there's gotta be something else there that created this incredible body and this mind, and, um, all the parts of us that come together in this one body of the whole world and make this place amazing.
Curt:Yeah. Fair enough. Thank you. Yeah. Um, do you like to talk about policy. It's not my
Becky:favorite subject.
Curt:Most people don't like to, you can hold your own though. You're you're informed, but not talkative.
Becky:Yeah. I would say less on the information side. I, I am a huge advocate of turning the news off, um, because it's such a negative space and I just don't have room for that negativity in my life. So, um, yeah.
Curt:I'm not saying you're informed about politics, but you're informed about the world, how you have a sense of, it seems like you have a very comprehensive worldview,
Becky:little intuitive. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, I'll give you this piece. I knew I was just sharing with my daughter last night because we were having a fantastic discussion. We have, uh, an exchange student from Spain right
Curt:now. Okay, cool. We have an Italian boy coming to deal with us soon. Yeah, he'll be our seventh cause we don't have kids. So it's like, we can be we adults, we do some adulting here and there we'd dabble in it.
Becky:That's good. And you're creating opportunities for these kids. It's incredible.
Curt:So anyway, the Spanish
Becky:exchange. Yeah. So she's here and she has two. Right. This junior thesis on, um, I think the title is something like is America really free? And we were like, oh goodness. Um, and she's, you know, asking us our opinion and we're talking about some things. And then my daughter joy got involved in the conversation and anyhow, we had this incredible talk last night and it got off onto like, how do you feel about abortion and how, you know, these really tough topics. It was like the hard ones. And you know, I'm not going to get into all that, but the one, no. How do you feel about abortion? But the one thing I said to joy was. I knew even as a high school student, without prompting from my parents, without prompting from anybody around me that I was conservative and, um, in a very liberal state, right. I was, I grew up in California and, um,
Curt:and it wasn't really because your parents wear that on their sleeve or anything
Becky:like that. Oh, no. I mean, my parents worked a lot. They weren't, you know, it's not like we sat around and had political discussions. I don't remember that at all. Maybe, maybe it's embedded in my brain somewhere, but I don't remember it. I just knew how I felt when I, when I heard issues and topics being brought up and I would think, Hmm, no, I definitely lean this way. Um, so, you know, yeah, definitely. Especially fiscally conservative. I'd say, you know, a little bit more socially in the middle. Um,
Curt:you're a closet libertarian as well in a pro-life one like me. I'm like, what's the why of that for you? You've examined that, like you said, you even back in your high school years, you were more conservative than not like, do you have an idea of what informed that for you? You
know,
Becky:the only thing I can think is, um, I've seen people in my life, uh, um, make things work without being given the, how do I say this? Giving, being it, being given to them. So they didn't take a handout. They made it happen. And my daughter, Joyce said, well again, what do you mean by that? And I said, well, um, think about me. I, I, you know, I was a single mom, um, had no, uh, child support coming in and mortgage and all the things. And I said, and I didn't go get, um, aid from the community. I thought, how can I make this work? And I, I worked hard and I live the American dream now. Right? Like.
Curt:Totally. And had you gotten onto food stamps? You might, could be still bed there potentially like if it was lucrative enough.
Becky:Yeah. And I'm not saying that's not a necessary piece because it is. And again, it goes its way. No, we're going way past, but we haven't even talked about nonprofits yet because I have a huge heart for nonprofits and helping people, um, is, is one of my core values. A hundred percent.
Curt:Yeah. Like I think both of those things can be true. Like that's, that's kinda my mentality on a political foundation is I think oftentimes the things that government tries to do to make things better for people often makes it worse. You know, like the, I mean the inner city and the, and the black culture is, you know, 75% of kids being born on wedlock. That's directly a result of kind of the welfare policies and the things that Nick made that okay. Feminism kind of extreme in some respects, like, oh baby daddy, you know, whatever. Right. I can raise these kids, whatever. So anyway, I digress, but yeah, I would like to see it be, um, more thoughtful, more
Becky:thoughtful in some really. And that's what,
Curt:and that's what nonprofits can do. So let's jump over to there. Like tell me about this passion, because, because to me that's better, like local community charities can fix more of your ILS than. Programs administered
Becky:from Washington DC. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So one of, one of the cool story was when I was a single mom and I had a leak roof on my house roof leak. Sorry. Yep. So see, I switched the switch the words again. So I get home from work one day and I noticed these two fellows that I knew wasn't good friends with, but they were coming out of my backyard with a ladder. And I was like, what are you doing? And they said, oh, we, we caught a word that you had a leak. So we fixed it. And I was like, what? Well, that was the birth of a nonprofit called be the gift. Oh, okay. So, um, I was just jaw dropped at these people out of the kindness of their heart. Not even really knowing me would come over and, and fix this leak. So anyways, that nonprofit now has helped hundreds of single moms. And I, what I found out was I was one of the very first, like first three that they ever did a little project.
Curt:So being helped in that way during a time of need, when you probably were ashamed to express it to some extent, right. Cause there's a lot of shame that carries along with not feeling like you can provide.
Becky:Right. Exactly. Yeah. And I was doing just my best to pay the mortgage and keep the kids fed. So thinking about fixing a leak was like, whatever, because that's going to have to just sit there for a bit. So, so anyways, that I just thought, man, that is so cool. And then they would, they would come over and, um, Give the girls some Christmas gifts every year and just really supporting me, you
Curt:know, it was just not that much,
Becky:but yeah, not that much. Just let me know. Hey, we're here. We care about you and let us know if you need anything. And as soon as I started actually making a nice wage and, um, I thought where my going to put some dollars into this community. And of course they were my, the first place. It wasn't much, but I thought I'm going to give back. Right. And so I started small and would sponsor a few women to be able to go to their Christmas dinner. And, and now, um, you know, 10 years later, Teddy and I actually sit on their board. Awesome. So full circle just absolutely love them. And I loved oh yeah. Oh, that's
Curt:pretty cool. Yeah. Love seeing, I need to learn more about that organization. Honestly, I haven't had enough interaction there. I'm not a single mom, right? Yeah. Never will be.
Becky:But if you love women give, then that'd be the gift. So, yeah. And I think that just started the like passion within me. Gosh, I can give back, like, I, I don't have to take, I can actually give and again, have an impact on the community to see that there's a need. Well, guess what? Let's fill it. I find it
Curt:such a joy to such. It's kind of like that better to give than to receive things from when your kids, your parents were talking to me about Christmas and you're like, whatever I like receiving. Right. But, but in the reality of the world, we're given so much. And, but to be able to give, like, it's super blessing,
Becky:it's a super blessing. You you're happier when you do it, you know? It's you feel better,
Curt:even if it's just a little bit. Yeah.
Becky:Oh my gosh. Every little bit helps. Yeah. And you know, we have a handful of non-profits in our clientele and, um, it's exciting to see, you know, what's happening for them. And
Curt:do you have any, uh, encouragements politically for the state, the local politics, anything like that? Is it a
Becky:council business ease up on small business? Let's let us do our thing. Stop trying to tax everything. We do, you know, the mandates on sick pay and, um,
Curt:yeah. Family leave time. I mean, all these things like I get it, those sound really good. Right. And in a lot of people, when they can afford it will choose to put those things in place. So education and encouragement is a much better thing than a we're going to penalize you X amount. If you do not comply
Becky:with this thing, you know, small businesses like carrots so much better
Curt:than sticks,
Becky:I guess. It's so true. Me too. But you know, if you think about it, the small businesses are the largest employer in Colorado, probably around the nation. I've just not done that recent. And it's hard,
Curt:especially for those like under five employees, especially like if you've got less than five minutes, You're scrambling to keep up with all the things that are necessary to even have a business.
Becky:Right. So now think about it, it out in the business world, if, if you're an employer of five employees and you're barely making it from month to month to pay their payroll and all of a sudden they get COVID and you find out the state says, um, okay, but guess what? They're out for two weeks, you still have to pay them. Right. And so they're not bringing in any income, but yet the employer has to pay them well,
Curt:and it's a, and it's a bad incentive for the employees too. Now that you can get COVID like three times a year, if you were like, who's this, I guess you'd probably have to show a positive test, but, but yes, it is very like, there's probably businesses that have been like, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Becky:Yes. Yeah. All I'm sure. Oh my gosh. And yeah, we've seen a couple internally, you know, have struggle over that. I mean, it's,
Curt:it's, even if it doesn't break you, it hurts. Right. And it stops you from. Hiring this, it doesn't like, it's not like that big, but right. But people have networks as well. And that's part of like, if you can't be there anyway, I digress. Yeah. It's a big deal though. Right? Like if you got, if you've got, if you're a maid service agency and you've got 30 employees and any one of them can be gone for two weeks and you have to pay him without collecting on their day, right. That's a big bang. It's
Becky:a big, a big hit to the business and, and, you know, so there, and I'm not saying, Hey, let's not pay the employees. I'm saying let's figure out another way because, um, the businesses can't hold that weight for, for much longer, you know, it's just, if, if we're going to continue to be the heartbeat of this country and, and employ the most people across this country, then, then we need to help small businesses survive and
Curt:thrive. It feels like. More pressure placed on the really smallest businesses. And there ever has been right. You know, those way less starts and weightless creations. And you have to be like this like million dollar funded idea to actually get off the launch pad. Otherwise you're like fall off and like be hopefully, you know, a lot of us, you know, tread water for a long time. You know, look what they take was kind of like that, where I stayed alive, you know, changed my lifestyle a lot so that I could live within my means after I went from, you know, $85,000 a year to $15,000 a year and then 20, 25 and then 35, I'm doing it. I'm going to make it. Yes. What I like to say is when you're, when you're. Underneath the water, like when you're negative cash flowing as a family, as a business, as a life, whatever. And then you break the surface of the water. Like you're, you're you see the driftwood at the surface that you're like paddling up toward it, you know, you're getting closer every month and then eventually your, you get a breath and like, oh, I'm not going to die. Yes. Uh, and, uh, anyway, I digress, but I'm sure a lot of your clients have faced that
Becky:they have, you know, and I've seen a lot of business owners who don't take paychecks because their employees come first. Yeah. And again, that's the way it should be. It's designed, you know, it's just the right thing to do, but what I want to see it is a risk. Um, but my objective again is like, let's, let's get this pumping. So these business owners can get paid and, and live a great life and build the wealth and share the, share the wealth and all those things we discussed earlier.
Curt:So, um, did you come up with the local experience that you would like to do. With our audience. Was that the one about the craziest experience of your life, but you're willing to share it with our listeners. Oh man. And it could be an experience, a moment. It could be a year. It could be, um, I don't know what it is. What's what's really,
Becky:can I talk about the stupidest thing I ever did in my life?
Curt:Yes, you certainly can.
Becky:Oh, so I'm probably 17 or 18 at this point. Can't remember if my parents had left California yet or not probably had left. Cause that's, you know, then I'm really stupid, easier
Curt:to do really stupid things when there's nobody watching too
Becky:closely. All right. So group of me and my friends roll up onto fulsome bridge in Folsom, California. Okay. Like Folsom
Curt:prison, right? Yeah. That's right here. I'm stuck in wholesome prisons. Okay. Johnny. Yeah. Yeah. I could say that one really good, but I'm not going to because it's a podcast, not a
Becky:where'd you get tired. Yeah. So we, we come up on the bridge and make the very wise decision to make the 50 foot jump. Oh,
Curt:and had you been jumping off of 30 foot bridges or anything like that
Becky:before? Yeah, no. Yeah. Nope. And, um, the dumbest thing I did in this jump was I didn't plug my nose, so I. But remember that moment, like you're talking about grabbing the drip, but you know, like trying to get back up to the top because you can imagine because so much
Curt:sinus pressure, cause the water like went right up. I ended
Becky:up the nose and I am, who knows how many feet under from the surface I am dying. Like I literally think I'm going to die. And I get back up to the top of the water finally. And I'm gasping for air and trying to get
Curt:all this that's coming out of your nose,
Becky:the whole thing. And I finally salt water. No, no, no. It's not even a bay. It's the
Curt:whatever. Yeah. So at least it's not so salt water.
Becky:That would have been
Curt:very we're still anyway. Sorry. So
Becky:then I look up and this, um, Sheriff's boat is coming up. Oh. And I was like, oh, you gotta be kidding me. So sure enough. He said kids, cause I there's probably six of us. Get up to the top. We'll meet you. So we, you know, climb out of the lake and climb up over the bridge and get back up there. And yeah, I'm pretty sure I had like a $600 fine and it was a trespassing charge. So yeah, that was a big group. Sees them. You learn some things. Yeah. You learn never to jump off a bridge, especially if your friends ask you to,
Curt:I think isn't there a joke like that. Like if your friends said they were going to jump off a bridge
Becky:and I said, yes, and that was, yeah, there you go. Wrong decision kids. If you're listening. No jumping off bridges.
Curt:Yeah. Brianna you guys. Um, what else would you like to share?
Becky:Okay. I don't think anything that
Curt:sums it up. We had a pretty good conversation. Um, if people want to be like, if they're like, oh my God, I need to have smart books, business solutions, smart book, business solutions in my, uh, in my world, they can go to
Becky:it's called it's www dot, keep smart books.com. Yup. And phone phone number's (970) 631-8588.
Curt:Boom. And will you answer the phone or an automated, some, one of your to help or people
Becky:it's an automated and then you can press one to get me.
Curt:Oh, perfect. Oh, that's dangerous. I get so many phone calls from this doubt. It actually, Becky has Bedford. Like we didn't really, like we had just one zoom call was really the bulk of our interaction before this and some email exchanges. And so that's kind of the way I like it. It's been fun to expose. Your world and thanks for letting me be a part of it. Thanks
Becky:for letting me be here. I was
Curt:fun. Thank you. Oh, do you want to do a local thing? Take commercial. It's kind of past the end of it, but like, tell me about local think tank. Like, oh my gosh. How has that been for you? Cause it was during COVID season when you joined, right? Like
Becky:I think I've been involved for eight months, maybe nine. Oh,
Curt:is that all? So like last summer sometime or something. Okay.
Becky:Yeah. Anyways, it's been fabulous. I have a great group. Um, and I just, I love it. It's exactly what I was looking for, which was a space where I could come and say, okay, business owners who have about the same amount of employees and same stressors though, it's funny how it's just, you know, same, same, same, same.
Curt:Oh, you do this. I do that. But we have the same challenges.
Becky:We all learn from each other and it was just a space to come and go cam not on an island all by myself. These people understand what I'm going through and can help me work through an issue. I mean, it is really fast. So, yeah, I appreciate it. And I love it.
Curt:Cool. Thanks. We love you too. Thanks. Talk to you next time
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